Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1904-02-18
CHAPTER XIV.
VIRTUE IN A LoCKET.


three feet long and about three-quar-
ters OF an inch in diameter. Rough
weapons they were, cut from boughs Of
scrub oak. knOtty and tough as horn.
Long Hair unbound his body down to
the waist. Then the lines formed. the
Indians In each row standing about as
FAR apart as the width Of the space I'm
which the prisoner was TO run. This
arrangement gave them free use OF
their sticks and plenty Of room for full
swing Of their 1.-THE bodies
In removing Bevcrleys clothes Long
Hair found Alice's lOcket hanging over
the young mans heart He tore il
rudely of and grunted, glaring vicious
ly first ut ii, then at Beverley. He
seemed TO be nightly wrought upon.
White man thiefg' he growled deep
In his throat Stole from little GIRL?
He put the locket IN his pouch and
resumed his stupidity indifferent'expres-
sion.
When everything was ready for. the
delightful entertainment to begin3Long
Hair waved his tomahawk ,three times
over Beverley's head and, pointing
down between the waitingIlines, said:
ugh. run"
But Beverley did not bulge. He was
standing erect with his arms, deeply
creased where the thongs had sunk.
folded across his breast. A rush OF
thoughts and feelings had taken tu-
multuous possession Of him, and he
could not move or decide what to do. A
mad desire to escape arose In his heart
the moment that he saw Long Hair
take the locket Ii was as II Alice had
cried TO him and hidden him make
dash for liberty.
Ugh, runr
The order was accompanied with a
push of such violence from Long Hairs
left elbow that Beverley plunged and
fell, for his limbs, after their long and
painful confinement In the rawhide
bonds, were stiff and almost useless.
Long Hair in no gentle voice babe him
get up. The shock OF falling seemed TO
awaken his dormant forces: sudden
resolve leaped into his brain. He saw
that the Indians had put aside their
bows and guns, most OF which were
leaning against the boles of trees here
and yonder. What II he could knock
Long Hair down and run away? This
might possibly be easy, considering the
Indians broken, arm. His; heart Jump
ed at the possibility. But the, shrewd
savage was alert aDdtsaw the thought
come into his face.
You try git way, kill, deadr' he
snarled, lifting his tmatnwk ready
for stroke. Brains out!'
Beverley glanced down the waiting
and eager lines. Swiftly he, specuiated,
wondering what would be his chance
for escape were he TO break through.
But he did not take 'his own Icondition
into account.
Ugh, rum"
Again the elbow of LongtHair's ,hurt |
arm pushed him toward the expectant
rows Of Indians, who fourfshed their |
clubs and utteredlimpatientg rurts.
Beverley made a direct dash for THE |
narrow lane between the ,braced and |
lines Every warrior lifted
his club. Every copper face cleaned |
steadily, a mask behind which burned |
strangely atrocious spirit. The two
'avages standing at the end nearest T
Beverley struck at him the instant ne
reached them, but they were taken
luite by surprise when hetchecked him
'elf between them and. leaping this
way and that, swung outttwo powerful
blows, left and right stretching one Of
hem fiat and sending thei other Keeling
md staggering half a dozen PAGES
backward with the blood streaming
rom his nose.
This done, Beverley turned TO run
way, but his breath was already short
nd his strength rapidly going.
Long Hair, who was at his heels
capped before him when he had, gone
'ut few steps and once more flour
she'd the tomahawk. To struggle was
seless save 10 insist upon being
rained outright. which just then had
20 part in Beverley's considerations.
.ong Hair kicked his victim heavily,
tterlng laconic curses meanwhile. and
ID him back again 10 the starting
ONT.
The young man, who had borne all T
q could, now turned upon him furi-
usly and struck straight from the
setting the whole weight of
is body into the blow. Long Hair
topped out of the way and quick as a
ash brought the fiat side of his toma-
awk with great force against Bever-
Us head. This gave the amusement
ldden and disappointing end. for the
risoner fell limp and senseless to the
round. No more running the gauntlet
IT him that day. Indeed 1t required
application of the best In
Ian skill 10 revive him 80 that be
,uld fairly be called living man.
here had been no dangerous concus-
on. however, and on the following {
orning camp was broken. {
Beverley, sore, haggard, forlornly L
sheveled, had his arms bound aGAin
"A