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

distinguish no noise without.
ut was like cry, faint from a dis.
tance," she said, at last, but l hear
nothing now. Did you catch it, mon.
sieur?"
Il heard only your voice."
Then l may have been deceived,
although have the ears of an Indian"
Some sound caused me to wheel
about, and faced Brady, who had just
stepped within and closed the door.
His gray eyes surveyed us in one swift
glance. settling inquiringly on the girl,
who had arisen to her feet. Schultz
awakened, sat up on the bench, blink
ing sleepily.
"Brady?"
"Of course; and who have you here,
Master Hayward? woman surely,
by dress Indian, and by face white"
"This is Mamadoiselle D'Auvray,"
replied, not liking his manner of
speech, "the daughter OF the man we
found here dead"
"She was not in the house when
left: Oh, remember! The same per-
chance who was at Fort Harmar, the
OAC yOu IOlO 1u0 dUOul duu WuO ICdI"
ened to follow US with Simon Girty.
Truly, she must have kept her word,
for that black renegade is here"
Here! Girty? You saw him."
cay! In the Indian camp out yon-
der. Nor was that all saw. There is
something savage on foot, or am no
woodsman. l thought those devils
might have other quarry, and come
back here to lie quiet in hiding, but I
am not SO sure now that we are not
the ones sought. This girl belongs
with Them
She stepped past me, and stood
erect facing him, the dark eyes frank
ly meeting the gray.
yet l am not one of them" she
said slowly in her careful English. Il
am Wyandot; those you saw are MI
amis and Ojibwas, thieves and murder
ers. My people are Christian, and
are not at war;"
| "You were with them; with Girty,"
he insisted. but in somewhat kinder
tone. you came here direct from
their camp"
Eyes. Monsieur Brady, but unknown
to them, even to Girty himself They
know me-the Miamis-and have no
fear even of their young men when
painted for war" She spoke simply,
clearly, as If she would conceal moth
ing. This was my fathers cabin. No
one knew of 1t but me-not even ST.
mon Girty. 1t was reported at Fort
Harmar that he was dead; l did not
know, yet it was that vague report
which made me so eager to get back
to my own people; made me reckless
enough to risk the trail in company
with the white renegade. do not fear.
but I despise him. Yesterday we
came upon that raiding party. and
must needs join them as they jour
neyed our way"
what settlements had they at
tackled" ....
"Those Of the Moravians; they had
scalps and booty"
And their chief"
"Black Horse, an outlaw Of the Ojib-
was; Girty knew him."
"You left them when?"
II hardly know, monsieur" glancing
toward me. perhaps two hours ago; l
had forgotten time. They kept no
guard, for there had been no pursuit,
nor any sign of danger. It was easy to
slip away unseen. None among them
knew of this place, not even Girty. and
I came alone. There was nothing for
me to fear; l knew the way, and had
faith should find my father"
L. d. hA hA hN1 -
TRUTH"
"Oui. monsieur" and bowed her
head.
Then you know nothing Of any new
arrivals at the camp? There were
some expected"
II am sure not" her aroused inter-
est apparent In her voice. did others
join them? Who were they, mon
sieur?"
Brady looked at her searchingly.
leaning on his gun, the lines of his
face stern. could not forbear step.
ping forward beside her.
Never you mind speaking, Master
Hayward" he said shortly. THE girl
needs no defender; believe what
she says. Now listen, both of you, and
see what you make of it. was with.
in twenty yards Of their camp, at the
edge Of the underbrush, and could see
clearly all that occurred about the
fire. There was no guard set, but the
prisoner lay between two Indians, 80
that any attempt at rescue was impos.
sible. / could not tell Just how many
were In the band, for some were lying
we'll back beyond the range of light.
saw Girty, however. get up and put
wood on the fame. had sight drawn
on the devil, yet dared not nre. Then
he lay down again, and I crept around
toward where he had disappeared.
thinking might use knife to rid the
world of such beast But before !
could reach him there came along the
shore . considerable body Of Indiana