"London, Jack - Tales of the klondyke" - читать интересную книгу автора (London Jack)

"No," Stockard answered. "I gave him my word that he could speak
with us unmolested. Rules of warfare, Bill; rules of warfare.
He's been on the square, given us warning, and all that, and--why,
damn it, man, I can't break my word!"

"He'll keep his, never fear."

"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. The missionary called his two men to
him, and they fell into prayer. Stockard and Bill attacked the
few standing pines with their axes, felling them into convenient
breastworks. The child had fallen asleep, so the woman placed it
on a heap of furs and lent a hand in fortifying the camp. Three
sides were thus defended, the steep declivity at the rear
precluding attack from that direction. When these arrangements
had been completed, the two men stalked into the open, clearing
away, here and there, the scattered underbrush. From the opposing
camp came the booming of war-drums and the voices of the priests
stirring the people to anger.

"Worst of it is they'll come in rushes," Bill complained as they
walked back with shouldered axes.