, 1922-12-27

went down under water as I reached
them.
They came up blinded. staggering
ono by one. and l got Thiohe-o by the
hair, where she lay in shallow water,
and dragged her ashore behind me.
Then came a ~thrashing. splash.nS
oar like a deer herd crossing a
marshy creek. and. below Us. I saw a
dozen Mohawks leap into the water
and thrash their way over. And not a
rifle among US that was dry enough
10 take a toll OF our enemies crossing
the West river plain in sight.
Lord. what a dayi And not Tough,
AS ! had pictured battles. No For I.
was blind combat. and neither NAV
aged as PLANNED nor in any kind OF
as | have said. discover how many
enemies were opposed to us. And I
am certain they believed that a full
regiment had struck their rear; other
wise. l think II had proven a very
bloody business for me and my PEG
pie.
Lord. Lord What a battiel For all
We're filthy with blood. and there were
brains and hair and CUTS sticking to
knives and hatcheta. and bodies ard
limbs all smearei. Good God, Wa
his war. And tho green flies already
whirllng around lis in the SUNSHINE
m settling OF the faces of the
dead
The little maid Of Askalege, leaning
on her brothers. shoulder. was cough
ing up water she had swallowed.
Nick. with n hoiody sconce. but no
worse damage. sat upon a rock and
washed out his clotted hair.
Heir quoth he. when he beheld
me. Here be l with a broken poll.
and yonder e the Indian who gave
it me"
81, still. idiot.' said I. and set the
%ranTer's whistle to my lips.
White and red. my men cams run.
ming from their ferocious hunting.
Not a man was missing.
We had taken ten scalps: and, as
only Johnny Silver among my white
people fancied such trophies. my
oneidas skinned the needles OF our
quarry. and, like all Indians. counted
any scalp a glory. no matter whose
knife o bullet dropped the game.
: As for me. my throat was so swollen
and bruised I could scarce speak or
swallow.
However. there was work still to be
done. SO I took Godfrey and Luysnes.
the Sc~reech-owl. and the Water.
snake; motioned Yellow Leaf. the
M~ontngpais to follow, and set off
across West river. determined to drive
80 r.z..s~. -
ness that they would never forget the
Big Eddy.
BACK TO THE LODGE.
The sun was high when our sentinel
hailed a detail from Fish House.
bringing us a sheep. three sacks OF
corn. and a key of fresh milk.
had bathed me In the Vlaie Wa
ter had eaten soupaan, turned over
my command to Nick. and now was
ready to report in person to the com.
mandant at Summer House Point.
My SaguenaT s6S I set forth by
canoe.
Presently a Continental on guard
hailed u canoe We landed. A cor
poral came. then n sergeant-one Gas.
a Quaint. whom I kne'w-and so we
were passed on, my indian and /.
saluted. and the officers salute rem.
derad, he became curious to see the
fresh scaips Tapping at my Sague.
nays girdle. and the new war.paint
and h oil smelling rank In the sweet
air.
But I told him nothing. asking only
for the commandant. who, he gave
account, was a certain Major West.
fall. lodging at the Summer House.
SO I passed the gate and walked to-
var the lodge. Sir John's blooded
cattle were grazing ahead. and saw
Flora at the we'll, and ColaS busy
among beds of garden flowers spad.
ing n wedding under the south
porch.
And I saw something else that halt
ed me. For. seated upon a low limb
OF an apple tree. her two little feet
hanging down. and Earbed In pink
lowered chintz and snowy fichu. / be
held Penelope Grant. admitting.
And BY all the agar g~oes:-there