The Newtown bee., 1900-03-23

his feet.
His decision was instant, his actor
prompt. With a rapid movement hi
drew from his pocket piece OF cord, tiec
one end to his foot, and attached Tho
other to the trigger Of his musket. Their
ne put the muZzle In his mouth.
For an Instant he stood, eyes closed
breath coming and going rapidly, fol
even a to brave man death comes not
sighed. a strong shudder shook him
and he dashed the muzzle from his face
and flung the musEet to the ground.
my God ~ he exclaimed, half-wrsth
fully, half-fearfully, sswhRt was about
to do? IL I must die, let me meet death
as man. not as a coward. Tt liz not vel
too late. It cannot be. It shall not be
l will go back. will break through the
Creek lines somehow. may redeem my
honor in part; If not, then let dealt, come
how he will, but not by my own hand
The darkness Of the night had deepen
ed, though it wanted but an hour to dawn
and the Creek forces, crouching In the
dense pine-woods before FIoyd's position
waited but the first lifting of the shadows
so hurI themselves upon their unsugpect
7
their long march, slept soundly, ignorant
OF the proximity of their bloodthirsty
enemies, unconscious that the gentrieE
along the outer line had all been clair
all save one, and that one a desertel
from his post, traitor to his trust.
In grim silence and sanguine success
the fierce Creeks, their faces painted
nideously for war, awaited their oppor.
eunitY. A faint breeze, herald of tbs
morn, had arisen, rustling gently among
the pine-needles. Save fer this and the
occasional grUnt Of hog, roofing here
and there among the mast, only the low
han-held breathing OF the red men broke
the stiffness.
The first faint trembling streaks OF pinh
Wayered up into the sky, and white mists
CURED upward from river and swamp
just perceptible in the gloom, and the
nog wandered on, grunting and roofing,
zoo 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 Equeal, 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 blunaered on to where
Bald Eagle and his felloW-chief, Whist
ling Hawk, stood beside tree and dis
coursed their plans for the coming attack.
Terrified, apparently, the hog stood still
for moment, and then, with snort oil
disgust, swung round and waddled OFF in
It's ungafnly fashion. It's back turned,
however, fts terror seemed to be over.
come, and once again 1t halted and be-
gan TO grub for roots, rowing leisurely
from one tree to another.
The two chiefs gazed idly at the ami
nal for q moment, and then Whistling
Hawk drew an arrow from his culver and
lifted IL to his boWstring. t ss
Not so, my brother interposed Bald
Eagle, laying OBTAINING hand upon the
others wrist. s'Shoot not, lest lie you
only wound the brute, Ii 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 on the right
'Waugh!o 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, it's forepaws dang
ing oddly, while from underneath the
coarse hide hand stole forth. Then the