Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-02-11
ALICE Of OLD
VINCENNES
CONTINUED
BY MAURICE
Copyright. 1880. BY tn. BowENNEsRlLL COMPANY


CONTINOEQJ
Again the elbow OF Long Hairs hurt
arm pushed him toward the expectant
rows Of Indians, who fourished their
clubs and uttered impatient grunts.
Beverley made direct dash for the
narrow lane between the braced and
watchful lines. Every warrior lifted
his club. Every copper face cleaned
steadily. mask behind which burned
a strangely atrociouS spirit. The two
savages standing at the end nearest
Beverley struck Mt him the instant le
reached them. but they were taken
quite by surprise when he checked him.
self between them and. leaping this
way and that. swung out two powerful
blows, left and right, stretching one Of
them fiat and sending the other reeling
and staggering half a dozen pages
backward with the blood streaming
from his nose.
This done, Beverley turned to run
away, but his breath was already short
and his strength rapidly going.
Long Hair, who was at his heels,
leaped before him when he had gone
but few steps and once more -four
ished the tomahawk. To struggle was
useless save to insist upon being
Drained outright, which just then had
no part in Beverley's considerations.
Long Hair kicked his victim heavily,
uttering laconic curses meanwhile, and
led him back again to the starting
point.
The young man, who had borne all
he could, now turned upon him furi-
ously and struck straight from the
shoulder. setting the whole weight Of
his body into the blow. Long Hair
stepped out Of the way and quick as a
flash brought the fat side Of his toma-
hawk with great force against Bever-
ley's head. This gave the amusement a
sudden and disappointing end. for the
prisoner fell limp and senseless to the
ground. No more running the gantlet
for him that day. Indeed it required
protracted application Of the best In
dian skill to revive him so that he
could fairly be called a living man.
There had been no dangerous concus>
sion, however. and on the following
morning camp was broken.
Beverley, sore, haggard, forlornly
disheveled, had his arms bound again
and was made to march apace with his
nimble enemies, who set out swiftly
eastward. their disappointment at hav-
ing their sport cut short, although bit
ter enough. not in the least indicated
by any facial expression or spiteful act.
Was it really strange thing, or was
1t not, that Beverley's mind now busted
itself increasingly with the thought that
Long Hair had Alice's picture in his
pouch? One might find room for dis
cussion of cerebral problem like this,
but our history cannot be delayed with
analyses and sDeculations. 1t must run
its direct course unhindered to the end.
Suffice it to record that while tramping
at Long Hairs side and growing more
and more DESTROYS of seeing the picture
again Beverley began trying to con-
verse with his taciturn captor. He had
considerable smattering Of several
Indian dialects. which he turned upon
Long Hair to the best of his ability,
but apparently without effect. Never
theless he babbled at intervals. always
upon the same subject and always en-
deavoring to influence that huge. stol-
i'd, heartless savage in the direction of
letting him see again the child face of
the miniature.
When night came on again the band
camped under some trees beside swoll-