Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-08-31
The SiIver-Tipped Telegraph Pole.

"What is the wish OF Sky Eye ?"
asked the Indian, turning to the boy who
had stopped beside him.
"Did Sky Eye not hear Red Willow
say that he goes this morning to the south
east, to see the great thing pass on the
steel trail ?" questioned the boy eagerly.
"Umphp" grunted the chief.
"Sky Eye wishes to 60 with Red Will
low to see this thing" begged the boy.
"The way is long" growled the In
dian.
"The legs of Sky Eye are tireless,"
urged the boy.
cred Willow will travel FAST" added
the chief.
"Sky Eyes feet shall have wings" the
boy pleaded.
"The way is free. Follow if you
choose" saidthe Indian, shortly. "Take
pouch of parched corn and strip OF
jerked venison. Red Willow carries no
gum"
"Sky Eye has them here" and the boy
touched packet wrapped in hide.
A big, white dog stood close beside
Sky Eye, and when the boys hand gave
him sly, joyous pat he quickly licked it
as if to say: "White Wolf knows all
about it, and is glad, too"
"No more may brave carry his gun
where he Wills" remarked the Indian
bitterly. cred Willow must 60 empty
handed, since his road is near the steel
trail. Come"
Quitting the open space around the viii
lage, they entered the forest and took a
course due southeast. Red Willow, in
the lead, moved like shadow; Sky Eye
close behind stepping in the place where
the big moccasinS had fallen-right-left
pit pat-toes in-iog trot-straight on
through woodS-full tilt-up hill-down
vale - they dropped the miles behind
them, White Wolf trailing. They quilted
the scrub oaks and the trees grew higher,
the trunks larger and Straighter. They
caught glimpse OF the river. Near the
waters edge, Red Willow drew birch
bark canoe and paddle from their hiding
place under cluster Of tamarackS. They
launched the boat, and Sky Eye, with
careful balance, seated himself in the
prov. Red Willow knelt facing ahead,
in the stern, and with quick, steady turns
of the paddle on the right side OF the
small craft sent it, true as an arrow, across
the wide current OF the stream.
"Our warriors pulled up the steel trail
and tore DOWN the talking wires many
times," remarked Sky Eye, speaking for
the first time since leaving the village.
Red Willow only grunted. They land
ed and concealed the canoe. White
Wolf joined them. Again they took up
their course to the southeast; again the
forest dwindled to scrub oak the way
led over rougher ground, rising higher,
and ever higher.
In the middle OF the forenoon they came
out on the margin OF a sandy plain where
as far as the eye could reach, not a spot
of green marked the wild, sterile waste.
The clear sweep of the desert place soon
surrounded them; the gusty wind lifted
light clouds OF sand which drifted over
them; the autumn sun beat down upon
them with the brightness OF midsummer.
On, on, and ever on; it seemed to SKY
Eye that they would never get to their
journeys end, and he almost wished
himself back in the village.
"There," observed Red Willow at last,
stopping so suddenly that the moccasined
toe of the boy close behind him struck
his heel "there is the track of the talking
wires"
Sky Eye looked ahead curiously, and,
stretching as far as his eye could follow,
he saw line of straight poles with cross
bars near their tops; all laced together
with shining strands, like the floating
webs in the last balmy days before the
cold sets in, only these were heavier and
stronger, and swept from pole to pole.
"Where is the steel trail ?" cried Sky
Eye.
"The webs that talk follow it like the
glittering ratteSnake the burrow OF the
prairie dog" replied the Indian.
Sky Eye hurried forward until he came
to the railroad where the rails were Still
dull and unpublished. He looked with
much curiosity up and down their even
length. Red Willow came up more lei
surely. He had seen the road in nearly
all OF its stages OF construction; had mar
veled at the talking threads; had helped
others to tear up the rails and cut down
the wires-but that was before the troops
had been sent out. Some had been kill
ed then; some had been wounded; the
others, conquered for the time, had been
driven back where they belonged. he
was here now to look for the iron horse,
which had been seen to pass for the trSt
time the day before; then he would 60
away peaceably.
They sat down near one OF the tele-
graph poles to wait. The sun was hot.
Sky Eye was tired, in spite OF his brave
words of the morning. Listening to the
htmning of the wires, he soon tellasleep.
Red Willow dozed. White Wolf strayed
down the track which linked two points
of civilization with an iron band-Strayed
along that part OF the stretch which had
proved the mort troublesome and expen-
siye on the whole line; where the ties
had been hauled from great distances;
where much ballasting had been needed
to make firm roadbed; where the Indians
had played havoc with work and men
4 Ill