The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-12-28

~ was but giving you a warning In re-
turn fC, your caution to me-"
1T WIS quite Unnecessary replied the
Captain: for 1 had no intention of coercing
you. The question is, Are you to guide Us
to Fort Charlotte or are you not?"
do you intend to take your men through
In a BODY with that squealing devil among
them?" asked Amos. with a contemptuous
wave of his hand toward the piper.
Certainly the Captain.
Then you need no guide. The way is
perfectly clear. For twenty miles there is
a rough cart road until you come to the log
house which was burnt; after that you will
find a path through the forest to Fort Char
lotte. The way is blazed, and even you cam
not miss it."
you will not go with US. then?"
mo"
You are afraid?'
Yes"
You admit yourself to be a coward?'
Yes"
And I was told you were a great Indian
fighter"
The Indians are more afraid of me and
my one damaged rifle than of you and your
hundred men. and they have reason to be-
Yet o won't march with us?"
NO
You prefer a warm Christmas dinner In
the stockade to a cold meal in the forest"
said the officer, sarcastically.
who wouldn't" inquired Amos.
Captain Maclean gaZed upon the imper-
turbable bushranger with d smile of easy
tolerance.
If you were in command, what would
you do?"
Il would tie up that windbag with its
screeching tubes and leave 1t in the stock
ade with half of your men to see that 1t
didn't break loose again. The other half l
should put into some sensible dress, cover
up their knees, place moccaSins on their
feet instead of those clumsy, thick-soled
boots, and give them wooden or buckskin
mittens for their hands. Then l should
wait till night fell and lead them I'D the
river on the ice. L would inhict the death
penalty on any man who Whispered or
mace a nose louder than d shadow makes
In passing. AT certain points they would
have to crawl in Indian rIe on their hands
and knees in the deepest shadow of the
highest bank. The way is longer and
crUokeder than the wood road, but we
would reach Fort Charlotte before day
broke"
But suppose you were spied? We would
be in a trap on the ice with the Indians on
the high banks"
W would not be spied. Captain; but if
we were, we would lie low in the shadow
and let them fire in the darkness
Captain Maclean laughed heartily and
cried: We'll, my brave w~oOdiander, you
counsel greater precautions than IL we had
to meet a European army. l see the In
dams have frightened you, so 1 think a
stern lesson is neeied."
II quite agree with you" said Stebbins,
drily. "A lesson is needed, but who shall
be teacher and who pupil is another mat
ter"
There is no question about that ;" added
the Captain, confidently.
None in my mind, Captain" replied
Amos.
the Captain severely. that you prefer the
safety of the stockade to a dangerous
march with us through the forest"
Exactly, Captain"
And you will remain here in shelter
while we are fighting for the lives OF your
comrades in Fort Charlotte"
No. Captain, 1 cannot remain in the
stockade. 1 go at once to the settlement
seven miles further down the river. There
1 shall collect a score or more of my own
stripe, who know nothing Of marching,
conference.-the. and right wheeling; men
who are acquainted with the woods and
with the Indians. At the head of this band
I shall go myself to the relief OF Fort Char
lotte."
God gfe's a guild conceit O. oursel's.''
cried the Captain. soothing. You propose,
then. to accomplish with twenty men what
we shall fail to do with a hundred? Self
esteem is a very wonderful thing. woods
man."
"A very dangerous thing. Captain, on
some occasions"
Again the Captain laughted. He was a
~good-natured officer, popular with his men.
who would lave followed him anywhere.