The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-03-25

great woods called me. / am a Wyan-
dot
And here at Fort Harmar. under a
false name, pretending to be from the
French settlements?
She touched my hands, where they
gripped the rife barrel, and her whole
manner changed.
Il am not here under a false name,
monsieur, nor for any purpose of evil"
she exclaimed eagerly. You must not
think that of me; 1 will not permit
'Tis my name, Rene DAuvray, and I
came to this fort from the French set
Elements. cannot tell you why. but
there is no harm done. All seek now
is the opportunity to return to my own
land. That is why came here to meet
you; why ! wsylaid you. and told you
the truth. heard enough OF what was
said by the American general to
know that you were going north thro'
the forests to my country, to hold
council with the Wyandots. That is
SO, Is eet not?"
Yes"
Then, monsieur, take rae with you!
No. listen; you must; you shall not re-
fuse. l know the way, the woods, and
all their secrets. can guide you. and
travel faster than your Kentucky
hunter. Let me go. monsieur"
l hesitated just a moment. actually
tempted by this opportunity to have
her with me, to learn more of who and
what she really was. Yet the knowl-
edge that Harmar would never approve
of such an arrangement, and that he
would surely learn Of the matter II /
struggled her into the boat, decided
me. She read the decision in my face.
You will not? You will leave me
behind?"
Il cannot take you, mademoiselle.
There are reasons in plenty. but can
not stand here and discuss them. You
will let me pass now!"
She drew back, but with eyes still on
my face. She must have read there
| that no pleading would change me, for
she only said regretfully:
Il have angered you? You do not
trust me, because l am Indian?"
Il do trust you," l burst forth. II
| hardly know why, but do. It is hard
for me to say no, but must. wish
to remain your friend mademoiselle, to
to meet you again somewhere"
Her face, white in the star-shine,
smiled.
you shall, monsieur" confidently,
and she pointed with one hand into the
north, ''yonder in the villages of the
Wyandots."
You mean you will 60 there alone?
All those leagues alone?"
Perhaps; there would be nothing to
fear. l have travelled as long wilder
ness trail before. Yet l need not go
alone; there is another here who must
return to Sandusky.''
Simon Girty! Good God! Would
you dream of companioning with that
foul renegade? Do you know what he
is?"
Yes, monsieur" quietly, 'and he
| knows what | am. He is not reckless
enough to offer me insult; did he do SO
he would be torn limb from limb You
do not know my people, but Simon
Girty does. l do not fear him, yet
would rather go with you"
Il cannot consent; it would cost me
my commission to take you. l must
say good by"
She held out her hand.
"Good-by, monsieur"
left her standing there, a slender,
dark shadow in the starlight, feeling
yet the firm grip of her fingers, and
seeing yet in memory the upturned
face. That she really meant what she
said so confidently l did not truly be-
lieve. Her threat of travelling in COM
pany with Girty, or even alone, was
| merely uttered in the vague hope that
it might influence me- She could not
be in earnest In spite of her assertion
l was not altogether convinced that
she was an Indian, Wyandot She
was SO young. so girlish, SO soft of
voice and civilized of speech, / could
not associate her with savages, or
those dark haunted woods. l even
laughed grimly to myself, as l went
down the bluff, at the thought.
The boat was in the dark shadows
of the bank, stable canoe, three In
dians-friendly Delawares-graspin
the paddles and kneeling in the bot
|
against the current One of these, tall
and straight, would be Brady, but the
otner, a mere shadow IN the oarK, Wac
unacceptable.
You 60 with us ?" l asked.
He Strengthened up, with the motion
of salute.
Yah, der captain he says SO, don't
| id?" the words strongly Dutch.
"Oh, yes, my man; you are the cook.
Is there an extra paddle in there.
/ boys?"
An Indian voice grunted response,
holding it up.
"All right; take it, and get in. What
is your name?"
Johann Schultz
| remembered him, private IN
/ Browns company, as poor choice as