The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1903-07-10

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they'll GO into camp there. From the
trail they made guess there's many's
so or go in the party"
Her sister became instantly grave
and turned back to her wheel. But il
was now getting too dark to work,
and one after another the girls left
their spinning and gathered round the
fireplace. Presently Mrs. Rodgers
lifted the pot from the crane and
emptied its contents into a huge plat
ter on the table. Then she took the
johnny cakes from the board and an
nounced supper.
AS she did SO there came a wild, pc
culiar cry, something between the howl
of a wolf and the whinny of horse.
Mrs. Rodgers turned excitedly.
"Your fathers back" she cried;
''that's his horse"
mo, no, mother" expostulated one
of the girls, "that's only loon. You've
often heard Betty initiate Them" and
she looked at the young girl for con-
firmation of herwords.
But Betty did not answer. She was
sitting with her head slightly bent
forward, and an intent. puzzled express
sion on her fair young face. Again
came the wild, quavering cry. Betty
rose hurriedly and took down her gun
from its place on the wall. Its no
loon," she said, calmly, but with
strange light blazing in her eyes. "A
looms cry isn't so perfect as that. 1t
shakes more. An, besides, looms don't
cry in a storm like this. It's an InJin
runner calm the rest. He's likely
found my tracks, or something.
Hark!" as the cry came once more
through the darkness. THAT means
for all the rest to hurry to him, quick's
they can. Fasten the door an WIN
der, an don't open 'em for nothin'
nor nobody till you hear me whistle"
and before they could divine her in
tention she had slipped through the
door and out into the darkness.
Mrs. Rodgers sprang forward to in
tercept her, but was too late. "You
don't s'pose she's goin' to fight the
whole Injin tribe, do your" she asked,
TREMENDOUSLY.
mo, mother; you can trust Betty to
take care of herself" treasured the old
est girl. "She has thought of some
plan to help u.s." But her actions were
less confident than her words. for she
took down her gun, then paused irreso-
lutely.
II s'pose I'd do her more harm than
good" she said, doubtfully. II don't
know the woods like she does. an
would be sure to get lost an need her
help" She stood still moment, then
replaced her gun on the wall.
Half an hour passed. Then once
more they heard that strange. weird
cry. But this time it was fainter, and
seemed to come from lower down the
valley. They looked at each other
questioningly. Another ten minutes,
and it came again. very low and faint
this time and scarcely to be distin-
guished above the noise of the storm.
A sudden look of intelligence flashed
into the oldest girls eyes.
"Why. it's Betty herself" she cried
II wonder we didn't think of it before.
The child has gone round on the other
side of the Injuns an is calm 'em
away. She's maxim 'em believe that
cry's made by one Of their own run
ners. an they're follerin' it. To think
of Betty foolin' whole war party"
She rose excitedly. and once more took
her gun down from its pegs. I wisht
there was some way for us to be help |
in her, girls. 1t don't seem right for |
US to be here, doip' nothin', an her |
out in the storm with q whole pack OF |
Injins behind her"
Hour after hour went by, and still |
they waited, silent and watchful, but |
trying to avoid each others eyes.
There was nothing they could do, only
wait. Outside the storm had increased |
in violence and was now raging and |
about the little cabin.
At last there was slight noise out
side, followed by clear. boyish whis-
tie.
In an instant six figures were crowd
ing about the door, each trying to
undo the fastenings.
"Why. you poor things!" cried Bet.
y. few minutes later, as she disen-
ragged herself from their grasp; you
let as though I'd been on a war path,
sure enough. 'Twan't much; but I'm
Jest beaten out" and she dropped
YEARLY on one. Of the benches. 81
cooled 'em down fur's the Saugatucket.
m then slipped of an come back by
roundabout way. must "a gone
5 miles, there an back. They won't
'e apt to come here ag'in, for the
torm1l wash my trail out long afore
nornin'." A sparkle came into her
yes and she broke into q merry peal
I laughter. 81 guess they'll think
was old Bad Medicine himself who
ras leadin' 'em. It was lots of fun"
When Willett Rodgers returned from
plymouth and heard the story, he
laced his hand proudly on Betty's
rown curls.
THE Injins have been maxim bad
aid down the country" he said, grave
:, Aburnin' houses an runnin' of cat
lie. II it hadn't been for this little
irl ] expect our cabin would "a gone