Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-21
TX.

The sound of pursuit soon died
away. but Erskfne kept Ffrehy at his
best, for he knew that Crooked Light
ming would be quick inc fast on his
Lightning had already told the tribe
what he had just told the council.
and that he and the prophet had
already made all use Of the boys
threat to Kahtoo in the Shawnee
town. He knew even that it might
cost him his life If he went back
there, n once Or twice he started
to turn through the wilderness and
60 back to the fort 1t was the
to be burned that kept him going
and sent him openly and fearlessly
into h town. He knew from the
sullen looks that met him, from the
fear in the faces of his foster-mother
Ind the white who peered
blindly from her lodge, n from the
triumphant leer Of the prophet that
his every suspicion was true, but all
the more leisurely did he swing from
stalk to Kahtoo's tent. And the old
chief looked very grave when the lad
told the story of the council and all
that he had said and done.
'The people are angry. They say
you are a traitor n a spy. They
say you must die. And l cannot help
you. l am too old and the prophet
is too strong"
"And the white woman"
"She will not burn. Some fur trad
ers have been here. The white chief
MCGEE sent me a wampum belt and
. talk. His messenger brought much
6re-water n he gave me that'-he
pointed to a silver mounted rifle
"and I promised that she should live.
But I cannot help you" Erskine
thought quickly. He laid his rifle
down, stepped slowly outside, and
stretched his arms with a yawn. Then
still leisurely he move toward his
horse as though to take carr of it..
But the braves were too keen and
watchful and they were not fooled by
the fact that he had left his rife be-
hind. Before he was close enough
to leap for Firefly's back. three bucks,
darted from behind a lodge and threw
themselves upon him. In a moment
he was face down on the ground, his
hands were tied behind his back. and
when he turned over he looked up
into the grinnfng face of Black Wolf,
who with the help of another brave.
dragged him to a lodge and roughly
threw him within. and left him alone.
On h way he saw his foster-moth-
er's eyes flashing helplessly, saw the
girl Early Morn Indignantly telling
her mother what was going on, and
the the white woman's face was wet
with tears. He turned over so that
he could look through the tent-fiaps.
Two bucks were driving a stake in
the center Of the space around which
the lodges were ringed. Two more
were bringing fagots of wood, and it
was plain what "a going to becom.
OF him. His foster-mother. who was.
Aercey haranguing one OF the chiefs.
turned angrily into Kahtoo's lodge
and he could see the white woman
rocking her body and wringing her
hands. Then the old chief appeared
and lifted his hands.
Crooked Lightning will be YER
sangry. The prisoner is his-not
yours. It is for him to say what
the punishment shall be-not for
you. Wait for him! Hold a council
and II you decide against him, though
he is my son-he shall die" For a.
moment the preparations ceased and
All turned to the prophet. who had
appeared before his lodge.
'Kahtoo is right he said. THE
Great Spirit will not approve If White
Arrow die except by the will of the
eouncdlEand Crooked Lightning will
be angry." There was q chorus r