The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-01-06

OF fauaticism. The courage OF Stock
ard and Bill was the adherence to deep
rooted ideals. NJ. that the love OF life
was less. but the love OF race tradition
more. not that they were unafrail 10
die. but that they were brave enough
not TO live at the price of shame.
Tn missionary rose, for the moment
| swayed by the mood OF sacrifice. He half
crawled over the barricade to proceed TO
the other camp, but sank back, 4 trem-
bling mass. wailing.
Bill reached over. plucked him 10 his
feet, and shook him, fercely. silently.
Then he dropped the bundle OF quiyering
nerves anr turned his attention to the
two converts. But they showed little
fright and a cheerful alacrity in pre-
pairing for the coming passage at arms.
Stockard. who had been talking in un-
dertones with the Teslin woman, now
turned TO the missionary.
Fetch him over here. he comm~--ed
Of Bill.
Non" lie ordered, when sturges Owen
had been duly deposited before him,
J make US man and wife. and be lively
about it." Then he added apologeticaIly
to Bill: NJ telling how it's TO end. 50
l just thought Ia get my affairs straight
ened ~"
TIL woman obeyed the behest OF her
white lord. To her the ceremony was
meaningless. BY her lights she was his
wife, am had been from the day they
first foregathered. The converts served
as witnesses. Bill stood over the mis-
sionary. prompting him when he stun
He'd. Stockard put the responses in the
wonan's mouth. and when the time came.
for want Of better. ringed her finger
with thumb and forefnger Of his own.
Kiss the bride,' Bill Numbered, and
Sturges owen was too weak TO disobey.
Nov baptize the child."
Meat and tidy" Bill commented.
Gathering the proper outfit for a new
trail the father explained, taking the
boy from the mothers arms. If the We
man and the ksd cross the divide tonight
! they might as well be prepared for pot
lock. A long shot, Bill. between our
selves, but nothing lost if it misses"
a cup of water served the purpose, and
the child was laid away in q secure cor
ner of the barricade. The men built the
fire. and the evening meal was cooked.
The sun hurried round TO the north.
sinking closer TO the horizon. The heav-
ems in that quarter grew red ara bloody.
The shadows heightened, the light dim
med, and in the sombre recesses Of the
forest life slowly died away. Even the
wild fowl in the river softened their
raucous chatter. Only the tribesmen in
creased their clamor. war drums booming
and voices raised in savage folk songs.
But as the sun dipped they ceased their
tumult The rounded hush of midnight
was complete. Stockard rose to his knees
and peered over the logs. Once the child
walled in pain and disconnected him. The
silence was interminable, profound. Then,
Of a Sudden the robins hurst into f1l1-
throated song. The night had passed.
A flood of dark figures boiled across
the open. Arrows WhistIed and bow
thongs sang. The shrill-tongued rifles
answered back. A spear, and a mighty
cast, transfxed the Teslin woman as
she lowered above the child. A spent
arrow, diving between the logs, lodged in
the missiOnary's arm.
There was no stopping the rush.
Sturges Owen fed to the tent, while
the men were sweput from their feet,
buried beneath the human tide. Hay
Stockard alone regained the surface,
fiinging the tribesmen aside like yelping
ours. He had managed to seize an axe.
A dark hand grasped the child by a
naked foot and drew it from beneath its
mother. At arms length it's puny body
circled through the air, dashing TO death
against the logs. Stockard Glove the
man to the chin and fell to clearing space.
The ring Of savage faces closed in, rain
: ing upon him spear thrusts and bone
barbed arrows. The sun shot up, and
they swayed back and forth in the Grim
son shadows. Twice, with his axe blocked
by too deep a blow, they rushed in; but
each time he flung them clear. They fell
under foot. and he tramDled dead and
dying, the way slippery with blood. Then
they drew back from him in awe and he
leaned breathless upon his axe.
Blood of my soul!' cried Baptiste
the Red. But thou are a man. Deny thy
God, and thou shalt live yet"
Stockard swore his refusal.
Behold! A woman." Sturges owen had
been brought before the half-breed.
Beyond a scratch on the arm he was
uninjured, but his eyes roved about him
IN an ecstasy Of fear. The heroic figure
Of the blasphemer, bristling with wounds
and arrows, leaning defantly upon his
axe, Indifferent indomitabIe, superb,
caught his wavering vision. And he felt
a great envy of the man who could go
down serenely to me dark gates of death.
, Surely Christ, and not he, Sturges Owen.
had been nodded in such manner. And
why not he' He felt dimly the curse
Of ancestry, the feebleness of spirit which
had come down to him out of the past.
He had been raised IN to serve the Lord
only that he might be cast down. He
had been given faith without lie strength
of faith. 1t was unjust.
Where, now. is thy God?" the half
breed demanded.
Il do not know" He stood straight and
rigid, like a child repeating a catcchism.
Hast thou, then. a God at all?"
81 had"
And now9"
NO.
Hay StocKard. swept the blood from
his eyes and laugher. The missionary
looked at him curiously, as in a dream.
In that which had transpired, and which
was to transpire, he had no part. The
words Of BaDtiste came to him ~faintlvr
Very good. See that this man go
tree, and that no harm befall him. Let
him depart in peace. Give him a canoe
and food Sar hiC fono 4o-oxl IT.