Skraeling

“Senor Skraeling, he died,” Obregon informed them.

The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004

If Skraeling decided to chase the English boat, then let him do it with Malgres and the Ponca.

The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004

Big White had actually been on the English boat—Skraeling had merely been waiting for Guillaume to catch up so Guillaume could ask the old man about the treasures on the steamer.

The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004

Then she left the lodge—she wanted to hear what Skraeling said to the Bad Eye.

The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004

Both Skraeling and Charbonneau looked hard at Malgres, a killer, but a man of little judgment.

The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004

“Well, well—this will be interesting,” Skraeling said.

The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004

Then Malgres, whom Big White hardly noticed, struck with his knife before Skraeling could stop him, and the one man who could have given them valuable information about the treasure boat slumped down in the snow and died.

The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004

“That would be the missing valet,” Skraeling said.

The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004

Skraeling had crawled under the wagon and died of his own sickness; the Ear Taker had waited one day too long to make his attempt.

The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004

When he grew up the tribe let him go—very soon, with more and more settlers crowding into the Comancheria, Skraeling became a ransom specialist, buying back young captives for the frontier families or small settlements from which they had been snatched.

The Berrybender Narratives Larry McMurtry 2004