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.""If anybody here does, it's one of those two that got in from Verde last evening," said Archer reflectively."Turner evidently had no idea the hostiles were all about us, and he thinks the previous despatch must have reached us.Corporal, go find the couriers and fetch them here.Be seated, gentlemen," he continued, in his courtly way, then turning from everybody, stepped out on the sandy level between his quarters and the office building, and began pacing slowly up and down.What was to be done? No word had come from Stannard.Stirring, yet disquieting news they now had from Turner, whose wounded lay in need of medical attention a long day's march through stony wilds, with jealous and savage eyes watching every trail.Here at Almy he had two companies of sturdy foot, capable of covering ground almost as fast as the cavalry, but wearing out shoe leather much faster.Twenty of these fellows could fight their way through to the Tonto, but might have just as many more wounded to care for, and be unable to transport them.Moreover, with so many hostiles on every side, was he justified in stripping the post of its defenders? It was no pleasant situation.It was more than perplexing.Presently he turned and, using such signs as he thought might be comprehensible, asked the impassive runner if he knew where the first fight took place, and the Hualpai, as would almost any Indian partially gathering the drift of a question, began a rambling reply, pointing as he spoke, with shifting finger, all over the range to the south-east."Bella, dear, have we anything that this incomprehensible creature could eat?" asked Archer."It may help matters." And presently the lady of the house appeared at the hall door again, with a tray in her hands.Briggs ceremoniously took it, and set huge slices of bread and jam before the gaunt mountaineer, who found his feet in an instant; received a slice on the palm of his outspread hand; lifted it cautiously, his yellow teeth showing hungrily; smelled it suspiciously, thrust forth his tongue, and slowly tasted the strange mixture on the surface; then, with confidence established, finished it in four gulps, and, like a greyhound, looked eagerly for more.Briggs laughed and pointed to the tray on the steps, but the Hualpai shook his head and drew back shyly."You'll have to give it piece by piece, Briggs," said Strong."His squaw would scoop the whole trayload into her skirt or blanket, but not a Hualpai brave."Approached in accordance with Hualpai views of table etiquette, the Indian ate greedily, and was still eating when the corporal came and, with him, the sleepy and dishevelled courier, the American.And now in the radiant moonlight the strange war council was resumed."Ask him, if you can, where the first fight came off, and who was sent with the despatch," demanded the general of the new-comer, upon whom the Hualpai looked in recognition, but with neither light nor welcome in his piercing eyes.Question and answer in halting, uncanny speech progressed fitfully a moment.Then came the report:"He says there was a fight the first day out; another when they struck Tonto Creek, and two soldiers were killed.""And as to the first runner?""He says 'Patchie Mohave brought it all way safe.This buck met him going back.He said he gave it to 'scout capitan' out by Picacho.""'Out by Picacho!''Scout capitan!' Who on earth does he mean?" asked Archer, with a sudden fear at heart.Once again, stumbling question, much gesticulation, many words in strange gutturals—and a name.Then the final report:"He means Apache-Mohave—'Tonio!"CHAPTER XIV.Three anxious, watchful days went by, with anxious, watchful nights intervening, with no further tidings of 'Tonio or Stannard or Turner, of friend or foe from the outside world, and with only one attempt on part of the invisibly, yet perceptibly, surrounded garrison to communicate with the field columns
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