The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-10-04
ErSkine Dale Pioneer

forth next morning with wampum
belt and a talk for the council north
where the British were to meet Shaw
nee, lrouu"Is and Algonquin, and urge
them to enter the great war that was
just breaking forth. There was open
and angry protest against sending so
young lad on SO great a mission. but
the old chief haughtily brushed it
aside:
He is young but his feet are swift
his arm is strong. his heart good. and
his head is old. He speaks the tongue
of the paleface. Besides, he is my
son."
One question the hoy asked as he
made ready:
'The white woman must not be
burned while | am gone?'
NO" promised the old chief. And
so White Arrow Jared forth. Four
days he rode through the north woods,
and on the fifth he strobe through the
streets of town that was yet filed
with great forest trees: a town at
which he had spent three winters
when the game was scarce and the
tribe had moved north for good. He
lodged with no chief. but slept In the
woods with his feet TO the fire. The
next night he slipped to the house of
the old priest, Father Andre, who had
taught him some religion and little
as son. though he noted sadly his In
dian dress and was distressed when he
heard the lads mission. He was quick.
ly relieved.
81 am no royalist,' he said.
'NOr am H. said Erskine. II came
because KahtoO, who seemed nigh to
death, begged me to come. l am only
messenger and shall speak his talk !;
but my heart Is with the Americans
and shall fight with them" The old
priest put his fingers to his lips:
"Sh-h--h! II is not wise Are you
not knOwn?"
Erskine hesitated.
Earlier that morning he had seen
three officers riding in. Following was
youth not in uniform, though he car
| ried sword. On the contrary, he was
| dressed like an English dandy, and
| then he found himself face to face
with Dane Grey. With no sign of rec
Ognition the boy had met his eyes
sduarely and passed on.
"There Is but one man who does
know me and he did not recognize me-
His name Is Dane Grey. l am Won
dering what he is doing here. Can
you find out for me and let me know ~
The old priest nodded and Erskine
| slipped back to the woods.
At sunrise the great council began.
On his way Erskine met Grey, who ap,
| parently was leaving with a band of
traders for Detroit. Again Erskne
met his eyes and this time Grey
| smiled:
Aren't you White Arrow" Some
how the tone with which he spoke the
name was an insult.
ayes"
"Then it's true We heard that you
had left your friends at the fort and
become an Indian again."
"Yes?"
$50 you are not only going to fight
with the Indians against the whites.
but with the British against America %
what am going to do is no bust
ness of yours Erskine said quietly,
'but hope we shall not he on the same
side. We may meet again"
Grey's face was already red with
drink and it turned purple with an
ger.
when you tried to stab me do you
remember what ! said?" Erskne nod
ded contemptuously.
well. l repeat it, Whatever the
side. I'll fight YOU anywhere at any
time and in any way you please"
"Why not now?"
"Tlls is not the time for private
Quarrels and you know it,"
Erskine bowed slightly-an act that
came oddly from an Indian head
DRESS
II can wait-and shall not forget
The day will come"
The old priest touched Erskine's
shoulder rs the angry youth rode
away.
II cannot make 1t out" he said. He
claims to represent an English fur
company. His talk is British. but he
told one man-last night when he was
drunk-that he could have a commits
sion In the American army"
The council fire was built. the
flames cracked and the smoke rolled
upward and swept through the leatiess
trees. Three British agents sat on
blankets. and around them the chiefs
were ringed. All day the powwOw
lasted. Each agent spoke and the bur
den Of his talk varied very little.
The American palefuces had driven
the Indian over the great wall. They
were killing his deer, buffalo and elk,
robbing him of his land and pushing
him ever backward. They were many
and they would become more. The
British were the Indians friends
the Americans were his enemies and
theirs: could they choose to fight with
their enemies rather than with their
e