The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-06-30
The MASTER OF APPLEBY|
BY Francis Lynde.



her when 1 give the word. Here he
comes"
Down the sloping hillside, looking. in
the red glow Of the ember heap. more
like a flying demon than a man. came the
Catawba, one hand gripping the scalping
knife, the other flung aloft TO f1aunt his
terrible trophies in sight of his pursuers.
They we. SO close upon him hat walt
ing promised death for all of us; so Jenni-
Ter dipped again to send the canoe a broad
jump from the bank.
Ready" he cried. Hell take the wa
ter like a fish, and we can pick him up
afterward-Now!"
7 heard the clean-cut dive of the Indian,
and struck the paddle deep to balance
Jennifers strike. But as l bent to put
my back into 1t, some flying missile
caught me fair behind the ear. and but
for Jennifer's quick wit l should have
s"amped the crazy shallop. In a flash
ne Jerked me fiat between his knees and
sent the pirogue with a mighty thrust be-
yond the zone of fire light.
AT that, though AL the sense was heat
en- cut of me, ! was alive enough to hear
The savage yel!s of disappointed rage be-
hind us; these and the shifting crackle
OF a dozen rifles fred at random In the
darkness. But afterward all sounds, save
the rhythmic dip and drip of Jennifer's
b~-@'N' A'''N 'iA NHN al u / IL,
as It would seem, this gentle monody of
dipping blade and tinkling drops became
a grooming lullaby to blot out all the
years that lay between, and make me
once again a little child sinking asleep in
my young mothers arms.
XVI.
HOW JENN1FER THREW A MAIN
WITH DEATH.
IT'S a sure mark of healthful sleep that
1t never makes account of time. No odds
how long the night, It's but a moment
from the lapse of consciousness to It's re-
covery in the morning. But this deep
sleep that crept upon me as | lay In the
pirogue, listening to the tinkling drip
from Jennifer's paddle, was not of health
full weariness: and when l came awake
from IT there was a dim and troubled
vista of vague and broken dreams to
measure off the longest night l could ever
remember.
The place of this awakening was a bur-
row in the earth. Ny bed Of bearskins
over fragrant pine tufts was spread upon
the ground, and by the Pickering light Of
a handful of fire I could see the earth
walls of the burrow, which were worn
smooth as If the place had been the we'll
used den of some wild creature. But over
head there was the mark of human &C.
cupancY. since the earth-arch was sooted
and blackened with the reek of many
fires.
When I stirred there was another stir
beyond the handful of fire, Snd Jennifer
came to kneel beside me, taking my hand
and chatting it as d tender-hearted woman
might, and asking If l knew him.
Know you? Why should ! not?' I
said, wondering why the words took so
many breaths between.
80 jack was all l had in answer; but
when he had found a tongue to babble out
his joy, l learned the why and where
fore. Once more grim death had reached
for me. lying await in the twirled toma-
hawk that set me dreaming of my moth
er's lap and lullaby. For a week l had
lain here upon the bed of pine tufts. poised
upon the brink Of the death pit with only
my dear lad to hold and draw me back.
"A week?" l queried. when he had
named the interval. And you have been
here all the timer
'I've never left you, save to forage for
the pot" he admitted. Il dared not leave
you, jack
But where are we?' I would ask.
TN a den on the rivers edge, a mile or
more above your sacked cabin. IT'S some
dodge-hole followed out by the Catawbas
long ago and shared since by them and the
bears. judging from the sinking reek of
it. Uncanoola steered me hither the night
of the raid
Then the chief came off safely" !
said. falling into a dumb and impotent
rage that the saying of two words should
Scant me so of strength to say a third.
"Right as a trivet-scalps and all, y
laughed Jennifer He'll be the envy OF
every warrior in the tribe when he vaunts
himself at the Catawhas' council fire"
| let 1t rest a while at that, casting about
for words to shape a %hungrier question.
Have you no news?' l asked, at length
Little or none" he answered shortly.
But you have had some word-some
news-fron Apnlcby Hundred?" l STAN.
mered feebly.
Nothing you'd care to hear" he re.
Joined. evasively. ! thought. Its as you
left it, save that Tarleton whipped ava!
to the south again as suddenly as he
came, and our cursing baronet has made
the manor house his headquarters in fact
lodging himself and all his troop on Mr.
Stair. From his lying quiet and keeping
the Cherokees in tow, there will be some
deviltry afout, I'll warrant"
] knew that Falconnet was waiting fol
the powde. cargo, but another mater
crowded this aside.
"But-but Margery?' I queried, or
sharpest tenter-hooks to know how much
or little he had heard.
! thought his brow darkened at the ques
ton. but mayhap 1t was only a shadop
>eAN ~ 'AN stSs ~ oily laNC
he laughed hardly.
She is well-and well content, I dar,
swear. Twas only yesterday I saw he!
taking the air on the river road, with
Falconnet for an escort. You told me ono.
he had a sure hand with the women ant
II made me mad: but, truly, l have COM
to think you drew it mild, Jack"
Now though ! could ply a decent ready
blade, or keep a firing line from lurchint
at. a pinch, ! had not learned 10 put
snaffe on a laundering tongue, as l hav,
said before.
Damn him as you please. Dick, ant
he'll warrant 1t. But you must not judg'
the lady over harshly, nor always by ap
pearances. She may have flouted you a
a boyish lover, and yet l think
I stopped in sheer bewilderment. sho
through and through with keenest agon
les of remorseful recollection. For at tn
moment l had clean forgot the gulf i'm
passable ] had set between these two
So l would have lapsed into shamed 81
lence. but Jennifer would not suffer it.
We'll. what is it that You think?" h
demanded.
Il ~think-nay, I may say I know tina
. she thinks well of you, Dick" l blundcre
on, seeing no way to put him off.
He gripped my hand, and in his eye
there was the light Of the old love re
awakening.
! Don't lift me up to fling me dow;
: again, Jack. How can you know wha
! she thinks Of me?' he broke in, eagerly.