The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-12-06

ing volley the Englishmen were thrown
into confusion; while the Indians, sum-
moned by the firing and the shrilling OF
the captains whistle. dashed blindly into
the trap. At the right moment INCA
noola touched of his powder train and
cut in with clear field for his rescue OF
Dick and me.
OF the complete success OF these
various cltmaxings, Ephraim Yeates
had his first assurance when we
three came safely to the rendez-
vous; for. after firing his masked
battery, the old hunter lost no
time in rejoining the women and In has
tening with them out OF the valley. Had
these three been afoot we might have
overtaken them; but Yeates had been
lucky enough to stumble upon the black
mare peacefully cropping the grass in
little glade; and with this mount for
Margery and her tire-woman he had
easily outpaced us.
All this I had from Yeates what time
Margery was pouring the wine and oil Of
womanly sympathy into Richards
'woundings; and 1 may confess that
while the ear was listening to the hun
ter's tale, the eye was taking note of
these her tender ministrations, ana the
heart was seIIing them down to the
score of a great love which would not be
denied Twas altogether as 1 would
have had 1t; and yet the thought came
unbidden that she might spare a niggard
moment and the breath to ask me how
did And because she would not, l do
think my burns smarted the crueler.
1t was to have surcease of these extra
smartings that 1 turned my back upon
the trio under the haring torch and took
UP with Ephraim Yeates the pressing
question of the moment
"a 70 o We may MT IfrC
I said. Have you marked out a line Of
retreat?"
Tho old borderer was busted with his
loot of the Indian camp-'twas not in
his nature to come off empty-handed.
however hard pressed he had been for
time. In the rattle of 1t, guns and pis-
tolls, dressed skins and warrior finery he
came upon my good blade and Richards
great claymore-trophies claimed by the
head men of the Cherokees after our TAX
ing. as we made no doubt.
Found 'em hanging in the lodge that
usen TO belong to the Great Bear" said
the hunter. and then with grim humor:
Lowed to keep EN- to ricollect ye by
II so be ye was foreordained and predes-
tinated to go up In a fiery chariot like
the good old Elijah" The weapons dis
posed of. he made answer to my query
''Ez for making tracks immejitly, If not
sooner, allow there amt no two notions
about that. But I'm dad-daddled If
know which-a-way to put out, Cap'n
John. and that's the gospil fact"
why not strike for the Great Trace.
and go back the way the powder con-
voy Gamer" 1 asked.
1t could be done. he said. but the haz-
ard was great. Twas out Of all reason
to hope that there were no survivors left
in the sunken valley to carry the news OF
the earthquake massacre. That news
once cried abroad in the nearby Cowee
Towns. the entire Tuckasege nation
would turn out to run US down. More
over, the avengers would look to find US
in the only practicable horse path lead
ing eastward.
"Ez I'm telling you right now, Cap'n
i John. we made one more blunder In this
here onfaI of our'n. OWN to our having
neer a seventh son of a seventh son
among us to look a little ways ahead
Where we flashed In the pan was in not
making our rendyvoo down yonder
where you and Cap'n Dick got in. Ever
last one of 'em able to crawl is
a-making straight for that crivvis
dodge-hole right now, and If we was
there we could do 'em like the Gileadites
did the men O. Ephraim at the passages
o. the Jordan"
Fresh as I was from the torture fire. I
could not forbear q shudder at this old
mans savagery.
xiii them IN cold bloodT' would say.
"Anan?" he Queried. as not under
standing my point Of view; and let the
matter rest. He was OF those who slay
and spare not where an enemy is con-
cerned.
But when we came to consider 1t
there seemed to be no alternative to the
eastward fitting By way Of the Great
Trace To the west and south there was
only the trackless wilderness; and to the
north no white settlement nearer than
that OF the over-mountain folk on the
Watauga- asked If We might hope to
reach this.
"'Tis long fifty mile ez the crow
flies, over e'enabout the mountainousest
patch o. land that ever laid out O. DOORS"
was the hunters reply. and there amt
neer a deer track. ez knows on. to pint
the way"
Then we must ride eastward and run
the risk OF pursuit by the Tuckaseges,"
said 1.
'Ez I reckon, that's about tho long and
short Of it And I do everlastedly de-
spise to make that poor little gal jump
her boss and ride skimper-scamper
again. when she's been fair living a.
horseback for a fortnight"
"She will not fail you" I ventured to
say. adding: But Jennifer 10 In poor
fettle for making speed"
Its ride or be skulped for him. and
allow he'll ride" Quoth the old hunter,
Fastening his preparations for the start
Reckon we can get him on q boss right
now"
1 went to sea Margery rose at my
approach. and even in the poor light
could see her draw herself up as II she
would hold me at my proper distance
Your patient, Mistress Margery-we
must mount and ride at once Is he nt7'
NO"
But we must be far to the eastward
before daybreak."
II cannot help It II you make him
ride tonight you will finish what those
cruel savages began. Captain Ireton-"
we have little choice-none. 1 should
say"
'Oh, you are bitter hardr' she cried.
though wherein my offending lay just
then I was wholly at loss to know.
"'Tis your privilege to say so.'' re-
Joined But as for making Dick ride.
that will be but the kindest cruelty. We
are only a little way from the nearest
Indian towns, and II the daylight find