The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-09-24

Il did not" he burst forth. II did
not even know he was dead. am not
afraid OF you, or your threats, but I
will tell you what occurred here. I'm
ready enough, as you will discover yet,
to answer for whatever do, but am
not going to bear the blame for the
bastard act of another. was friendly
enough with D'Auvray, even if l did
seek to trick him in this matter. There
was no intent to take his life."
well then, 60 on"
Il held him prisoner here" he said
sulkily, although there was no vio-
lence or threat. The man did not even
realize he was under guard, yet saw
to 1t that he retained no arms, and was
never out of my sight. IT was my or
ders to hold him quiet until had mes
sage from Hamilton. He suspected
nothing, and there was no trouble; not
so much as a word of controversy be-
tween us. Once day | made circuit
of the island to assure myself we were
alone. Occasionally he went with me.
but the last time l left him in the
cabin asleep. 1t was dusk when | re-
turned; l had seen nothing suspicious,
and was careless. l remember ap-
preaching the rear door, without
| thought of danger l must have passed
the opening Of the cave here, when
suddenly was struck down from be-
hind. l saw nothing, heard nothing OF
my assailant. When l returned to
consciousness was lying here. That
is all"
COT would be Picaud who struck
you?"
Beyond doubt, and then, thinking
me dead, dragged me into this hole.
Yet how came we both in there?"
I'VE can only guess at the rest. My
theory would be that the negro was
interrupted by our arrival at the cabin.
He discovered the entrance to the tun-
mel, and dragged you into it, thinking
to escape himself. To make sure who
we were he crept into the cabin, and
recovered your jacket-you left it
there didn't you?"
"Ay! 1t was warm night"
'The fellow must have seen some
thing that frightened him, that drove
him into hiding. Later l stood there
in the cave mouth, looking about. Per-
haps it was then he crawled into the
tunnel, and replaced the door. All, I
have it--he did that later when he
recognized the voice of mademoiselle."
"Of who? Mademoiselle?
"Mademoiselle DAuvray; she joined
me as l stood there. Her presence
would account for his fear"
He leaned forward, as if endeavor-
ing to decipher my face.
Are you telling me TRUTH" he
asked hoarsely. ''Is that girl here
What could have brought her to this
place? What does she suspect? What
does she know"
THAT l cannot tell, except that she
believes you killed her father; the
discovery of your coat convinced her
of that AS to how she came here
she travelled with Girty from Fort Har-
mar, seeking to reach the Wyandots in
advance of me. She came to the cabin
alone, hoping to find her father, but
instead found us in possession, and
D'Auvrays dead body. 1t was she
who thrust me into the tunnel, and
saved my life"
And, now, man, where is she?"
with those Indians who attacked
us, and burned the cabin-she may be
a prisoner"
He laughed uneasily, shifting his pc
sition.
"No fear of that. She is a wonder
worker with these savages; they are
afraid of her; they think her cross viii
work miracles. Saint Denis! would
; Chiefs"
Gould she save man from the tor
, ture, the stalker"
"She has done it; ay! saw it done
and it took some courage. But sh'
might fail with these renegades. Wht
is the man."
Brady; the scout who accompanied
me-"
II know of the fellow; she woult
have small chance of saving him." FL
paused, then asked suddenly: "Wha
about me? Am prisoner, or free tt
go? Do you absolve me of murder?"
"Of killing D'Auvray-yes. But you
hands are bloody enough without tina
crime"
"ThentI may go my way?"
ITO more treachery? To those In
dams to report my presence here?"
NO, swear"
Il accept no pledge from you. Yo1
say t is already war on the border
then l will act accordingly. We vii
wait here until she comes"
"She! Not Mademoiselle DAuvray.
Eyes," I answered tersely. "Mal
emoiselle D'Auvray."