Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-04-24
0IeMAHW =
MeTOPEOT
81 RANDALL PARRISH
,ANDAIL PARRISH
ILLUSTRATED 6r D. J.L.AVIN
OeN,2N7T AcHcHLl2G s. CO.. .I2l5

that isn't what | want l expect my
men to do that. But this Is not strict
ly military matter, and l give you no
orders. l need a confidential messen-
ger, a man of intelligence and nerve;
but he will take his life in his hand,
and possibly to no purpose. ] half
suspect treachery, and will order no
officer of my command to such hazard
GUS service"
He stopped, and stood staring out OF
the window, his broad back toward me.
"You must deem this matter OF
grave Importance" l said, firmly, and
! need seek no further; / volunteer TO
CO."
He wheeled about, and grasped my
hand
Il thought so, Hayward. l am not
often mistaken in man, and ike
your face Yet do not be too hasty In
decision. Sit down here. where we
can have the map between US, until
can explain what hell Is brewing IN
| the pot of those narth woods. What
think you honestly of Simon Girty!"
| everything bad: a scoundrel from
head to foot"
"Ay! yet Hamilton uses him. The
man was a messenger, even as ne
claimed The Englishman wrote that
with his own hand; / have seen the
! writing before"
! He pushed the crumpled bit OF pa
per across, and read the crooked
| lines slowly, for the penmanship was
| almost illegible Twice | read 1t, half
| convinced my brain played me some
| trick.
| rs this true, sir?"
Some Of it is; enough to make me
afraid it may all be. The exact situa-
ton is this, Hayward The tribes of
the northwest are ready for war. In
spite of the influence of the chiefs
| many of the young men are already on
the war trail. They are in small par
ties ranging the woods, attacking out
lying settlers and hunters. Stories of
outrages come drifting in here every
day Nothing prevents general out
| break but British restraint, and the op-
position of the Wyandots."
"A strong nation"
| "The most important in the Indian
alliance. They are 10 friends of ours.
yet they claim to be Christian. con-
verted by French Jesuits, and thus far
the priests have held them on the side
! of peace For the first time their
chiefs have met in council with the
others and threaten war. Do you un-
derstand the cause?"
Not clearly, sir; because of some
prisoners we hold, is it not?".
"It was Greek to me, also, until
Girty explained. That is where trouble
arises. We have no such prisoner, but
if send that word back by Girty, they
will believe lied. But If an officer
of this garrison goes boldly to them
in response to their challenge; faces
them at their council fire, and says sc
openly they will probably accept his
word"
IF the Wyandots join the other
tribes it will mean war;"
"Yes; the length and breadth of the
frontier have no force with which
to meet them; hundreds of lives-men
women and children = will be de
stroyed; settlements ruined. doub
if there be white man left north o.
the Ohio in three months If those
fiends break loose This Is not my
work, endeavoring to treat with those
red devils. 1t is the duty of the gov
ernor. But st. Clair is away; I have
no means of reaching him with thil
information. The Wyandots demant
instant reply, and our messenger mus
reach them as soon as. il not before
the return of Girty"
do have my choice of scouts?"
Certainly"
: "Then / will take Brady, SIR"
"The best man available. woul,
t have named him, only l feared you
( late trouble had left you enemies"
mot at all; it was fair fight"
j l sat thinking In silence, and Hal
mar waited. The danger of the jour
ney unrolled before me in imagina
tion-the perilous waterways; the lon
trail through the trackless woods, men
aced by rowing Indian bands; the hos
e tile tribes in council; the chances o
: treachery and death lurking in ever
i step of the way. Audacity, determine
: ton, the lives dependent on my sue
r cess, gave me courage. 1t was a wor
n someone must do. l drew the lette
t over again, and studied it.
d "You are sure, general, this 'Wa-p;
J. tee-tah' is not in our hands? At som
e of the other forts?''
b 'As sure as can be; heard fror
Pitt yesterday, with reports from tn
garrison between, and no account wa
d made of such prisoner being brough
It in. Hambrouck wrote me from Vii
l. cennes two weeks ago-some Frenc
" voyageurs left the letter on their wa
up the river-and he mentions notl
q ing save his troubles with the Indian
D. of the Wabash, who are most imp
e dent and unruly-the worst of the 10
d to my notion. l expect the fellow ha
J" been killed in the woods"
e "A man, then? A chief?" To m
y ears the name had feminine sound
"Wa-pa-tee-tah; 'tis as musical as
le brook"
" "Ay! it sounds like that; but Girt
k, gave me some other name l have TO
A gotten Cad! / hated so to talk wit
le the foul-mouthed renegade, that
g. asked few questions; only you may /
a sure it's no squaw the Wyandots woul
war over. A medicine man, or som
W thing of that kidney, as l understand
Of what nerve you have! So ba