Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-12-05

s
lSposed with gravity AndS did You ten
lher that but for you there would have
been no Dan Boone to- escort her
For anybody else morrow 81? ~ ,$5s$f 4
|,$ Lavender uttered q. little scream 81
dismay, looking from one ITO the other
fearfu1ly. s; 81. e, s " ;;Ss:S / ~:
I Boone continued: He could, had he
chosen, come out best in that zsargu4
! ment, child # 1T hadn't been for his
quick eye and hand, the woods would
! never again have echoed to- this gun,
and that red devil yonder would have
had another scalp at his belt another
life on his soul.,, - u Tsa7e 4 g -. 49,.
Lavender was silent, awe-struck, and
for space nobody spoke.
To break, the spell which threatened
to mar the time, Boone said: "See the
new moon! Let's made WISH"
And all three turned from the fire.
light to see the crescent moon that,
like silver cradle, rocked star.
After a pause, Boone asked: What
| did we all wish?''
II can guess yours, colonel" Laven-
der said. 1T was for good weather, or
full traps, or perhaps that the Indians
| would let us alone.''
mo, my girl, no. l am Indifferent
to weather; I am too old hunter to
set traps this time of year, and as for
the Indians, we'll, Dan Boone has yet
to worry about them. No, mine was
the old, old story-a wish for my
land, my title. For you must KNOW"
he added in explanation, that I
have long coveted more Of Mother
Earth than the bare six feet which
all men claim
This was followed by hush, which
the host broke again: *tYours was
something sentimental, no doubt?"
Lavender shook her head. mo, I
couldn't think of a trifling wish.
something which did not matter-so-
so didn't wish at all. The real heart
desires, things want very much-no,
l wouldn't trust them to a goddess so
capricious."
Winslow smiled at her fancy-her
manner, half serious, half testing.
II see you have imbibed some of
Americas supersititons Now, I, on
the contrary, have trusted to the
moons tickle care grave responsible
ity, the desire on which my whole
life turns"
His meaning tone made Lavender
tremble with an odd, confused joy.
The old man chuckled.
In the embarrassed calm which fol-
lowed, OwatOga emerged from the hut
where he had been caring for the
wounded savage, and with few strides
Joined the group. In his manner was
There was a glitter in the fathomless
eyes.
"Owatoga has something to tell" re-
marked Winslow. 'Let US hear it.
friend"
But the guide beckoned him mystic
riously apart, and they conferred to-
gether.
Winslow returned soon, and, with an
apology to Lavender, spoke into the
private ear of his host.
Boone's first involuntary start be-
trayed dismay.
what is the matter? Tell me-" de-
manded the girl.
The three men exchanged glances.
Tell her." said Owatoga. 1.-THE white
maid is no papoose to fear the paint
and feathers
HE is right" Boone agreed: "She
may as we'll know now. It may be
only a false alarm. must see this
redskin, and find out the truth - If
possible" he added, meaningly. "In-
dians have lied before With a cyni-
cal smile that was half frown, he
went to the hut where back in the
semi-darkness lay the wounded saw
age, like wolf in his den, nothing
seen but the fierce and glazing eyes.
Meanwhile Owatoga stood at the
edge of the small clearing, his eve
intent upon the thicket.
Winslow moved close to Lavender as
he said: "Owatoga says that party
of Usage Indians have planned to at
tack Col. Boone's cabin tonight. n'hey
do not know of the presence of the
rest Of us, but are sure they have
trapped the old man at last
"And how did Owatoga learn this?"
asked Lavender, and her voice was
low and steady.
Through this wounded man; he was
to have been one of the attacking
party"
"And why does he betray the de-
sign?" -.
"For two reasons; he has discovered
in Owatoga one Of hts own tribe, and
we'll, he fancies himself in some
sense indebted to me"
Then, seeing that she still looked
puzzled: II might have killed him this
afternoon, you know"
Here Boone Joined them. 1--WE
must lose no time. I am pretty sure
he is speaking the truth. There seems
no gain to him In warning us. We
will leave him here. He says the red
skins may come at any time, but it
will most likely be after midnight.
He will detain them as long as he can
to give us chance to get away"
Before they left, Winslow bent over
the wounded Indian with word of
farewell, TO-: which he had for an
swer: eyes, -Menoka will live, and he
will remember that one white breast
had a heart in it, - g. ~
Silently the party stole from the
camp. e.. =.
ITO the NORTH" was: Boone's whis-
pered command, and soon the forest
hid them In friandlu r1onrn. = -