The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-18

very devil himself in a copper colored skin.
twas he who ambushed US in so. and but
'Oh, Lord!' groaned Fslconnet. II say,
captain. drown the names in the wine ana
we'll drink them so It's by far the easiest
By this, the griZZled captains mention
or the old Fort Loudon massacre, L knew
him for that same John Stuart of the High
landers who with Captain Damare, had so
stoutly defended the frontier fort against
the savages twenty years before; knew him
and wondered had not sooner placed him.
member. he had been kings man to the
Cherokees, sort of go-between In times OF
peace, and in the border wars a man the
Indians feared. But now, 1 was soon to
learn, he was man for us to fear.
It's carried through at last" he went
on when the toast was drunk. And then he
stopped and held up warning finger. This
business will not brook unfriendly ears.
Are We safe to talk it here. Mr.. Starr
1t was Falconnet who answered.
Safe as the clock. You passed my sentry
in the road?'
He is the paddock of chain that reaches
round the house. Let's have your news,
captain"
with us. Twas all fair sailing in the coun-
Gil at Echota, the Chelakees being to a man
herce enough to dig the Ratchet up. But
with my Lord Charles. He says We have
more friends than enemies in the border
settlements, and these, our redskins, will
tomahawk them all alike.
l made a mental note of this and won
dered if my Lord CORVALLIS had met with
some new change of heart. He was not
oversqgeamish as | had known him. Then
l heard the baronet say:
But yet the thing is done?''
AS good as done. The Indians are to
have powder and lead of US, after which
mountain settlements. And that fetches us
TO your part in it, Sir Frank, and to yours,
Mr. Stair. Your troop, captain, will be the
convoy for this powder. and you, Mr.. Stair
are requisitioned to provide the commits
sary."
There was silence while cat might wink
and then Gilbert Stair broke in upon it
shrilly.
II cannot, Captain Stuart: that Is can
not! he protested, starting from his chair
Twill ruin me outright The place is
stripped-you know il well, Sir Francis
stripped bare and clean by these thieving
rebel militiamen: bare as the back of your
hand, 1 tell you! i
But the captain put him down in brief.
Enough. Mr.. Stair: We'll not constrain
you against your will. But tbs limited at
headquarters that you are but fair-weath-
er royalist at best-nay, that for some years
back you have been as rebel as the rest in
this nesting place of traitors. AS friend
mind you, as friend-I would advise you
to find the wherewithal to carry out my
lords commands. Do you take me. Mr.
Starr"
The trembling old man fell back in his
chair, nodding his yes" dumbly like a
marionette when the string has been
jerked thought too violently, and his
weasel face was moist and clammy. I
know not what double dealing he would
have been at before this, but ii was surely
something with the promise of rope at
So he and his factor fell to ciphering on a
bit of paper reckoning ways and means,
as l took Ii, while Falconnet was asking
for more particular orders.
you'll have them from headQlarferS di-
rect" said Stuart "Oconostota will fur
nish carriers, Cherokee escort and guides
your route will be the Great Trace"
Then we are to hold on all and wait still
That's the word: wait for the Indians
and your cargo"
Falconnets oath was of Impotence
We've waited now month and more
like men with halters round their necks.
The country is alive with rebels
Whereupon Captain Stuart began to ex-
plain at large how the northern route had
been chosen for its very hazards, the bet
ter to throw the partisans off the scent
listened, eager for every word, but when
the horses stirred behind me was set back
upon the oft recurrent under thought of
how the gloom did also hide silent figure
lying prone with the three bride reins
knotted round his wrist.
But though the unnerving under thought
would not be gone, the scene within the
great room held me fast by eye and ear.
T..
heads together over the knotty problem
of subsistence for the convoy troop. AT
the table end, with the bottle gurgling now
at one right hand and now at another, the
three Kings men drank confusion to the
rebels and in the intervals discussed the
powder conveys route across the noun
tains. The senior plotter had some map or
chart OF his own making, and he was prick
ing out on it for Falconnet the route agreed
upon in council with the Cherokees.
AT this cool outlaying of the working
plan some proper sense of what this plot
of savage arming meant to every unde-
tended cabin on the frontier seized and
thrilled me. / knew, as every border born
among us knew, the dismal horrors of an
Indian massacre; and this these men were
planning was treacherouS murder on an un-
warned people. All was to be done in mid
| night secrecy. Supplied with ammunition,
the Cherokees, led by this Captain Stuart
overmountain settlements. These laid
waste, the Indians were to form junction
with the army of invasion. and so to add
the torch and tomahawk and scalping knife
to British swords and muskets.
1t was a plot to make the blood run cold
in my veins or in the veins of any man
who knew the cruel temper of these saw
ages and when l thought upon the fate
of my poor countrymen beyond the noun
tains saw what lay before me.
The settlers must be warned in time to
fight or fly.
But while 1 listened, with every faculty
alert. to reckon with the task of rescue,
/ take no shame in saying that the prob
lem baked me. Lacking the strength to
mount and ride in my own proper person,
there was nothing for ii but to md mes
senger; and who would he be in region
at the moment distraught with wars
alarums and needing every man for self
defense?
At that thought of Jennifer. True. he
was wounded. too; but he would know how
best to pass the word to those in peril
made full sure he'd find way If I could
reach him: and when / had il smmered
down TO this the problem simp,ifed itself
l must have speech with Dick before the
| crawl on hands and knees the half score
| miles to Jennifer House.
Having decided. L was keen TO be about
| il while the night should last-the friendly
| darkness and some fine flush of excitemen,
| which again had come at need to take the
place of healthful vigor. But when 1 would
| have quit the window to be gone upon my
| errand a sober second thought DELAYED me
| If my simple counterpart should fail some
| knowledge of the powder conveys route
| would be of prime Importance. Lacking the
| time to warn the ove-mountain men, the
| next best thing would be TO set some band
/ 10 overtake the convoy. Nay, on this sec
| ond thoughts rehearsing the last expedient
| seemed the better of the two, since thus the
| plot would come 10 naught and we would
be the gamers by the capture of the pow
| der.
So now you know why should stick ant
| hang by toe and finger tip and glare acros.
| the little space that gaped between m,
| itching fingers. and the bit Of parchment
| passed from hand TO hand around the Ia
| ble's end Ii could make shift to roi
| them of this, map
| IL was a desperate chance. but In tn,
4 fre-zy of the moment / resolved TO take liz
| Their placings round the table favored me