Page:Hugh Pendexter--Kings of the Missouri.djvu/299

 friend Francois will be killed very soon—I see Jack Rem and his three sons. They hunt with the Deschamps now but my medicine says the time is just ahead when the two families will fight and kill each other off. Wait—my medicine is whispering."

He paused and tilted his head and smiled grimly—then announced:

"My medicine says Baptiste Gardepied is coming after you with a big war-party of Blackfeet. Better git yourself killed before he gets you."

"You lie!" hissed Deschamps. "Gardepied knows I will kill him and has left the country."

"He is with the Blackfeet and has turned them against you. He almost caught you when you betrayed my young man into the hands of the Blackfeet. He set the young man free. He will kill you."

"No more, or I will kill you," yelled Deschamps, now beside himself with rage.

Francois feared his father's anger would break up their plans, so he now assumed command and gave an order.

The men closed in about Bridger and Lander and poked them with their guns and drove them toward the old woman who had acted as the