Mower County transcript., 1906-07-25
CHAPTER VI

Next morning Lavender strolled idly
into the woods back Of the fort Fa-
miliarity with the forest had softened
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 leaf1ess
branches in restless wooing of the
spring. Already, promise of her COM
ing lay in the tiny brown buds of yel-
lOW-green shoots that pe~ped bravely
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 sudden, the whizz of an arrow
rang in her ears, and she felt it's wind
on her face. At the moment, an In
dian staggered through the underbrush.
look Of a wounded stag, then with
a cultural moan, fell as if lifeless at
her feet.
Her impulse was tc run, leaving the
wounded man to his fate. For might
not another arrow follow-herself it's
mark?
But after moment S hesitation. she
knelt at the Indians side, and lifted
the unconscious head to her lap.
The CHASTITY bunch of feathers pro-
truded from the buckskin coat; one in
stants shuddering pause. then with
quick jerk she wrenched the arrow
from it's yet pulsing sheath, Warm.
gushing, the blood followed. Untying
her 'kerchief, she stanched its 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 rustic in a tangle of
evergreen near; the bushes were part
ed, and head, surmounted by a tow
ering circle of gaudy 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
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 it in his
Own culver. Then without word or
sign. he departed as silently as he had
come.
In stupor of fright Lavender sat
mechanically stanching the blood, her
eyes upon the bushes whence the saw
age had intruded.
There were few hostile Indians about,
and the settlers had grown bold. Laven-
der was as much surprised as alarmed
at this sudden apparition. Familiar
with all the friendly Indians about the
fort, she knew the wounded man to be
a stranger, and wondered at his pres
ence in the neighborhood.
Suddenly her eyes alighted upon a
packet that had fallen from small
knapsack he carried. This, with his
travel-worn clothes, proclaimed him a
runner-a bearer of messages from
camp to camp.
For the second Indian she could not
account. but this one was evidently
come with news for Col Mitchell.
In her haste to get the brandy, she had
disturbed the dispatches. and = few
L.