The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-11-05

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savaGery Of 1t burned In on the brain:
those dark faces, with wild eyes and
dangling hair; the waving arms, and
leaping bodies, the CLEAN of weapons
tossed aloft. the jangle and din Of ex-
cited voices in jargon Of unknown
tongues. How the red flames danced
over them all, now in shadow, now in
glare of light, making them appear
tends incarnate. And those two bat.
ting in the midst, huge men in death
grapple. fighting as tigers fght-re-
morseless. merciless; tearing each
others flesh, battering each others
faces. gripping. clutching. straining
In effort at mastery. Again and again
they crunched into the crowd, Keeling
from blows, or hurled back by sheer
strength of muscle; they sobbed forth
curses, staggering with weakness. l
saw Lappin drive his head into his op-
ponent's stomach as though it were
q battering-ram; saw the soldier sink
his teeth into the furtrader's hand, as
If he were a mad dog. Twas then the
brute reached down and fumbled for
his knife-found it. and. with one
hoarse cry Of triumph, sent the bright
blade home. Twice he struck, and
they went staggering down together,
locked In each others arms, the SOL
der dead ere he struck the ground.
1t was bedlam then, followed by q
breathless hush as Sis-e-te-wah pressed
forward with uplifted arms. Two war.
riors lifted Lappin to his feet, and,
as his gripping hand plucked out the
knife from the wound, l saw the gush
OF blood crimsoning the dead mans
side. An instant the victor stood
glazing down, Keeling in weakness, up
held by others. Then he laughed, wav.
ing the dripping blade.
"Ah! good!" he cried. There Is one
more recruit for hell. Bring me the
girl here. IT'S time she had her les
son ALSO"
They brought her forward. a red
brave grasping either arm. l caught
sight Of her face, white, drawn, but not
with fear. and sighted my rife across
the log at the white rufian's breast.
With clinched lips I lay, finger to
trigger. Yet waited-thank God, l
waited. know not what restrained
me, only 1t was no fear Of conse-
quences to myself. 1t must have been
the expression of the woman's up
lifted face. the quick glance she cast
about. as though in silent warning to
me. I took it as a signal, a message
Of restraint. The fur trader, burly and
brutal. still painting for breath, yet
able to stand alone now, and conscious
of his victory. thrust his reeking knife
back into his belt with q coarse laugh.
"How do you like that. you Wyandot
squaw?" he asked, leering down into
her face.
when you have these men release
my arms will answer you," she re.
turned quietly.
"Oh. you will, hey! You'll be glad
enough to talk before I am through.
Let 60 of her there-yes; that's what
mean. Now look here-there lies
your English officer. He's paid the
price of being fool. Look at him;
are you ready to speak now?"
He was nothing to me-" she said
slowly. nothing. But he fought a
mans fight, and was killed by COW.
ardly treachery."
What! You squaw, you dare"
"Of course dare. Do you suppose
l fear you, Jules Lappin, or your gang
of outlaws" he voice scornful. "Why,
l challenge you to lay hand on me.
You know who I am; you have eaten
in the tepee of my father. l know
who you are, and l despise you. You
call me Wyandot squaw; threaten
what you will do; point me to this
dead man whom you have murdered.
Why? To brighten meme? Very
well. Ill answer you. am a Wyan.
dot; am Running Water; but in my
veins flows also the best blood of
France. Mine is not a race of COW.
ards and murderers, thieves and trad.
ers; my ancestors were soldiers and
men. And you think l am afraid of
you-you cur of the woods; afraid Of
you! Touch me, Jules Lappin, If you
dare; challenge you. Come, wait
for you to lay hand on me-"
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enough, yet with the bullying look
gone from his notified face. Something
about the girl-her sharp words, her
cool defiance-had left him uncertain.
More than that, Jules Lappin," she
went on passionately: "you are going
to pay for all this" and she pointed
down at the dead body, pay for it, do
you understand! That man was what
he claimed to bean aide to Hamilton.
England pays her debts. Monsieur
Lappin. Ay. and SO do the Wyandots;
have you forgotten that so soon?
Have you forgotten what befell the
Frenchman, PHILIPPE Bridau? Have
you blotted from memory already the
fate OF Michael Cozad? You were in
our village when the chiefs of the Wy.
andots dealt out Justice to these rene.
gades. Answer mel"
The cool holiness of her words
stunned the fellow. l could see him
glance about into the dark woods. and
then at the faces of the savages press.
Ing abONt them Few ammo thor, I'm