Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-03-25


.! will 60" said clear, firm voice.
All looked in mute surprise at the
speaker, Jennie Moor. Jennie's father
Chen quite old) had lived long on the
border, and she had no remembrance
OF other home than the border. She
could ride the widest mustang, handle
the rifle skillfully or drive canoe
across the rushing waters of the Big
Wichita, equal to Comanche brave,
and, from years of friendly inter-
course with Solemn Face, medicine
squaw, could speak their language
fiuently. Jennie was fearless as a war
rior, yet as tender and sympathetic as
maiden could be. Yet all looked in
astonishment at Jennie, who, resting
her clasped hands on her fathers shoul-
der, turned a composed glance at the
group of anxious settlers standing near.
You need all the men you have
here tonight l can make the journey
more safely and more surely than any
one present. l know the forest per-
fectly; can speak the Indian jargon as
well as | can English, and would rath-
er risk my life in the forest tonight
than remain in the stockade, for if one
of the men is sent for help we are lost,
for he will be captured without doubt. "
"But what will save you also from
capture?" questioned her father.
"God and my own Judgment" an
swered Jennie. Il will personate
Solemn Face, the medicine squaw, who
died four months ago. Tonight it will
be easy to work upon their supersti-
ton, and pass the Indian sentries and
camp as Solemn Face"
Captain Moor folded her in his arms,
saying: $50, then, my child, and may
God go with you and bring you safe
again to your old fathers arms"
"Amen," responded all present,
deeply moved.
They all knew that if any one could
succeed in the task it would be Jennie.
3 after hearty "God-speed'' from
those present she wended her way to
her cabin to make the necessary prep
arations for the hazardous Journey on
which so many lives depended. Sol
emn Face was Jennie's fac simile in all
but hair and complexion, Jennie inher-
iting the bright yellow hair and pure
rose complexion from her Scotch an
cestors; while the squaw possessed a
rare combination found in the Saxon
race, uniting the dusky hair and COM
plexion of her Indian mother with the
deep-blue eyes and delicate features of
her English father, who had been a
trader among the Indians. Solemn
Face held high place among the saw
ages from her superior intelligence.
They believed her to be gifted with
some supernatural power. From child
hood she had hated the pale-face, Jen-
ME being the only one she would speak
to. Jennie was soon made ready with
dye and dress, and at the cleaning
stood ready by the gate. The moment
came and amid tears of women and the
silent agony of her father, she went
out in the deep darkness, undaunted
by the dangerous journey. She knew
in reason she would have to pass near
the Indian encampment. That she
might secure Solemn Faces pony, the
beautiful little horse had been trained
to obey her call as readily as it would
its own mistress.
She pressed on steadily through the
deep, dark underbrush, when her quick
ear caught the stealthy tread of some
thing, either brute or human, in the
bushes near her. She stood still
Against human foes she felt that she
was proof, but she had no argument
with which to meet panther. Sud
denly, with quick bound, an anima
,, reached her side, and looking down sh,
saw Solemn Faces dog, magnificent
: hound, crawling at her feet. A swift
silent prayer went up from her hear
for this new protection, for the dog
, trotted along obediently by her side
: obeying her slightest call. She knew
: the Indian encampment must be near
! and, knowing Solemn Faces habits
! called the dog and moved boldly for
/, ward, and in a few moments stood il
/, the light of the camp-tres of the Co
. manches.
The warriors let fall their rifles wit
a prolonged simultaneous ugh,
and prostrated themselves fiat on th
ground, believing Solemn Face stoo,
among them in the spirit. Shakin;
her long hair, dyed deep black, owe
her face and shoulders, she halte,
+ among them, and, touching one of tn
nearest warriors with her foot, sh
babe him rise. Then pointing to th
) sky and suddenly fiinging her arm
tragically toward the fort, imitatin
l Solemn Faces actions and words. sh
!; said: "Go tell your Chief Warlop
that the Great Spirit sends ME fror
a the happy hunting-grounds to advis
: him with words of wisdom. Tell hir
. to see the clouds floating like steed
above the breeze; it will storm to
). night, and that he must not attack tn
y pale-face until he hears Solemn Fac
/ sing the death-song; then he can SUI
7 ceed. Tell Warlopa to obey Monitow
Il l have spoken" Then turning quicl
: ly she was soon lost in the forest,
A hundred yards farther on she cam
: to an Indian sentinel guarding th
= horses. She addressed him in quic
= tone of command, saying: "Monito'
v sends me to you; bring me my horse.
: have spoken"
II Soon the Indian, trembling with fea
e led Solemn Faces pony to- her sid,
4 Mounting, she bounded away in th
+ darkness, the faithful dog at her sid'
V To make matters worse, tempestuot
h night set in. The rain now descende
in torrents, but on rode the weary cir
- never quailing beneath the heavy raj
# or fiinching from the terrific roar I
n heavens artillery. She now emerge
/. from the timber and rode down Il
: prairie valley like wild fire, and soc
thought that she must be nearing Il
r camp of Captain Ford's Rangers.
h Suddenly the sharp click of a riff
l. lock. and the low challenge: "Wf
goes there?" answered by the sullt
ID growl of her dog, told her that b
" Journey was ended. Another momel
IS and the doc with a fierce growl Sprau