Snap one, and the whole continent would stop.
At the moment when our story opens (there was no sense in opening it sooner), a written message had just been handed in.
The Chief read it.

He seemed to grasp its contents in a flash.
"Good God!" he exclaimed.

It was the strongest expression that this solid, self-contained, semi-detached man ever allowed himself.

Anything stronger would have seemed too near to profanity.

"Good God!" he repeated, "Kivas Kelly murdered! In his own home! Why, he dined with me last night! I drove him home!" For a brief moment the big man remained plunged in thought.