first, I needed to make no alteration in my
demeanour. Under the belief that he was disloyal, I had been regarding
him with a glance sufficiently scowling. I preserved the expression--at
the same time closing my eyes, as a negative answer to his query.
Although I believed myself to be hit somewhere about the legs, I felt
confident that I was not "crippled."

"So fur good!" continued he, still speaking loudly and angrily. "Neow!
slew yeer right elbow down a leetle, an' gi' me a better chance at thet
eer strip o' hide. I kinder guess as heow I kin cut the thing. It
'peers to be all o' one piece, an' 'll peel off yeer body like a rope o'
rushes. Ef I cut it, theer'll be a chance for ye. Theer's only one o'
the verming ahint the mound. Yeer hoss air theer; make for the anymal--
mount 'im, an' put off like a streak o' greased lightnin'! Neow!"

As he finished speaking, he stepped nearer to the line, and placed
himself in an attitude to fire. I now fully comprehended his design. I
saw, as he said, that the cord which bound me to the crucifix was all of
one piece--a thin thong of raw-hide--lapped not very tightly around my
arms, legs, and body. If cut through at any point, it could easily be
detached; and, true enough, my horse must be behind the butte, for I
could not see him in front. By a quick rush I might succeed in reaching
him, before the Indians could intercept me? If so, then indeed might
there be a chance of escaping.

CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE.

A SHARP SHOT.

Slender as appeared the prospect of my being freed from my fastenings,
by the method proposed, I was not without some faith in Sure-shot being
able to cut the thong. His skill in the use of the rifle was notorious
even among good marksmen--and his aim believed to be unerring. I had
known him to bring down with his bullet a bird upon the wing; and had
heard him declare that it was not by the _eye_ but by the _mind_ that he
did it. In other words: he meant, that his skill was not mechanical;
but that he was guided in the act by some mental operation--which he
himself but imperfectly understood. I could believe this the more
readily--since Sure-shot was not the only marksman I had known possessed
of this peculiar power. A something inexplicable, which may be classed
with the mysterious phenomena of clairvoyance and "horse-whispering."

With such belief in his skill, therefore, I was not without some hope
that he might succeed in his design;