The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-17

half-mile along the river brink, he stoppec
short. shifted the air and stopped to feel
and grope on the ground like a blind man
seeking for something he had lost.
Right about here-away Is where they
made out to cross" he announced; 'the
whole enduring passed. Of EN-, ez I reckon
our seven varmints and the hos~s-captain's
powder train. Give me this heft O. your
shoulder till we take the water and projec-
round a spell on t'other side"
We squared ourselves. wholly by the sense
OF touch. with the rivers edge, locked arms
Tor the better bracing against the swift
current. and 50 essayed to ford. It was
no more than thigh deep. and. though the
water dashed and foamed over the shoal
like a torrent In flood. there was a clean
bottom and good footing. Once safe across.
we turned our faces downstream. and in a
little time came to the deserted glade, with
the embers Of the kidnapers' fire glowing
duly in the midst.
Here a sign Of some later visitants than
Falconnet's horsenlen set us warily on our
guard. The tepee-lodge OF dressed Skins.
which had been left undisturbed BY the
sham rescuers. had vanished.
lymph! The redskins have been back to
make sure o what they left behindr' said
ieates, In a whisper. II jing! that's
Jest the one thing I was a-hoping
spiles our last living chance O. finding any
thing that mought help slack OF on the
b~elly-pinch."
So he said. but for this once his wisdom
was at fault and tricky fortune favored us.
When We had found the covert In the
pushes where the two horses had been
concealed we lighted upon a precious
prize. W a bag of parched corn In the
grain; some share of the provision of the
captive party overlooked by those who
had returned to gather up the leavings.
with this treasure-trove we made all
haste to re1oin our companions. And now
behold what a miracle of termination may
20 wrought by q few handfuls Of bread
grain! In a trice the Catawba had found
a water-worn stone to serve for u mortar.
and another for a pestle. These and the
bag OF corn were carried buck TO a shell
tered ravine which We had crossed on orr
late advance and here the Indian fell to
work to grind the corn into coarse meal,
whilst Yeates and I kindled a fire to heat
the bakins-stones.
In these preparations for the breaking of
our long fast even Richard bestirred him
self to help, and when the cakes were
baked and eaten-with what. zestful sharp-
sauce OF appetite none but the famished
may ever were all in better heart
and better. able to face the new and far
more desperate plight In which our lack
of common foresight had ~entangled us.
For now. since We knew the full meas
ure Of the peril menacing our dear lady.
there was need for swift determination and
a blow as swift and sure; a coup de main
which should atone in one shrewd push for
the sleeveless failure Of the night So we
would grip hands around. even to the stolid
Indian. and swear q solemn oath to cut
the women out or else to leave our bones
to whiten in the forest wilderness.
You'll laugh at all these vowings and |
handstrikings. l dare say. and protest
there was q deal of such fustian herotcs In |
your doddering old chronicler's day.
Mayhap there was. But. my dears. I
would you might remember as you laugh
that we Of that simple-hearted elder time !
lived by some half-century nearer to that
age OF chivalry you dote on-in the story
books. Also. / would you might mingle |
with your merriment a little of the saving |
grace Of charity: letting It hint that. per- !
chance. these you call "heroics.' were but
the free, untrammeled folk-speech of that
sincerer natural heart which you have |
learned to silence and suppress. For I dare I,
afsSm that now. as then and always, there
viii be some spark of the Promethean fire
IN every heart Of man Or maid, else this