The Washington herald., 1906-12-30

she wished to stay in her room at the
hotel
The audience was quiet and attentive,
and Harley noticed here and there on the
outskirts the dark faces of the Indians
They interested him so much that he
left the platform presently to watch
them. He was wondering II they had any
conception at all of Jimmy Grayson's
words or Of a Presidential campaign. Nor
did he gain any knowledge by his exami-
nation They listened gravely. and their
faces were without expression.
The nearest OF them all TO the stand
Harley recognized as the old chief. Flying
Cloud. whom Walker had kicked off the
sidewalk. He seemed to have recovered
physical command of himself, and stood
erect. There was a red feather in his
felt hat. and a shawl in brilliant stripes
was drawn across his shoulders.
The candidate spoke in a specially
happy vein that night, and the back
ground Of the mountains added impress
| siveness to his words. To Harley again
the analyst and seeking TO put himself
in the Indians place. there was a rhythm
and power in what Jimmy Grayson said,
although he as an Indian, might not
understand a word. He could interpret
! it as a chant of battle or victory, and
such. he had no doubt, was the view OF
/ Flying Cloud.
The chief. so Harley judged. was still
} half under the influence Of drink, but he
was paying close attention to the speaker,
and the correspondent at last saw in his
/ eyes what he took 10 be the stir Of some
emotion 1t was a light. as of memories
4 Of his own triumphs. and the chiefs
I figure began 10 sway gently to the music
/ OF Jimmy Grayson's voice. They had
/ built bonfire near the speakers stand.
and by its flare Harley clearly saw old
/ Flying Cloud smile
/ Hobart came up at that moment. and
/ Harley pointed out TO him the trans
/ formation in the old chiefs appearance.
/ Hobarts opinion agreed with Harley's.
ITS battle-sOng that Flying Cloud
/ is hearing" he said It's Jimmy Gray
son that's stirring him up. though maybe
/ the old fellow doesn't understand 1t that
way"
/ The speeches ended after while. and
/ the people began 10 leave. Presently
/ only a few We're left IN the square. and
! among them Harley. who felt no touch
/ Of sleepiness. He looked at the quiet
! town, then up at the ridges and peaks.
/ crested with snow and silhOuetted against
| the mOonlit sky. and thought again OF
/ that little girl, alone with her dead and
in the night among the vast mountains
| The next moment he believed that IL
was telepathic feeling. because at his
elbow was Sylvia Morgan herself, a red
/ striped shawl over her head to protect
her from the cold. and king" Plummer.
who had evidently brought her from the
I hotel. not far away.
Are they all gomez she asked.
NO" replied Harley; the Indians and
a few more are left
! Harley, IN the moonlight. clearly saw
/ her SILVER.
7 was restless. and I could not sleep. -
she said. Il came out for the sake Of the
air. But III go back"
No said Harley. don't go. Stay
with us, please. Now what can that
mean2"
a wild, barbarlc chant arose near the
bonfire behind them.
Come" exclaimed Harley, keen "a
see and hear. I think it's old Flying
Cloud. and he's ready to turn himself
loose. We can't miss this
Sylvia was about 10 turn away. but
as King PlUmmer came up on the
other side of her, and seemed to have
a curiosity Ike Harley's, she yielded al
last, though with reluctance and the
three walked toward the fire
Harley's surmise was correct, as old
Flying Cloud jumping back and forth
/ was singing some kind of war song
There was a group about him, and in il
was Hobart, who Harley guessed had
been a moving spirit in this scene Jim
my Grayson's fire and eloquence bad
done the rest.
The flames burned down little, but
they cast weird light on the old chiefs
face, bringing out like brown carving the
high cheek bones, the great hooked nose
and the scanned cheeks. The thin lips Eel
away from long, yellow teeth, and height.
ened the effect Of cruelty which his whole
! expression gave.
Hobart came over to them. and said
See how the Old fellow is changing
We've got him TO sing one Of his ancient
war songs. and I guess he thinks hei
beating Jimmy Grayson now,'
i, Sylvia Morgan shuddered, but she sale
nothing. She seemed TO be held by tn,
fascination of the serpent.
The chief continued to make his queel
little jumps back and forth and went OF
with his chant. As he had begun in Eng
lish for his auditors, so he continued, al
though he was now oblivious of thei
presence. Harley, watching him, knew it
and he knew, too. that the chiefs min,
was far back in the past. His was not tn,
song Of the broken derelict. but Of th'
barbarOus and triumphant warrior. and a.
he sang he gathered fire and strength.
/ The circle of white faces grew aroun,
the old chief. Every lOiterer was there
and others came back. Not one spoke
All were fascinated by the singular an,
weird scene. The moon, low down on tn
mountains crest, stilI shed a pallid
grayish light that mingled with the ftfu
red glare from the glowing Goals. the twt
together casting an Unearthiy tinge. Blu
HaTley's eyes never left the chief. as b.
saw his figure continue TO expand an,
grow with ancient memories Of prOwess
and the eyes of Sylvia beside him. as sh
too listened, expressed many and stroni
emotions.
Flying Cloud told Of hunting triumphs
of the slaughter of the buffalo, of fierc
encounters with the mountain lion, o
hand-tO-hand combat with the grizzl,
bear, and then he glided into war Nov
! his voice rose, full and prolonged. with
out any of the tremor or shrillness o
] age, and his eccentric dancing grew
/: more violent. His emotions. too. wer
shown on his face in ali their savager
as he told Of the foray and the fight
At first it was Indian against Indian
and never was any mercy shown-al
ways woe to the conquered; then Il wa
the whites. An emigrant train was com
ing over the mountains-men, women
I and children. There was danger in thei
! path; a Ute war band was abroad bu
! the fools knew il not. They travele
on, and at night the children played an
laughed by the camp fire, but the shade,
I Of the Utes was always there FLYNN
Cloud led the war band, but held ther
l. back until the time should come II
was waiting for a place that he knew
At last they reached it, a deep canyo
with bushes on each side, and the trai
+, entered the defle.
Harley suddenly felt a hand upon hi
q arm. It was the fingers of Sylvia GRASP