The citizen., 1922-08-03


said the lad. as two more appeared
from the bushes. The eyes Of the two
tldewater boys grew large, and both
clinched their guns convulslvely. The
Indian spokesman paid no heed except
to Erskine-and only from the lads
face in which surprise was succeeded
by sorrow and then deep thoughtful
ness, could they guess what the gut
tural speech meant, until Ersklne
turned to them.
They were not on the war path
against the whites, he explained His
foster. r.father-Kahtoo. the big chief,
the king-was very III, and his mes
sage, brought by them. was that Frs
kline should come back to the tribe and
become chief, as the chiefs only
daughter was dead and his only SOD
had been killed by the palefaces. They
knew that in the fight at the fort
Ersklne had killed q Shawnee, his tor
mentor, for they knew the arrow,
which Erskine had not had time to
withdraw. The dead Shawnee's
brother-Crooked Iightnlng-was with
them. He IL was who had recognized
the boy the day before, and they had
kept him from killing Erskine from
the bushes. At that moment gigan-
tic savage stepped from the brush.
The boys frame quivered, straight
ened, grew rigid, but he met the ma
leyolent glare turned on him with
emOtlOnless face and himself quietly
began to speak while Harry and Hugh
and even Dave watched him en-
thralled; for the lad was Indian now
and the old chiefs mantle was about
his shoulders. He sat his horse like q
king and spoke as a king. He thanked
them for holding back Crooked Light
nngs evil hand but-cOntemptuously
he spat toward the huge savage--he
was not 10 die by that hand. He was
a palefnce and the Indians had slain
his white mother. He had forgiven
that, for he loved the old chief and
his foster mother and brother and sis
ter, and the tribe had always been
kind 10 him. Then they had killed his
white father and he had gone to visit
his kindred by the big waters. and now
he loved them He had fled from the
Shawnees because Of the cruelty of
Crooked Lightning's brother, whom he
had slain. But IL the Indians were
falling into evil ways and following
evil Counsels, his heart was sad.
IL will come when the leaves fall"
he concluded. but Crooked Lightning
must pitch his lodge In the wilderness
until he can show that his heart Is
good" And then with an imperlous
gesture he waved his hand toward the
west:
Now go."
II was hard even for Dave to realize
that the lad. to all purposes, was actu-
and even he was little awed by the
instant obedience Of the savages, who
without a word melted into the bushes
vand disappeared. Dave recovered him.
self with a little chuckle only when
without word Erskine clucked Fire
fly forward, quite unonsciously taking
the lead. Nearing sunset from a
little hill Dave pointed to a thin blue
wisp of smoke rising far ahead from
the green expanse.
There il is. boysv he cried. All
the horses were tired except Firehy
and with whoOp Erskine darted for
ward and disappeared. They followed
AS fast as they could and they heard
the report OF the boys rifle and the
series of war-whOops with which he
was heralding his approach. Nobody
in the fort was fearful, for plainly II
was no unfriendly coming. All were
gathered at the big gate and there
were many yells and cries of welcome
and wonder when the boy swept into
the clearing on a run. brandishing his
rife above his head, and pulled his
fiery black horse up In front Of them.
"Whar'd you steal that hoss?" shout
ed Bud.
"LoOk at them clothes" cried Jack
Sanders. And the wOmen-MOther
Sanders. Mother Noe and Lydia and
Honor ana Polly Conrad-Agathered
about him, laughing. welcoming. shak-
ing hands and asking questions.
"Where's Davef" That was the
chief question and asked by several
voices at the same time. The boy
looked grave.
"Dae amt comm back" he said.
and then seeing the look on Lydia's
face. he smiled: Dave" He had no
further to go. for Dawes rifle cracked
and his voice rose from the woods.
and he and Harry and Hugh galloped
into the clearing. Then were there
more whoopings and greetings, and
Lydia's starting tears turned to smiles.
Dave had to tell about his trip and
Erskine's races-for the lad would say
nothing-and in turn followed stories
of killing buffalo, deer, panther and
wildcat during his absence. Early the
women disappeared, soon the men be-
gan 10 yawn and stretch, and the SEN
tinels went to the watch-towers, for
there had been Indian signs that day.
This news thrilled the eastern lads
and they too turned into the same bed
built out from the wall OF one of the
cabins and covered with beapskins
And Harry, just before his eyes closed
saw through the open door Erskine
seated alone. the connecting link be