Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-07-28

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lows head with a simultaneous roar
of command:
"Git in-ever'bOdy-git in-quick !"
From a watch-tower too. rifle had
/ cracked. A naked savage had bounded
into spot of sunlight that Quivered
! on the buffalo trail a hundred yards
deep in the forest and leaped lithely
aside into the bushes-both rifles had
missed. Deeper from the woods came
two war-whOops-real ones-and in
the silence that followed the gates
were swiftly closed and barred, and a
keen-eyed riheman was at every port
hole in the fort. From the tower old
Jerome saw reeds begin to shake in a
cane-brake to the left of the spring.
Look thar he called, and three
rifles. with his own, covered the spot
A small brown arm was thrust above
the shaking reeds, with the palm of
the hand toward the fort-the peace
sign of the Indian-and moment
later a naked boy sprang from the
| cane-brake and ran toward the block
| house. with a bow and arrow in his
left hand and his right stretched
above his head, its pleading palm
still outward.
Don't shoot don't nobody shoot 7"
shouted the old man. No shot came
from the fort, but from the woods
came yells of rage, and as the boy
streaked through the clearing an ar
row whistled past his head.
LET him in :" shouted Jerome, and
as Dave opened the gates another ar
row hurtled between the boys up
raised arm and his body and stuck
Guivering in one of its upright bars.
The boy slid through and stood pant
ing. shrinking wild-eyed. The arrew
had grazed his skin, and when Dave
lifted his arm and looked at the Ooz-
ing drops of blood he gave a startled
oath, for he saw flash of white IN
der the loosened breech-clout below.
The boy understood. Quickly he
pushed the clout aside on his thigh
that all might see, nodded grayely,
and proudly tapped his breast.
'Palefacel" he half grunted, white
man I"
The wilds were quiet. The boy
pointed to them and held up three
fingers to indicate that there were
only three red men there, and shook
his head TO say there would be no
attack from them Old Jerome studied
the little stranger closely, wondering
what new trick those red devils were
trying now to play. Dave made an
impatient gesture for silence.
whats your name?" The boy shook
his head and looked eagerly around.
"Francais-French? p he asked. and
in turn the big woodsman shook his
head-nobody there spoke French.
However. Dave knew a little Shawnee.
good deal of the sign-language. and
the boy seemed to understand a good
many words in English; so that the
big woodslnan pieced out his story
with considerable accuracy and turned /
to tell it to Jerome. The Indians had I
crossed the Big river, were as many
as the leaves. and meant to attack the I.
whites. For the first time they had /
allowed the boy TO go on war party.
Some one had treated him badly-he (
pointed out the bruises of cuffs and (
kicks on his body. The Indians called /
him White Arrow, and he knew he
was white from the girdle of un-
tanned skin under his breech-clout
and because the Indian boys tainted
him. Asked why he had come TO the
fort. he pointed again TO his bruises.
put both hands against his breast. and /
stretched them wide as though he
would seek shelter in the arms of
his own race and take them TO his
heart: and for the first time a smile
came to his face that showed him
plainly as curious product of his
ace and the savage forces that for
rears had been moulding him. That
;mile could have never come TO the
ace of an Indian. No Indian would
,ver have so lost himself in his own
No white man would have
lsed his gestures and the symbols Of
nature to which he appealed. Only an
indian could have shown such a
ruel. yindictive merciless fire In his
yes when he told Of his wrongs. and
rhen he saw tears In Lydia's eyes. the
rst burning In his life came 10 his
wn. and brushing across them with
cree shame he turned Indian stole
gain and stoed with his arms folded
yer his how and arrows AZ his breast.
,0king neither TO right nor left. ms
lough he were waiting for judgment
I their hands and cared little what
Is fate might he. as perfect from
cad 20 foot as statue OF the anci-
N lirile god wko. IN him. had Tor.
ken The couehes Of love for the tents
war.