The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-03-23
CHAPTER III.
A Perilous Venture.


ing out of the window. his eyes frown-
ing. l closed the door, and stood wait
ing, swiftly determining to discover
the identity of that young woman
within. and feeling slight heed of aught
else. Harmar turned his eyes toward
me, surveying me a moment in silence
What do you weigh, Hayward" he
snapped out as tho noting my girth
for the first time.
1.-TWO hundred and thirty, sir"
Huh! and every inch muscle and
bone from the look of you. I've got
some serious work picked out for you
How far north have you ever been?"
:"To the forks of the Muskngum"
He drummed with his fingers on the
table; then pored over a rough map.
Huh! the hard travel will be be-
yond, after you leave the boat Would
you undertake a journey to Sandusky?"
Alone, sir?" / asked, startled at the
question, the distance vague in my
mind.
with a scout, who knows the
woods" he answered, studying my
face, land an enlisted man to cook,
| and do odd jobs around camp. A
small party is better than large one
on such trip" He paused, thinking
Il will obey orders, sir. l am a
soldier"
"Yes!" he got to his feet. But now
that isn't what l want. I expect my
men to do that. But this Is not strict
ly military matter, and l give you no
orders. I need a confidential messen-
ger, man of intelligence and nerve;
but he will take his life in his hand,
| and possibly to no purpose. l 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" said, firmly, land
need seek no further; l volunteer to
| CO.
| He wheeled about, and grasped my
| hand.
81 thought SO, Hayward. | am not
! often mistaken in a man, and | like
! your face. Yet do not be too hasty in
| decision. Sit down here, where we
| can have the map between US, until l
can explain what hell is brewing in
| the pot of those north 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 he
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 l read it, half
convinced my brain played me some
trick.
Is 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 no friends of ours,
yet they claim to be Christian, con-
yerted 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?"
1T 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 l 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 SO
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. l have no force with which
to meet them; hundreds of lives-men,
women and children will be de-
I stroyed; settlements ruined. l doubt
if there be a white man left north OF
the Ohio in three months if those
| fiends break loose. This is not my
work. endeavoring to treat with those
red devils II is the duty of the gov
ernor But St Clair is away; / have
no means OF reaching him with this
information. The Wyandots demand
instant reply, and our messenger must
reach them as soon as, if not before
] the return of Girty"