Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-07-10
CHAPTER xvlIl-continued.


"A soldier of England; an aide to
Hamiltonl You lie. When Hamilton
knows what l know he will tear you
limb from limb. You come here to
brighten us with your threats-youi l
spit upon you! Sis-e-te-wah, warriors,
hear me; you know who l am; / travel
with you on the war-trail; | go with
you into battle. Now I speak with
the straight tongue. You do not know
this man, but | do. See; he dare not
face me; watch him shrink back
afraid. Well. there is reason"
Il fear you, Jules Lappin?"
"Ay! and with cause, Knew you
ever the time | failed to pay my debts?
or wreak my vengeance? AIshave you
now, and will crush the white-livered
heart out OF you with these hands.
Listen, Shawnees, Miamis, Ojibwas,
while / tell you who this fellow is.
Then give him to mel ask no more"
He stopped, bent forward, his fin
gers clinched. The ring of Indians
pressed closer, but the old chief waved
them back, standing motionless.
Speak. Englishman,' he said with
dignity, I'VE will hear"
Lappin half turned to face them, one
hand gripping the knife at his belt.
Like a white ghost m-adeaoiselle
slipped silently in between the two
men. | saw 1T all over the brown bar
rel of my rife. my heart throbbing
fercely.
H is a renegade. a traitor" and
Lappin's hand pointed at the man
he accused, ethe uniform he wears a
lie. How do l know? Because he
fought me yonder in the woods on the
island; because he was in the cabin
with the others. This is the man who
was left for dead, who escaped. Do
you recognize him now?"
/ saw the red faces, and heard the
scream of voices.
"Ayi you do; and the woman, the
'Wyandot squaw, helped him. ! said
SO before; now we have the proof.
You drove her out, afraid to treat her
as an enemy, and she goes to him,
thinking his uniform will brighten you
into sparing the hunter from torture.
She brings him here to threaten you
with what England will do. What say
you, Shawnees, to the dog!"
The voices burst into a wild yell that
seemed to split the night, but the fur
trader flung up his hand.
Back all of yer!" he roared saw
agely. Il claim this man as mine!
Who has better right? I'll throttle
the life out Of him with my bare hands
before yer all. Have your warriors
give us space, Sis-e-te-wah."
The chief Of the Shawnees. his eyes
blazing under tangled hair, uplifted
his arms.
" 'Tis the white mans right" he
ordered grimly. Il have spoken"
l drew In my breath deeply. yet what
could l do? The rifle trembled in my
grasp. but ! dare not use it. The un.
fortunate Englishman stood in my
place, was mistaken for me, but If
revealed myself it could serve no end
would only leave me helpless to aid
the girl. / could not think of him al
that moment, but only Of her.
It was ali the work Of, an instant
Lappin whirled on his victim, fingine
his gun to the ground.
Face me, you cur. you spyI" he
shouted. Come ou1 from behind that
squaw. You got me once when my
foot slipped. Let's see what you car
do now What you won'tl Well. YOU
will"
He thrust Rene back. hurting hel
with n sweep Of his arm into the
crowding ranks Of warriors, one 81
whom clutched her as she fell. Their
he struck the shrinking, startled Eng
lishman 9 Vicious blow in the face.