The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-05-21

way. And now you might tell me who
1t is I am to companion with"
He grinned, showing his teeth, and
my eyes noted how firmly he held his
gun.
"A pledge Is a pledge. Master Hay
ward" he answered, insolently. Il am
called Simon Girty."
I involuntarily took q step back.
ward, staring into the mans face.
That he was a renegade Of some sort.
l had realized from the first, yet it
had never once occurred to me that he
could be that bloody scoundrel, Girty.
There flashed across my mind the
stories l 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 fiendish 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 venomous snake. He
read all this in my eyes, In the stiffen.
ing Of my muscles.
mo, no, Master Hayward" he sneer.
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 Is told, and there is
more than one borderman who can re.
call my mercy. Kenton escaped the
stake through me, and there are white
Ia Detroit because interceded for
them. Now play fair, above board
seer" 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 q soldier"
I stood irresolute, hesitating, half
tempted still to come to blows, yet his
act disarmed me. Beast though he
might be l could not kill him in cold
blood; was no murderer, yet it was
struggle to resist.
Nov listen. Simon Girty," man.
aged to say, at last. There Is no
friendship between us, now nor at any
time. l hold you a 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 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.
coed at your own risk, for lift no
hand to protect you from just ven
geance. l despise you too much to
fear you. Pick up your rifle. That Is
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 toe
great value to the fellow to warrant
an attack; so, without hesitation,
led the way, permitting him to follow
or not, as he pleased. l had it 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.
1t was noon when we came to tho
clearings, Uttered with stumps, but
yielding view of the distant river, anC
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 anG
stared suspiciously at US as we ad
vanced. However l was well known
my size making me notable, and as
our course was toward the town, nc
one objected to our progress. There
was no recognition Of the man, who
chung close to my heels, and wasteC
no time In getting past, eager to b.
we'll rid of him.
In truth l felt little hope of getting
through thus easily. The fellow wa'
too widely known not to be recognized
by some one. These men of the field
were settlers, newly arrived mostly
and slightly acquainted as yet will
border history, but there would be idl'
hunters in the village, backwoodsmel
from across the river. men who hat
ranged the northern forests, and t.
whom the name of Girty meant much
Let one of these look upon the maj
and his life would scarce be wortl
the snap of finger. Not that cared
except as his safe passage involved m!
own word.
| Come along" l said harshly. g
would be done with you"
We advanced up the road to where
the fort gates stood open, single
sentry standing motionless between
the posts. AS we drew near, a grouI
of hunters-a half dozen maybe-sud
denly emerged, their long rifles trail
ing, on their way to the valley.
recognized the man in advance as tn,
Kentuckian Brady, frontiersman ant