Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-06-09
CHAPTER !

Streaks OF red ran upward, and In
answer the great gray eye Of the Will
derness lifted Its mist-fringed lid.
From the green depths came the fiut.,
ing of lone wood-thrush. A cougar
leaped from the low limb of an oak,
missed, . nd shuddering ,rfeer
streaked through forest Nsle,
bounded into a little clearing, stopped
rigid, shifted deadlier enemy, and
whirled into the wilderness again.
Still deeper In the depths aiboylwith a
bow and arrow and Naked except for
scalp-lock and breech-clout, Eprang
from sleep and again took flight along
a, buffalo trail. Again.. not far behind
him, three gruntihg savages were tax
Ing up the print of, bis moccastned
feet. - a-
An. hour before red flare rose
within the staked enclosure that was
reared In the center OF the little clear
Ing, and above 1t smoke was seen rIs-
Ing. Before the. first glimmer of day
the gates yawned little and three
dim shapes appeared and moved leis.
urely for the woods-each man with
long flintlock rifle In the hollow of his
arm, hunting knife In his belt, and
coonskin cap oh his head. At either
end of the stockade watch-tower of
oak became visible and in each a
sleepy sentinel yawned and snifTeo
the welcome smell of frying venison
below him.
One sentinel rose towering TO the
full of, his stature, stretched bis
mighty arms with a yawn, and lightly
leaped, rifle in hand, into the en-
closure. A girl climbing the rude lad
der to the tower stopped midway.
"Mornin', Daye!"
,"Mornin', Polly!"
"You don't seem to have much use
for this. ladder"
"Not unless I'm goin' up; and |
wouldn't then ifsI gould jump as high
as can fall He vent, toward her to
help her down,
81 wouldn't climb very high" she,
said, and scornlng. his hand with a
tantallzing little grimace she leaped
as lightly as had he to the ground.
Two older women who sat about a
kettle of steaming clothes watched
her.
Look at Polly Conrad, won't ye? i
declare that gal. -. ,,.E.
"Lyddy r".cried Polly, bring Dawes
breakfast n. 80.
At the door Of each log cabin, as
solidly built as little fort, hunter
was cleaning long rifle. At the
western angle two men were strength
enirg the pickets Of the palisade.
About the fire two mothers were
, sucking babes at naked breasts. d
At the fire tall girl rose, pushed
a mass of sunbhrned hair from her
heated forehead, and a flush not from
the fire fused with her smile. g
81 reckon Dave can walk this far
he don't look very puny."
A voice vibrant with sarcasm rose
from one of the women about the
steaming kettle 80, !. !
"Honor!" she cried, Honor San
ders!" o..
In doorway near. third girl was
acknowledgement, deep-breasted.
Honor" cried the old woman,
"stop wastin' yo' time with that weav.
in in thar an come out here an, hep
these two gals to git Dave his break
fast" Dave Yandell laughed loudly.
"Come on. Honor" he called. but
the girl turned and the whir of loom
started again like the humming of
bees. Lydia Noe handed the hunter
pan of deer meat and corn bread,
and Polly poured him n cup of steam
ing liquid made from saSSafras
leaves. Dave looked up into Polly's
black eyes, shifted to Lydia, s|erved
to the door whence came the whir of
the loom. ~
"You are looking very handsome
this morning, Polly" he said gravely,
"and Lydia is lovelier even than usual,
and Honor Is q woodland dream" He
shook his head. NO" he said, 81
really couldn't"
Couldn't what?" asked Polly,
though she knew some nonsense was
coming.
"Be happy even with two, if tother
were far away"
~ reckon you'll have to try some
day-with all Of us. far away" said
the gentle Lydia. ..... .....
"No doubt, 10 doubt" He fell upon
his breakfast.
poor boy" said Lydia, and Polly
looked at her with .q,Eckening wonder
Dave gave his hunting knife a pa
thetic flourish.
"And when the Virginia gallants
come, where will poor Dave be-"
81 wonder" said Lydia, "jf they'll
have long hair like Dave" Dave
! shook his long locks with mock pride
"Yes, but it won't be their own an
it'll be powdered"
lord, I'd like to see the first In
dian who takes one of their scalps."
Polly laughed but there was Il shud
der in Lydla's smile. Dave rose
"I'm going to sleep till dinncr-don't
let anybody wake me-" he said, and 1T