Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-10-05


can be said that he was never so happy
as when he was riding to the rear, with
his dark eyes fixed on her graceful form
They rode to the summit of the Sugar
Loaf and reaching there, Florence leap
ed from her horse and helped her cousin
to dismount. Scion came forward to
take the brides, but Florence said to
him:
Tie the horses, Scion, and come here.
The graceful youth bowed and obeyed
her.
'Solon," said Florence, without looking
at him, did you not tell me not long
since that your people, your tribe, was
not happy because the white warriors
came into this land and built forts to
overawe them?"
81 did, Miss Florence" said Scion,
bashfully.
Did you tell me the truth?'
81 did,
"And the Skagits are still dissatisfied"
''They are"
How many warriors have theyV
"At one time the Skagit warriors were
many as the trees on the sides Of the
Cascades"
"But how many have they nowW
"Mebbe four hundred" he replied, not
knowing what to make of her question.
"And they are brave"
"'Their foes think So"
"Do your warriors know me?"
'"They know you and worship YOU" re-
piled Scion, dofting his cap.
"You do not say that to please me|
81 would die to please you, but would
not lie-unless you desired it."
81 do not desire it. Did not the Ska
gifts, when 1 was a very little child,
adopt me into their tribe, as a compli-
ment to my father?
"Not as a compliment to your father,
but because they loved the golden-haired
white girl"
"Then l am a Skagit?" She laid her
hand ON her white forehead and looked
at him.
''You are"
"And my tribe still loves me?'
Eyes"
"And they would fight to save me from
harm?'
"They would die to keep you from the
shadow of HARM" said Scion, quickly.
Florence clasped her hands and looked
up at the sky for some time in silence,
then she turned quickly and asked:
"Solon, I can trust you"
'Haye I ever deceived you, that you
should ask that question! he said, in
an injured tone.
'You have not; but should my father
or the soldiers at the Fort know what
I want the Skagits to do, before 1t is
done, it might cost me my life"
'EThey cannot know it from me-"
81 am sure Of that Scion; you are as
faithful as the old Greek after whom
we named you was reputed to be wise.
Here is my hand"
He took her little white hand, and,
kneeling down, laid it on the top of his
bowed head-the tribal sign of fealty and
fidelity.
Now Scion, l will tell you ALL she
said, fully assured that the youth was
in accord with her.
She came directly to the point.
The young soldier who had rescued
her from the wreck of the Arrow was
now a prisoner at Fort Clark and con-
demned to death. In two moons they
would take him out and shoot him. He
was charged with killing an officer, but
this was false. He was as innocent as a
child, and pure as the snow glistening on
the crests of the Cascades.
THE officers at Fort Clark" said So
Ion, must be bad men,"
"Some of them are very bad, and 9TH
ers are very good. If the Skagits aid me,
Fort Clark can be overcome and not
gun need be fred, nor life lost.
us that possible?"
Take my horse, tomorrow morning,
and ride till you find Long Lance, chief
of the Skagits. He once told me that
he would die to serve me. Ask him if
he remembers that pledge. Tell him that
1 want to speak with him, and that he
must keep his tongue silent"
Shortly after dark, the eve of the sec
ond day after Scion left, he came back,
and sought out his mistress.
you have ridden hard" she said
Long Lance came back with me; he
is waiting in the hills
And he will see me tomorrow"
Eyes; on the summit of the Sugar
Loaf
The next morning Florence and Jennie
ordered their horses again, and with So
lon at a respectful distance behind, they
started for the summit of Sugar Loaf
mountain.