The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-24

show purporting that the quarry was al
ready out Of the defle and coming up the
Indian path.
Richard swore grievously. but the old
backwoodsman took the checkmate
pIacidly and began to set the
horses were the stake. hiding his useless
rife in a hollow tree-his powder had been
soaked and spoiled In the carly morning
plunge for life-and drawing his hunting
knife to feel its edge and point.
"Ez l allow. that fotches US to the hoss-
lifting" he said. in his slow drawl. Then
he laid his upon us. "Ordly.
and in sojer-fashion. now; no %whooping
and yelling. If the hoss-captain's got
scouts out a-s'arching for US. one good
screech from these here varmints we're a.
going to put out'n their mis'ry nd fix our
fints for kingdom come. I amt none
afeard O. your nerve''-this to Richard and
me-"leastwise. not when 1t comes to fair
and square sojer-fishting. But this here
onfall has got to be like the shifting o. the
'Malekites-root and branch: and II we're
tempted to be anywise merciful. Jest ricol-
lect that for the sake o them wimmen-
folks we're got to have these hossesr'
You are not to suppose that he was hold
Ing us inactive while he thus exhorted US.
On the contrary. he was posting US skill
fully beside the trace like the shrewd old
Indian fighter that he was. with a rare and
practiced eve to the maximum Of cover
with the minimum of thicket tangle to i'm
pede the rush or TO shorten the sword
swing.
disadvantage: that since the enemy was
close at hand we dared not crdss the path
TO give our trap a jaw on either side. To
Offset this. the Catawba dropped out of
line and disappeared; and when tine Chero-
KEGS were no more than d hundred yards
nrtn,- No -n11 na,,a " -irLt ltlr- Ii-
lance in the opposite direction. running
easily down the path to meet the up-com-
ing riders.
Richard let slip an admira tion-oath under
his breath. There's a inc bit of strategy
for you!" lie whispered. That willy Jack
at-a-pinch of ours VIII befool them into be-
lieving that he is a runner from the Cowec
Towns. 'Tis our cue to lie close: he will
halt them just here. and there will be row.
ing eyes in the heads of the two who have
not to talk
We had not long to wait. Our cunning
ally timed his hating of the emissaries to
a nicely. and when the three Cherokees
drew rein they were within easy blades
reach. The powwow. heightened by inca
noola till we We're near bursting with i'm
patience. was spun out worldly. and pres
entity we saw the pointing of it. The Ca
tawpa was affecting to doubt the protests
of the emissaries and would nave them dis
ihOuiit anu PiONc thCii SoOu lailh - SIlOh
ing the peace-pipe with him.
l give you fair warning. my dears, that
you may turn the page here and skip what
follows If you are fain to be tender-heart-
ed on the score of these savage enemies Of
ours. 1t was in the very summer ~solstice
of the year of violence: a time when he
who took the sword was like to perish with
the sword; and we thought Of little save
that Margery and her h~andmaiden were in
deadliest peril. and that these Indians had
tivo horses which We must have.
And DIS for my own part in the
fray, when 1 recognized in the ive-feath-
cred chieftain Of the three that copper
hued imp of Satan who had been the mer-
CHESS master of ceremonies at the torturing
of my poor black Tomas, the decent need
of mercy which even a seasoned soldier may
cherish died within me, and l made sure |
the steel would find its mark.
So, when Uncanoola drew forth his to-
bacco pipe and made the three doomed ones |
sit with him in the path to smoke the peace
whit all around. We picked out each his
man and smote to slay. The scythe-like
sweep of Jennifer's mighty claymore left
the five-feathered chieftain the shorter by
a head in the same pulse-beat that the
scanted a second of the breath
to yell with; though now / recall 1t, the |
gurgling death-cry of the poor wretch with
the steel in his throat was more terrible
to hear than any war-whoop. AS for the
old borderer, he was more deliberate. Be- /
ing fair behind and within arms reach of
his man, he seized him by the scalp-lock, ,
bent the head backward across his knee
but, taught! these are the Eerest butcher
letails, and 1 would spare you-and myself.
as well. !
While yet this most merciless decd was
ADDING, the Catawba bounded to his feet
md made sure OF the horses which were
earring and snorting with alright. That
lone, he must needs gloat. ~Indianwise, over !