The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-08-04

where the British were TO meet Shaw.
nee, Iroquois and Algonquin, and urge
them to enter the great war that was
Just breaking forth. There was open
and angry protest against sending so
young lad on so great mission, but
the old chief haughtily brushed II
aside:
He Is young but his feet are swift,
his arm Is strong. his heart good. and
his head is old. He speaks the tongue
OF the paleface. Besides, be is my
son."
One question the boy asked as he
made ready:
THE white woman must not be
burned while 1 am gomez"
NO." promised the old chief. And
so White Arrow Jared forth. Four
days he rode through the north woods.
and on the fifth he strobe through the
streets of town that was yet filled
with great forest trees: town at
which he had spent three winters
when the game was scarce and the
tribe had moved north for good. He
lodged with no chief, but slept In the
woods with his feet to the fire. The
next night he slipped to the house of
the old priest, Father Andre, who had
taught him some religion and a little
French, and the old man welcomed him
as son. though he noted sadly his In
dian dress and was distressed when he
heard the lads mission. He was quick
| ly relieved
II am no royallst," he said.
Nor am l." said Erskine. II came
because Kahtoo. who seemed nigh to
death, begged me to come. / am only
messenger and shall speak his talk;
but my heart is with the Americans
and l shall fight with them" The old
priest put his fingers to his lips:
"Sh-h-hl 1t is not wise. Are you
not known?"
Erskine hesitated.
Earlier that morning he had seen
three officers riding In. Following was
a youth not In uniform, though he car
ried a sword. On the contrary, he was
dressed like an English dandy, and
then he found himself face to face
with Dane Grey. With no sign of rec
ignition the boy had met his eyes
squarely and passed on.
"There is but one man who does
know me and he did not recognize me.
His name Is Dane Grey. / am won
dering what he Is doing here. Can
you find out for me and let me known
The old priest nodded and Erskine
slipped back to the woods.
At sunrise the great council began.
On his way Erskine met Grey. who APP
parently was leaving with band of
traders for Detroit. Again Erskine
met his eyes and this time Grey
smiled:
Aren't you White Arrow7" Some
how the tone with which. he spoke the I
name was an insult
eyes"
"Then It's true. We heard that you
had left your friends at the fort and
become an Indian again."
"YesT
$50 you are not only going TO fight
with the Indians against the whites. !
but with the British against American" !
"What / am going to do is no bust
ness of yours" Erskine said quietly, |
but / hope we shall not be on the same
side. We may meet again."
Grey's face was already red with
drink and 1t turned purple with an
ger.
when. you tried to stab me do you
what said7" Erskine nod
ded contemptuously.
"Well. | repeat 1t. Whatever the
side, I'll fight you anywhere at any
time and in any way you please"
"Why not now7"
This is not the time for private
1uarrels and you know It."
Erskine bowed slightly-an act that
,ame oddly from an Indian head
iress.
81 can wait-and | shall not forget.
The day will come"
The old priest touched Erskine's
houlder as the angry youth rode
way.
IT cannot make 1t out" he said. "He
laims to represent an English fur
ompany. His talk is British. bur he
old one man-last night when he was ,
he could have commits
ion In the American army
The council fire was built. the I
ames cracked and the smoke rolled I
pward and swept through the Ieafiess r
rees. Three British agents sat on r
lankets. and around them the chiefs Z
ERE ringed. All day the powwow |,
lsted. Each agent spoke and the bur +
en- of his talk varied very little. $
The American palefaces had driven h
he Indian over the great wall. They 4
ere killing his deer, buffalo and elk. Il
,bblng him Of his land and pushing a
I'm ever backward. They were many
nd they would become more. The v
ritish were the Indians friends v
e Americans were his enemies and I
eirs: could they choose to fight with s,
eir enemies rather than with their
lends? Each chief answered in turn, =
I'd each cast forward his wampum III
It'll only Erskine. who had sat silent. III
and Pontiac himself turned II
him. II
II