Leppard, Lois Gladys - [Mandie 02] by Mandie, the Cherokee Legend (v1.0) [html] Page B

them.
    “Yes, and we still must decide what to do with it,” Uncle John said.
    As they sat around the table for the evening meal, they discussed the matter at length.
    “I’ll watch the barn again tonight,” Joe offered after a lull in the discussion.
    “So will I,” Dimar said.
    “You boys need a good night’s rest,” Uncle John told them.
    “We can take our blankets and roll up in them on the grass outside. If anyone comes around, we will surely wake up,” Joe insisted. Dimar nodded in agreement.
    “Well, I certainly hope so,” Elizabeth said. “It could be dangerous.”
    “Gold bad luck,” Uncle Ned muttered.
    “Not the gold, Uncle Ned. It’s the greedy people,” Mandie said.
    Elizabeth spoke up. “What
are
we going to do about the gold? We can’t keep it here forever.”
    “I know,” Uncle John replied. “We’ll have to decide what to do very soon.”
    “Why can’t we put the gold in the bank?” Mandie asked.
    “Good idea! Have you ever heard of bank robbers, Mandie?” Joe protested sarcastically.
    “Bank robbers don’t ever come to Bryson City.” Mandie was sure of herself.
    “I suppose the bank
is
a possible solution,” Johnsaid. Turning to Wirt and Ned, he asked, “Do you think we could get it to the bank early tomorrow morning before the town is stirring?”
    Both the old men nodded affirmatively.
    “Well, if the people decide to storm the bank and take it, it belongs to them anyway,” Joe conceded.
    “No. Gold bad luck to Cherokee,” Uncle Ned insisted. “Cherokee not steal gold.”
    “But what about Tsa’ni?” Dimar asked. “He wanted the gold.”
    “Tsa’ni!” Uncle Wirt spat out. “Bad Cherokee!” He rose to leave.
    “Don’t be too hard on him, Uncle Wirt,” Elizabeth told him. “We don’t know for sure who set fire to the barn.”
    But Uncle Wirt was angry, it was plain to see.
    “He lied about not being able to walk and he should be punished for that,” John said. “Will you be back tomorrow to help us move the gold to the bank?”
    “Early tomorrow,” the old man nodded as he waved good-bye.
    As darkness began to fall, the two boys took their blankets to spread on the grass by the barn. The girls went up the ladder to their room and watched from the window until they were too sleepy to stay awake any longer. Snowball curled up contentedly at Mandie’s feet.
    It was long after midnight and both boys were sleeping soundly. The figure of a man appeared out of the brush and came stealthily toward the barn. He stopped at the corner of the building and lowered the flame of his lantern to the grass against the wall.
    Joe stirred uneasily in his sleep, unseen by the intruder. Then his subconscious registered the distinct odor ofburning grass mixed with the stench of liquor. He was awake in a flash, taxing his brain to orient himself to the situation. Then he saw the blaze not ten feet away, and he lunged to his feet. The figure, still not aware of Joe, darted around the corner. Joe headed the other way to alert Dimar who was already awake.
    “He’s on that side of the barn,” Joe whispered softly, pointing to the north side.
    They crept around the building in opposite directions and were both surprised to find themselves face to face with Snuff and Rennie Lou. With one fell swoop Joe had Snuff on the ground. Dimar kept his eyes on Rennie Lou, who stood there in a daze.
    “We got you this time!” Joe shouted as he held him to the ground.
    “Hey, wait a minute. I ain’t done nothin’,” the man protested, his speech slurred.
    Dimar took a deep breath and gave his loud Indian call for help. Within seconds Uncle John and Uncle Ned came rushing out of the cabin.
    Noise of the scuffling woke the girls and they slid down the ladder and watched at the door.
    “Why, it’s the man and woman who captured us on the mountain,” Mandie said, as she watched Uncle John “handcuff” Snuff with his belt.
    Morning Star slipped past the girls without a word and