The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-24
Written for THE ARKAxsAw TRAvKLxR.
 AN INDIANS PROMISE.
BY GEORGE TRACE.

early days of Missouri.
 Ben Anderson sat gazing intently at the blazing logs upon the hearth, while his mother fitted hither and thither, bus lily engaged in preparing dinner. It was evident that the handsome young fellows thoughts were of somewhat changing nature, for frequently he would knit his orows and frown in a most dismal man. ner; then he would appear 10 be in deep thought for moment and smile would appear upon his face, to be quickly driven away by another frown. There must be thoughts of very conflicting nature flit- ting through his brain, and what they were we shall probably see by the follow ing conversation:
 " Mother, wonder if the Indians will make raid upon the se,tlement2''
 My w exclaimed his mother, starting, how you scared me! But what put such an idea in your head, boy9"
 "Why, haven't you heard? Old Tom Robbins came upon an Indian in the woods the other day and shot him down as though he had been a dog, without giving him any chance whatever. The Indian was Red Wolf's son, and the chief swears he will destroy the settle ment to get at the heart of Robbins"
 Gracious me Wouldn't it be awful i? Just when you're about to be married, too"
 "Yes," said Ben, irowning "the h. dians are ten to one, and very little am- intuition among us. wish the Indian had sunk his knife in that old villains heart. If he was out of the settlement we could get along with the reds"
 "Well, we mus. make the best of things as they come, Ben. hope nothing serious will happen"
 50 do I, mother. would hate to have my funeral substitute my wedding. But I'll eat my dinner now and go out for deer. saw one yesterday, but hadn't time to follow it."
 IL was evidently the thought of his near approaching wedding which made Ben smile. Jennie Wilson was, to Ben's no- tion. the prettiest girl in the world, and it was to her that Ben had pledged his heart and hand. And the thought of the h. dian chiefs threat, brought on by the cowardly act of Robbins, had caused the frowns; for the prospect of raid from an overpowering number of blood-thirsty Indians is not pleasant at any time.
 Ben finished his dinner, and taking his rife on his shoulder, stalked out to the woods in quest of game, this being the way in which the greater part of the liv- ing must be obtained.
 He had hunted around for perhaps an hour, and was crossing a small creek when, through an open space, he saw a deer. Raising his rife he fired the deer came down on one knee, raised again and bounded through the woods. Think ing he had wounded it, and that it would fall after time, Ben sprang after it. He had run perhaps half ! mile when he sud- denly came upon sight which brought him to halt. Not twenty yards before him were two men struggling with each other, one an Indian, the other a white man. They now swayed so Ben could see the white mans face was Tom Robbins.
 The Indian was powerful fellow, but It was plain to see that he stood but a poor chance with his antagonist, for Rob bins had seized him behind his back and had his arms pinioned to his sides, try ing to bear him to the ground. Though the Indian kept his feet well. he was at great disadvantage, and Robbins finally succeeded iu bringing him down. Put ting his knees upon the Indians back, he drew his knife, and with a growl, more like beast than a human, waved it above his head to plunge it in the back of his victim.
 By this time Ben had come quite near the combatants. He saw the finn, set look upon the Indians face as he was borne to the ground, as though he would scorn to cry for mercy to the man who was about to murder him. When Ben saw that look upon the Indians face, the thought of R obbins' other deed flashed to him, and he thought might not this be another, as treaeherous as the last, which had proved so dangerous to the settlers At the thought his blood boiled. He rushed forward, grasped Robbins up- lifted hand and hurled him from the In. dian. Robbins uttered an oath when he saw who had stopped him, and sprang upon Ben to serve him as he would have served the Indian. Ben was no match for his powerful frame, and he soon dis