Gordie's Discovery

Gordie advanced toward the strand, and picked a few branches of dead wood. The stand was large, and there was a chance that they would remain undetected. The two men said that the effect of the water would wear off on the deer. So if she waited long enough, she could move again. Astra was sitting on the ground. Astra placed her palm on the outside of her right calf and rubbed. She could feel it, which was a good sign. Now she tried to move her foot ever so slightly. It did move a little, but it still numb.

Gordie moved toward the bank, and dropped the branches. He then walked back to the stand. He clapped his hands slowly and loudly as he approached. Gordie then stopped moving, about twenty paces from the stand. He held his knife before him, and said,

"I know that someone is in there. And I doubt that you are an animal. If you are thieves, you should know that I have five pieces of Hespaniard silver. That is all you would get if you tried to take it by force - that and a wound from this knife. I will give the silver up peacefully if you will take it and leave. If you are not a thief, and not my enemy, take a rag and wave it. If you do not answer me, then I shall be forced to consider you an enemy of my patron, and you will not leave this strand of trees unhurt."

Astra was able to move her foot, but the she still could not stand. Then suddenly Hesht

1. said, "Nobody here but us honest thieves. If you will leave the five silver pieces by the nearest tree, we will pick them up and be on our way."
2. took off his shirt, and started to wave it, and said, "Sir, I cannot move. I am not your enemy."
3. turned to Astra and placed his finger before his lips, to indicate that she should remain silent, and do nothing.

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