Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-07-16
CHAPTER XVIII.

The Fire In the Clearing.
Go on now" I commanded grimly,
and do not forget. M~ademoiselle, do
you 90 first, and show the way. l will
keep good guard OF the rear"
He climbed the stairs, mutterinx
savagely. with me following SO close
behind, the muzzie of my gun touched
his back.
I am playing safe,- muttered
grimly. so don't try any tricks in the
dark
We came out on the shore, pausing
a moment to gaze out across the wa
ter to the gloom Of the mainland.
The red and yellow flames lit up the
open space fairly well. but all around
the black forest wall closed in tightly.
1t was Ike a g~rotesaue picture in a
frame Before the fire, mostly with
their backs toward US ! counted TWEEN
ty savages on the grass, their red
skins and matted hair showing clear
ly. They were silent, motionless, ap-
parently staring into the flames. The
fendish yelling came from beyond,
from the other side Of the fire, where
/ caught fitful glimpse of wildly dane
ing figures, Of arms flung in air, Of
brandished guns, and streaming hair.
saw Mademoiselle rise silently to
her feet. but my hand only gripped
harder on the Englishman's shoulder
as l watched. Brady advanced be-
tween two Indians, his arms bound be-
hind him, a bloody cloth concealing
his jaw. He was bare-headed. his
clothing rags, and he staggered slight
ly as he. walked. An Indian struck
him with>a sticl:, a vicious blow, and
Lappin jerked him forward between
the chiefs and the fire. The warriors
sat there impassive. emotionless, their
eyes cold and merciless. Brady look
ed into that ring Of savage faces with.
out a culver, throwing back his shout
ders, blood trickling down one cheek.
1t even seemed to me his eyes smiled.
Then one Of the chiefs spoke without
rising. in deep cultural voice. I heard
the words, but they were meaningless.
a tumble Of sound, yet somehow me-
nacing. gruf with threat The dis
cordant yelling ceased, and q dark
mass Of forms clustered beyond the
blaze, drawing together in a half cir
Gle behind the prisoner. The light
played over dark. sinister faces and
sparkled in the wild savage eyes.
The girl stepped backward, noise
lessly, until she stood beside me, her
hand touching my arm.
We are here in time" she whiI-
pered, but can delay no longer"
He is condemned then? They will
not spare him?"
The chief speaks in Shawnee, and
l know little of the tongue, but there
is no mercy in his words"
And you mean to go out there, to
face those iends? Are you not
afraij?"
She smiled, a sad, brave smile up
into my eyes.
Monsieur, I must" she said plead
ingly. 1T is not only his life, but my
duty. leave my rife here, and bear
this; with Christ l am not afraid"
And in her clasped hands, Redeemed
by the flames. l saw a crucifx.
"Mademoiselle, If this man speaks
a word Of treachery; II by look or ges-
ture he attempts to play US false. will
you give me a sign"
Yes, Monsieur"
CLASP your hands like this about
your head; 1t will be his death war
rant. Now, sir. are you ready?"
There was hate in his eyes, but I
was glad Of 1t.
~Oh! but I'll get you for this. Yes.
Ia ready, you clod Of a Yankee peas
ant! but you'll pay before yer you
get out Of these woods-oh, Lord!
you'll pay"
half thought he would spring at
me, and drew back, my rife lifted.
But he only laughed, his lips snarling,
and strobe past crunching his way
through the thicket. l caught the
swift upward glance of the girls eyes
"a message OF thanks, ay! more
and she had followed him. I sprang
aside amid the trunks Of trees, conf
dent ! could not be seen, that every
savage eye would be riveted upon
those two advancing figures. The