Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-09-04
HRIEA,
The Half Breed.
"A Romance of Colonial Days.
~ ROBERT A. CUNNING.

ra;;e By ROBERT A. CUKMI9G.
CHAPTER IL-CoNrINUED.
.sAre the French stirring oagsin?" he
asked after a pause. iI7fa
1.-The news from the North rs impor-
tant. The French are led by General
Montca1m, man OF tireless energy.
He is preparing dotilla at Fort From
tenac and the favoring breeze which
watts him across Lake Ontario, ~4H
place Oswego in great. peril"
.sMercer and his New Enslspders hold
that FORT" said the youth ia . tone of
confidence. ..v..7-
''And if they can not?'
AS the full import of this suggestion
flashed across his men vision. Selwyn
arose with the air of one who shakes off
a drowsy feeling of security.
s'What then?'' he asked.
-LsNhy, then in about a week your
peaceful Arcadia will be full Of Cana
dian savages and Frenchmen."
'The British troops?"r
'.Are comfortably quartered in Bos-
ton, New York or Philadelphia. Z
sReinforcementsf for Mercer?"
tI have no authority to raise troops"
replied the knight. 49,
--ssBut could get soluntsersEs hun
dred rifemen-my friends end neigh
bors, y said the youth, impetuously.
"How soon?s > t @G7aseh -.
Ready to march in tive weeks"
IA drop in the bucket, nephew; and
yet as the nucleus OF a larger force, it
might be effecSlve. Try Whist thou
canst do, and in the meantime will
to Albany with speed and try my infiu-
rence with the yuthor4Hao - lend thee
aid, falling which tkou wilt OF course
abandon the atsesnpx" aft
"When my hand 10 on tbs elsw will
aot turn bae11, Sir william"
s.Boyl Boy!e, exclaimed the baronet,
impatiently, ambition finds it's way by
devious means, the etie< Of which is
prudent calculation. AS have ALREADY
told thee, my visit here tonight had the
object of arousing thee from these book
ish dreams; yet I counsel not rashness.
We will help zach other, Charles. Thy
prompt action in raising troops will re-
found to the family credit whether I
succeed in Albany or not. But to march
to- Oswego with o hundred men were
sheer folly"
''Mars' Charles" interrupted negro
servant, putting his gray, woolly head
into the room, @dem ar dogs is mighty
Uneasy. Dey is rattlin' dar chains an
barlxin' as if dey smelt somefin 'spicious. y
''They scent a wild animal larking
around the barnyard, perhaps" replied
,Selwyn, taking rifle from the wall.
''Injuns, mebbe," suggested Peter.
. Selwyn shook his head. =
eThe Aohawl1s are our friends said
ne, "and would come boldly if at all. >
SO saying, he unbolted the hall door
and was abou9 90 step firth upon the
moonlit lawn, but almost stumbled over
an object Seated on the threshold, which
arose and stood before him silent and
motionless. Selwyn AWas too we'll used
to Indian habits so be surprised at this
apparition, Che sex and features Of
which were concealed by a blanket
thrown over the dead and almost touch;
ing the ground
'sWhom do you seek?'' asked the
young man, in the Mohawk dialect.
Slowly. the eblApket dropped from
head and shoulders, revealing hand
some boyish face8 whose features were
rather French than aboriginal, and q
pair of large sparkling black eyes were
raised to HE face with an expression
iidll oiLys hettG SOiiL0Chos ohA ohSA
small brown hand drsw from the bosom
a letter superscribed in bold Ehglisl
hand, Charles Selwyn."
Taking the messenger by the arm
:Selwin led him into the hell and, point
ing to chair, opened the letter. Tn
lad, however, seated himself on bear
skin mat, and, resting his head upol
his hand, remained mOtionless as before
+Exhausted, y thought Selwyn, glanc
ing at him. Peter, give him some food.
What, have you there?" asked ST
William But his kinsman was to-
much occupied to heed the question.
''Old comgade and brother-in-arms,
ran the missive, ''if this letter eve
reaches you, 1 confide the bearer t
your protection and sympathy. He ha
the misfortune to fall into the hands O
a band of Hurons. who, being in a play
fut mood, cut out his tongue. and woul
doubtless have deprived him of his hal
also if they had not been surprised by
party of, rangers, who quickly mad
them look on this practical joke in
very serious light. The boy is faithful
and Intelligent, and will serve thee a
Ariel served his master Prospero--
saved him as the battle of Crown Poin,
-. !. ,. j. Ill ElI !. i :.