The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1922-08-24

nointed to a silver-mounted rlfle-"and
7 promised that she should live. But
| cannot help you" Erskine thought
quickly. He laid his rife down, stepped
slowly outside, and stretched his arms
with a yawn. Then still lelsurely he
moved toward his horse as though t"
take care of it. But the braves were
TOO keen and watchful' and they were
not fooled by the fact that he had left
his rifle behind. Before he was close
enough to leap for Firefy's back, three
bucks darted from behind lodge and
threw themselves upon him. In a mo-
ment be was face down on the ground,
his hands were tied behind his back,
and when turned over he looked up
into the grinning 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 the way he saw his foster-mother's
eyes flashing helplessly, saw the girl
Early Morn Indignantly telling her
mother what was going on, and the
white woman's face was wet with
tears. lie turned over so that he could
look through the tent-haps. Two
bucks were driving stake in the CEN
ter of the space around which the
lodges were rinsed. Two more were
bringing fagots of wood and it was
plain what was going to become OF
him. His foster mother, who was
fercely haranguing one of the chlefs,
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 very
angry. The prisoner is his-not yours
1t Is for him to say what the punish
ment shall be-nOt for YOU. Wait 1ol
him! Hold a council and If you decide
against him, though he is my son-he
shall de-" For moment the prep
arations ceased and all turned TO the
prophet, who had appeared before MS
lodge.
"Kahtoo is right" he said. 1.-The
| Great Spirit will not approve If White
| Arrow die except by the will OF the
council--and Crooked Lightning vii
be angry" There was chorus of pro
testing grunts, but the preparations
ceased. The boy could feel the maleyo
lence In the prophets tone and NJ
knew that the impOstor wanted t
curry further favor with Crooked
Lightning and not rob him Of the 20!
Of watching his victims torture 81
the braves went back to their fire
water, and soon the boys foster moth
er brought him something to eat, bu
she could say nothing, for Black VOL
had appointed himself sentinel ant
sat, rifle In hand, at the door Of tn
lodge.
Night came on. The drinking be
came more furious and once Erskin
saw a pale.brown arm thrust from be
hind the lodge and place a jug at tn
feet Of Black Wolf, who grunted an
drank deep. One by one the brave
went to drunken sleep about the fire
The fire died down and by the las
Pickering flame the lad saw Blac
VOLTS chin sinking sleepily to hi
chest. There was the slightest rustl
behind the tent. He felt somethin
cropping for his hands and feet, fel
the point Of a knife Craze the skin Q
his wrist and ankles-felt the thong
loosen and drop apart. Noiselessl,
inch by inch, he crept to the wall
the tent, which was carefully LITE
for him. Outside he rose and waite'
Like a shadow the girl Early Nor
stole before him and like shadow
followed. In a few minutes they wei
by the river-bank, away from tt
; town. The moon rose, and from tn
shadow Of q beech the white woma
stepped forth with his rife and po,
der-horn and bullet.pouch and son
food. She pointed to his horse lit
farther down. He looked long ar
silently into the Indian girls eyes ar
took the white woman's shaking han
Once he looked back. The Indian q
was stole as stone. A bar Of moo
light showed the white woman's "a
wet with tears.
Again. Dave Yandell from q watc
tower saw topknot rise above pdt
! | Of cane, now leafess and winter.bitt
| --saw 4 hand lifted high above 1t wi
| a palm Of peace toward him. Al
| again an Indian youth emerged, Il
time leading a black horse with
dropping head. Both came painful
on, staggering, It seemed, from woun
or weakness, and Dave sprang fri
the tower and rushed with others
the gate. He knew the horse o.
there was dread in his heart. Perhs
the approaching Indian had slain
boy, had stolen the horse, and was
nocently coming there for food. W.
he thought grimly, revenge would
swift. Still, fearing some trick,
would let no one outside, but hims'
stood waiting with the gate a lit
ajar. So gaunt were boy and bet
that It was plain that both were stal
Ing. The boys face was torn wi
briers and pinched with hunger a
cold, but faint smile came from It.
Don't you know me, Davew
asked, weakly.