Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-08-31

on guard.
In the meantime, much apprehension
and excitement were felt where civiiza-
ton touched the road in the northeast and
in the southwest, for the lines which had
bound them together across wide sweep
of wild country had been broken-the
telegraph wires refused TO carry a mes
sage. Were the Indians again at their
depredationS on the sand wastes? Were
they cutting wires, leveling poles, pulling
up rails, and burning ties after the punish
ment they had received? Something
was wrong, and special was started for
the scene OF the trouble.
How long it was before Sky Eye awoke
he never knew. 1t was White Wolf
plunging madly against the pole. bowling
and yelping, often Striking his numb
arms and wounded wrists, which first
aroused him. His eyes were so filled
with dirt that he could scarcely see his
lips were cracked; his tongue was
parched; his wrists bleeding his legs
without feeling The sun had set or was
drowned in the binding clouds. White
Wolf was bowling like mad. The pole
was rocking. 1t was not the wind alone
which swayed it, for when Sky Eye look
ed up he saw that the bear was descend
ing upon him. Bruin was backing down
the pole just over his head.
White Wolf bounded frantically against
the boys cut wrists in his efforts TO keep
the bear up the pole, and Sky Eye closed
his eyes in misery and helpleSsneSS,
thinking his last moment had come. He
would have prayed had he known Of
God. He would have thought of his
mother, could he have remembered her.
Suddenly a strange sound broke upon
his Straining earS-an awful scream in the
distance; he had never heard anything
like il. He saw a ball OF light coming
down the steel trail, which was ringing
and singing now as if filled with lite.
The bear hastily climbed back to his
perch on the crossbars. White Wolf
crouched close to Sky Eyes side and
made no sound. A rafting roar was
growing louder; the binding, blazing,
searching glare, lighting all the space
before it like an evil eye, was coming
nearer. A humping, believing, shape
less monster painted toward Sky Eye,
throbbing and putting.
The boy was so frightened that his
heart seemed to stand still. The thing
breathed out blasts of black breath. II
spat out clouds of hot, white mist. Sky
Eyes nose was aSSaiIed for the first time
with the smell OF soft-coal smoke mixed
with steam. His blood turned cold. His
flesh felt creepy. His hair seemed stir
ring under his cap Of mink skin.
The monster on the steel trail stopped
beside him with jog, jolt, and snort.
What if it should make up its mind TO
turn around in his direction II was
thousand times worse than the biggest
bear he could imagine. The very earth
beneath it shook and quivered.
Then he heard clamor ofvoiceS. Men
were Swarming toward him. Lights were
flashing everywhere in the gathering
dusk. He was spoken to in an unknown
tongue. His thongs were cut, and in a
whirl OF conflicting emotions he tried 10
get to his feet, but could not He was
laid upon the ground, and one man
brought blanket, while another went
for water. Many were pointing excitedly
at the bear on the pole.
White Wolf was clearly Of two minds,
whether to fly at the strangers or TO offer
them friendship; and he had expressed
these conflicts OF feeling by alternate
waggings OF his tail and displays OF his
teeth. 1t was finally made plain TO him
that these were the most amiable of men
men whom it was an honor for an hon
est dog to know.
Some one addressed Sky Eye whose
speech he understood, and in few brief
words his story was told. They carried
him tenderly forward and up into the
finest place he had ever seen-White
Wolf crowding close TO his masters side.
They bathed the boys face and wounded
wrists so tenderly that he almost felt an
inclination TO cry-big as he was.
"Say," said the man who spoke his
tongue, you're no Indian; you're no
Indian you're white like us chapS-you
are"
Sky Eye opened his eyes wide.S
"Your skin is white-where we can
get down 10 it through the dirt; your hair
is gingerbread brown with kink in it
though don't suppose you know the
color Of gingerbread your eyes are
blue"
"My name is Sky Eye" said the boy
simply.
whats your real name ?" asked the
man.
Just Sky Eye" the boy replied.
"Where's your folks ?" was the next
question.
"Sky Eye never had any-only White |
Wolf"
The dog wagged his bushy tail, Sitting |
sand on the carpeted floor.
A shot sounded outside, followed by |
the fall Of heavy body.
They've got that bear that tied up the |
line," the man explained. 'Do you
want 10 wait here for that Red Willow,
or do you want TO come along with us ?"
Sky Eye could not speak at first; his
heart was too full.
"Say the word" the man insisted,
cheerily.