The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-04-10
CHAPTER |.
The Message.


gled woodland that lay at the
back of the Telfair barony along
the Tallapoosa river.
Abruptly Jack halted, gun half
raised, trying to peer through the
sun-s0aked bushes of the moist
glade. He had heard no sound.
| yet the instinct of one born and
brought up almost within sight
of the frontier told him that
something was watching him
from the underground. 1t might
be bear or a wolf or a panther,
for none of these were rare in
Alabama in the year 1912.
From behind an oak an Indian
stepped out. Fastened in his scalp
lock were feathers of the white
headed eague, showing that he
was a chief.
"Necana." he said. Friend"
Instinctively Jack threw.up his
hand. "Necana." he echoed. The
tongue was that of the Shawnees.
Jack had not heard 1t since the
I last remnant of the Shawnee
tribe had gone northward to join
their brethren on the Ohio.
'Necana." he repeated. What
does my brother here, far from
his own people?"
In response the savage smiled.
II seek the young chief Telfair,"
he said. He whom the Shawnees
of the South raised up as Te-pwe
he who speaks with a straight
tongue. Knowest thou him,
brother" =
Jack stared in good earnest. 81
am Jack Telfair," he said hating
ly, dragging the Shawnee words
from his reluctant memory. Ten
years ago the squaw Methowaka
adopted me at the council fire of
the Panther clan"
From his pouch the chief drew
a belt of beautiful white wam-
pun. viii my brother listen?"
he asked.
Jack nodded. Brother. I
| listen,' he answered.
| 1t is well. Many years ago
chief of the elder branch of my
brothers house was the friend of
Tecumseh. Ten years ago the
white chief travelled the long trail
to the land of his fathers. But
before he died he said to Tecum-
sch: Brother! To you | leave my
one child Care for her as you
would your own. Perhaps in days
to come men OF my own house
may seek her, saying that to her
belong much land and gold. II
they come from the branch of my
house living In Alabama, at the
ancient home of the Shawnees, let
her go with them. But If they
come from the branch of my
house that dwells in England 90
not let her so. The men of that
branch, the branch of the chief
Brito, are wicked. If they come
for her, then do you seek out my
brothers in the South and tell
them that they may take her and
protect her. If they fail you,
then let her live with you for
ever
Since the chief died ten years
have passed, and the maid has
grown straight and tall in the
lodge of Tecumseh. Now the chief
Brito has come. wearing the red
coat of the English warriors.
Therefore Tecumseh sends his
belt to his younger brother, and
says to him: Come quickly. The
maid is Of your house; come and
take her from my lodge at Wapa-
koneta and see that she gets all
that Is hers
Jack took the belt eagerly. To
go to the lodge of Tecumseh to
bring back kinswoman to whom
had descended great estates and
against whom foes were plotting.
What boy of 81 would not jump
at the chance.
And to go to Ohio-the very
name was a challenge. The Ohio
Of 1912 was not the Ohio of to-
day. Within it rover bears, deer,
buffalo, panthers, venomous
snakes, renegades, murderers, In
dians-the bravest and most war
like that the land had yet known.
With swelling heart Jack grasp
ed the proffered belt.
II will find the maid at Wapa-
koneta?" he questioned.
IF my brother comes quickly
My brother knows what war is in
the air. II my brother is slow LET
him inquire of Col. Johnson al
Upper Piqua. The maiden ID
known as Alagwa (the starr. Has
my brother more to ask?"
Jack shook his head. The
Shawnee bowed slightly; then he
turned on his heel and melted
noiselessly into the underbrush.
Jack stared after him wonder.
ingly. Then he stared at the belt
in his hand. SO quickly the CHIEF
had come and gone that Jack
needed the sight of something
martial to convince himself that
he had not been dreaming.
Not the least amazing part OF
the chiefs coming had been the
message he had brought. Jack
had heard of Delaroche Telfair
only vaguely. When his Hugue-
not forefathers had fled from
France, century and a quarter
before, one branch had stopped in
England and another branch had
come to America.