The Indianapolis journal., 1903-04-04
CHAPTER XxII.

When he returned he gave us cause to won
der at his lack of caution, since he filed
his earthen Indian pipe and coolly struck
light wherewith to fire It, But when the
pipe was aglow he told us of his findings.
Twas about ez 1 reckoned; them var
mints waded in the shadows a spell to
throw us off and then came out and forded
higher up
THAT will be shrewd guess Of yours, 1
take it, Ephraim?' said I, for the night was
black as Erebus.
'Neer a guess at all; I've had em fair
at eye-holts," this as calmly If we had
not been for ten long days pnning our faith
to an ill-defined trace of foot prints. "Ez
1 was a-going on to say, they're incamped
on tother bank ruther eenside o. two sights
and a norm blow from this. 1 saw 'em
and counted 'em; seven redskins and the
two gals
Thank God!" says Richard, as fervently
as II our rescue of the women were already
thing accomplished. Then he fell upon
the scout with an eager question: How
does she look. Ephraim?-tell me how she
looks!'
Listen at him!" said the old man, cack-
ling his dry little laugh. How in tarna-
tion am / going to know which she he's
a-stewing about? There's a pair Of 'em,
and they both look like wimmin ez have
been dragged hilter-skilter through the big
woods for some better n a week. Natheless
they're fitting to set up and take their
nourishment, both on 'em They was perch
ing on log afore the fire with ever last
idintical one o. them redskins awaiting on
'em like they was a couple of Injun queens.
I reckon ez how the hoss captain gave them
varmints their orders partic'lar."
Dick was upon his feet, Juggling out the
great broadsword.
SHOW us the way. Eph Yeates!" he burst
out impatiently. I'VE are wasting a deal
Of precious time!
But the old man only puffed the more
placidly at his pipe. making no move to
head sortie.
Fair and easy, Cap'n Dick: fair and
easy. There amt no manner o. hurry, ez I
allow. Whenst I've got to tussle with
wheen o. full redskins and me with my
stummick growed fast to my backbone
Jest ez soon wait till them same redskins
are asleep Bimeby they'll settle down for
the night. and then we'll go up yonder and
pizen em immejitly, II not sooner. But
there amt no kind o. use to spile it all by
rampaging round too soon."
There was wisdom undeniable in this, and
accordingly we waited. taking turns at the
hunters terrible pipe in lieu of supper and
laying our plan of attack. This last was
simple enough, as our resources, or rather
our lack of them, would make it. At mid
night we would move upon the enemy. feel
ing our way along the river till we should
AZ he Ford hv "a r
ty had crossed. The stream safely passed,
we would deploy and surround the camp
of the Indians, and at the signal, which was
to be the report of Yeatess rifle, we were
to close in and smite. giving no quarter.
The old borderer dwelt at length upon the
need for this severity. saying that single
Cherokee escaping would bring the warriors
of the Erati tribe down upon us to cut of
all chance of our retreat with the women.
..Onless I'm nightly out o. my reckoning,
this here spot we're a-setting on ain more
than a days Injun running from the Tuck
asege towns. With them gals to hender US
we amt a-going to be In no fettle for
skimper-scamper race with fresh wheen
o. the redskins. Therefore and wherefore.
says I, make them chopping knives o
your'n cut and come again, even to the
driving erpart Of soul and marrer."
Dick laughed. and. speaking for both of
us. said between his teeth that we were not
like to be overmerciful
Rut now the old wolf Of the border gave
us a glimpse of an unsuspected side of him,
taking Jennifer sharply to task and reading
him a homily on the sin OF vengeance for
vengeance's sake In this harangue he
evinced a most astonishing tongue grasp of
scripture. and for good half hour the air
was thick with texts And to cap the cli-
max. when the sermon paused he laid his
nine aside. doffed his cap and went upon
his knees to pour forth such a militant
nraver as brought my fathers stories Of
the grim old fighting Roundheads most
vividly to mind.
Here. being as good place as any, may
saw frankly that / never fully understood
this side of Ephraim Yeates. Like all the
hardy borderers. he was fighter by in
stinct and inclination; and l can bear him
witness that when he smote the Amale-
kites" as he would call them-red skin or
red coat-he smote them hip and thigh. and
was as ruthless as that British Captain
T,rnbull who slew the wounded. Yet
withal. on the very edge Of battle or may
han fair in the midst of 1t he was like to
fall upon his knees to pray most fervently.
though. as l have limited. his prayers were
like his blows-of the biting sort, full of
scriptural anathema upon the enemy.
Richard Jennifer, carelessly profane. as
a,, men were in that most goddess day,
would saw twas the old borderers way of
swearing: that since he left out the oaths
in common speech-as truly he did-he
would fetch up the arrears and wipe out the
score i'm one fell blast upon his knees. Be
this as il may. he was good man and a
true. as / have said, and MS warlike sup
nucstion that our blades should be as the
Sword of the Lord and of Gideon in the
coming onfall was no whit out of place.
IT wanted vet full hour of midnight
when Richard began again TO plead piteous-
iy for instant action YeateS thought 1t
syiu overearly, but when Jennifer pressed
him hard the old borderer left the casting
"yNhat say ye Cap'n John? Your'n will
ha the next oldest head, and 1 reckon IL
bain't been turned plumb foolish, rampag-
ing crazy by this here purity gal o Gilbert
Stairs.
Now. you have read thus far in my poor
tale TO little purpose IL you have not yet
discovered the major weakness of an old
campaigner which is to weigh and meas
nre All the chances, holding ii to the full as
cuIpable 10 strike too soon as too late This
weakness was mine, and in that evil mo-
uoent / gave my vote for further waiting
arguing sapiently that my old field marshal
would never set q night assault afoot till
well on toward the dawn.
Jennifer heard me through and Welded
perforce though with little good will