The Ordway new era., 1917-04-20

realized what David had done for
him. David saw that Ike remembered
nothing of the passage of the war
party: and he said nothing of 1t to
Ike, fearing that Blackford would
blame himself for Toinette's loss.
They agreed, with hearts inexpress-
IDLY heavy, that the delay had driven
the last CLEAN of hope from the pur-
suit: and as soon as Ike was able to
stand they began again to seek the
river to the west. Onward they
pressed. with infinite toll, 1ke's hand
clinging to David's shoulder.
Again and again they were forced to
rest; and as the sun began Its down.
ward Journey they had traversed hve
miles only. They had reached 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.
I'll be all right in moment,
Davy." he gasped. ITS only-listen,
what's that sound?'
He staggered to his feet and David
held his breath. Then he shook his
head.
81 hear nothing but the blackbirds,
Ike"
mol listen, Davy, the flies. the
ffes!"
David felt an awful fear sweep
through him. Had the strain been too
much for Ike's exhausted body? Was
the delirium to return once more? He
began to speak soothingly.
But Ike held up his hand for silence.
Listen, Davy, the flies! They're
playing Yankee DoodleH 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 marching quickstep. the shrlll 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
cry Of joy they forced themselves
| on. With n last effort they burst
| through the reeds and found the broad
flood of the Wabash at their feet; and
flying swiftly toward them canoe
driven by the brawny muscles Of two
white men.
acre nom!" circulated the figure in
the bow as the canoe ran up the reedy
bank. lies hommes fous qui pour
suivant la file de Corydon!
Toussaint Dubois, the captain of the
guides, had small respect for foolhar-
diness. 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 -
hereabouts."
THANK God you found us, Hogue I"
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
! heardT
"The musicians at the fort" said
Hogue.
''The fort" repeated David blankly.
where nre we?"
"Ye're on the Wabash, sixty miles
north of the Old Fost.'
But there's no fort on the Wabash"
said Blackford wonderingly.
9TH buildin' on it's jlst begun" an
swered Hogue; 9TH army gut here yis-
tiddy."
"The armyw Ike and David ex-
claimed together.
"In course ye didn't know-lef' Vim
cennes, horse and foot, nigh to thou
sand on US, seven days ago. Will
Harrison's a-commandin' and Dubois
and I air a-scoutin' around the bresh."
"Then Tecumseb has chosen WARP"
"Tecumsy's still SOUTH" said the
backwoodsman grimly. "Old Horse
head Gibson and Harrison figger thet
he's up t. devilment weth the Creeks
an weuns air a-goin' t. skeer the
Prophet into shalsin' ague before Te-
clumsy hes u chance t git back"
Dubois grunted in assent. "By gar,
thees Harrison he -strake queeck lax
panthere!"
'You came just in time" said David
weakly. Silently he stumbled along
at the heels of Hogue and Dubois, as
they bore Ike's limp body between
them toward the clearing in the forest
on the east bank of the river; and
when the men of his company ran out
to meet them their cheers rang
strangely distant in his ears.
But food and rest soon brought back
his strength; and Ike, too, gained rap
I'll