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

was well-nigh masterful enough to over
ride the strongest will. Yet l did make
shift to hold fast and In mid flight the
twirling ak veered aside to miss me by
q hairsbreadth, gashing the tree at my
ear when 1t struck
''Brayoi well met" cried Richard; and
then. betwixt his TEEN: Here comes
mine"
AS he spoke a second tomahawk was
sped. heard it strike with dull crash
that might have been on flesh and bone.
or on oak bark could not tell. l dared
not look aside till Richards haunting
laugh gave me leave to breathe again.
The Indians answered the laugh with
a yell; and now the marksmen stood out
quickly enc after another and for
a little space the air was full of
hurtling missiles. You will read in the
romances of the wondrous skill of these
savages in such diversions as these: how
they will pin the victim to a tree and
never miss Of sticking knife or Ratchet
within the thickness of the blade where
they will. But you must take these tales
with a dash Of allowance for the ro-
mancers fancy. Truly, these Indianb Of
ours threw well and skillfully; tits q
part of the only trade they know-the
trade of war-to send a weapon true to
the mark None the less, some of the
missiles flew wide; and now and then
one would nip the cloth Of sleeve or body
covering-and the flesh beneath it. as
we'll
Dick had more Of the nippings than I;
and though he kept UP a running fire of
taunts and gliding nings at the marks
men. 1 could hear the gritting oaths
aside when they pinked him.
Notwithstanding, the worst OF these
miscasts fell to my lot. A Ratchet, sped
by the clumsiest hand OF all. missed its
curving. turned, and the helve of it
struck me fair IN the stomach Net all
the parting pangs of death. as 1 fondly
believe. will lay a heavier toll on forth
tude than did this griping-stroke which
1 must endure standing erect. IT'S no
figure of speech TO say that 1 would have
given the reversion Of heaven, and
crown to boot, for leave to double over
and groan out the agony of it.
Happily for US. there were no women
with the band, so we were spared the
crueler reinements Of these ante-burning
torments; the fiaying alive by inch-bits,
and the sticking Of blazing splints of
pitch wood in the flesh to make death
thing to be prayed for. There was
naught OF this; and firing finally Of the
marksman play, the Indians made ready
to burn us. Some ran to recover the
spent weapons; others made haste to
heap the wood in a broad circle about
our trees; and the chief. with three or
four to help, renewed the deer-thong
lashings.
Twas in the rebinding that this head
man, a right kingly looking savage as
these barbarians go, thrust bit of pa
per into my hand. and gave me time to
glance its message out by the light of
the fire. Twas line from Margery;
and this is what she said:
Dear Heart: Though you must needs
believe my love is pledged to your good
friend and mine, tits yours. and yours
alone, my lion-hearted one. am pray
ing the good God to give you dying
grace. and me the courage to follow you
quickly. MARGERY.
This by the hand Of Tallachama"
For one brief instant a wave of Joy
caught and flung me upon its highest
crest, and all these savage tormentors
could do to me became as naught. Then
the true meaning Of this her brave Ave
atque vale smote me like q space-dung
meteor. and the Joy-wave became an
ocean Of despair to engulf me in
its blacklist depths. The letter
was never meant for me; twas
for Richard Jennifer, who, as she
would think, must know the story Of her
marriage to his friend and must believe
her love went with the giving Of her
hand. And she named him Lion Heart
because he was brave and true and
strong, like that first English Richard Of
the kingly line.
I thrust the message back upon the
bearer Of 1t. begging him in dumb show
to give IL quickly to my companion. I
knew not at the time II he did 1t, being
so crushed and blinded by this fresh mis-
cry. But when the Indians drew off to
ring us in a chanting circle for the final
act, / would not let the lad see my face
for fear he might fathom the heart
break IN me and know the cause Of it.
Twas at this crisis, when all was ready
and one had run to fetch the fire, that
saw the Indian who was coming up to
fire the wood heaps drop his brand and
tread upon It.
''Ecod," said a voice. courtier-like and
smoothly modulated. otis most devilish
lucky / came. Captain Ireton. Another
moment and they would have grilled you
IN the Kings uniforms rank treason,
to say naught Of poor Jack Warden, left
without a clout to cover him"
1t needed not the glance aside to name
mine enemy. But / would not pleasure
him with an answer. Neither would
Richard Jennifer He stood silent for a
little space. smiling and nursing his chin
in one hand. as his habit was. Then he
spoke again.
70 Dlu yOu BOuSpCC0s 6ChlAC-
men. You tumbled bravely into my lit
tie trap. 1 made no doubt you'd follow
where the lady led. and so you did. But
you'll turn back from this. 1 do assure
you. If there be any virtue in an Indian
barbecue"
At this Richard could hold in no longer
Curse you'll" he gritted. do you mean
that you kidnapped Mistress Stair to
draw us out of hiding?"
Truly" said this arch hend, smiling
again. Most unluckily for you, you
I both stood in my way-you see 1 am
speaking Of IT now as a thing of the past
and I CHANGED upon this thought of
killing two birds with the one stone; nay,
three. / should say, If you count the
lady in"
Have donei" choked Richard, in a
voice thick with impotent rage. "Give
place. you hound, and let your savages
to their work."
AT your pleasure. Mr. Jennifer.
have no fancy for funeral-baked meats,
hct or cold, though they be made, as
now, to furnish forth a marriage sup
per. I bid you good night, gentlemen.
I'll go and make that call upon the lady
which you were so rude as to interrupt
little while ago" And with that he