The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-10-16

Mutterlng curse, Skeeter dis
mounted and sat down on boulder.
''Skeet!'
The voice was not an arms length
away and the deserter sprang to his
feet. pistol in hand, and peered into
the darkness. Then came the low
hoot of an owl, and his hand left his
weapon.
"Ye red devil, where are ye?" he
demanded.
A figure rose beside him.
Little Fox herel"
The trooper detected a pompous
note that was new in the Indians 8
voice.
We'll, if it wasn't fer this derned
smoke / cd seen ye, all right" he
growled.
Smoke heap worse tomorrow" /"
was the reponse.
What dye mean, Fox?'
He made a sudden step toward
his companion, but the Sioux darted
away.
We ride" he said simply, and a
moment later was astride his pony,
trotting up the canyon, leaving the
soldier to mount and follow at will.
For an hour they rode, practically
in silence, the Indian leading and
defeating every plan of the deserter
to draw from him an explanation.
They had decided on a certain spring
as a camping place until daylight,
we'll knowing that they were safe
from pursuit, as the officers would
expect Skeeter to return of his own
free will. as he had done so often
before.
1t was near midnight when the
strangely matched pair picketed their
horses and started small fire. AS
the blaze leaped up it revealed the
form of Little Fox drawn up to his
fullest height. arms folded, dressed
in the hideous ghost dance shirt and
leggings, while daubs of red and yell
low paint gave to his face the appear
ance of fiend.
The trooper sprang to his feet, stood
staring at the Indian in astonishment.
Darn ye, what does it mean
them togs?" he demanded, pointing
to the emblem of the red Messiah.
Little Fox join his brothers.
Great Spirit say to red man. Kill
palefaces-burn ranch houses-red
man come back from happy hunting
ground and bring with him buffalo.
All belong to red man. Great Spirit
speaks and Little Fox hears.
His voice with its boastful tone
rose to chanting cadence; his arms
were uplifted, his body swayed, as
the fire of fanaticism swept him.
SO ye're goin' to join them MUIR
derin' devils, are ye?" There was a
threat in his tone.
Great Spirit call, red man hear.
Dig up hatchet and kill all pale
facesP Skeet go with Little Fox
paint face dance to Great Spirit
be red man-when buffalo come back
we hunt-no hide in mountains"
The soldiers impulse was to shoot
him where he stood, but he shrank
from the deed.
when is it to take placer" he
asked.
The Indian again flung out his
arms, his body swayed, and a weird,
| droning chant came from his lips.
Then he paused.
''The time here" he said. To.
night give signal. Braves burn and
kill. Tonight-tonightl"
Skeeter felt the blood leave his
face as he asked:
And the signal?'
Three heap fires on Eagle Butte
when the night half dead. You go?''
Il think will, but let's take a
drink"
He handed the canteen to Little
Fox, who seized it and gulped down
a quantity of the liquor, then handed
it back.
The soldier placed the canteen to
his lips and tilted it toward the sky
but his tongue was pressed against
the canteen mouth and not croT
passed it. His throat and lips were
parched, but not from thirst.
He passed the canteen back to the
Sioux and again and again urged hin
to drink, keeping up his own sham
Little Fox soon showed the effects o.
the whisky. He slashed his arms
with his hunting knife and laughed
at the blood; he chanted of the
Great Spirits message; he gloateo
over the tempest of death that was
to sweep the hated palefaces off the
earth. Then suddenly he sprang to
his feet, his face working convulsively
the very picture of demon as seer
by the camp fires glow.
Look"
He pointed to the southwark, but
the motion was unnecessary. The
trooper had kept his gaze thitherwaro
ever since the story of the signal
And pillar of fame shot up from
the summit of Eagle Butte. A
minute passed-hours to the soldier
standing with clinched jaws, peerinl
out across the waste of rocks ant
alkali, every nerve at highest tension
and then another column of fire
burned its way into the night, followed
closely by third.
Again the swaying form of th'
Indian circled about the fire, chant
ing and boasting of the deeds OF bloot
that were to follow.
Skeeter's voice sounded hoarse ant
deep in his throat as he turned nj