Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-05-14
CHAPTER Il-continued.

49, I
spoke loud, not knowing she was IN
the room, and her quick ears caught
the sound. 'Tis like her to make In
slant use of what she learned to thus
arouse your interest. She is tull OF
such tricks. No doubt that Will be tine
explanation. and no mystery to It
only the device of a clever oma
passed out into the sunshine OF the
afternoon, and crossed the deserted
parade to my quarters. In spite OF the
seriousness OF this adventure upon
which l was entering my thought lin
gered with the French girl. How soft
" musical her voice was; how clear
her laughter; how enchantingly the
dimples appeared in either cheek, n
with what %eloquence the dark eyes
conveyed their message. "Rene Au-
vray," the name repeated on my lips
fingered. and was whispered again.
l wondered If it really was her name,
yet cast the doubt aside Indignantly.
Somehow II seemed TO belong to her,
70 typify personality. TO revive mem
ory. Rene D'Auvray'-would / ever
see her again? Would God be good?
l 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
wilderness. Harmar would know moth
ing more than he did now; there would
remain no trail / could hope to follow;
! would never see her again.
All this was years ago, long years,
and yet l recall still how occupied
those hours with preparation. striving
m~anfully to Danish her from mind by
ceaseless labor. Little by little
grasped the seriousness of this mis-
sion on which l was embarked. In a
measure l was frontier born and bred,
and had ranged the woods since 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 / was to penetrate those
dark northern forests, through un.
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. 1t was no pleasant
picture painted or the canvas OF imag-
nation, and the perspiration beaded
my temples, as frontier tales of In
dian a~trocity flashed to memory. But
mine was then the spirit of youth, Of
daring; l 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 a bag. Then
| sought out Brady, finding him alone
outside the s%tockade, lying on the
bluff summit, gazing out at the broad
river below. AS | drew nea he looked
up at me, good humor in his gray eyes,
but making no effort to change his
posture.
We'll my young cockerel," he said
carelessly, they tell me you and are
TO be comrades on the long trail"
Who told you? General Harmar?"
NO less; maybe an hour ago.. 'Tis
not likely to prove a pleasant task.
as understand the nature of the mes
sage. What said the old mar to your"
He sat up as | repeated word by
word our conversation. He listened
intently until ! finished, his 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 was the name
Of that Wyandot medicine man."
"Wa.pa.tee-tah."
I've heard the name before. but
don't remember where. | never met
up against the Wyandots, save a few
at Vincennes; their range is too far
north. BY any chance do you know
that country"
Not 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 at me with a quizzical
smile.
Never could make much outer map
drawin'." he acknowledged slowly.
Just looks like hen tracks ter me,
an as 10 readin' reckon Their want
no schools along Stump crick wher ]
was raised. Howgumever you needn't
worry nom about that, Master Hay
ward, for I kin read the woods an
natur's the best guide. Wen find San.
dusky."
We talked together for some time,
although ] did the most Of IL, for he
wal content TO reply in monogyllables,
his eyes on the river. As the sun sank.
It's last rays turning the waters Grim.
pon, we went back into he stockade,
and ate heartily together In the bar
racks kitchen. Then, as dusk drew
near, we separated, he going silently