The citizen., 1914-07-17

I challenge you to lay hand on me.
You know who am; you have eaten
In the tepee Of my father. / know
who you are. and l despise you. You
call me a Wyandot squaw: threaten
what you will do; point me to this
dead man whom you have murdered.
Why? To frighten meme? Very
well, I'll answer you. am Wyan-
dot; am Running Water; but in my
veins flows also the best blood of
France. Mine is not a race of cow
ards and murderers, thieves and trad
ers; my ancestors were soldiers and
men. And you think am afraid of
you-you cur of the woods; afraid Of
you! Touch me, Jules Lappin. II you
dare; l challenge you Come, L wait
for you to lay hand on me-"
He stared at her sullenly, angry
enough, yet with the bullying look
gone from his mottled face. Something
about the girl-her sharp words, her
cool defiance-had left him uncertain.
More than that Jules Lappin." she
went on passionately. you are going
to pay for all this" and she pointed
down at the dead body, pay for it, do
you understand! That man was what
he claimed to bean aide to Hamilton.
England pays her debts. Monsieur
Lappin. Ay, and so do the Wyandots;
have you forgotten that so soon?
Have you forgotten what befell the
Frenchman, PHILIPPE Bridau? Have
you blotted from memory already the
fate of Michael Cozad? You were in
our village when the chiefs of the Wy
andots dealt out justice to these rene
gades. Answer mel"
The cool boldness of her words
stunned the fellow. could see him
glance about into the dark woods, and
then at the faces of the savages press
ing about them. Few among them un-
derstood what was said, and their ges-
lures, the fierce expression of their
eyes, gave the renegade courage. He
had already gone too far for retreat;
his only chance now was to proceed
to browbeat this girl, frighten her, and
trust to the wilderness for a hiding
place.
Stand aside, all Of yer; get back
and give US room, yer red scumm he
roared, his rage increasing as he gave
it vent in words. We'll, I've heard
yer talk. all Of it, you breed, an that's
what care for your threats" and he
snapped his fingers In her face. AS
she stood silent, motionless, looking
straight at him with scorn unutterable
in her eyes, the brute clinched his red
fist, stepping forward as If he would
strike.
Curse yer! I'm a mind to let yer
have some Of the same medicine gave
him. You'll laugh at Jules Lappin,
will yer? Oh, no! but know better
way than that to make yer cry. By
all the gods, we'll roast that Yankee
friend of yours to turn, and you'll
stand by and watch, That'll fetch the
two of yer to yer senses. Here
Shawnees, two of yer come here. Pick
up this carrion, and throw 1t out of
the way. over there in the edge of the
wood. Well want this place presently.
Sis-e-te-wah?"
The chief is here" with dignity.
Twas your vote that the hunter
die by torture"
ut was so spoken"
Then he shall-to spite this squaw
of Wyandot, If for no better reason.
Bid your warriors tie the dog up"
For the moment, In the confusion,
the noise and rushing back and forth
of figures dimly seen in the red light,
l lost sense of what was being done.
There was babel of yells, a wild
mingling Of half-naked forms dancing
about through the shadows. Those
whose identity l could comprehend
had been swallowed up by the rush
Of bodies. Occasionally Lappin's voice
sounded above the din, as he cursed
out some order Then, forth from the
surgtng, excited mass of savages, two
braves came directly toward where l
lay concealed, staggering under the
weight Of Hayward's dead body. l
drew back my rifle. sinking lower be-
hind the rotten log. The weight of the
dead man caused them to shuttle for
ward, grunting to each other, glad
enough to be rid of the burden. In
the first dark shadow they let go.
fiinging him down against the very log
behind which lay. holding my breath
in fear.
Even as gazed with eyes of horror,
my mind chaos. every nerve throb-
bing In physical pain. there came to
me the one hope, the one chance for
me to meet alone the situation.