The state herald., 1914-12-18
CHAPTER xvIIl.
Tho Fire In tho Clearing.

| NV 'c VI tfIo SteSTlnQ,
60 on now" commanded grimly.
and do not forget. Mademoiselle. do
you go first, and show the way. will
keep good guard Of the rear"
lie climbed the stairs, muttering
savagely. with me following SO close
| pehlnd, the muzzle Of my gun touched
his back.
i am playing SAFE" muttered
grimly. so don't try any tricks In the
dark"
We came out on the shore, pausing
moment to gaze out across the wa.
ter to the gloom of the mainland.
The red and yellow flames lit IN the
open space fairly well. but all around
the black forest wall closed in tightly,
1t was like grotesque picture in a
frame. Before the fire. mostly with
their backs toward us counted twen-
" savages on the grass, their red
skins and matted hair showing clear.
ly They were SILENT motionless an
parently staring into the flames. The
nendish yelling came from beyond.
from the other side of the fire. where
l caught fitful glimpse OF wildly dane
Ing figures. Of arms flung in air of
brandished guns. and streaming hair.
| saw Mademoiselle rise silently to
her feet. but my hand only gripped
harder on the Englishman's shoulder
AZ ! watched. Brady advanced be-
tween two Indians. his arms bound be-
hind him. a bloody cloth concealipy
his jaw. He was bare-headed, his
clothing rags, and he staggered slight
ly as he walked. An Indian struck
him with sticl:, . vicious blow, and
Lappin 1erked him forward between
the chiefs and the fire. The warriors
sat there impsssive. emotionless, their
eyes cold and merciless. Brady look
ed into that ring Of savage faces with.
out a culver. throwing back his shoul.
ders. blood trickling down one cheek.
II even seemed to me his eyes smiled.
Then one Of the chiefs spoke without
rising. In deep cultural voice. | heard
the words. but they were meaningless,
. jumble Of sound. yet somehow me-
nacing. grun with threat. The dis
cordant yelling ceased. and a dark
mass OF forms clustered beyond the
blaze. drawing together In a half cir
Gle behind the prisoner. The light
played over dark. sinister faces and
sparkled In the wild savage eyes.
The girl stepped backward, noise.
lessly. until she stood beside me. her
hand touching my arm.
We are here In time" she whis-
pered. but can delay no longer"
He is condemned then? They will
not spare HIM"
The chief speaks in Shawnee, and
] know little OF the tongue. bu, there
is no mercy In his words"
And you mean to 40 out there, to
face those fionds' Are you not
afraid"
She smiled. sad. brave smile up
into my eyes.
Monsieur. | must. ."'she said plead.
ingly 1t is not only his life. but my
duty. leave my rife here. and bear
this; with Christ am not afraid"
And In her clasped hands, redeemed
by the flames. saw u crueinx.
"Mademolselle. n this man speaks
word OF treachery; II by look or ses.
ture he attempts to play US false. viii
you give me sign"
Yes. Monsieur"
Clasp your hands like this about
your head: II will be his death war.
rant Now. sir. are you rchdy1"
There was hate In his eyes. but I
was rlnd OF IL
Obi but III get you for this. Yes.
I'm ready. you olod OF Yankee peas.
ant but youli pay before ever YOU
get out OF these woods-oh. lord,
you'il pay"
half thought ho would spring at
me. and drew back. my rife lifted.
Hut he only laughed. his lips snariing.
and strodc past crunehing his way
through tho thicket oaugh, the
swift upward glance OF the girls eyes
"A message OF thanks, ay' more
and rhe had followed him, | aprang
asid. amid the trunks OF trees, conn.
den, ! could not be seen. that every
savage eye would be riyeied upon
those two advancing figures. The
hthh bh'ihfN wv NhH'fHh EuluhnfNs
and ! possessed some ldca Of whsr. I
wished 10 20. I found II with a dozen
quick steps, and. even RH th. frat
Wild scream OF discovery burst from
the red threats. cfopt IN behind a
dooaying log. at the very edge OF tho
opening. and trust my rins barrel
across tho rotten bark, Deliberately.
coolly. with full determination to act.
/ drew bead on the red Jacket.
They were not flyo yards away. ad.
yAnclnE straight toward tho startled
group Of ohiefs. the Rlfl slightly In
advance. tho nreilEh, on her upiiftcd
face, tho white cruelns cleaning In
her hands, The EngllHhman. a step
behind. his flrHt mad anger already
dying. walked like criminal. with
iovsfsd head. and eyes rlancinK fur.