Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-31

lAoSc AoI Lle-d hllOueSS, luuccu, IOT
had thought to set out for the Cayuga
castle on an empty stomach. left my
pack with Boyd, commencing it to his
care, and the rugged old man nodded
placidly, bidding me rest assured Of it's
safety.
There is foul company at the Great
house inn,' he said as we descended the
ladder to the taproom below. Great
house received four guests an hour
ago. Mount babe me warn you, sir. He
said you would understand"
I understood at once. Butler, Wrax-
all, Toby Tice and the fourth member
Of the band had arrived in Cresap's
camp.
"Is Mount sleepingT' asked.
The old man laughed.
II have never seen him Sleep" he
said. II know him well, but have
never seen him sleep. He is out yon-
der somewhere, prowling."
"And Shemuel and Cade Renard?"
inquired.
"Shemuel is on his way to Pittsburg.
Renard mouses with Mount"
To gain the river whence the trail
ran northward to the Cayuga camp 1
was obliged to pass the fort and con-
sequently the Greathouse inn.
Shutters were drawn and bolted over
every window, but candlelight stream
ed through loopholes in the taproom,
and could hear men singing. Nosing
the house delicately. Isperceived odors
of cooking, of rum toddy and of to-
bacco smoke. Clearly Buffers compa-
ny were supping after their long jog
| on the back trail from Fortress Pitt
4 Satisfied that all was safe, had ST.
lently begun skirting the road ditch
| shadowed by the fence, when a dark
heap, which I had taken for stump
in the road, moved, rolled over, moan
ed.
stopped, frozen motionless. After
moments wary accommodating crept
forward again along the ditch, eyes
fastened on the dim shape ahead, q
human form lying in the black shad-
ows Of the road
When came closer understood. At
my feet, in drunken stupor, sprawled
young Cayuga girl, limbs plastered
with mud, body saturated and reeking
with the stencil of spirits. Her black
hair fioated in a pool of rain which
spread out, rejecting stars. One help
less hand clutched the mud.
/ I lifted the little thing and bore her
to the shadow of the fence; but here,
to my amazement, lay drunken
!, squaw, doubtless her mother, still
! clinging to an empty bottle; and, along
/ the ditch and fence, flung in beastly,
breathing heaps, counted seven more
barbarians, old and young, from the
infant of ten to the young buck of
twenty, all apparently Of the same
family and all in a sodden swoon.
There. was nothing could do for
these victims of Grenthouse; no aid
within my power to give them. Heart
sick, turned away and, quickening
my steps, passed swiftly down the
muddy trail.
The Cayuga trail was broad and
plain, and I took it at wolf trot
thoughtfully reading its countless signs
by the yellow dawn as went along
marks of white men, marks Of moe
casins, imprint of deer and cattle. trail
of rabbit and following fox and the
hand like traces Of rambling raccoons
And now thread of blue smoke
drawn far down the trail. set my nos
trils wide and quivering. A flare Of
binding yellow turned the world into
gold. / had met the sun at the Cayu
ga camp The tryst had been kept
thanks to the Lord!
Dark, uncertain forms doomed up II
the eye Of the sun; tall groups that new
err moved as l drew nigh; men wht
stood n,otionless as the pines where tn
;. council fire smoked and flashed like
= dull jewel In the sun.
"Peacew I said, hating with up
raised hand. Peace, you wise me-
. and sachemsr'
"Peace!' repeated low voice
"Peace. bearer of belts!'
moved nearer, head high, yet see
9 ing in a blur, for the rising sun blinde
me- And when came to the edge O
!, the fire I drew white belt Of wan
pun from my bosom and, passing
through the smoke, held it aloft, flast
ing in the sun, until every chief an
l. sachem had sunk down into his blar
IS ket, forming a half circle before me.
A miracle of speech came to me Xix
t. the breath Of my body; easy, sobe
b
IS 90 I'm ~