Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1922-06-16
CHAPTER |

StreakS or req ran upward, ana Tn answer the great gray eye of the will vderness lifted Its mist-fringed lid. From the green depths came the flut- Ing of lone wood-thrush. A cougar leaped from the low limb of an oak. missed, and a shuddering deer -streaked through forest aisle, bounded into little clearing, stopped rigid, sniffed deadlier enemy. and whirled into the wilderness again. Still deeper in the depths boy with a bow and arrow and naked. except for 'scalp-lock and breech-clout,, sprang from sleep and again took flight along a buffalo trail. Again, not far behind tim, three grunting savages were talk ing up the print of his mOccasined feet.
 An hour before red flare rose within the staked enclosure that was reared in the center of the little clear Ing, and above 1t smoke was seen ris- Ing. Before the first gllmmer of day the gates yawned little and three dim shapes appeared and moved leis- 'urely for the wOOds-each man with a long fiintlOck rifle in the hollow of his arm, hunting knife in his belt, and a coonskin cap on his head. At either end of the stOckade a watch-tOwer of oak became visible and in each a sleepy sentinel yawned and sniffed the welcome smell of frying venlson below him.
 One sentinel rose towering to the full of his stature. stretched his mighty arms with yawn, and lightly leaped, rife In hand, into the en. closure. A girl climbing the rude lad der to the tower stopped midway. "Mornin', Dave" .; ;, -'Mornin', Pollyw
 'You don't seem to have much use for this ladder"
 Mot unless I'm goln' up; and I wouldn't then If I could jump as high as can fall" He went toward her to help her down.
 "I wouldn't climb very high" she said, and scOrning his hand with tantalizing little grlmace she leaped as lightly as had he to the ground. Two older women who sat about a kettle of steaming clothes watched ther.
 Look at Polly Conrad. won't ye! declare that gal"
 "Lyddy" cried Polly, bring Dave's breakfast"
 At the door of each log cabin. as solidly built as a little fort, hunter was cleaning long rifle. At the western angle two men were strength .,ening the pickets of the palisade. About the fire two mothers were sucking babes at naked breasts.
 At the fire a tall girl rose, pushed mass of sunburned hair from her heated forehead, and flush not from the fire fused with her smile.
 ''I reckon Dave can walk this far he don't look very puny."
 A voice vibrant with sarcasm rose from one of the women about the steaming kettle
 "Honor!" she cried, "Honor San. ders!"
 In a doorway near, third girl was
 
 "Honor!" cried the old woman, ""stop wastin' yo' time with that weav- in' in thar an come out here an hep these two gals to git Dave his break fast" Dave Yandell laughed loudly.
 "Come on, HOnOr," he called, but the girl turned and the whir of loom started again like the humming of bees. Lydia Noe handed the hunter pan of deer meat and corn bread and Polly poured him cup of steam ing liquid made from sassafras leaves. Dave looked up into Polly's black eyes, shifted to Lydia, swerved to the door whence came the whir of the loom.
 "You are looking very handsome this morning. Polly" he said gravely "and Lydia is lovelier even than usual and Honor is a woodland dream" He shook his head. "No," he said, e really couldn't"
 Couldn't what?" asked Polly though she knew some nonsense wa! coming.
 "Be happy even with two, if t'othel were far away"
 "I reckon you'll have to try som' day-with all of us far away" sait the gentle Lydia.
 "No doubt, no doubt" He fell upor his breakfast.
 "Poor boy!" said Lydia, and Poll! looked at her with quickening wonder Dave gave his hunting knife pa thetic flourish.
 And when the Virginia gallant come, where will poor Dave be?"
 "I wonder" said Lydia, Eff they'l have long hair like Dave?" Dav' shook his long locks with mock pride
 "Yes, but it won't be their own an it'll be powdered"
 Lord, I'd like to see the first In dian who takes one of their scalps. Polly laughed, but there was shud