The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-03-10

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nor, yet as tender and sympathetic as
a maiden could be. Yet all looked in
at Jennie, who, resting
her clasped hands on her fathers shout
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-
or 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
capturep" questioned her father.
"God and my own judgment" an
swered Jennie. II win 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: go, then, my child, and may
God 60 with you and bring you safe
again to your old fathers arms"
"Amen," responded all present,
deeply moved.
They all knew that II any one could
succeed in the task it would be Jennie.
So after q hearty "God-speed" from
those present she wendell 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 smile in all
but hair and complexion, Jennie inher-
iting the bright yellow hair and pure
rose complexion from her Scotch an.
cestsrs; while the squaw possessed q
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 q
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 animal
reached her side, and looking down she
saw Solemn Faces dog, a 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 q few moments stood ii
the light of the camp-fires of the Co
manches.
The warriors let fall their rifles will
prolonged Simultaneous ugh.
and FRUSTRATED themselves fiat on tn,
ground, believing Solemn Face stoot
among them in the spirit. Shaking
her long hair, dyed deep black. owe
her face and shoulders, she haltet
among them, and, touching one of tn,
nearest warriors with her foot, sh
babe him rise. Then pointing to tn
sky and suddenly flinging her arm
tragically toward the fort, imitatin,
Solemn Faces actions and words, sh
said: "Go tell your Chief Warlop
that the Great Spirit sends me from
the happy hunting-grounds to advis
him with words of wisdom. Tell hin
to see the clouds floating like steed
above the breeze; it will storm to
night, and that he must not attack tn
pale-face until he hears Solemn Fac
sing the death-song; then he can sue
coed. Tell Warlopa to obey Monitow
l have spoken" Then turning quick
ly she was soon lost in the forest.
A hundred yards farther on she cam
to an Indian sentinel guarding tn
horses. She addressed him in quic
tone of command, saying: "Monito,
sends me to you; bring me my horse.
have spoken"
Soon the Indian, trembling with feal
led Solemn Faces pony to her side
Mounting, she bounded away in tn
darkness, the faithful dog at her side
To make matters worse, q tempestuou
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 {
heavens artillery. She now emerge
from the timber and rode down th
prairie valley like wild fire, and 500
thought that she must be nearing tn
camp Of Captain Ford's Rangers.
Suddenly the sharp click of rifle
lock, and the low challenges: "Wh
goes therep" answered BY the sulle
growl of her dog, told her that he
journey was ended. Another momer
and the dog with fierce growl spran
at the Rangers throat; ashort struggl
and the dog lay dead at the Ranger
feet knife having found vital par