The Newtown bee., 1900-03-23

The proud Tecumseh had called hi:
red brothers to arms. The voice of the
prophet, the voice of Ellskwatawa-the
IRE that rushes through the land-had
shrieked denunciations, and foretold the
doom of the invader Of the red mans
territory, the exterminator of the rec
mans race. Everywhere throughout the
Gulf region the dogs of war were loose
and two races few savagely at one anoth
er's throats. Hamlets burned; villages
abandoned, fell in ruins; white men
horribly tortured, suffered at the stake
red men fell In their thousands, shot
bayoneted, bludgeoned, until at last the
fury of the unequal contest slackened,
and the Indians, broken and despairing,
their trusted leaders slain or captive, laid
down their arms and swung sullenly
from the land of their fathers.
It was early in 1912 that General Floyd,
with his littls army OF Georgian volun.
teers and 400 friendly Indians, took up
his position on the heights above the
swamps of the Chilibee in Alabama. II
was supposed that large force of Creeks
was lurking in the Vicinity, though the
keenest eyes among the scouts had hith-
erto failed to discover the exact where.
Abouts OF the cunning Zoe. But Floyd
was too good soldier and too experien.
ced In Indian warfare to be deceived by
appearances and, Notwithstanding the
outward calm, made most careful prepa.
rations against surprise. Pickets were
doubled, patrols moved necessarily to
and fro and, though wearied by his long
march, brief hour of sleep was all the
wAtchful commander allowed himself to
snatch.
Far away on the outermost line of
sentries Amos Duerden stood on guard.
Still as q statue, he leaned against the
trunk of great tree and peered into the
thick darkness that surrounded him, or
strained his ear 60 catch the faintest
sound that might break the oppressive
stiffness. Bravest where all were brave,
strong OF muscle and stout of heart, there
was no one In his army in whom Floyd
repOsed more confidently than In Amos
Druerden; none who might be trusted SO
well to stand firm and do his duty,
though death came to him In the doing.
Therefore 1t was that he had been select
cd for this lonely outpost, the most dam
gerous of all, where his frmness and
knowledge of the country woald stand
the white men in good stead against the
craft OF their dusky foes.
Yet were the thoughts OF Amos not al
together with the army. Twenty miles
away to the northwest lay little village,
never destined to attain to the dignity Of
q town, which bore the picturesque In
dian name whispering Pines. Towards
this Duerden's heart turned as he kept
war should be over, waiting In fear and
trembling for her lovers safety, lived
Agnes Brotherton, his wife that was to
be.
No wonder Amos swaB anxious, for
rumor had 1t that Whispering Pines was
In the track of the Creek advance, and
II that were So. He put the thought
from him as one too horrid to be enter
tanned.
Away to his right q brook murmurinR |
rolled through the black |
meas; but, save for that slumberous |
sound, all was still. Ahead, behind, In |
front, all around was inky black; but |
above, through the dark bOughs OF the l
pines, the stars looked down upon the i
watcher, and ever and anon one fell, l
steaming like signalrocket athwart the
asTls monotonous dark here.n thought
Amos, STRENGTHENING his tall form, and |
grasping his musket firmly at the sound \
OF twig swapping somewhere away TO |
the left. "a man might be slain here \
ere he knew he was attacked" Then, as
silence reiGned once more, ~ trust all Ia
well with them az whispering RineH. liz
Agnes and her mother had but moved
Nerth out OF this accursed country, /
should have no fear. AS 1t Is"
Again twig snapped suddenly
lime at his very feet and, almost before
be could recall his struggling thoughts,
! dark form rose swiftly from the
ana hand was laid lightly up
IN bis lips.
ssSteady ~ breathed voice In bis ear,
10 low that he could scarcely catch the
words. "Steadyi All's well
IN Rivington. Who are your Before
Amos could reply the man went on: U