The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-01-21
CHAPTER I.
THE MASTER.

three silent figures emerged from the
wood land darkness and struck across
h wide extent of 1ank grass which
yet separated US from the bay. Tuska-
homa led the way, a tall grim Choctaw
chieftain, my companion on many a
hunt, his streaming plumes fiuttering
behind him as he strobe. / followed,
and after me. lie Corbeau Rouge, a
runner of the Choctaws. We were re-
turning to Biloxi from a ~reconnois-
sance in the Chickasaw country.
Each straight behind the other, dumb
and %soundless shadows, we passed
along the way, hardly bruising a leaf
or brushing the rustling reeds aside.
See, there is the light" grunted
Tuskahona, pointing to a glimmer
through the trees. Yes. the White
Prophet never sleeps assented LIE
Corbeau Rouge.
ended journey came from a window in
one of those low, square log houses.
fortress dwellings,. so common in the
provinces.
Here. however, the strong pine pal.
isades were broken down in many
places; the ron-s.udded gate hung un-
hinged n open, the accumulated sand
at its base showed it had not been
closed in many years.
rs ooS LAC dCSuS IN GU CSCl
where manifest In its defenses eX-
tended no further. for inside the en-
closure was q garden carefully tended;
a trailing vino chung lovingly to a COR
ner of the wide gallery. and even a few
OF the bright roses OF France lent their
sweetness to a place it seemed impos-
sible to associate with a thought of
barbaric warfare.
! loved this tumble nome, for in such
n on ~ ~ /, W., ~H1 4. ~~1 l~rf
years Of sweet goot ~comradeship be-
fore her death-the roses, the rude
house. all reminded me of her, OF peace
of gentler things.
Thccharacterofits lone occupant pro-
tected this loNly abode far better than
the armies of France, the chivalry of
Spain, or the Ishoctaw's ceaseless vigil
ance could POSSIBLY have done. He
came there it was said, some fifteen
years before, Il Huguenot exile, SEEM
1ngly a man OF education and birth. He
built his castle of refuge on a knoll
overlooking tile sheltered bay, hoping
there to FIND the liberation denied him
In his native land. The edict of
Nantes had been revoked by King
Louis, and thousands of exiled French
men Of high and low degree sought
new fortunes in lands.
Many had reached America. and
a - ok SLtS . "olu IN q
pdcious wallets to wrest blood and gold
and fame from whatever source they
might.
This man alone of all those first ex-
p,orers had shown no disposition to
search out hidden treasures Of the Will
derness. to pray upon the natives. He
became their friend and not their plum
derer.
His quiet life, his kindness, his char
ity. his knowledge of the simple arts of
healing, so endeared h jmeato every war
ring faction that at Ills house the
Cnoctaw and the Chickasaw. the Span-
lard, Frenchman and the EngIishman
met alike in peace. So the needless
Notifications fell into ~unrepaired de-
cay.
Many an afternoon had n
across the bag and spent a ouiet honr
with him, as tsr from the lars and dis
cord Of Biloxi as IF We were in Some
other world
AS. this night we drew near tho
house we saw No siens az life save the
chinks OF light c]reeninp hanaath the
door r rannaa ana his ,oiea bada -,
enter.
The master cat ~ HE +,h1. ~ ~
center ~ . ore.+ ,.oon, ahn,,4 m,hinh
were a number OF surgical and scien-
tifc instruments. all objects Of mis-
trust to my Indian friends
hhS
These curious Of dastrnc-
ton or of her for 81 the IN
dams regarded them, contributed to
make him an object Of fear. which
did much 70 strengthen his
among the tribes.
He was at this time somewhat more
than so. slender and rather above the
medium height. With his usual grave
he welcomed us and readily
loaned the small pirogue necessary to
carry our party across the bay.
The Indians were restless and the
waited. SO I only thanked our
host and turned to go.
He rose, and laying his hand upon
my arm detained me. wait, Placide;
/ am glad you returned this way. for
+ have long wished to speak with you;
do I wish It on this night-
this night. Sit down.
Mechanically I obeyed, for I could
see there was something of more than
usual import on his mind. The Indians
had Withdrawn and the master,
uncertainty about the room.
paused and regarded me intently, as if
he almost regretted his invitation to
stay. After several efforts he abruptly
began:
II fear / have not very long TO live
and dread to meet death. LEAVING a
solemn duty uuperformed. n is Of This
would sneak"