Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-08-31
CHAPTER vI-cOntlnu.d.

1nS OUlLy EuSueus OaVe Caught u1ul
around the neck with his left arm,
his right swinging low, the bully was
lifted from the ground, crushed
against Dawes breast, the wind went
out Of him with a grunt, and Dave
with a smile began swinging him to
and fro as though he were putting a
child to sleep. The spectators yelled
their laughter and the bully roared
like a bull. Then Dave reached
around with his left hand, caught the
bully's left wrist, pulled loose his
hold, and with a leftward twist of
bis own body tossed his antagonist
some several feet away. The bully
turned once in the air and lighted
resoundingIy on his back. He got up
sdazed and sullen, but breaking into a
sgood-natured laugh, shook his head
and held forth the buckles to Dave.
"You won EN-" Dave said. They're
yours l wasn't wrastling for them.
You challenged. Wen shake hands"
Then My Lord Dunmore sent for
Dave aud asked him where he was
from.
"And do you know the Indian coun-
try on this side of the Cumberland
asked his lordship.
''Very WELL"
His lordship smiled thoughtfully.
II may have need Of you"
Dave bowed:
II am an American, my lord"
His lordship famed, but he con-
Arolled himself.
"You are at least an open enemy"
he said, and gave orders to move 'on.
The horse race was now on, and
Colonel Dale lind given Hugh permits
sion to ride Firefy, but when he. saw
the lads condition he peremptorlly re-
fused.
!. "And nobody else can ride him." he
said, with much disappointment.
LET me try" cried Erskine.
"Youl" Colonel Dale started to
laugh, but he caught Dawes eye.
Surely" said Dave. The colonel
hesitated. -
every well-I will"
At once the three went to the horse,
and the negro groom rolled his eyes
when he learned what his purpose
was.
"Dis hoss'll kill dat boy" he NUT
tered, but the horse had already sub
mitted his naughty head to the lads
hand and was standing quietly. Even
Colonel Dale showed amazement and
concern when the boy insisted that
the saddle be taken OF, as he wanted
to ride bareback, and again Dave
overcame his scruples with a word of
full confidence. The boy had been
riding pony races bareback, he ex-
planned, among the Indians, as long
as he had been able to sit a horse.
The establishment Of the crowd when
they saw Colonel Dale's favorite
horse enter the course with a young
Indian apparently on him bareback
will have to be imagined, but when
they recognized the rider as the lad
who had won the race, the betting
through psychological perversIty was
stronger than ever on FREELY. Hugh
even took an additional bet with his
friend Grey, who was quite openly
scornful.
"YOu bet on the horse now" he
said.
"On both" said Hugh.
It was pretty and close race be-
tween FIrehy and a whIte-starred bay
mare, and they came down the course
neck and neck like two whirlwinds.
"a war-whoop so Indian-like and
curdling that 1t startled every old
frontIersman who heard 1t came sud-
denly from one Of the riders. Then
Firehy stretched ahead inch by inch,
and another triumphant savage yell
heraIded victory as the black horse
swept over the lire q length ahead.
Dane Grey swore quite fearfully. for
It was bet that he could III AFFORD
to lose. He was talking with Barbara
when the boy came back to the DaloB,
and something be was saying made