The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-11-19

ITO join my party. Did yer think It
likely ! was here alone? I'll tell yer
the whole of it in word. found the
warriors Of the Wyandots marching
south, an joined them. Have you
heard 1t was war? Ay! There's no
stopping now, the tribes have taken
the trail, the tomahawks are bloody.
II Is said st. Clair has left Harmar
already, and there will be fighting on
the Wabash. Pish! 1t is easy to guess
how it will end"
Where are your Indians?'
AT the foot of the lake. secuted
up the shore as far as the ford: saw
the blaze of Ere over here and crept
up through the woods to investigate.
Then somebody fired a gun, and l ran
forward. This is what found" He
waved his hand about the open space.
Now you understand. l reckon the
best thing for US to do is to get out"
looked down at Brady doubtfully;
then stepped over beside him.
How is he. mademoiselle?" asked,
can he talk at ALP
IF you bend close to his lips you
can hear his words" she answered
slancing up At my face. The hunters
eyes were bright; he seemed to be try
ing to speak, and l dropped on my
knees beside her.
What ia it, Brady!"'
There was = faint muttering, but l
distinguished the words.
"Was-was that-Simon Girty?"
"Yss."
'Tha-the man-who. who-cut me-
DOWN."
YES"
"Whar-whar Is he now?"
Fright here: you want to speak to
him-oh. Gkty?"
The renegade came toward us, and
the eyes Of the two borderers met. For
long moment they looked at each
other, many a memory, no doubt, float
ing between. Then Brady held out q
blackened hand
Yer saved my life, Simon Girty," he
said with An effort. IL never thought
to-shake hands with you-but-but
I'm 4 goin' to-"
u D
mo more did l." he admitted grim.
~. I'VE amt ginerally been in no
shakin' hands mood when we've met
heretofore. Still. reckon, we're about
even up an kin afford ter shake il we
wanter. Think yer kin travel bit,
Brady"
How farr'
ITO the foot of the lake; to Wyan-
dot camp"
The hunters eyes wandered from
his face to mine.
IL reckon can," he mumbled at
last. liant hurt so much, only
bruised up" His glance fell upon his
feet. Maybe fl had some whole
moccasins I'd get along better"
We'll fix that" and Girty laughed.
Il reckon that's what them dead In.
juns is lying there for"
He stepped across to the nearest
body, fumbled a moment, and came
back, dropping on his knees. Deity
and quickly he cut the burned leather
from the wounded mans feet, touching
the blackened flesh gingerly with his
fingers, and slipped on the new mecca
sins.
you're not scorched much, friend
Hurts some, l reckon, but couple o
days will put you all right agin."
Az pen these adventures of youth
seem to retain but dim recollection of
what occurred following our arrival at
the camp at the foot of the lake. re-
call the struggle we had with Brady,
which taxed Girty's strength as we'll as
my own. The man suffered greatly,
and for much of the distance we bore
him in our arms in spite OF his pro-
tests. Yet we reached the spot at last,
and stumbled into the circle Of light
cast by small IRE, the Indians
from sleep by Girtys shout,
and clustering about W in eager curl
osity. At first view deemed them hos
tile, but a word from the girl made
them friendly enough.
1t was the fourth day, on the banks
Of the Maumee. that we came strag.
Cling into the Indian encampmeut, and
passed through bowling hordes, who
struck at us in spite of the guards |
The word passed that one of the white |
prisoners was Stephen Brady caused
them to press about US 80 close that |
we were fairly hemmed into the mass,
Infatuated faces on every side, the wild |
making an in6escribable din. |
The situation was becoming serious, |
for the guards cared little what befell |
rs, when Girty, accompanied by three
Wyandot chiefs and a white man in
British uniform, fought passage
through the crowd, and by threats and
blows, won way for US through the
village. The extent OF this surprised |
me, and gave me a new conception OF
the power of those northwest Indian
tribes. There were hundreds, perhaps
gathered there. for we only
.raversed one end of the encampment, |
he warriors of tribes whose homes
we're as far away as the great lakes
md the big rivers. There were few
xigwams erected. not more than two
Or three standing in the shadow of