Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-17
OUR BOYS ; /;
and GIRLS 5 /;
DEMOS AND WAR GOD


shaded his eyes with his hands the
better to see the long line Of horse
men growing every instant more dis
tinct against the skyline. and present
sly there came 10 him the horror
stricken cry OF the shepherds there
abouts. who fled in mob from the
neighborhood
Save US. Save u.s." rang their cry.
from the wrath OF Attila the Hun.
the scourge OF God"
For moment the shepherd lad
looked serious. but made no move 10
flee away as did the rest. Instead, he
went and stood over a dagger thrust
into the earth just under a tree.
Vaguely he wondered whether this was
a sign which the war god had sent.
He crouched behind the bushes when
the army OF the invader had come
very near, and watched them put up
their tents. One he noticed was
larger than the rest and made OF
cloth of gold. This, he knew in.
stinctiyely. belonged to Attila. the
commander. Quite content, he watch
ed the busy camp from the bushes
until the quiet stars came out in the
skies and wisp of moonshine glim-
mered and glowed on the hilt of the
dagger.
Fascinated. he watched, until pre-
sently the dagger moved and, sliding
over in his direction, touched his
naked hand.
AT once the boy lost all doubt.
He had received an order direct
from the war god-he would obey.
Quietly he stole back to his tiny
ramshackle shelter, gathered together
his few personal belongings and.
taking the dagger almost reyercntly
in his hand, started stealthily toward
the cloth-of.gold tent that cleaned
and plowed in the moonlight.
Presently he had attained the door
way and. eluding the guard, had slip.
ped inside. Here amid the strange
ness OF the queer Eastern habits and
furnishings he could not see very well
for time, but at the end of few
moments his eyes accustomed them
selves to the light, and he gazed
about him in amazement Embroider-
ed curtains and low. luxurious
conches, silken drapngs of all sorts,
held him speechless with admiration,
until he started back in horror at
sight OF twisted figure which sud
denly rose up before him as from thin
air. Misshappen in every part. with
huge head and spindling feet, a
dwarf stood before the shepherd boy
what 90 you here?" asked the
dwarf ana the lad looking into Lis
eyes saw that they at lecst were
clear and straightforward, even
friendly.
u come with sign from the war
god" said the shepherd, simply.
The dwarf uttered an exclamation
that was like a sibilant kissing be-
tween ones teeth, and yet must have
been a word,
Come hither," he said, reckoning,
and the lad followed on.
In an inner room of the tent they
came upon Attila. lying huge. fierce,
awe-inspirlng, upon a mound Of fresh.
cut boughs, which contrasted oddly
with the otherwise gorgeous appoint
ments of the place. The quick eyes
Of the shepherd lad saw that he had
thrown aside all war gear, and was
lying loosely clad, resting.
To the boys amazement, the dwarf
stood upon no terms of ceremony
with the mighty and awful being
upon the boughs. He gave a flying
leap from the door and landed di-
rectly at Attilas shoulder, from which
position he spoke of finding the lad.
Attila's huge hand carressed the
dwarf the while he spoke. He sat up
when the dwarf had told him the
shepherd boys errand.
In a few short sentences the shep.
herd boy told of his finding the dag
ger and the message 1t conveyed
Attila seized it from his hand and,
holding it aloft, swore roundly to
sweep Europe The lad, frightened,
would have slipped away, but Attila
would not allow it. attaching him per-
sonaly to his suite and commanding
the dwarf to fit him out at once with
proper court clothes. within an hour
Demos had returned to the Ravager's
presence. clad in silken robe and
with his senses bewildered by the
change In his condition. But it did
not drive away healthy slumber from
the lad. who slept soundly al night
long.
Early next day messengers rode up
10 the camp from Genseric the Van
DIAL ruler OF Africa, asking Attila to
invade Europe for the purpose Of
furnishing Aetius, Emperor OF the
West
Now, Demos and Jovan, the dwarf.
put hVI 'HOii 'iunt III 'hc ultostliStle,
and so in disguise they spied and
found out that Theodosius, Emperor
OF the East, had sent a large army
against Genseric the Vandal.
As soon as Attia heard this he
dispatched his councillor Edecon to
Constantinople, while he with his
Huns moved northward, laying waste
the cities and towns and villages thru
which they passed.
Al least seventy blooming towns