Читать книгу The Trail of Black Hawk онлайн

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“Come on, Bob,” exclaimed Joseph, as he swiftly started forward.

He had taken only a few steps, however, when he felt himself gripped strongly by his arm and held back.

“No be a fool,” muttered Deerfoot. “Black Hawk have fifty braves. You be killed unless stay here.”

“But my family, my mother and sisters,” pleaded Joseph. “They will be killed unless I go to help them.”

“They be killed anyway,” said Deerfoot stoically. “No use you be killed, too.”

With one hand he held Joseph in a grip of iron, while with the other he maintained a firm hold on Robert. Both boys struggled to free themselves but to no avail. Their Indian ally held them fast, while all the time in a low voice he talked to his young friends.

“Black Hawk come with big band,” he explained. “Me run ten mile to warn Halls. Black Hawk say he kill your father. He say your father bad to Indian. No use you be killed, too. Soon they look for you. You better run. Deerfoot take you away safe.”

“No! No!” protested Joseph and Robert in one breath.