The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-16
CHAPTER XXI.

night when we came down into the Great
Trace near the ambush ground where we
had set our trap for the peace men.
The night had cleared most beautifully,
and overhead the stars were burning like
points of white fire in the black dome OF
the heavens. AS often happens after
shower. the night shrillings of the forest
were in fullest tide; and a whipwilfs widow,
disturbed by our approach, futtered TO
higher perch and set up his plaintive pro-
test
AT our turning eastward on the trace. the
old hunter massed our little company as
compactly as the path allowed. and giving
us the word to follow cautiously, tossed his
bride rein to the Catawba and went on
ahead to feel out the way.
This Encouragement set me to ride abreast
with Margery: and for the first time since
that fateful night in the upper room at APP
pleby Hundred We were together and meas
urably alone.
Since death might be lying in wait for US
at any turn in the winding bridie-path, L
had no mind to break the strained silence.
But. womanlike, she would not miss the
chance to thrust at me.
Are you not afire with shame. Captain
Ireton?" she said. bitterly; and then: How
you must despise me?'
I knew not what she meant: but being
most anxious for her safety. I begged her
not to talk. putting it all upon the risk we
ran in passing the outlet of the sunken
valley. Now, as you have long since learned.
my tongue was but a skilless servant; and
though I sought to make the command the
gentlest plea, she took instant umbrage and
struck back sniartly.
"You need not make the danger an ex-
cuse. 1 will be still; and when 1 speak to
you again. you will be willing enough to
hear me, I promise you'll!
Nay, then, dear lady; yea must not
take it sor' 1 protested. "'Tis my misfor-
tune to be ever laundering"
But to this she gave me no answer at all;
and barring a word or two of heartening
for her serving woman, she never opened
her lips again throughout the passage peril
Gus.
BY good hap we came to the crossing of
the cavern stream without meeting any foe
man; and on the farther side of the shall
low ford we found the old borderer await
ing
"Ez 1 allow, we've smelt the bait in the
trap and come off with whole bones, like
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, he
said. mixing metaphor, Scripture phrase
and frontier idiom as was his won't Then
he put a leg over his horse and gave the
stirrup-word From now on, old Jehu, the
son o. Nimshi, is the hosswhipper we've got
to beat. Get we behind, Cap'n John, and
give the boss that lags half inch r so OF
your swordp'int."
be remembered. Down the valley of the
swift river to the ford where Yeates and
had crossed after the mock rescue OF Mar
gerry the night before. we let the horses
pick the way as they could. But once be-
yond the ford where the trace was wider
and the footing less precarious, we piled
whip and spur. pushing the saddle beasts
for every stride we could get out or them III
the blind race.
/ have marveled often that we came not
once to grief in all this long night gallon
chance for it, The overarchng trees of the
great forest shut out all the starlight anC
the trace was no more than a bridlepath
rougher than any cart road. Yet We hello
the breakneck pace steadily, save for the
time IL took to thread some steep defile TO q
stream crossing. or to scramble up its fel
low on the opposite side; and when the
dawn began to gray in the sky ahead, We
were well out of the broken mountain re-
gion into the opener forest Of the hill
country.
The sun was yet below the eastern hori
ION when we came to the fording of larg
er stream than any We had crossed in the
night. Its course was toward the sunrise
hence 1 took 1t for some tributary of the
Its the Broad ITSELF" said Ephrain
Yeates. in answer to my asking; land VII
1t amt: leastwise, Ii amt the one you know
'Tis the one the Parleyvoos claimed In the
old war. and they call 1t the Frinch Broad.
but that flows north and westward, IL
remember Alright" said l.
$50 Ii do. so ii do--in gineral But here
spells. w y
eff this be the French Broad we are no
yet out of the Tuckasege country. as
| take it,.
mighty nigh to it; nigh enough to max,
camp for a resting spell. / reckon ye're a
needing that same pretty toler'ble bad, ain
We, little gal?" this last TO Margery.
Weary as she was she smiled upon hin
brightly, as though he had been her grand
sire and so free to name her as he pleased
.I shall sleep well when We are out o.
danger. But you must not stop for me. OF
| for Jeanne, till tbs safe to do So
Safe? Lord love We. child! safe Is
word beyond us yit. and will be till we so
we down on your own daddy's doorstone
But we'll make out to give We bite ant
sup and forty winks o sleep immejitly, Il
| not sooner. now.
So. on the farther side of the stream tn,
| hunter led the way aside. and when W,
were come to a small meadow glade will
| good grazing for the horses he called {
| halt lifted the women from their saddles
and came TO help me ease Dick down. Tn,
poor lad was stiff and store, having no NOR,
| use of his joints than If he were a bandaget
mummy; but the fever delirium had passed
and he was able TO laugh feebiy at the tree
| limb continuance rugged to hold him in tn,
| saddle.
How did we come out of it, Jack?' h,
asked when we had let him feel the com
| fort of lying fiat upon his back on the sof
sward.
las you see. We are all here and all IL
| fair fettle. saving yourself. You're thu
He smiled. and his eyes, languid with tn,
fever, sought out Margery, who would no
| come anigh whilst | was with him.
That remains to be seen. Jack. If m,
| gamer"
what did you dream?"
He beckoned me to bend lower over him
81 dreamed / was sore hurt. and that sh
was binding up my bruises and crying owe
me-.
"'Twas no dream" l said; and with tina
| went to help Yeates make a bough shelte
i for the women while Uncanoola was grind
| ing the maize for the breakfast cakes
'Tis not my purpose 10 weary YOU with
/ day-by-day accounting of all that befel
| us on the way back to Mecklenburg Suffic
| Il 10 say that we ate and slept and rose 4
| mount and ride again; this for five days an,
| nights, during which Jennifer's fever grew
/ upon him steadily.
AT the close of the fifth day our nigh
| halt was in a deserted log cabin at tn
| edge of an unfinished clearing in the hear
| of the forest. Here Richards sickness an
| chored us. and for three full weeks I'll
/ journey paused.
/ We n,irsed the lad as best we could for ,
| fortnight. dosing him with stewings of sucl
roots and herbs as the Catawba could fin
| in the wood. Then. when we were at ou
| wits ends, and Yeates and / were castin
| about how We could compass the bringinl
of a doctor from the settlements. the feve
Il -. - L.