He had crept up to them so silently that not one of them
had heard him until he was a step away.
"Ugh!" he grunted. "White boy go away. This my country."
"Go to your grandmother," said Ted. "Where is Singing Bird?"
"She in Running Bear wigwam. Mebbe so you like Singing Bird. You can
have same go away."
"What, and leave you in possession of all this gold? Not likely."
"Then Running Bear make you. Hate white boy. Not make play this time."
Before Ted was aware of his intention, the Indian had sprung upon him
from the side. He was immensely powerful, and forced Ted backward toward
the edge of the pit, evidently with the intention of breaking his neck
by the fall.
But Ted managed to get a good hold at last, and forced him back
gradually.
Then Running Bear came at him with greater strength, and again they
wrestled perilously near the edge of the pit.
Running Bear took advantage of Ted's trip over the loose tree roots, and
slowly forced him backward, in spite of his herculean efforts, to the
pit's edge.
He had bent Ted's head back until his neck cracked, and if he threw him
into the pit, it likely would kill him.
From where they stood, on the opposite side of the pit, none of the boys
could get a shot at Running Bear without endangering the life of Ted.
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