The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-15

ear was listening to the hunters tale the
eye was taking note of these her tender
ministrationS and the heart was setting
them down to the score of great love
which would not be denied. Twas Alto
gether as l would have had 1t: and yet
the thought came unbdden that she might
spare niggard moment and the breath 10
ask me how l did. And because she would
not l do think my burns smarted the
crCeler
1t was to have surcease of these extra
smartings that / turned my back upon the
trio under the faring torch and took up
with Ephraim Yeates the pressing question
OF the moment.
LAS / take it, we must not linger here"
retreat?"
The old borderer was busted with his loot
of the Indian camp-'twas not in his nature
to come off empty handed however hard
pressed he had been for time. In the raf-
and warrior finery, he came upon my good
old blade and Richards great claymore-
trophies claimed by the head men of the
Cherokees after our taking, as we made
Found 'em hanging in the lodge that
usen TO belong TO the Great Bear" said
the hunter, and then with grim humor:
Lowed to keep EN- to ricollect We by IL
SO be we was foreordained and predesti-
mated to go up in fiery chariot like the
good old Elijah" The weapons disposed
making tracks immejtly. If not sooner.
allow there ain't no two notions about
mat But I'm dad-daddled IL / know
wnich-a-way to put out, Cap'n John. and
why not strike for the Great Trace. and
SO go D., back the way the powder convoy
1t could be done, he said, but the hazard
was great. Twas out of all reason to hope
tnat there were no survivors left in the
sunken valley to carry the news Of the
cried abroad in the nearby Cowee towns.
the entire Tuckasege nation would turn out
TO run us down. Moreover. the avengers
would look to find us in the only procti-
cable horsepath leading eastward
Ez I'm telling you right now, Cap'n
John, we made one more bunder in this
neer seventh son of a seventh son
amongst us to look a little ways ahead.
Where we flashed in the pan was in not
making Sur rendyvoo down yonder where
you and Cap'n Dick got in Ever last one of
em able ito crawl is a-making straight for
that crivvis dodge-hole right now, and il
we was there We could do 'em like the
possages o. the Jordan"
Fresh as 1 was from the torture fire.
could not forbear a shudder at this old
mans savagery.
xiii them in cold blood?' I would saw.
'Anan?" he queried, not understand
Ing my point of view; and / let the matter
rest. He was of those who STAY and spare
not where an enemy is concerned.
But when We came to consider of Ii there
seemed to be no alternative to the eastward
Hitting by way of the Great Trace. To the
west and south there was only the track
less wilderness: and to the north no white
settlement nearer than that Of the over
mountain folk on the .Watauga. asked If
we might hope to reach this.
TITS a long fifty mile ez the crow flies
over eenabout the mountainousest patch O.
land that ever laid out O. DOORS" was the
hunters reply. And there amt neer a
deer track, ez / knows on, to pint the
way"
Then we must ride eastward and run
the risk of pursuit by the Tuckaseges, .
''Ez reckon. that's about the long and
snort or IT, And l do everlastingly despise
to make that poor little gal jump her boss
ana ride skimper-scamper again. when She s
night"
"she will not fail you." 1 ventured to
say adding; But Jennifer is in poor fettle
for making speed"
It's ride or be skulped for him, and
allow he'll ride quoth the old hunter, has
tening MS preparations for the start
Reckon we can get him on boss right
now"
l went to see. Margery rose at my an
proaSSh en-. and and even in the poor light I could
hold me at my proper distance
Your patient. Mistress Margery-we must
mount and ride at once. Is he flt?"
But we must be far to the eastward be-
Il cannot help it. If you make him ride
tO-nlgnt you Will finish what those cruel
savages began, Captain Ireton." e'
We have little choice-none, / should
say"
"Oh; you are bitter hard!'' she cried.
though wherein my offending lay just then
l was wholly at loss to know.
!" Tis your privilege to say So" rejoined.
But as for making Dick ride, that will be
| but the kindest cruelty. We are only a it,
tie way from the nearest Indian towns. and
| If the daylight find us here"
Spare me-" she broke in: and with that
she turned shortly and asked E,nhrain,
Yeates to put her in her saddle
Richard was still in the fever stupor. but
he reused himself at my urging and LET ms
set him upon his beast. Once safe in the
saddle. We dashed him fast like a prisoner.
with forked tree branch at his back ia
hold him erect. This last was the old hunt
er's invention and twas most ingenious
The forked limb. in shape like Y. was set
astride the camille. with the lower ends
| thonged stoutly to Dicks legs and TO the
girths. Thus the upright stem of the in
yerted became an easy back-rest for the
sick man; and when he was securely dashed
thereto there was little danger for him
| save In some stumbling of the beast he rode
When all was ready we had first to find
our way down from the mountain top: and
now even the old borderer and the Indiar
confessed their inability to do aught but re-
trace their steps by the only route they
knew; namely, by that ravine which we had
| twice traversed in daylight, and up which
| they had led the captured horses in the
| dusk.
| 1nis route promised all the perilS of a
| gauntlet running. since by IL We must ia Ike
| the risk of meeting the fleeing fugitiyes
from the convoy camp. IL the explosion had
spared any fit TO lift and carry the venge-
| ance cry. But here agin there was no alter.
| native. and We set us In order for the de-
| scent. with Yeates and the Catawba ahead
the women and Dick in the midst, and hel
| Apostolic Majesty's late captain of hussa RS
| masquerading as a British trooper. to brin.
on the rear.
Once in motion beneath the blue-blac ri
| shadows of the pines. / quickly lost al
| sense of direction. After we had ridden il
| wordless silence a short half hour or less
| and / supposed we should be nearing tn,
| head of our descending ravine. our liftl,
cavalcade was halted suddenly I'm a thick
| set grove of the pines. and Ephraim Yeate,
| appeared at my stirrup to say:
Hist We off your nag. Cap'n John. anc
| let's take far'well squinch at the inim,
| whilst We cam.
Where? What enemy?" I would ask
| slipping from the saddle at his word
| why. the boss captains varmints 70 n,
| sure: or what-all the abomination o. desc
lation has left of em. We amt more than ,
| eats jump from the edge o. the big rocI
| where We first sot eyes on 'em this morn
| ing"
| / saw not what was to be gained by an,
| such long-range espial in the darkness
| None the less. / followed the old man I,
| the cliffs edge. He was wiser in his fore
castings than | was In mine There was ,
| thing to look at. and light enough to see 1
| by. One of the missile stones, IL seems
had crashed into the great fire. scatterin,
| the brands In all directions. The pine bougj
! troop shelters were ablaze, and creepin,
| serpents of fire were worming their wa,
hither and yon over the year-old leaf ped
in the wood Ever and anon some pine sap
ling In the path OF these fiery serpent
| vro,,,d nm IN n forch-iike Hare. era -