The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-10-11
CHAPTER xIIl-Continued.

anu tOAu us 10 make TRENDS with the
Americans. We did not heed his
words, and so he brought the great
chief Of the Long Knives, who stood
without fear among warriors more
numerous than leaves and spoke the
same words 10 all We are friends
of the Long Knives. My son is the
true prophet Bring out the false one
and Crooked Lightning and Black
Wolf whose life my son saved though
the two We're enemies. My son shall
do with them as he peases."
Many young braves sprang willingly
forward and the three were hailed be-
fore Erskine. Old Kahtoo waved his
hand toward them and sat down. Frs
kline rose and fixed his eyes stelnly
on the covering prophet:
''IIe shall 90 forth from the village
and shall never return. For his words
work mischief, he does foolish things
and his drumming frightens the game
He is false prophet and he must CO.
He turned to Crooked Lightning:
1.-The Indians have made peace with
the Long Knives and White Arrow
would make peace with any Indian
though an enemy. Crooked Lightning
shall go or stay, as he pleascs. Black
Wolf shall stay, for the tribe will need
him as a hunter and warrior against
the English foes of the Long Knives
White Arrow does not ask another
TO spare an eDemy's life and then take
II away himself"
The braves grunted approval Black
Wolf and Crooked Lightning aycrted
their faces and the prophet shambied
measily away. Again old Kahtoo pro
claimed generously. at is WE'LL and
went back with Erskine TO his tent
There he sank YEARLY on a buffalo
skin and pleaded with the boy to stay
with them as chief in his stead
He was very old, and now that peace
wax made ~nith the Long Knives he
was willing to die. If Erskine would
hut give his PROMISE he would never
rise again from where he lay.
Eyskine shook his head and the old
man sorrowfully turned his face.
And yet Erskine fingered on and
on at the village. OF the white wonl-
an he had learned little other than
that she had been bought from an
other tribe and adopted by Old Kah-
too; but Ii was plain that since the
threatened burning of her she had
been held in high respect by the whole
tribe. He began to wonder about her
and whether she might not wish to
go back TO her own people. He had
never talked with her, but he never
moved about the camp that he did
not feel her eyes upon him. And
Early MOrn'S big soft eyes, too. never
seemed to leave him. She brought
him food, she sat at the door of his
tent. she followed him about the vii
lage and bore herself openly as his
slave. AT last old Kahtoo. who would
nd give up his great hope. pleaded with
him to marry her, and while he WAS
talking the girl stood at the door of
the tent and interrupted them. Her
mothers eyes were growing dim. she
said. Her mother wanted to talk with
White Arrow and look upon his face
before her sight should altogether
pass. Nor could Erskine know that
the white woman wanted to look INFO
the eyes of the man she hoped would
become her daughters husband. but
KahtOo did, and he bade Erskine 90.
His foster mother. coming upon the
scene, scowled. but Erskine rose and
went to the white wOman'S tent She
sat Just inside the opening. with Il
blanket across the lower half of her
face, nor did she look at him. In
xtn oh ,,I;o
and listened eagerly to his every word,
and drew from him every detail of
his life as far back as he could re-
member. Poor soul, it was the first
opportunity for many years that she
had had to talk with any white per-
son who had been in the eastern
world, and freely and frankly he held
nothing back.
All the while the girl had crouched
near, looking at Erskine with doglike
eyes. and when he rose to 20 the
woman dropped the blanket from her
face and got TO her feet. Shyly she
lifted her hands took his face he
tween them. bent close, and studied
II searchingly:
"What is your name?"
"ErSkine Dale"
Without a word she turned back
into her tent.
At dusk Erskine stood by the riv-
er's hrim, with his eyes lifted to a
rising moon and his thoughts with
Barbara on the bank of the James
Behind him he heard rustic and
turning, he saw the girl, her breast
throbbing and her eyes burning with
a light he had never seen before.
BLACK Wolf will kill YOU she
whispered BLACK Wolf wants Early
Morn and he knows that Early Morn
wants White Arrow" Erskine put
both hands on her shoulders and
looked down into her eyes. She
trembled, and when his arms went
about her she surged closer to him
and .he touch of her warm. supple
body went through him like fire. And
then with triumphant smile she