The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-10-06

"The old boys got the proper TO-
Gus. all right, all right" Todd re-
marked, jocularly. "Ain't it about
time t. begin the grand march ?
S'pose your copper faced friends don't
get curious?"
"Dinna ye fear" Bill replied, test
lily, the red deevils IL he here fast
enoo'. Hae ye the concertina?"
II shore have" said Todd, produc-
ing the instrument. II amt no Pad
dyroosky, Bill, but I'll do the best
l can"
He squatted in the snow by the
fire, and, slipping his mitts into his
coat pocket, stretched the bellows and
rams his fingers over the keys Of the
antiquated affair. The squeaking
notes shrilled wonderfully loud in the
silence While Todd INDUCED in a
few preliminary fourishes, Bill
heaped wood on the fire. Then he
slipped out of his fur coat and
Strengthened up with six-shooter in
his hand; the barking crack-cracl5 of
1t went echoing far up and down the
river.
The Blackfeet, peering out of their
tepees at the report of the gun, noted
the fire by the Gordon line camp.
They looked with growing wonder at
the figures Of the two men vividly
silhouetted in the glare, one huddled
by the fire, the other capering before
it with loud cries and strange con-
tortions of his body; and as the
squeaky trill of the concertina drifted
over the frozen river, the Indian dogs
voiced canine protest that died away
in an eerie, wolf-like howl. Hesitat-
ing between curiosity and supersti-
tious fear, the Blackfeet listened and
watched silently, until Wolf-That-
Runs-Swiftly, medicine man, struck
his inflated chest with the palm of
his hand, and spoke.
1T may be that the white men
! have drank too much frewater," he
shrilled. "Or they may make medi-
cine against us; for they like us not.
Shall fifty lodges of the Blackfeet
stand in fear before two palefaces? :?
Let us cross the river and behold the
things they do! My medicine is
stronger than theirs-and 1t is far
to where dwell the redcoats, in their
| big tepees of wood
BY the time Bill Mathison had exc
cuted some thirty different steps of
the Highland fling, great drops of
sweat were standing out on his tanned
cheeks, and it was with a feeling of
thankfulness that he heard Todd
growl encouragingly, go to 1t, old
boy! Yuh got em a-comin." AS
Bill balanced airily on the toes of
one foot, pirouetting like giddy
chorus girl, and yip-yipping in man
ner that amazed even Todd, he heard
the shuffling pat-pat of moccasins in
the snow. He glimpsed line OF in
scrutable bronze faces peering at him
out of the dark. Closer they pressed,
until the light of the fire touched
their features with its glow, and their
figures took on tangible shape. Then
Jlll ldGGu Iuclu Will OulSDIGdu.
Todd fingered the keys dolorously.
Have the Blackfeet come to be-
hold the strength of my medicine?"
he asked, calmly. Bill spoke the
Blackfoot tongue like a chief of the
tribe, and wide knowledge of their
customs and superstitions gave him
a solid foundation to work upon.
What medicine does the white
man boast off" Wolf-That- Runs
Swiftly demanded, in a scornful tone.
Does he think the Blackfeet are lit
tie children to fear fire and thing
that squeaks and groans with
strange voice."
Listen! For many days the Black
feet have had good hunting on the
Red Deer. Is it not so?" Bill made
gesture up and down the river.
Our young men have had good
hunting" responded Wolf-That- Runs
Swiftly, spokesman by virtue of his
position when medicine talk was
made.
Even SOL" thundered Bill. "The
hunting mas Deen good--S0 good that
the young men, having powder a
plenty, slaughtered the prong-horns
for the joy of killing And now the
carcasses, stripped only of hide and
tongue, lie on the river bottoms as
close together as the cottonwoods In
the coulees; so that when the chin
ook comes the stink of them will
drive even the gray badger to the high
lands Wherefore, o men of the
Blackfoot nation! the Great Spirit is
angry. And he has said to me this
night, Make medicine, and I, the
Great Spirit, will send a sign that the
Blackfeet who hunt under Medicine
Child may be warned and cease their
wanton Staying of the deer -
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