The record-union., 1897-12-12


only hef-that was already accomplish
ed--but all that hereafter might make
his life sweet as we'll
| He flung himself face downward upon
| the damp ground. not striving to stay
the harsh dry sobs that shook his
i body. He was a strong man in de-
spair, ard, so, weaker than the weak
est woman. He could not get back,
| he knew, though it might be the In
dians would not attack before dawn,
and dawn was yet far distant But
even so. how could he break through
| the Gordon of red men, even now sur
rounding the devoted Floyd? That was
| impossible. To make d long circuit was
equally impossible in point of time
No: all was lost-Agnes his honor, his
comrades. his General He alone would
remain to tell the story of that shame
full night. Should he? No, never. At
least he could die, even as those he
had brought to their death. The
thought comforted him somewhat, and
he rose to his feet.
His decision was instant. his action
prompt. With rapid movement he
drew from his pocket a piece of cord,
tied one end round his foot, and at
tached the other to the trigger of his
musket Then he put the muZzle in
his mouth.
For an instant he stood eyes closed,
breath coming and going rapidly, for
even to a brave man death comes not
wholly without terror. "Agnes," he
sighed. A strong shudder shook him,
and he dashed the muzzle from his
face and flung the musket to the
| ground.
My God!" he exclaimed, half wrath
fully, half fearfully, what was l about
| to do? If 1 must die, let me meet death
as a man. not as a coward. 1t is not
yet too late. 1t cannot be. 1t shall not
be. / will go back I will break
through the Creek lines somehow. 1
may redeem my honor in part; if not,
then let death come how he will, but
not 10y my own hand
The darkness of the night had deep
ened, though it wanted but an hour
to dawn, and the Greek forces, crouch
ing N the dense pine woods before
Floyds position, waited but the first
lifting of the shadows to hurl them
selves upon their unsuspecting foe
| long march, slept soundly, ignorant of
| the proximity of their bloodthirsty en-
emies, unconscious that the sentries
along the outer line had all been slain
all save one, and that one a deserter
from his post, traitor to his trust.
In grim silence and sanguine of sue
cess the fierce Creeks, their faces
painted hideously for war. awaited
= 1,,;xs g; 1,o
aid of the morn, had arisen rustling
gently among the pine-needles. Save
for this and the occasional grunt of a
hog, roofing here and there among the
mast, only the low. half-held breathing
of the red men broke the stiffness.
The first faint trembling streaks of
pink wavered up into the sky, the
white mists curled upwards from river
and swamp, just perceptible in the
gloom, and the hog wandered ON,
grunting and roofing, too careless or
| too stupid to avoid the red men all
around it. More than once it collided
in the darkness with the legs of some
watchful warrior, to dart away with
| squeal, followed by the curses of the
brave, who dared not move for fear
of exposing his position. And so, turn
ing hither and thither in it's search for
| food, the beast blundered on to where
Bald Eagle and his fellow chief Whist
ling Hawk, stood beside a tree and dis
cussed their plans for the coming at
tack Terrified, apparently, the hog
stood still for a moment, and then
Whistling Hawk drew an arrow from
his culver and fitted it to his bow
string
Not so, my brother" interposed Bald
Eagle, laying a OBTAINING hand upon
the others wrist. Shoot not lest if
you only wound the brute, it run off
towards the camp of the pale-faces,
and betray us by your arrow. Go and
warn our young men upon the left that
| the time is at hand / will tell those
upon the right"
Waugh" was all the reply Whist
ling Hawk vouchsafed, and the red
chiefs moved away
! But as they disappeared, the hog sat
up on his launches, its forepaws dang
| ling oddly, while from underneath the
| coarse hide a hand stode forth. Then
the mask was cautiously raised. flung
back from the face it concealed, and
out from the greasy skin crawled a
face, and lay still.
! But the Indians were behind him now
and his friends in front, and, though
he moved slowly, yet in no long time
he reached sentry, whom he passed
with whispered word, and hurried to
the Generals tent.
"Duerden.' cried Floyd springing to
his feet, as the young man burst in
upon him with little ceremony. What
are you doing here? Why have you
left your post?"
Why have you left your post?" The
sharp and sudden question recalled a
hldeous memory to Duerdens mind
and for an instant he struggled vain
ly to speak. Recovering himself. he
briefly detailed to the General the pres
ence of the foe in large numbers. and
how he had contrived to pass through
their lines
Floyd wasted no further time in ques-
tlons after this, but dashed from tent.
order after order tumbling from his
lips. His dispositions made. he re-
| turned once more to Amos. II have
news for you, Duerden, he said: good
news too 1t seems that the Creeks
made a descent upon Whistling Pines
and burned it; but the settlers had got
word of their approach in some way.
and deserted the place. A party of
them arrived about an hour ago with
women and children I have sent the
latter, along with the old men, to one
OF our communicating posts in the rear
All who could fight l have detained
here" he finished grinly
Amos caught back his breath sharp
| lN rIIlllY his, i-Ia.,