Evening journal., 1922-02-20

DALE
PIONEER
BY JOHNFO 8
cQso n1o b.
GsplfS Sprpruf
Er1t
ontinucd From our Last Issue

The braves then went TO their
nre-water. and soon the boys fos-
ter-mother brought him something
to eat. but she could say nothing
for Black Wolf had appointed HIM
self sentinel and sat rifle in hand at
the door of the lodge.
Night came on. The drinking be-
came more furious and once Erskine
saw a pale-brown arm thrust from
behind the lodge and place a jug
AT the feet Of Black Wolf. who |
erunted and drank deep. one by |
cne the braves went to drunken sleep ]
about tho fire. The fire died down
and by the last nickering flame the
lad saw Black VOLTS chin sinking |
sleepily to his chest.
There was the slightest rustic be-
hind the tent. He felt something |
cropping for his hands and feet, felt !
the point OF a knife Craze the skin
Of mis- wrist and ankles-felt the |
thongs loosen and drop apart.
Noiselessiy inch by inch, he crept
to the wall OF the tent. which was
carefully lised for him. outside he
.ose and waited.
Like shadow the girl Early Morn
stole before him and like shadow
ne followed. The loose snow muf-
8ed his escape from the lodge. and
n a few minutes they were by the
-iver-bank. away frcm the town.
The moon rose and from the
shadow OF beech the white woman
stepped forth with his rife and
powder-horn and bullet pouch and
some food She pointed TO his horsg
n little farther down. He looked
long and silently into the Indian
girls eyes and took the white woe
mans shaking hand. Once he look
cd back. The Indian girl was stoir
as stone. A bar of moonlight showeo
The white womans face wet with
tears.
Again Dave Yandell from a watch
tower saw a topknot rise above a
pa.ch Of cane now ieafless and win
ter-bitten--saw a hand lifted high
above 1t with a palm OF peace to-
ward him.
And again an Indian youth
emerged. this time leading a black
horse with a dropping head. Both
came painfully on. staggering. II
seemed from wounds or weakness.
and Davc sprang from the tower
and rushed with others to the gate.
So gaunt wore boy and beast that II
was plain that both were starving
The boys face was torn with briers
fnd pinched with hunger and cold.
hut faint smile came from Il.
4.
asked weakly.
my Cod It's white Arrowl"
XIII
when winter was breaking more
news came In OF the war The nag
.hat had been fashioned Of a SOL
dler's white shirt. an old blue army
coat. and a red petticoat was now tho
stars and Stripes Of the American
cause.
Burgoyne had not cut on New
England. that head OF the rebel
lion" from thu other colonies. on
the contrary. the Americans had
beaten him at Saratoga ana marched
his army on under those same Stars
and stripes. and for the first time
Erskine heard Of gallant Lafayette
how he had run TO Washington with
the portentous news from his king
that beautiful, passionate France
would now stretch forth her helping
hand.
And Ersklne learned what that
news meant to Washington's max
ed and starving" soldiers dying on
the frozen hills!des OF Valley Forge.
Then George Rogers Clark had
passed the fort on his way to Will
liamshurg to get money and men for
his great venture in the Northwest.
After Clark was gone the lad got
restless; and one morning when the
first breath OF spring came he
mounted his horse, in spite OF ar
guments and protestations. and set
forth for Virginia on the wilderness
trail He was going to Join Clark.
he said. but more than Clark and
the war were drawing him to the
outer world
What Il was he hardly knew. for
he was not yet much given TO
searching his heart or mind. He
did know however, that some
strange force had long been work
Ing within him that was steadily
growing stronger. with his minds
eye he was ever seeing at the end
Of his journey the face OF his little
cousin Barbara Dale
striking figure the lad made
riding into the old capital one az
ternoon just before the sun sank be
hind the western woods.
The governors place was close,
and deserted My Lord Dunmor
was long in flight But there wa
the bust of Sir Walter in front o
Raleigh Tavern. and there he dre'
up. before the steps where he wa
once nigh to taking Dane Grey
life. a
The little tavern was thronge
and the air charged with the spir
Of war. Indeed. nothing else wa
talked.
Next morning ErslSine rode fort
along a sandy road. amidst m
singing OF birds and through
forest OF tiny upshooting leaves, fc
Red Oaks on the James.
He had foresworn Colonel Dale I
secrecy as to the note he had le
behind giving his birthright to h
little cousin Barbara. and he kne
the confidence would be kept II
violate
At the boat landing he hitched h
horse to the low-swung branch
I. an oak There was the sun-di
that had marked every sunny hol
uf.ra ha had haar axrov For