The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-03-19

way. And now you might tell me who
II is I am to companion with"
He grinned, showing his teeth, and
my eyes noted how firmly he held his
gun.
"A pledge Is q pledge. Master Hay
ward" he answered. insolently. Il am
called Simon Girty."
l involuntarily took O step back
ward, staring into the mans face.
That he was a renegade OF some sort,
/ had realized from the first, yet II
had never once occurred to me that he
could be that bloody scoundrel, Girty.
There flashed across my mind the
stories had heard OF his atrocities:
his leadership of Indians In midnight
forays; his malignant cruelty; the
heartlessness with which he watched
victims burning at the stake; his out
RACES on helpless women and children;
the fendish acts of savagery with
which his brutal name was connected
along the border. And this was the
man-this cowardly-eyed bastard. who
stood there grinning into my face, evil
IDENTIFY amused at my undisguised ex-
preston Of horror. Protect. and guide
him! My FIRST inclination was to strike
the man down in his tracks, kill him
as I would Q venomous snake. He
read all this in my eyes, in the stinen-
ing Of my muscles.
mo, no, Master Hayward" he sheer
ed, bringing his rife forward, don't
let the name Brighten you. The half
you've heard Of me are lies. I'm not
so bad when all Ii told. and there IL
more than one borderman who can re-
call my mercy. Kenton escaped the
stake through me. and there are white
women and children awaiting ransom
In Detroit because l interceded for
them. Now play fair, above board
see?" and he dropped his gun on the
grass, and held out his empty hands.
1T is easy to kill me. yet you will not
you are o soldier"
stood irresolute. hesitating, half
tempted still to come to blows. yet his
act disarmed me. Beast though he
might be could not kill him In cold
blood: I was no murderer, yet It was
0 struggle to resist.
Now listen. Simon Girty," I man
aged to say. at last. There 10 no
friendship between US, now nor at any
time. I hold you q murderous rene
gade. white savage, to be shown less
mercy than an Indian dog. But leave
others to deal with you as you de-
serve. As you say, am a soldier. and
will act like one. have pledged you
my word of guidance to Fort Harmar.
will keep the pledge to the letter. but
no more. Beyond the gate you pro-
hand to protect you from just ven
geance. / despise you too much to
fear you. Pick up your rife. That 10
all: now we will break our fast, and
CO."
Convinced as was that Girty actu-
ally desired to reach the fort. although
somewhat skeptical as to his purpose.
felt no fear Of treachery. was Of too
great value to the fellow to warrant
an attack; SO, without hesitation, l
led the way. permitting him to follow
or not, as he pleased. / had II in my
mind to question him. but refrained.
What would be the use! The fellow
would only lie. in all probability, and
one word would lead to another. He
would have to be explicit enough once
he confronted Harmar. and my duty
merely consisted In delivering him
safely at the gates Of the fort.
IL was noon when We came to the
clearings, Uttered with stumps, but
yielding view OF the distant river. and
the scattered log houses of Marietta.
Men were at work In the fields. but
avoided these as much as possible, al
though they paused In their labor and
stared suspiciously at Us as we ad-
vanced. However I was we'll known.
my size making me notable. and as
our course was toward the town, no
one objected TO our progress. There
was no recognition Of the man, who
chung close to my heels. and i wasted
no time in getting past. eager to be
well rid OF him.
In truth felt little hope Of getting
through thus easily. The fellow was
too widely known not to be recognized
by some one. These men OF the fields
were settlers, newly arrived mostly,
and slightly acquainted as yet with
border history. but there would be idle
hunters in the village. backwoodsmen
from across the river. men who had
ranged the northern forests. and to
whom the name OF Girty meant much.
Let one OF these look upon the man
and his life would scarce be worth
the snap OF finger. Not that cared.
except as his safe passage involved my
own word.
Come along" / said harshly. Il
would be done with you"
We advanced up the road to where
the fort gates stood open, a single
sentry standing motionless between
the posts. AS we drew near, a group
OF hunters-a half dozen maybe-sud.
denly emerged. their long rifles trail.
ing, on their way 10 the valley.
recognized the man in advance as the
Kentuckian Brady. frontiersmsn and
Indian fighter. and recognising me he
stopped.