Okolona messenger., 1922-08-03
CHAPTER II
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boy had made 1t plain that the attack
ing party was at least two days be-
hind the three Indians from whom ne
had escaped, so that there was no
danger that day, and they could wait
until night to send messengers to warn
the settlers outside to seek safety
within the fort. Meanwhile, Jerome
would dispatch five meh with Dave to
scout for the three Indians who might
be near by in the woods, and the boy,
who saw them slip out the rear gate
Of the fort, at once knew their pur-
+ pose, shook his head, and waved his
hand to say that his late friends were
gone back to hurry on the big war
party to the attack, now that the
whites themselves knew their danger.
Old Jerome nodded that he under
stood, and nodded to others his appre-
clatlon of the sense and keenness of
the lad, but he let the men go just the
same.
Mother Sanders appeared and cried
to Bud to bring the "Injun" to her
cabin. She had been unearthing
clothes for the 'llttle heathen," and
Bud helped to put them on. In few
minutes the lad reappeared in frlnged
hunting shirt and trousers, wriggling
In them most uncomfortably, for they
made him itch, but at the same time
wearing them proudly.
On the mighty wilderness the sun
sank slowly and old Jerome sat In
the western tower to watch alone. The
silence out there was oppressive and
significant, for it meant that the boys
theory was right; the three Indians
had gone back to their fellows, and
when darkness came the old man sent
runners to the outlying cabins to warn
the inmates to take refuge within the
fort. And the gathering was none
too soon. The hootlng Of owls started
before dawn. A flaming arrow Missed
from the woods, thudded into the roof
of one Of the cabins, sputtereu feebly
on a dew-drenched ridge-pole, and
went out. Savage war-whOOps rent
the air. and the battle was on. All day
LHC uSHL WCnL OAS 4hCAC WCAO ACAAIo
of attack in front and rushes from the
rearr--nd there were rushes from all
side .s3 The women loaded rifles and
cooked and cared for the wounded.
Thrice an Indian reached the wall Of
the stOckade and set cabin on fire,
but no one of the three got back to
the woods alive. The stranger boy sat
stoically In the center of the enclosure
watching everything, and making no
effort to take part. Late in the after
noon the ammunition began to run
low and the muddy discOlOratlOn Of
the river showed that the red men had
begun to tunnel under the walls of the
fort. And yet last sally was made
Just before sunset. A body pushed
against Dave in the tower and Dave
saw the stranger boy at his side with
his bow and arrow. A few minutes
later he heard yell from the lad
which rang high over the din, and he
saw the feathered tip of an arrow
shaking in the breast Of big Indian
who staggered and fell behind a bush.
Just at that moment there were yells
from the woods behind-the yells of
white men that we're answered by
joyful yells within the fort:
"The Virginians! The Virginians!"
And as the rescuers dashed into sight
on horse and afoot, Dave saw the lad
leap the wall of tile stockade and dis
appear behind the fleeing Indians.
"Gone back to EN-" he grunted to
himself. The gates were thrown open.
Old Jerome and his men rushed out,
and besieged and rescuers poured all
their fire after the running Indians,
some of whom turned bravely to emp
ty their rifles once more.
"Git in! Git in, quick I" yelled old
Joel He knew another volley would
come as soon as the Indians reached
the cover of thick woods, and come
the vOlley did. Three men fell-One
the leader of the Virginians, whose
head Topped forward as he entered
the gate and was caught in old Joel's
arms. Not another sound came from
the woods, but again Dave from the
tower saw the cane-brush rustic at the
edge of a thicket, saw a hand thrust
upward with the palm Of peace
toward the fort, and again the
stranger boy emerged-thls time with
a bloody scalp dangling in his left
hand. Dave sprang down and met him
nj the gate. The boy shook his bow
and arrow proudly, pointed to criss-
cross scar on the scalp, and Dave
made out from his explanation that |
once before the lad had tried to kill |
his tormentor and that the scar was |
the sign. In the center Of the enclos-
ure the wounded Virglnlan lay, and |
when old Jerome stripped the shirt |
from his breast he shook his head
wravely. The wounded man opened
his eyes Just In time 70 see and he
smiled.
Il know IT," he said family. and !
lhsn hls eyes caught the boy With the