The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-07-26
Copyrignt By Charles scrihnsr's Sons
4Come on" called Harry. 81 imagine


you're hungry. cousin
II am said Erskine. "Tve had
nothing TO eat since-since early
MORN Barbara's eyes flashed upward
and Grey was plainly startled. Was
there slight stress on those two
words? Erskine's face was as express
sionless as bronze. Harry had bolted
into the hall.
Mrs. Dale was visiting down the
river, so Barbara sat i'm her mothers
place, with Erskine at her right, Grey
to her left, Hugh next to him, and
Harry at the head. Harry did not wait
long.
NOW, you White Arrow, you Big
Chief, tell us the story. Where have
you been, what have you been doing,
and what do you mean to do? I've
heard good deal, but / want 1t ALL"
Grey began to look uncomfortable,
and so, in truth, did Barbara.
"What have you heard?" asked Frs
kline quietly.
"Never mind" interposed Barbara
quickly; you tell u.s."
Well" began Erskine slowly, ''you
remember that day we met some In.
dams who told me that old Kahtoo,
my foster-father, was ill, and that he
wanted to see me before he died? ]
went exactly as would have gone had
white men given the same message
from Colonel Dale, and even for bet
ter reasons. A bad prophet was STIR
ring up trouble In the tribe against
the old chief. An enemy of mine.
Crooked Lightning, was helping him.
He wanted his son, Black Wolf, as
chief, and the old chief wanted me.
/ heard the Indians were going to join
the British. / didn't want to be chief
but / did want influence In the tribe,
so ] stayed. There was white wom-
an in the camp and an Indian girl
named Early Morn. told the old chief
that / would fight with the whites
against the Indians and with the
whites against them both. Crooked
Lightning overheard me, aid you can
imagine what use he made of what
said. T took the wampum belt for the
old chief to the powwow between the
Indians and the British, and / found
| could do nothing. I met Mr.. Grey
there" He bowed slightly to Dane
and then looked at him steadily. 81
was told that he was there i'm the
interest of an English fur company
When found I could do nothing with
the Indians, / told the council what
had told the old chief" He paused
Barbara's face was pale and she was
breathing hard. She had not looked al
Grey, but Harry had been watching
him covertly and he did not look com
Portable. Erskine paused.
"What!" shouted Harry. you told
both that you would fight with the
whites against both! What'd they dc
to your
ErSkine smiled.
We'll, here am. jumped over
the heads of the outer ring and ran
! Firef1y heard me calling him. .had
left his halter loose. He broke away
jumped on him, and you know moth
ing can catch FREELY"
Didn't they shoot at your
"Of course" Again he paused.
I "Well," said Harry impatiently
that isn't the end"
I went back to the camp Crooked
Lightning followed me and they tiet
me and were going to burn me at the
stake
"Good heavens!" breathed Barbara
How'd you get away?"
"The Indian girl, Early Morn, slipped
under the tent and cut me loose. The
white woman got my gun, and Firefy
You know nothing can catch FREELY.
The silence was intense. Hugh looked
dazed, Barbara was ON the point o.
tears, Harry was triumphant, and Gre,
was painfully flushed.
And you want to know what an
going to do now?'' Erskine went on
! I'm going with Capt. George Roger
Clark-with what command are you
Mr.. Grey?''
That's secret" he smiled coolly
"Tll let You know later" and Barbara
with an inward sigh of relief. ros
quickly, but would not leave them be
hind
But the white % question:,
Harry. why doesn't she leave tn
Indfans?''
Early Morn-a half-breed-is he
daughter" said Erskine simply.
"Ohi' and Harry questioned IN
further.
EARLY Morn was the best-lookin
Indian girl ever saw" said Erskine
land the bravest." For the first tim
Grey glanced at Barbara. "She save
my life" Erskine went on gravely
land mine is hers whenever she need
| it." Harry reached over and grippe
| his hand.
AS yet not one word had been sal
! of Grey's misdoing. but Barbara's COG
| disdain made him shamed and hot, an
| in her eyes was the sorrow of her in
4 RI Erc.l- ~ hnII -,