Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-07-03
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Fire in the CLEARING.

StsFAE- Ell NVH1bs
The Fire in the Clearing.
Go on now," ! commanded grimly,
and do not forget Mademoiselle, do
you go first, and show the way. 1 will
keep good guard of the rear
He climbed the stairs, muttering
savagely. with me following SO close
behind. the muzzle Of my gun touched
his back.
I am playing SAFE" 1 muttered
dark
We came out on the shore, pausing
a moment to gaze out across the wa
ter to the gloom of the mainland.
The red And yellow flames lit up the
open space fairly well, but all around
the black forest wall closed in tightly
1t was like grotesque picture in a
frame. Before the fire, mostly with
their backs toward us / counted twen-
ty savages on the grass, their red
skins and matted hair showing clear
ly. They were silent, motionIess. ap-
parently staring into the flames. The
fendish yelling came from beyond,
from the other side of the fire, where
I caught fitful glimpse Of wildly dane
ing figures, of arms flung in air, of
brandished guns, and streaming hair.
| saw Mademoiselle rise silently to
her feet, but my hand only gripped
harder on the Englishman's shoulder
as / watched. Brady advanced be-
tween two Indians, his arms bound be-
hind him, bloody cloth concealing
his jaw. He was bare-headed, his
clothing rags, and he staggered slight
ly as he walked An Indian struck
him with sticl--, vicious blow, and
Lappin jerked him forward between
the chiefs and the fire. The warriors
sat there impassive, emotionless, their
eyes cold and merciless. Brady look
ed into that ring of savage faces with
out culver, throwing back his shoul-
ders, blood trickling down one cheek
It even seemed to me his eyes smiled
Then one of the chiefs spoke without
rising, in deep cultural voice. l heard
the words, but they were meaningless
jumble of sound, yet somehow me
nacing, gruff with threat The dis
cordant yelling ceased, and dark
mass of forms clustered beyond the
blaze, drawing together in half cir
Gle behind the prisoner. The light
played over dark, sinister faces and
sparkled in the wild savage eyes.
The girl stepped backward, noise
lessly, until she stood beside; me, hel
hand touching my arm.
We are here in time" she whis
pered, 3but can delay no longer"
He is condemned then? They viii
not spare him?"
"The chief speaks in Shawnee, ant
know little of the tongue, Du1 thers
is no mercy in his words"
And you, mean to go out there, tt
face those fiends: Are you mo-
afraid?"
She smiled. sad, brave smile 4,
into my eyes.
Monsieur, I must. she said plead
ingly. 1T Is not only his life, but m!
duty. l leave my rifle here, and beal
this; with Christ am not afraid"
And in her clasped hands, reddenet
by the flames. saw a crucifx
! sMademoiselle, If this man speaks
a word Of treachery; if by look or ges
ture he attempts to play us false. viii
you give me sign?''
Yes, Monsieur
! "Clasp your hands like this abou
your head; it will be his death war
rant. Now, sir, are you ready?"
| There was hate in his eyes. but
was glad of it.
"Oh! but I'll get you for this. Yes
I'm ready, you clod of Yankee peas
/ ant! but you'll pay before ever yol
/ get out of these woods-oh, Lord
you'll pay"
l half thought he would spring a
/ me, and drew back, my rifle lifted
But he only laughed, his lips snarling
and strode past crunching his wa,
1 through the thicket. caught tn
swift upward glance of the girls eye
Ia message of thanks, ay! more
and she had followed him. I spran
aside amid the trunks of trees, conf
dent / could not be seen, that ever.
savage eye would be riveted upol
those two advancing figures. TIL
light afforded me sufficient guidance
and / possessed some idea of where
wished to go. / found 1t with doze
quick steps, and, even as the frs
wild scream of discovery burst fror
the red throats, crept in behind
decaying log, at the very edge of tn
opening, and trust my rifle barre
across the rotten bark. Deliberately
4 coolly, with full determination to ac
drew bead on the red jacket.
They were not five yards away, az
vancing straight toward the startle
group of chiefs, the girl slightly i
advance, the freight on her uplifte
face, the white crucif1x cleaning i
her hands. The Englishman, ste
behind, his first mad anger alread
dying, walked like criminal, wit
lowered head, and eyes glancing fu
/