Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-29
CHAPTER VI.

Next morning Lavender strolled idly into the woods back of the fort. Fla. miliarity with the forest had softened it's terrors, and she welcomed its soli. tude now in relief from the curious eyes and wagging tongues of all in the garrison. For news of the avert ed duel had spread through the camp, and she was tired of questions, of whispers and looks askance.
 The woods were more friendly; silent, save the signing of leafiess branches in restless wooing of the spring. Already. promise of her com. ing lay in the tiny brown buds of vel low-green shoots that peeped .brayeiy out beneath the sheltering heaps of moldering leaves.
 Occasionally Lavender stopped to pick a twig that the frost had gilded or bit of sumach to which he had spared the scarlet.
 On a sudden, the whizz of an arrow rang in her ears, and she felt it's wind on her face. At the moment. an h. dian staggered through the underbrush. He turned upon her the beseeching look of . wounded stag. then with a guttural moan, fell as if lifeless at her feet.
 Her impulse was to run, leaving the wounded man to his fate. For might not another arrow follow-herself it's mark?
 But after a moments hesitation. she knelt at the Indians side. and lifted the unconscious head to her lap.
 The ghastly bunch of feathers pro- truded from the buckskin coat; one in- stant's shuddering pause. then with quick jerk she wrenched the arrow from its yet pulsing sheath. Warm. gushing. the blood followed. Untying her 'kerchief. she stanched it's flow.
 In the wounded mans belt was a flask of brandy with which she moist ened his lips, and rubbed his great, limp hands and slanting forehead.
 Slowly his eyes opened. and met her gaze. wide with pity.
 "All right?" she murmured.
 He nodded. keeping his gaze on her; then with an "Ugh!" of relief, closed his eyes again.
 Afraid to call. the girl sat notion less. Shouts might bring another ar row. and surely help would come soon,
 There was a rustic in a tangle of evergreen near; the bushes were part. ed. and head. surmounted by a tow erins circle of gsudy feathers. peeped cautiously forth.
 Lavender's heart almost stopped beating. but she gave no sign. The Indian advanced. his gigantic. plumed head brushing the trees. He stopped over the two figures on the ground, and without touching the girl. raised the arm of the unconscious one. Pushing back the sleeve. he examined the strange tattoo marks which defaced the dark skin. Apparently the scru- tiny satisfied him-he rose. and. pick ing up the arrow. calmly wiped the blood from it and replaced 1t in his ovT quiver. Then without word or sign. he departed as silently as he had come
 In a stupor of fright Lavender sat mechanically stanching the blood. her eyes upon the bushes whence the saw age had intrudet.
 There were few hostile Indians about. and the settlers had grown bold Laven- der vas as much surprised ss alarmed at this sudden spparftion- Familiar with aIlNths friendly Indians about the fort. she knsu the wounded man to bs . strs1gsn and wondered at his pres ence in theEeighborhood
 Suddenly hsr syss slishted upon . packet that ksd fallen from . snail knapszek he cstrisd This. with his trsveI-vorn clostes. proclaimed him runn.r-s besrsr of messages fro1 camp to camp
 For the second TA iisn she cosld not sccouut. but this odf vss eyi1e-tly come with nsvs for CA NiteAerL
 h her haste to set th srssdy- she ksd dsturb-d tse dispsfsAe cd . fes