The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-08-24

Ihe DOyS frame Quivered, straight.
ened, grew rigid, but he met the ma
levolent glare turned on him with
emotionless face and himself quietly
began to speak while Harry and Hugh
ana 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 a
king and spoke as a king. He thanked
them for holding back Crooked Eight
ning's evil hand, but-contemptuousl
he spat toward the huge savage-hc
was not to die by that hand. He was
paleface 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 to 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 fed from the
Shawnees because of the cruelty of
crooked Lightning's brother, whom he
had slain. But If the Indians were
failing into evil ways and following
evil counsels, his heart was sad.
II 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 imDerious
gesture he waved his hand toward the
west:
Now go"
1t was hard even for Dave to rea,ize
m oil
ally then the chief of n powerful tribe.
ana even he was little awed by the
instant obedience Of the savages. who.
without word, melted into the bushes
and disappeared. Dave recovered him
self with a little chuckle only wher-
without a-word Erskine clucked Fire
hy forward quite unonsciously taking
the lead. Nearing sunset. from
little hill Dave pointed to thin blue
wisp OF smoke rising far ahead from
the green eNpanse.
There 1t is, boysw he cried. All
the horses were tired except Firefly
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 il
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 run. brandishing his
rifle above his head. and pulled his
IN,
wizard 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-gathercd
about him, laughing, welcoming, shak-
ing hands and asking questions.
where's Dave?" That was the
chief question and asked by several
voices at the same time The boy
looked grave.
"Dave 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-
fn
tlnels 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 tie wall Of one of the
cabins and covered with bearskins
And Harry, just before his eyes closed
Saw through the open door Erskine
seated alone, the cOnnectins-link be-
between the tidewater arstocrats and
these rude pioneers, between these
backwoodsmen and the savage enc
mics out in the black encircling will
d"rncSs. And that boys brain was In
tnrmoil-what was to be his fate.
there, here, or out there where he had
promised to go at the next falling OF
the leaves?
The green of the wilderness duIled
and burst into the yellow of the buck
eye. the scarlet of maple and the rus.
set of oak. This glory in turn dulled
and the leaves, like petals of withercd
flowers, began to drift to the earth.
Through the shower of them went
Erskine and Firehy, who had become
as used to the wilds as to the smiling
banks of the far.away James. And
the two now were one In mutual affec-
ton and a mutual understanding that
was uncanny.
The boy was the son of king again,
and as such was on his way In answer
to the wish of king. For food he
carried only n little sack of salt for
his rifle would bring him meat and
the forest would give him nuts and
fruit. When the sun was nearing its
highs t. he "barked" squirrel from
the trunk of beech. toward sunset