The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-24

sleep in. After Cockburn had gone
Philip sat up, waiting for Jean.
1t was midnight when Pierrot came
in.
They refuse, M'sieur," he said.
Philip stared at the strange pallor
and the hollow lines in Jeans face.
They refuse repeated Pierrot,
breathing deeply. 81 saw MabalIa, and
she took me by the hand, Msieur, and
led me into the tepee where Sakimay
was lying upon his back. They be-
came man and wife-to-day-accor
ing to their law. I gave them your
message. I told them what would hap
pen tomorrow, and Sakinay called the
others in so that they might hear.
There are only eleven who can fight
and to a man they shook their heads
when Sakimay said he would give him
self up to the White Chief, if it was
their will. They are poorly armed.
They know what will happen. But
they are brave, though they are not a
people of God They are ready to die,
M'sieur. Sakimay and Maballa send
you their thanks and their love. And
Maballa sends you this!"
Jeans voice choked him as he drew
a folded bit of buckskin from his
pocket. He unwrapped it and there
rippled down from between his fingers
long, shining tress of hair. He held
it above h'r waist and it swept the
floor. His eyes shone softly and his
hand trembled as he gave it to Philip.
"Tt is beautiful" breathed Philip,
wonderingly, as the softness of it
touched his fingers. Butt don't
understand"
'M'sieur," cried Jean, bending for
ward, this is the greatest thing that
a Sarcee maiden can give to man,
next to her love. In the old days
when the Sarcees were a powerful
tribe if a girl asked the favor of man
by word of mouth only, he could grant
it or not, as he wished, but If she gave
him a tress of her hair it bound him
even to death in her service. To re.
fuse her then, if there was no dishonor
in her request, would be the same as
you refusing assistance to a white
woman pleading for help in the hands
of ruf1ans Maballa sends her prayer
to you. It is that you have her and
Sakimay taken to their old home in
the Swan River country, and buried
therein one grave. 1t is her last
confession that she has no God, and
that she will die pagan, with Saki
may" Jean bowed his head. "Will
you do this, Missouri
He started as he felt the soft crush
Of Maballa's hair against his hand
His eyes met Philips.
This is yours, jean" said Philip
gently Cant you understand? Ma
baIla sent it to me-and intended il
for you. 1t is yours and will helT
you to carry them back to their ole
home-if they die"
"You think she meant this-fol
me?"
Philip laughed and gripped Jeans
hand.
MY poor Pierrot, are you blind7"
With joyous cry Jean pressed thu
sflken tress TO his lips.
Then she has given to me-to me
something" he said. at is next II
that which she has given to him" HI
turned toward the door and stopped
, IN the shadow his eyes glowed lik'
black garnets. Il am sorry there ar
not three Gods, M'sieur. If there werr
, I would go and fight for her"
A little before dawn Philip wen
with Pierrot and the factor to tn,
Indian camp. The Crees were read.
aud waiting. Their dogs were tugginl
. at the ends of babiche thongs tied Il
. trees, and the boys and women wer'
huddled n a silent group about TIL
farthest fire. PictoU was looking To-
), them and advanced across the opeI
3 10 meet them.
There was no excitement as he ant
/, Philip, with the factor and Pierrot be
: hind them, led the way into the gloon
of the forest. The Cree fighters fel
) in behind them like shadows. Thei
? moccasined feet made no sound upol
the damp earth; there was no whis
pering Of one man to another. nothini
but grim, terrible silence as the,
passed through the thick spruce an
!, into a black rock-strewn break be
: tween two mountainous ridges. Over
+ head broke the first gray light Of day
and at every twist and turn some
thing which he could not resist dre7
Philips eyes behind him. Away
there were the same faces ct his bach
q dark sullen, unresponsive, filling hir
: with growing realization of his ow
poTerIessDess. He overlook Picto