He felt inefficient and
dejected, almost desperate.
Clark himself, not willing to cast responsibility upon a
subordinate, made ready to give the fatal order. Turning to Long-
Hair first, he demanded of him as well as he could in the Indian
dialect of which he had a smattering, what he had to say at his
last moment.
The Indian straightened his already upright form, and, by a strong
bulging of his muscles, snapped the thongs that bound him.
Evidently he had not tried thus to free himself; it was rather a
spasmodic expression of savage dignity and pride. One arm and both
his legs still were partially confined by the bonds, but his right
hand he lifted, with a gesture of immense self-satisfaction, and
pointed at Hamilton.
"Indian brave; white man coward," he said, scowling scornfully.
"Long-Hair tell truth; white man lie, damn!"
Hamilton's countenance did not change its calm, cold expression.
Long-Hair gazed at him fixedly for a long moment, his eyes
flashing most concentrated hate and contempt. Then he tore the
scalp from his belt and flung it with great force straight toward
the captive Governor's face. It fell short, but the look that went
with it did not, and Hamilton recoiled.
At that moment Alice arrived. Her coming was just in time to
interrupt Clark, who had turned to the waiting platoon with the
order of death on his lips.
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