The state herald., 1914-10-09

men to do that. But this II not strict
ly military matter, and give you no
orders. need a confidential messen'
ger. a man of intelligence and nerve;
but he will take his life In his hand,
and possibly to no purpose. half
suspect treachery. and will order no
officer Of my command to such hazard,
GUS service
He stopped. and stood staring out OF
the window. his broad back toward me.
"You must deem this matter OF
grave Importance" said, firmly. "and
need seek no further; r volunteer to
60"
He wheeled about, and graspsd my
hand.
Il thought 30. Hayward. am not
often mistaken In q man, and like
your face. Yet do not be too hasty in
decision. Git down here. whore we
can have the map between us, until |
can explain what hell b brewing in
the pot OF those north woods. What
think you honestly Of Simon Girty'"
Everything bad; . scoundrsl from
head to foot"
"Ay! yet Hamilton uses him. The
man was a messenger. even ~ he
claimed. The Englishman wrote that
with his own hapd; have seen the
writing before"
He pushed the crumpled bit of pa.
per across. and l read the crooked
lines slowly. for the penmanship was
almost illegible. Twice read 1t, half
convinced my brain played me some
trick.
rs this true, sirf"
Some OF 1t IL; enough to make me
afraid 1t may all be. The exact situs
ton is this. Hayward. The tribes OF
the northwest are ready for war. In
spite Of the influence o. the chiefs
many Of the young men are already on
the war trail. They are In small par
ties ranging the woods. attacking out
lying settlers and hunters. Stories OF
outrages come drifting in here every
day. Nothing prevents a general out.
break but British restraint. and the op.
position of the Wyandots."
"A strong nation"
The most important In the Indian
alliance. They are no friends OF ours.
yet they claim to be Christian, con.
vsrted by French Jesuits. and thus far
the priests have held them on the side
Of peace. For the first time their
chiefs have met In council with the
others and threaten war. Do you un-
dsrstand the caussf"
Not clearly. sir; because Of some
prisoners We hold. IL II notf
1T Was Greek to me, also. until
Girty explained. That 10 where trouble
arises. We have no such prisoner, but
II l send that word backby Girty. they
will believe lied. But II an ofiicer
Of this garrison goes boldly to them.
in response TO their challenge; faces
them at their council IRE. and says 30
openly they win probably accept his
word"
III tho Wyandots join the other
tribes II will mean war;"
Yes: the length and breadth OF the
frontier. have no force with which
TO meet them: hundreds OF lives-msu.
women and children will be de-
stroyed: settlements ruined. | doubt
II there be a white man left north Of
the Ohio In three months II those
nends break loose. This 10 not my
work. endeavoring TO treat with those
red devils. II is the duty OF the gov.
ernor. But ST. Clair 10 away; | have
no means of reaching him with this
information. The wysndots demand
instant reply. and our messenger must
reach them as soon as. II not before,
the return OF Girty."
DO have my choice of scouts'"
Certainly"
Then will take Brady, sir"
THE best man available. | would
have named him. only feared your
late trouble had left you enemies
Not at all. Il was Q fair night"
! sat thinking In silence. and Har.
mar waited. The danger OF the Jour.
ney unrolled before mo In imagina.
tion-the perilous waterways: the long
trail through tho tracklcss woods, men.
acod by rowing Indian bands; tho hos.
tho tribes In council: tho chances OF
trcachcry and death lurking In every
step OF the way, Audacity. dotermlna.
ton, the lives dependent on my sue.
ce~s. save me courage. II was work
someone must do. drew the letter
over again. and studied Il.
You nro sure. general. this 'waps
teetsh' IL not In our hnndsf Al some
OF tho other forts1''
AS sure ns can be. ! heard from
Pitt yesterday. with reports from the
garrison b.twtNn. and no account WAS
made OF such a prisoner being brought
In. 1nmbrouok wro,. mo from Win
csnnes two weeks nxo-some French
voyasenra loft tho letter on their wny
up tho overland ho mentions moth
ing save his troubles with tho Indians
OF tho wabash. who ar. most impu
dent and unruly-ths worst OF tho lot
10 my notion. expect tho fellow has
been killed In tho woods"