The Washington herald., 1912-05-05


pedition against the Indians, in which
!. too. am to engage. But, let me say
this now Think over the prospect Of
crossing the water and think Il over
seriously For you had a relative, =
rowing dog of an uncle, who mayhap
may have led a life not sanctioned by
polite society, mayhap not At any
rate. Jack, my boy, this uncle knew
of you and did not forget you when he
died. And that is all wish 70 tell you
at the present moment
what no, Jack came the voice
of Adam Poe, at this instant To the
wagon, boy, for We are of for the river
and must hasten home immediately to
prepare for the coming campaign. So,
shaking the English officer by the
hand. Jack was soon IN the large wagon
which Lord Dunmore had prepared to
carry them to their canoes. Good
BY" shouted Capt. Dabney, IS they
rolled away. ~We shall meet again be-
fore many days have passed. ] trust
and things viii be bit more interest
ing than they are in this quiet, little
village"
Jack thought no more of what the
gallant captain had said, for soon they
were again launched upon the muddy
waters of the Potomac, and, with the
canoes turned toward the west, began
the long journey to Greenway Court.
Lord Fairfax was in great good humor,
for the coming campaign promised him
security and peace in the valley, and
opportunity to develop his enormous
grant Of land without moIeststiou. Be
ing . man of considerable hunor, he
lightened the journey by many tales of
his earlier life in England, so the time
passed very rapidly as the canoes crept
up the current of the cohongaruton.
The little party was two days jour
ney from the place where they had first
taken the canoes, when something oe-
CURED which made il only too evident
that their return would receive a far
different welcome than they anticipated
As Jack arose, at daybreak to assist in
making the FIRE, he heard a loud ex-
ciamation from the bank, where the
form of Adam Poe could be distinctly
seen through the slight mist which rose
from the waters edge.
y Alas AlasP he exclaimed, as Jack
came up to where he was standing
See what some slIulling varlet has done
to US. As | walked to the waters edge
in order to wash the sleep from my
eyes, what did / see but a dark form
wriggling away in the bushes, and, upon
coming up to the canoes, | found that
a huge strip had been cut from one
with a knife, or other sharp too"
Jack leaned over and inspected the
bottom of the canoe.
by gracious, you are quite right,"
he exclaimed. "And We are apparently
in a dangerous predicament, for at any
moment we may be attacked"
The tutor looked around in fright
ened manner. Quite right, quite
right" he stammered. And as we
must now delay for some time until
this is patched into proper condition
for travelling, / am under the impress
sion that we may have a little brush
upon our hands before the day is over.
It will 60 i'll with Us, too, if the foe
is in any numbers"
Lord Fairfax had now approached,
and when he had examined the rent
in the canoe, exclaimed, in angry
tones, Thanks be to Lord Dunmore
for promising his aid against such
creatures as these Indians, who never
fight in the open, but, by stealth and
trickery, do one all the damage that
they are able to. Here, Adam, call the
riverman and have this attended to at
once, for we must push on and be at
Greenway before any damage comes to
those whom we have left behind"
"Ayel Aver answered Adam, and
soon he was busily engaged in boiling
some pitch with which to mend the
ance up the river.
But all was not TO be peaceful sailing
from now on, for, as they rounded
bend in the river, suddenly Lord Fair
fax-who was leading in the bow of
the first canoe-slpped his paddle
hard down IN the water, and swung
the bow of the vessel quickly into the
bank. Quick, men. hide beneath those
projecting limbs" he whispered, "A
large war party is on the river"
His advice was none too quickly
given, for, in a few moments, two
large canoes filed with Shawnee war
riors rounded the bend of the stream
and swept down the turbid current.
They could not see the party of whites,
for, with a quick DETECTION, the two
canoes had run under a projecting
bank where the branches from some
trees completely screened
them from the gaze of most inquiring |
eye. Here all lay low in the bottom
Of their craft, scarcely daring 10
breathe, and watching the passing foe |
with careful scrutiny through the |
screen of branches. The warriors !
seemed to have little knowledge of their |
presence, for they laughed and chatted |
with one another as if there was not |
the slightest suspiciOn of the nearneSs
Of the party under Lord Fairfax.
My, how could have punctured /
that young chief" said Jack, as the war /
party swept well beyond their view"
| never had better shot presented to
me in my life. Now, Adam, do you
suppose that these fellows will keep |
on down the river, or that they viii
return and catch up with US !"
The tutor smiled grimly, as he an
swered. Il little can guess, bur the
truth is that we must push along as
fast as we can in a few moments, in
order to leave them far astern-"
So, in very short time, the canoes
we're showed out from the bank and all
fell to with a will, to make the pas
sage up the stream as quickly as they
oould. But although making good
time, and trsversing quite distance
from the place where they had last
seen the Indian party, they were not
fully out of harms way, for, as they
rounded a bend in the river, suddenly
! shot sounded from the bank, and a
.,,iIaS xu,hszzad Oaef ff1e fi4rAe .~0ruared