"
"Don't doubt it, but I won't let a half-breed outdo me in fair dealing.
Why not do what he wants,--give him the missionary and be done with it?"
"N-no," Bill hesitated doubtfully.
"Shoe pinches, eh?"
Bill flushed a little and dropped the discussion. Baptiste the Red was
still waiting the final decision. Stockard went up to him.
"It's this way, Baptiste. I came to your village minded to go up the
Koyukuk. I intended no wrong. My heart was clean of evil. It is still
clean. Along comes this priest, as you call him. I didn't bring him
here. He'd have come whether I was here or not. But now that he is
here, being of my people, I've got to stand by him. And I'm going to.
Further, it will be no child's play. When you have done, your village
will be silent and empty, your people wasted as after a famine. True, we
will he gone; likewise the pick of your fighting men--"
"But those who remain shall be in peace, nor shall the word of strange
gods and the tongues of strange priests be buzzing in their ears."
Both men shrugged their shoulder and turned away, the half-breed going
back to his own camp.
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