The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-07-16


passed so close to where l lay one
fellow stepped upon my hand. Yet
they passed by, trooping into the
camp. and l counted thirty"
"Of what tribe, monsieur"
From the Wabash. l caught words
in the language of the Shawnees. They
had white man with them"
"A prisoner
mo; he talked with Girty in Eng
lish, and then to the savages in their
own tongue l could only catch a word
now and then l could understand, but
he pointed toward the island, and
seemed to urge them this way. dared
not stay there longer, for fear should
be too late. and SO crept backward,
and got away"
She stepped forward and grasped
his arm.
What was the white man like, mon.
sieur? You saw his facet"
"No; never once did he front the
fire. l heard his voice, and could see
the outline of his figure. He was
big fellow, not unlike the ensign here,
and he wore a red coat"
For one moment she stood motion.
less, one hand pressed against her
temple, the other grasping his sleeve.
The cheek toward me famed red.
"You-you are sure?" she faltered.
"He-he looked like that?"
Eyes, mademoiselle," his tone that
of surprise. 1T was dark but could
see that"
And this man is really an Ameri
can officer?" her dark eyes flashing to-
ward me. HE has never been in the
north before?"
A grim smile curlsd Brady's lips, as
his keen gray eyes swept over the
two of us.
Il reckon maybe IL vas bout year
ago fust met the ensign, mademo;-
selle, up at Fort Pitt, an off an On
ever since we've run against each oIn-
err along the Ohio. l don't know what
all this may be leadin to, but so far
as l can see, he amt no cause to tell
you lie."
She hesitated, glancing from his
sober face into mine; then impulsive-
ly held out her hand.
IL am glad, monsieur" her lips
trembling. Il cannot tell you how
glad. 1t is such a strange thing that
you should look SO much alike and
bear the same name. Can the other
be relative of yours?"
l shook my head.
Hardly; we are l suppose of Eng
lish stock, but my family has been a
hundred years in Maryland But about
this Englishman?"
He was ever urging the tribes to
war, lying to them, pledging them
help. He came to my people, am a
Wyandot-often. He met my father
there in council, the one ever advocat-
ing war, the other counseling peace.
He failed in his mission to our people,
yet somehow my father liked him; per-
haps it was a pleasure to talk again
with one who knew Europe and the
late books. And the Englishman, hop.
ing thus to finally win my father over
to his side, was most cordial He
played part that he might keep my
father on long journeys to other
tribes, while he remained behind to
poison the minds of our own people,
l overheard his words, his lying prom
Uses to our warriors. Yet in spite Of
all, the Wyandots remained at peace;
they alone held back the tribes from
war. appealed to them, monsieur; l,
mere girl. held before them a cross.
and they listened, and were afraid
They drove the Englishman from the
camp, back to his MASTER
And what then?"
my father still trusted him, and he
came back once more. They went
away together, as supposed on some
mission to the tribes. l heard moth
ing. no message came back. l came
to this island with two of my people,
but there was no one here; the cabin
was deserted. There came to me a
report that they we're seen together
on the Wabash, and l journeyed there
also. The Miamis told me a strange
story Of treachery and death at the
hands Of the Americans. l half be-
lieved 1t lie; yet l must know. My
Wyandots would go no further; chey
were afraid, so l came by myself to
the Shawnees, and then, with French
boatmen, journeyed up the great river
to the fort of the American command
er. You know the rest messieurs."
She was leaning back against the
table, holding herself erect by her
hands. Her story had been told swift
ly, interjected with French phrases
where English failed her.
YES" burst forth. you came here
| 0Afn Qnd f0rrrd hiv,,
-and-and you believed l did it."
WILL AID UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO