The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-08-17
1,strated by R.HLiVin&Stone .

but with the British against America!
"What I am going to do Is no bust
ness of yours" Erskine said quietly
"but | hope we shall not be on the same
side. We may meet again"
Crews face was already red with
drink and 1t turned purple with an
ger.
"When you tried to stab me DO You
remember what I said?" Erskine nod
ded contemptuously.
"Well, | repeat it. Whatever thu
side, I'll fight you anywhere at an?
time and in any way you please
"Why not now!'
"This Is not the time for private
uli.rrels and you know It,
Erskine bowed slightly-an act tha'
came oddly from an Indian head.
dress.
81 can wait-and shall not f0rsp'
The day will come"
The old priest touched Ersklne>
shoulder as the angry youth rode
away.
81 cannot make it out" he said. "He
claims to represent an English flll
company. His talk Is British, but ht
told one man-last night when he was
drunk-that he could have commits
sion in the American army
The council fire was built, TIT
flames cracked and the smoke roIle'
upward and swept through the leafles>
trees. Three British agents sat or
blankets, and around them the chiefs
were ringed. All day the powwoW
tasted. Each agent spoke and the bur
! den of his talk varied very little.
The American palefaceS had driver
the Indian over the great wall. The!
were killing his deer, buffalo and elk
robbing him of his land and pushing
him ever backward. They were man,
and. they would become more. Thu
British were the Indians friends
the Americans were his enemies ant
| theirs; could they choose to fight Will
their enemies rather than with the
friends? Each chief answered in turn
and each cast forward his wampun
until only Erskine, who had sat silent
remained, and Pontiac himself turne'
TO him.
"What says the son of Kahtoo?"
| Even as he rose, the lad saw creep
| ing to the outer ring his enemy Crook
ed Lightning, but he appeared not t.
see. The whites looked surprised whel
his boyish figure stood straight, AM
| they were amazed when he addreSse'
the traders In French, the agents ii
English, and spoke to the feathere'
chiefs In their own tongue. He cas-
| the belt forward.
THAT is Kahtoo's talk, but this
mine"
Who had driven the Indian from tn
great waters to the great wall? tn
British. Who were the Americans ul
til now? British. Why were tn
Americans fighting now? Because tn
British, their kinsmen, would not civ
them their rights. If the British woul
drive the Indian to the great wal
would they not 90 on doing what the
charged the Americans with dom
now? II the indians must fight, VIII
fight with the British to- beat ii
Americans, and then have to fight bot
a later day! II the British would NJ
treat their own kinsmen fairly, was
likely that they would treat the India
fairly? They, had never done so ye
Would 1t not be better for the India
, to make the white man on his ow
? land a friend rather than the whit
man who lived more than a moo
away across the big seas? Only on
gesture the lad made. He lifted h
hand high and paused. Crooked Ligh
ming had sprung to his feet. with
? hoarse cry. Already the white men ha
grown uneasy, for the chiefs ha
I turned to the boy with startled int
est at his first sentence and they coul
? not know what he was sayirk. b
. they looked relieved when Crooke
Lightning rose, for his was the onl
2 face in the assembly that was hostl
: to the boy. With gesture Points
babe Crooked Lightning speak.
n fTO pE CONrTNTIND\