Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-07-11
CHAPTER viii

1.
The Indian boys were plunging into
the >river when Erslline appeared at
the opening iof the old chiefs tent
next morning, and when they came
out icicles were clinging to their hair.
He had forgotten the custom and he
shrugged his shoulders at his mothers
lnquiring look. But the next morning
when Crooked Lghtning's son Black
Wolf passed him with taunting
smile he changed his mind.
wait ~ he said. He turned, stripped
quickly to breech-clout, pointed to
beech down and across the river, cllal-
ienging Black Wolf to a race. To-
gether they. plunged in, and the boys
white body Glove through the water
like the arrow that he was. At the
beech he whipped about to meet the
angry face of his conpetlt6r ten yards
behind. Halfway back he was more
than twenty yards ahead when he
heard strangled cry. Perhaps it was
ruse to cover the humiliation of de-
feat, but when he saw bucks rushing
for the river bank he knew that the
icy water had brought a cramp to
Black Wolf, so he turned, caught the
lad by his topknot, towed him shore
ward, dropped him contemptuously,
and stalked back TO his tent. His
mtoher had built q fire for him, and
the old chief looked pleased and proud.
"My spirit shall not pass" he said,
and straightway he rose AMI dressed,
and to the astOnishment of the tribe
emerged from his rent and walked
firmly about the village until he found
Crooked Lightning.
"You would have Black Wolf chief"
he said. "Very well. We shall see
who can show tie better right--your
son or White ArrOw"~-a challenge that
sent Crooked Lightning to brood
awhile In his tent, and then secretly to
consult the prophet.
Later the old chief talked long to
White Arrow. The prophet, he said,
had been WITH thsSe psit. a little while.
He claimed that the Great Spirit had
made revelations TO him alone What
manner of miRn was ne, questioned the
boy-did he have ponies and pelts and
jerked meat?
"He, is poor" said the chief. "He
has only wife and children and the
tribe feeds him."
White Arrow himself grunted =
was the first sign of his old life STIR
ring within him.
"Why should the Great Spirit pick
out such man to Iavor?" he asked.
The chief shook his head.
Crooked Lightning has found much
favor with him, and in turn with the
others, so that l. have not thought 1t
wise to tell Crooked Lightning that he
must go. He has stirred up the young
men against me-and against you.
They were waiting for me TO die" The
boy looked thoughtful and the chief
waited. He had not reached the aim
of his speech and there. was no need
to put it in words, iOr White Arrow
understood.
Il will show Them, he said quietly.
When the two appeared outside,
many braves had gathered, for the
whole village knew what was in the
wind. Should it be a horse race first?
Crooked Lightning looked at the boys
thoroughbred and shook his head
Indian ponies would as well try to out
run an arrow, bullet, hurricane.
A foot.race? The cid chief smiled
when Crooked Lightning shook his
head again-nO brave in the tribe even
coulu match the speed that gave the
lad his name. The bow and arrow,
the rifle, the tOmahawh? TomahawkS
and bows and arrows We're brought
out. Black Wolf was half head
shorter, but stOcky and powerfully
built. White Arrows Sinews had
strengthened, but lie had scarcely used
bow and tOnahawk since he had left
the tribe. He had the power but not
the practice, and Black Wolf won
with great ease. When they came to
the rife, Black Wolf was out Of the
game, for never bulps-eyn did White
Arrow miss.
Tomorrow" said the old chief,
"they shall hunt. Each shall take his
bow and the same number of arrows
at sunrise and return at sundGwn. ..
The next day they shall do the same
with the rifle. 1t is enough for today"
The first snow fell that night. and
at dawn the two lads started out
each with q bow and dozen arrows.
Erskine's woodcraft had not suffered
and the nights story of the wilderness
was as plain to ahis keen eyes as a
printed page. For two hours he
tramped swiftly, but never sign Of
deer, elk, bear or buffalo.
And then an hour later he heard a
snort from thick copse and the crash
of an unseen body in flight through
the brush, and he loped after its
tracks.
Black Wolf came in at sunset with
bear cub which he had found feeding
apart from its mother. He was trium-
phant, and Crooked Lightning was
} scornful when White Arrow appeared
I empty-hahded.l His left. wrist was
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