The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-07-11
CHAPTER I

answer the great gray eye Of the viii
derness lifted its mist-fringed lid.
From the green depths came the 1ut.
ing Of lone wood-thrush. A cougar
leaped from the low limb of an oak,
missed, and a shuddering deer
gtreaked through forest aisle,
bounded into little clearing, stopped
rigid, shifted a deadlier enemy, and
whirled into the wilderness again.
Still deeper In the depths boy with
bow and arrow and naked, except for
scalp-lock and breech-clout, sprang
from sleep and again took fight along
q buffalo trail. Again, not far behind
him, three grunting savages were TAX
Ing up the print Of his moccasined
feet.
An hour before a red flare rose
within the staked enclosure that was
reared I'm the center of the little clear
Ing, and above it smoke was seen ris-
Ing. Before the first glfmmer of day
the gates yawned little and three
dim shapes appeared and moved leis-
.urely for the woods-each man with a
long 1intlock rifle in the hollow Of his
arm, hunting knife In his belt, and
a coonskin cap on his head. At either
end of the stockade watch-tower Of
oak became visible and In each a
sleepy sentinel yawned and shifted
the welcome smell of frying venison
below him.
One sentinel rose towering to the
RrvIl nH bic cfrnfnhn6 hfc
mighty arms with yawn, and lightly
leaped, rifle In hand, into the en-
closure. A girl climbing the rude lad
der to the tower stopped midway.
''Mornin', Daye!"
'Mornin', Polly"
'You don't seem to have much use
for this ladder"
"Not unless I'm goin up; and
wouldn't then If I could Jump as high
as I can fall" He went toward her to
help her down.
81 wouldn't climb very HIGH" she
said, and scorning his hand with a
tantalizing little grimace she leaped
as lightly as had he to the ground.
Two older women who sat about a
kettle of steaming clothes watched
her
Iook at Polly Conrad, won't We?
declare that gall"
"Lyddyl" cried Polly, bring Dawes
breakfast"
At the door of each log cabin, az
solidly built as a little fort, hunter
was cleaning a long rifle. At the
western angle two men were strength
ening the pickets Of the palisade
About the fire two mothers were
sucking babes at naked breasts.
At the fire a tall girl rose, pushed
a mass of sunburned hair from hel
heated forehead, and flush not from
the fire fused with her smile.
81 reckon Dave can walk this fal
he don't look very puny."
A voice vibrant with sarcasm ros,
from one of the women about tn,
steaming kettle
"Honorl" she cried, "Honor San
dersl"
In a doorway near, third girl wal
Handicapped, 'deep-breasted.
"Honor!' cried the old woman
"stop wastin' yo' time with that weav
in In thar an come out here an he'I
these two gals to git Dave his break
fast" Dave Yandell laughed loudly.
"Come on, Honor" he called, bu
the girl turned and the whir of loon
started again like the humming o.
bees. Lydia Noe handed the huntel
q pan Of deer meat and corn bread
and Polly poured him cup of steam
ing liquid made from sassafra
leaves Dave looked up into Polly
black eyes, shifted to Lydia, swervet
to the door whence came the whir o
the loom.
'You are looking very handsom
this morning, Polly" he said gravely
"and Lydia is lovelier even than usual
and Honor is woodland dream" 81
shook his head. mo" he said,
really couldn't"
Couldn't what?" asked Polly
though she knew some nonsense wa
coming.
'sBe happy even with two, If t'othe
were far away"
'T reckon you'll have to try som
day-with all of US far away" sal
the gentle Lydia.
mo doubt, no doubt" He fell upo
his breakfast.
"Poor boy!" said Lydia, and Poll
looked at her with quickening wonder
Dave gave his hunting knife a pa
thetie flourish.
"And when the Virginia gallant
come, where viii poor Dave beP'
II wonder" said Lydia, 'if they
have long hair like DaveP' Dav
shook his long locks with mock pride
"Yes, but ii won't be their own al
It'll be powdered"
lord, I'd like to see the first II
dian who takes one of their scalps,
Polly laughed, but there was a shut
der In Lydia's smile. Dave rose.
TIN going to sleep till dinner-don
aet anybody wake me-" he said, and Z