The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-01-25

fifes!"
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 Doodler 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 family 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 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. 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 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.
care you carrying messages to the
Prophet? What were those flies we
heard?"
"The musicians at the fort" said
Hogue.
",The fort?" repeated David blankly.
"Where are WEI"
"Ye'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; 9Th army gut here yis-
tiddy."
1.-THE rmy!" Ike and David ex-
claimed together.
"In course We 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 l air a-scoutin' around the breSh."
"Then Tecumseh has chosen warp
"Tecumsy's still SOUTH" said the
backwoodsman grimly. "Old Horse
head Gibson and Harrison figger tibet
he's up t. deyilment weth the Creeks
an we'uns air a-goin' t. skeer the
Prophet into shakin' ague before Te-
clumsy hes a 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
idly under the clear skies of October.
All the month was spent in completing
the log fertilization, and then, leaving
it as q base with a handful of men,
the column took up its course once
more toward the Prophets town at
Tippecanoe. The sick, Blackford among
the number, were left at Fort Harrison
to spare them the onward march.
David again entered Captain Har-
groves company. Among the cold
ashes of his hopes one CLEAN still per-
sisted: he might yet find Toinette at
the Prophets town. Indeed, that was
the one place where she had probably
been taken.
They advanced warily. The regular
troops, under Colonel Boyd, headed
the little column; the militia followed ;
Spier Spencer's yellow Jackets" trot-
ted at the left, the VinceAneS horse
men at the right; 10 Daviess' Ken
lucky dragons brought up the rear.
The boats conveying the supplies
were left at blockhouse hastily con-
structed at a point % miles north of
Fort Harrison; and at noon of Novem-
Der 6 they came into view of the hun
dreds of tepees which made up the
Prophets town. Less than one thou
sand strong, they had ventured to the
Indian stronghold, where 1000 braves
were assembled; all along their march
they had been exposed to attack; and
now, as they marched resolutely for
ward, the red warriors began to pour
out like angry bees from hive.
The column halted and parley took
place. Angrily the Indians inquired
the meaning of the army's advance
did they intend to attack? Harrison
shook his head; he wished merely to
encamp that night and to confer with
the Prophet in the morning; there
should be no hostilities. The chiefs
grunted, pacified, and the army, wheel
ing a mile to the northwest, made
camp upon a wooded plateau, along
whose abrupt declivity on the west
there ran q little creek, called Tippe.
canoe. The regular troops pitched