The Benson signal., 1917-03-17

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 it 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 gleam 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, Ike's hand
clinging to Davfd's shoulder.
Again and again they were forced to
rest; and as the sun began it's 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 pathleSS 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 unendurable fatigue possessed him,
but his eyes burned with unconquer-
able resolve.
''I'l be all right in a moment
Davy," he gasped. "It's only-listen,
what's that sound"
He staggered to his feet and David
held his breath. Then he shook his
head.
st hear nothing but the blackbirds,
Ike"
"No! listen, Davy, the flies, the
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 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 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 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 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 is
hereabouts."
"Thank God you found us, Hogue p
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
heardW
"The musicians at the fort" said
Hogue.
''The fort?" repeated David blankly.
"Where are wew
"Ye're on the Wabash, sixty miles
north of the Old Post"
"But there's no fort on the Wabash"
said Blackford wonderingly.
eth buildin' on it's jist begun" an
swered Hogue; eth army gut here yis-
tiddy."
'The armyv 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
Harr1SOn'S a-COmManQlQ ana DUBOIS
and I 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. devilment weth the Greeks
an we'uns air a-goin' t. skeer the
Prophet into a shallin' ague before Te-
clumsy hes a chance t. git back"
Dubois grunted in assent. "By gar
thees Harrison he strake queeck lax
pantherew
"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
al lit oG