The National tribune., 1902-10-30

ne SIeakinS MeHclteS. eXci:tlWeu the
Forester. Il should know that war-cry
anywhere. Quick. lad, to kiver! They
are coming this way
| Eden Harwood realized this, but 50
swiftly had the exciting incidents follow
cd each other that lie lacked the presence
of mind that comes only from long train.
ing amid such scenes to act intelligently.
| The Forester was already bending over
the form of Philip. and as Eden turned
to see if lie wanted assistance, the other
said:
Lend a hand, lad: we must get the
Chief under kiver. He lives, and meb
be-
| The yells of the approaching Indians
now drowned the sound Of the Forester's
voice. warning them that no time WIS to
be lost if they would find some place where
they might make defense against them
Together lifting the unconscious form OF
Philip, they retreated as rapidly as posi-
| be, their progress checked by their bur
den. to an angle in the rock wall on their
right. They had barely laid the body OF
their Indian ally upon the ground before
/ the foremost of the Melicites burst into
view. Eden HarwOod had prudently with.
drawn out of sight. but his experienced
companion, usually so cautious in moments
of peril. seemed to have forgotten all re.
gard for self, as he exclaimed. while he
threw back the hammer of his firearm:
Here's Il purity amazement, with the
painted pagans on hand for a scrimmase
and no weapon that durst speak,
| He showed uncommon emotion, ap.
parentiy oblivious of the danger he was
c0urting. while he bent a scrntinizing
glance upon the pan of 'OId Danger
| whose honor was dearer to him than his
own life. Suddenly low chuckle left his
bearded lips, while he was heard to ex-
| claim. as he shook another printing of
powder under the hammer:
''It was Il blameful indiscretion, and
| oughter Known
| a cloud of arrows from the red men
whistled about his head. and one of them
| striking him in the side he staggered back
| against the wall without discharging his
| weapon. Eden gave n cry of horror, rs
he saw his friend reel as if about to fall
ard he sprang to catch him in his arm.
at was blameful indiscretion." began
the Forester. but he did not complete his
sentence, for the AIelicites swept past
them like herd of frightened deer pur-
sued by q score of hunters. Their cries
rang Oh tie air until the sounds died away
in the distance, and an unnatural silence
settled over the scene.
The Forester had dropped upon the
earth. where lie sat leaning against the
| side of the rock. the blood flowing from
the arrow wound so his hunting shirt was
saturated By the red fluid.
"Sich wanton waste o discretion has
re'cr haunted me aforc. if /. who has
Ee'c- reason to be vain, do say it. For
give an Of man for misjudging you,
friend he said holding up his weather.
beaten gun in Il manner that gave token
or Danger. but the OF mans short
sightedness. "
You have been hit, and fear the
wound is both deep and serious,' cried
Eden. who began to realize the hazard of
his position if it should prove that both
of his companions We're mOrtally wounded.
"Awee. nOw's me, lad. no deeper N it
Ougliter be to show the OF man his fool
islness. Itgbe n just Judgment upon me
for blaming or Danger for that which in
all consistency it could not avoid. A grain
o sand did the mischief. lad. it did But
it lay handsomely to kiver the powder.
Hare the Alelicites taken their heels with
emp"
IF they are still running as they were
when they went past us they are many
miles from this place nOw." What could
they have been after?'
"Arter, lad? 1t was what was arter
'em! Have you ne'er seen so much s a
hair o. the Wolf Stalker?"
mo, Forester. So You think it was he
who frightened the redskins SO? I think
you are right. But if it was so, it has not
appeared in sight. 1t may be still on the
heels of the Indians" .'s r'-s''-
"a proper dispensatiOn, lad. Does not
the Chief begin to move?'
''He does. Forester. Here / stand so
helpless willie both you and he need my
attention. l wish now l had your skill
in looking. after your wounds"
"Mebbe / can fix up the Chief" and as
painful as it must have been to him, the
Forester moved to the side of the SokOkis,
.I. N.y.v. Il
give dressed the wound, which was found
to be of such u nature that the Forester
shook his head.
'It be an ugly rent. lad. but the Chief
will make good fight. Now mebbe you
can lend hand to me-"
Though his own wound must have been
pa;ning him severely. the Forester had
not shown any indication Of it, though now
as he turned his attention to removing the
arrow from his flesh his features were
drawn as if it required a mighty effort to
control his feelings.
ut be too far back for me to work well,
lad. 1t must be your trail to follow.
Ne'er. the cutting o. bit o flesh, lad, but
be keerful and pull the Melicite token out
straight"
Eden .Harwood felt his hand tremble
in spite of himself. as he began his task,
but working under the direction of his
companion he finally had the satisfaction
of having removed the offending shaft.
Then he washed out the wound. wiped it
gently with lint, and bound about it n
bandage This accomplished. the Forester
declared himself well pleased with the re-
suit.
The situation of the three proved more
serious than Eden HarwOOd had at first
anticipated. Though Philip rallied enough
to speak to his companion, the Forester de-
clared that it would be weeks before he
would be able to be moved. AS to HIM
self. it began to look so it would be sew
eral days before he could resume the trail.
''Aweel. lad. it came purity near being
the long trail for the Chief and me. But
I'll pick out the knots luicker'n he"
While Eden would fain have gone ahead
alone. he felt that it would be unwise as
well as unkind for him to do it. Thus n
week passed anxiously to the three. at the
end of which time consultation was held
as to what was best to be done, the Chief
proposing that his companions start at
once, leaving him to mend as he could.
"It be proper for us to do it," declared
the Forester. with such cured meat as
we can leave him, the Chief will be able
to look ont for himself. He'll have to-"
The following morning having seen
Philip made as comfortable as possible,
and seen that provision enough to last him
10 days had been procured, the others re-
luctantly babe him adieu, while they
started forward toward st. Francis.
UO be continued)
Will You