Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-01-11
CHAPTER XII.
BY Break of Day.

Still the depredations of marauding
bands of Indians continued. Horses
were stolen; more than once settler
at work in a field, far from help, was
surprised and murdered; his body,
found lying by his pillow, always bear
ing red scar upon the forehead. In
dignation ran higher and higher.
David Laurence, who had enlisted as
soon as he reached Vincennes, drilled
daily with the grim frontiersmen. He
had told himself that Corydon should
be wiped from his memory; but, in
spite of all, his mind could not blot
out the image of a girl whose blue
eyes smiled above her smiling lips;
could not forget the little cabin which
she hallowed with her grace, the little
house on the edge of the woods; lone
ly, pathetically exposed to the unseen
danger of the dark forest that over
shadowed 1t. ~
The sun that had been yelled at
midday of the seventeenth struggled
all the next day through gathering
clouds and sank among the shoulders
of gray giants. David was walking in
the twilight toward the Jefferson
house when the sound of flying hoofs
thudding along the dirt lane, the old
rue st. Louis, struck on his ear.
He turned idly to see who rode so
furiously, and as the horseman drew
rein and pulled the smoking steed to
its launches a cry of mutual recogni-
ton broke from both men.
"Ikei"
But Blackford paused for no greet
ing.
1.-THE 1ndians-Toinette !"
He flung himself from his horse and
staggered with exhaustion. His face
was as white as the lather of foam on
the heaving TANKS of his mount.
"What?"
"They took her last night-at dark
O'Bannon had left the house scarcely
an hour-God help him, it struck him
like palsy oh, David, we must save
herW
II will co." said David quietly. His
face lad become suddenly aged with
| suffering. as 1t known what course
they took?"
''To the NORTH" gasped Ike. "There
was not a ranger in the country to
follow; they are all here in Vincennes
with Spencer's company; but the
Frenchman, Pierre Devan, followed
them and overlook them at their camp
that night. There were eight OF them,
and he could do nothing; but he
crawled close enough to hear their
talk. They. are taking her to the
Prophets town at a creek called Tip
pecanoe. She is to be sold to the Brit.
ish at Maiden. They will take the
trace on the east bank of the Wa
BASH"
Ike tottered in sheer exhaustion.
"You must rest" said David. 81
shall start at daybreak."
But Blackford shook his head.
II go with you, David" he said sim
ply. The two young men gripped
hands In silence.
They entered the tavern and David
began to make his hasty preparations
Benjamin Parke, the judge of the gen
eral court, an especial friend of Gov
ernor Harrison, sat at his dinner il
the tavern; he heard the story tha
spread from lip to lip and setting
down his glass hastily, he strobe ovel
TO the young men.
DO you actually intend to follow
Lnese IndiansI" he demanded.
1--WE shall set out at dawn" said Da
yid.
, Judge Parke looked at him ii
aYlazement.
:, sGreat God, Larrence" he ex
7 claimed, "this is sheer madness l"
) II must ask you to procure my TEN
porary discharge from Captain Han
/ groves company, Judge Parke," an