Tombstone epitaph., 1917-04-29

Ike, fearing that blachIOru WOulu blame himself for Toinette's loss.
 They agreed. with hearts inexpress- lbly heavy, that the delay had driven the last gleam of hope from the pur- suit; and as soon as Ike was able to stand they began again to seek the pressed, with infinite toll, Ike's hand clinging to Davtd's shoulder.
 Again and again they were forced to rest; and as the sun began its down. ward Journey they had traversed five miles only. They had reached a place where the forest grew thinner and the long rushes rose above their heads; the painless home of innumerable wa terfowl. Ike fell heavily upon the marshy ground. crashing through the dry reeds. David lifted Ike's head in terror. He had not lost consciousness; an uncomfortable fatigue possessed him, but his eyes burned with unconQuer- able resolve.
 'T'n be all right in a moment, Davy." he gasped. Its only-listen, what's that sound7"
 lc SlASStItO u HIS lttl anu pu'au held his breath. Then he shook his head.
 'I hear nothing but the blackbirds, Ike"
 "Noi listen, Davy. the flies. the ffes!"
 David felt an awful fear sweep through him. Had the strain been too y,vcb Cor Jlya.c axhops.aI hndy1 Wac the delirium to return once more? He began to speak soothingly. But Ike held up his hand for silence.
 Listen, Davy. the ffesl They're playing Yankee Doodle!' And, oh, Davy, you can hear the drums now" David strained in an agony of listen ing. A breeze rustled the tops of the marsh grass, and suddenly upon the wind he heard the unmistakable sound of a marching quickstep, the shrill mu- sic of the flies, the rumble of the drums. They threw their arms around each others necks and shouted with all their strength. Waited shout ed again an answering halloa came faintly to their ears, and with a cry of joy they forced themselves on. With a last effort they burst through the reeds and found the broad ! flood of the Wabash at their feet; and flying swiftly toward them a canoe driven by the brawny muscles of two white men.
 "'Cre nom '" calculated the figure in the bow as the canoe ran up the reedy bank. 'Les hommes fous qui pour suivant Ia file de Corydon!''
 Toussaint Dubois, the captain of the ! guides, had small respect for fooIhar- | dlness. But the second occupant of the canoe recognized the two adven- turers with a cry of thankfulness and | flung his arms around them. ] "Get in the canoe quick" he said, mo tellin' what pesky devils thar is hereabouts."
 Thank God you found us. Hogue !' cried David as they obeyed his com mand and the light craft shot out again over the water. The man had served with Hargrove. captain of the company in which David had enlisted. Are you carrying messages to the Prophet? What were those flies We heard?"
 The musicians at the fort" said Hogue.
 'The fortf" repeated David blankly. Where are weT
 We're on the Wabash. sixty miles north of the old Post"
 But there's no fort on the Wabash ' said Blackford wonderingly.
 9Th buildin' on it's jist begun" an swered Hogue; "th' army gut here wis. tiddy"
 "The armyT' Ike and David ex. claimed together.
 "In course ye didn't know-lef Vim cennes, horse and foot, nigh to a thou. sand on us, seven days ago. Will and I air a-scoutin' around the bresh.'
 .Then Tecumseh has chosen war;
 "Tecumsy's still south," said the backwoodsman grimly. 'Old Horse head Gibson and Harrison figger thei he's up t devilment weth the Creeks an we'uns air a-goin' t skeer the Prophet into a shal,in' ague before Te | CuIlSS ItS u NlaAAANt | SAI boNh-
 Dubois grunted in assent By gar thees Harrison he strake queeck lal panthere
 "You came just in time" said David weakly. Silently he stumbled alone at the heels of Hogue and Dubois, as they bore Ike's limp body between them toward the clearing in the fores on the east bank of the river; ana when the men of his company ran ou to meet them their cheers ran; , strangely distant in his ears. But food and rest soon brought bacl his strength; and Ike, too, gained rap idly under the clear skies of October All the month was spent in completinl the log fortification, and then, leavini , it as a base with a handful of men
 the column took up its course onc' more toward the Prophets town a Tippecanoe. The sick, Blackford amonl the number, were left at Fort Harrison ? to spare them the onward march.
 David again entered Captain liar grove's company. Among the coll
 ashes of his hopes one gleam still per g sisted: he might yet find Toinette a