The Benson signal., 1917-03-24
CHAPTER xxIII.-continued.

CHAPT TER XNIIl.-Continue0.
B.
She shrank away from his filthy
hand in unutterable loathing and
threw herself face downward in par
oxysm of weeping. The music of the
drums and flies had ceased. Outside,
the camp buzzed with activity. The
Prophet bent the red cup of his eye
less socket over a lapful of grotesQue
amulets, muttering incantations to
himself.
Girty passed his hand soothingly
over the trembling shoulders of the
girl, and patted the tangled, silken
cloud of her hair.
81 KANT Blame We, my dear, fur not
takin' likin' to sech a ugly ole -:rit-
ter as I be-, but I've he'd harf> life,
my dear, a hard life. I been ornery.
I'll grant ye, been ornery, but been
obleeged to be. They's lot a. pesky
mean men in this world, my Gear, an
I've he'd to fight hard agih EN-. I've
been waitiD' fur a likely young gal
like you so es kin go into the settle
ments on the Canady side and live
quiet, like king. I'm askin' ye quiet
to go with me, ye seer"
Toinette only sobbed.
saint thet fair, es put it to ye?
What kin be fairer nor thet? I kin
see thet es pretty es picter-me an
a-readin' in the Book about the bles-
sed Lamb O. God. Oh, ye may know
I was es good es any on 'em when I
was leetle devil. I he'd good old
mother!"
Toinette wondered to hear him name
his mother. She made no reply and
he suddenly burst in a string Of the
foulest oaths, cursing and blasphem-
ing. But he offered her no violence.
He still hoped to find some officer in
Maiden who would pay rich price
for her. And such purchaser would
demand her physically sound. For
this he had seen to it that no war
rior had harmed her; and he meant
to claim his money in the end.
The drums had begun again, loud,
defiant but instead of drawing nearer
their music passed farther and farther
away, fainter and fainter. Elkska-
tawa stole cautiously from the tent.
SuGde>aly there swept over TOinette
the realization that Girty had lied
the flies were playing an air that red
coats never marched to-the stirring
swing Of "The Presidents March ~
She leaped to her feet, her eyes blaz-
ing. Fainter and fainter came the air
to which she unconsciously fitted the
triumphant words:
who fought and b1ed in freedoms
cause.
And when the storm Of war was past
'Listen!" she cried. "'Tis the men
from home!" She faced Girty, and
all her days of dread. all her hours Of
suffering were forgotten. II have
prayed to God and he has answered
me-"
For a moment Girty was silent be-
fore the white radiance Of her faith :;
but he threw off his hesitancy with
sneering laugh.
. "a pretty lot of good thet handful
O. sheep kin do," he snarled. "By sun
down tomorry we'll bring ye ever one
of their wet skelps fur ye to play
weth." He stepped hastily outdoors,
and assuring himself that the troops
had defiled from view, he returned,
and, seizing Toinette's arm, dragged
her roughly from the tent. AS she
passed out into the raw November
wind, Toinette shivered.
"Ye kin see fer yerself they hain't
any on yer precious sogers brave
enough ter fight papoose, let alone
all these braves" he said tauntingly.
The innumerable warriors of the
Prophet, hideous in war-paint, stalk
ing to and fro among the tents of the
village, contemptuous Of the cautious
whites, lent support to his boast. Tof-
nette looked helplessly from side to
side, seeking some avenue of escape,
and hope died in her eyes.