The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-05-16
cHAprER III-contInued


! F"Then there is but one answer-the
Witch overheard our conversation. |
poke loud, not knowing she was In
IL room, and her quick ears caught
sound. It's like her to make In
mt use OF what she learned to thus
use your interest. She is full OF
h tricks. No doubt that will be the
anation, and no mystery 10 1t
the device of a clever woman"
aseed out into the sunshine Of the
moon, and crossed the deserted
ade to my quarters. In spite OF the
BUSINESS of this adventure upon
ich was entering my thought lin
red with the French girl. How soft
ly musical her voice was; how clear
her laughter; how enchantingly the
dimples appeared in either cheek, and
with what eloQuence the dark eyes
conveyed their message. Rene DAu-
vray," the name repeated on my lips.
fingered. and was whispered again.
I wondered II II really was her name
yet cast the doubt aside Indignantly.
Somehow It seemed to belong to her,
to typify personality, to revive mem
ory. Rene D'Auvray"-would ever
see her again? Would God be good
glanced back at the high window;
the sun glared on 1t, rejecting the
rays into my dazzled eyes. My heart
sank. | must depart at dusk, and long
ere could hope to return she would
have disappeared into the unknown
wilderness. Harmar would know moth
Ing more than he did now; there would
remain no trail could hope tos'ollow;
! would never see her again.
All this was years ago, long years,
and yet | recall still how occupied
those hours with preparation, striving
manfully to Danish her from mind by
ceaseless labor. Little by little
grasped the seriousness OF this mis-
sioL on which l was embarked. In a
measure was frontier born and bred,
and had ranged the woods since l be-
came strong enough to bear a gun.
There were few secrets of the wilder
ness did not know, yet now for the
first time l was to penetrate those
dark northern forests, through I'M
tracked leagues, and front the red
savages at their council fire with a
message of defiance. The full extent
Of peril involved occurred to me sud
denly, almost with a shock-the raid
ing parties OF young warriors, scour-
ing the woods, unrestrained in their
saVagery, the uncertainty of our re-
ception by the Wyandots, the posi-
bility that Hamilton might not be
there to protect from violence, the
haunting doubt whether our mission
would save US from torture and death
at the hands of those red demons bent
madly on war! II was no pleasant
picture painted on the canvas of mag
ination, and the perspiration beaded
my temples. as frontier tales OF In
dian atrocity flashed to memory. But
mine was then the spirit OF youth, of
daring; had volunteered for this
duty, and, under God, would not fail.
recall changing my clothes, put
ting on my rough hunting suit, and
packing my uniform In bag. Then
sought out Brady finding him alone
outside the stockade, lying on the
blur summit, gazing out at the broad
river below AS drew near he looked
up at me, good humor in his gray eyes,
but making no effort to change his
posture.
= Well, my young cockerel," he said
lessly, they tell me you and are
70 comrades on the long trail"
Who told you? General Harmar -
mo lesa; maybe an hour ago. Ills
not likely to prove a pleasant task.
as understand the nature OF the mes
sage. What said the old man to you ?"
He sat up as repeated word by
word our conversation. He listened
intently until finished, hts eyes on
the dark woods bordering the settle
ment
About as had it," he commented
gravely. ''only a bit more of detail. No
pleasant Job. friend. but the old man
Is right-there is no other way to deal
with redskins. What wac the name
OF that Wyandot medicine mani"
"Wa-pa-tee-tah."
i've heard the name before, but
don't remember where. I never met
up against the Wyandots, save few
at Vincennes; their range "a too far
north BY any chance DO you know
that country7"
mot beyond the forks. Here are
some maps" and | spread my rude
drawings on the grass. "and some
notes on the lay OF the land"
He studied these a moment, and then
glanced up AZ rae with quizzical
smiie.
Never could make mach outer map
DRAWN" he acknowledged slowly.
Just looks like hen tracks ter me.
an as ~ neadin' reckon Their want
no schools along Stump crtck whcr
was raised. Huwsumever you needn't
worry. none about that. Master Hay
ward, for kin read the woods an
natur's the best guide. Wen ind Sam
dusky."
We talked together for some time.
although ! did the most OF 1t. for he
was content TO reply In monosyIlables,
MS eyes on tns river. AS tue sun sank,
IL last rays turning the waters Grim
son, we went back into the sto Skade,
md ate heartily together Ia the bar.
acks' kitchen Then. AZ dubk drew
aar We separated, ~ gtps allensly