The citizen., 1914-05-14
CHAPTER XVI.



II would seem the proper time for me
TO hear yours. Once we understand
each other we will know better how
to proceed"
He pressed his hands against his
head in an endeavor to think.
Il was in there. unconscious and
alone1"
NO, not alone; there was q yellow
faced negro with you-a French mon
grel, II | know the breed. He's there
yet-dead: and want to know the
story"
"Oh. ay! begin to get the straight
OF this at last" and his face bright
ened. Not that II is altogether clear,
but you furnish q clue: perhaps II we
put the ends together we may make
a tale. A French negro. hey! T would
likely be the Kaskaskia halfbreed. a
treacherous whiskered dog. But how
ever did he come to be here? Az, |
have Il! The fellow must have trailed
me from the council at Sandusky. sus-
pecting sought D'Auvray: there was
hate between them"
Then Z Is likely he killed the man"
mo doubt OF It. II he really be
killed. Listen to what I know: In
truth II is not much other than rumor,
D'Auvray had the fellow lashed by
Wyandot squaws for some dirty trick.
and Picaud-thats his name-swore
vengeance. Saint Denis! That was q
year ago. and Picaud has ever since
been In his own country. T was the
coming Of war that brought him back.
I thought l saw him at Sandusky a.
we held council there. but his presence
was nothing to me-"
'He had no quarrel with you. then ?"
mo; | saw h4m whipped; he was
like a snarling cur. Listen, and I'll
tell all know. | am not proud OF my
job. understand. but out here In the
wilderness, we work under a double
set OF orders-one open and above
board, the other secret T Is poor
work for soldier. but there's no help
for II. except to resign. and then some
one else would turn the trick. You
know the game we play-our countries
at peace, this land formally surren.
dered to you Americans, and yet there
comes to us-to Hamilton-private In
structions to retard settlement, and re-
tain our military posts. Lord knows
what the ministry means. what they
hope to gain by delay; We are only
pawns In the game being played. yet
what England says, we do. Yet how!
There is only one weapon left TO our
you openly. much az we might prefer.
but II we can keep the Indian tribes
hostile, we can hold back your settle
ments to the Ohio. until England can
act openly. You knew all this1"
YES" | acknowledged. The policy
Is clear enough"
And It was easily enough carried
out" he went on. but for the wyan-
dots. We were hand In glove with the
tribes, and they hated the Americana
Our emissaries were In all their vii
lagos, and made the chiefs presents
and promises. Raiding parties OF
young warriors swept through the for.
ests clear to the Ohio, doing much
damage, and driving the whites to
their forts. But we needed open war.
the alliance OF all the tribes. and we
were blocked in this-the Wyandots
refused. was sent there. and when |
failed, Hamilton went himself. but
with no better success. You know the
reason?"
shook my head, afraid TO interrupt
for fear he might remember how con-
victing such a confession was, and re-
fuse to continue. But apparently the
man failed to conceive the depravity
OF his acts.
The influence OF D'Auvray-ayl
and that daughter OF his. Saint Denis.
but believe she was the worst OF the
two. actually made love to the witch
hoping thus to win her over TO our
side, although even the love-making
might have been serious In the end. II
she would even listen. But you know
the lass. you say7"
I'VE have met, yes; a fne girl TO my
thought, despite her drop OF Indian
blood"
"Ay! Fine enough" with quick
glance OF suspicion. and hardening OF
the mouth, for those who like that
kind. To my mind 1t makes bad
combination, French and Indian. and
worse yet when adulterated by religion.
I might have married her-who
knows7" struggling his shoulders, but
she certainly wouldn't listen to any
thing else. Lord, the wench was proud
as Lucifer; ay! and laughed In my
face, and mocked me, until even Ham
ilton had to grin, when l told him the
story. II was then ! made up my
mind TO win In spite OF her."
ITO win her. you meanT
mo, mol There was but one way OF
doing that, and It chances l possess q
dislike for Indian blood. l mean the
10 our scheme. T was Ham
Ilton's plan, that l suggest to her q
visit to the Wabash tribes. for she was
ready for any sacrifice TO spread her
faith among the redskins. Ayl and by
good luck the scheme worked"
That then was what took her
south 2" l asked. deeply interested.
"Yes; I fixed up q fine story. and the
priest gave her his blessing. Oh, II