The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-05-28
have named him, only l feared your
late trouble had left you enemies"

have named him, only l feared your
late trouble had left you enemies"
mot at all; it was a fair fight"
l sat thinking in silence, and Har-
mar waited. The danger of the jour
ney unrolled before me in imagina.
tion-the perilous waterways; the long
trail through the trackless woods, men.
aced by rowing Indian bands; the hos
tile tribes in council; the chances Of
treachery and death lurking in every
step Of the way. Audacity, determine.
ton, the lives dependent ON my sue
cess, gave me courage. 1t was a work
someone must do. l drew the letter
over again, and studied it.
"You are sure, general, this 'Wa-pa-
tee-tah' is not in our hands? At some
Of the other forts?"
LAS sure as can be; I heard from
Pitt yesterday, with reports from the
garrison between, and no account was
made of such prisoner being brought
in. Hambrouck wrote me from Vim
cennes two weeks ago-some French
voyageurs left the letter on their way
up the river-and he mentions moth.
ing save his troubles with the Indians
Of the Wabash, who are most impu.
dent and unruly-the worst of the lot,
to my notion. expect the fellow has
been killed in the woods"
"A man, then? A chief!" To my
ears the name had feminine sound
UNEXPECTEDLY; It's a. musical a. a
brook"
"Ay! 1t sounds like that; but Girty
gave me some other name l have for.
gotten. Cad! l hated so to talk with
the foul-mouthed renegade. that
asked few questions; only you may be
sure tits no squaw the Wyandots would
war over A. medicine man, or some,
thing Of that kidney, as understand;
Girty said religious teacher, whom
the tribe loved more than a chief"
crossed the narrow room twice, en-
deavoring to sum up the evidence
clearly.
"A poor pretense for war, surely"
said at last. but might be sufficient
to Indian mind"
More than one war, even among
civilized nations, has been started ON
less" he answered soberly. Besides,
1t is my judgment all those devils want
Is an excuse. They may have manu-
featured this out of whole cloth; to
me 1t don't look reasonable. But you
have all the facts now. Hayward. and
can understand what to say and do.
Those red devils know our weakness,
and are wild to break loose. II l
send back formal letter by the hands
of their messenger. denying any knowl.
edge Of this medicine man of theirs,
and expressing regret at his disap.
pearance. they will consider 1t a lie.
l know Indian nature; they have got
to be bluffed at their own game. Show
fear, and they are after you at once,
the whole pack in full cry; face them
boldly. and they hesitate. If you go
straight to them, through the woods
to their council fire. an oflicer of this
garrison, In uniform. they Will inter.
pref your coming - q sign that We
are not afraid Of their threats"
AAOA ! 0A4 " N0lA UOlOlys LuT06I0U.
II necessary"
with discretion-yes. 1t is our only
chance to avert war. The scheme may
not work, but II 1t even results in de-
lay. 1t will be worth the effort"
when do l start?"
AT dusk tonight. Come here first
for final instructions, and letter to
Hamilton. You will go up the Mus
kingup to the forks by boat, and then
straight through the woods. There
must be no lettering on the march,"
There will be none, sir; and what
about Girty?"
Il will hold him on some pretext un.
til morning. Your party will have fif.
teen hours start"
There seemed nothing more, and,
after waiting q moment in silence, l
saluted.
Every well, sir: that is all?"
"All at present"
turned toward the door, then hest.
tated. as memory suddenly returned.
Pardon me, general" l said impul.