The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-03-13

would arrive, but ne was certain that
y would take place very sccn--any
day, In fact.
Hugh. I'll tell You what well do :
John said TO his brother. "You take
old Doll and follow father up. You'll
be pretty sure 10 ovcrtakc him some.
where on the road. I'll 60 down the
river to 81. Mary's and let the folks
there know what 10 look out for"
Cant do IT," said Jim Crow. "In.
jun both sides river. all along road
clear down TO big bend"
The "big bend" was about ten miles
away, halfway of the distance, by
river, to Sc. Mary's. Once beyond
that. according to Jim Crows knowi-
edge OF the situation. there would he
no danger likely 10 fan the travellers
but the question was how to get he
yond u. II seemed that the Indians
had camps ON both sides of the river
between Mr.. Sanfor,l's place and the
big bend" where the roads rnn over
which settlers from above would he
likely TO go II they became frightened
and sought safety in flight.
Jim Crow was evidently In a rather
nervous condition of mind. for he was
anxious to be gone. lie had riskcd
great deal in doing what he had to
warn of the danger ahead the white
family who had befriended him. and
he did not care to arouse the suspicion
of his red brothers. Therefore he
made his visit brief one. and disap-
pcared In the forest.
81 can't bear to think OF letting the
Indians kill Oft everybody at st. Ma
rvs without trying to do something
to warn them of their danger" said
John. "If ! could only get beyond
the big bend!"
Just then trcc-top came floating
down the river. close to the shore
where they were standing. Many Of
its branches were above the water.
md so thick were they that one
could not see through them.
A plan flashed through the boys
brain. Why could he not conceal
himself among the branches of the
trce-top and drift down the river IN II?
The Indians along the shores would
not he likely to suspect that IL gave
shelter to any one. They probably
were not suspicious, or on the look
out as yet, believing ns no doubt they
did, that the whites had no nnticipa-
tion of trouble ahead.
"I'll do IT," he decided, and he
jumped into n boat and r,wcd out
into the river after the tree-top,
which he succeeded In pushing up
against the bank. where IL anchored
itself ;mong the bushes. temporarily.
lie explained his plan to Hugh.
"You'll have no trouble In getting
nway without any help from me-" he
said. ITS all clear In that direction.
~ what Jim Crow snid In so. So I
shant worry any about you. and you
needn't worry any about yourself"
They saddled old Doll. and John saw
his brother ride away, wondering u
fate would ever bring them together
again. Then he climbed out upon the
tree-top. and let himself down among
its branches, with the lower part of
his body in the water. which was
warm, and not nj all unpleasant TO
come In contact with. lie found that
he could very easily support himself
by throwing his arms over the branch
es of the tree-top In such manner
that nothing but his head would he
out OF the water. lie pushed the
novel craft AWAY from the shore and
presently II caught the current and
swung out into the stream.
|. AZ nearly ms he could calculate the
stream had current OF about n mile
an hour. IL was now past sundown.
ana dusk was setting in. There would
he about eight hours OF comparative
darkness In his favor. and allowing
his calculations OF the movement OF
the current To be correct, they would
take him well along toward the big
bend.
II must have been nearly midnight
before he came upon any indication
ot the enemy Ihen ne saw the Kicker
oi camp hres here ana there along the
shores. Hy and by they were left he
hind. nut presently he came upon
Others. These he passed safely, and
as the first red CLEANS OF dawn be-
gan tn show In the east he felt quite
sure That he had go, ont OF the cne-
my's country.
Bnt In this he was mistaken. ms he
soon found out. As the tree-top
swung around litti" curve In the
stream he saw quite little village
of Wigwams ahead on the side of N