Evening journal., 1922-02-13
eno H1o M
cR.r1tS NpnnEnx
eos<S

fiudng Of lone wood thrush
Through them an owl few on vel
vety wings for his home in the heart
OF a primeval poplar.
Deep in the depths boy with a
bow and arrow and naked, except
for scalp-lock and breech-clout,
sprng from sleep and again took
flight along a buffalo trail Not far
behind him, three grunting savages
were taking up the print OF his
moccasined feet.
An hour before a red flare rose
within the staked enclosure that was
reared in the center Of little clear
ing. Before the first glimmer Of day
the gates yawned a little and three
dim shapes moved leisurely for the
woods-each man with a long flint
lock ride in the hollow OF his arm. a
hunting-hnife in his belt and a
coon-skin 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 shifted the welcome
smell Of frying venison below him.
A girl climbing the rude ladder to
the tower stopped midway.
"Mornin'. Dave."
"Mornin', Pollyl"
Il was comm to wake you up
she cmiled.
Il just walked up" he yawned.
humoring the jest.
"Lyddy," cried Polly. bring
Dawes breakfast"
At the fire tall girl rose. pushed
mass OF sunburned hair from her
heated forehead. and a flush not
from the fire fused with her smile.
Il reckon Dave can walk this far
--he don't look very puny."
A voice vibrant with sarcasm rose
trom one of the women about tho
: nsaming kettle.
Honor" she cried. Homer San
sersl"
In a doorway near. a third girl
vas framed deep-eyed, deep
Breasted.
'Honori" cried the old woman,
stop wastin' you time with that
weaving in thar an come out here
In help these two girls to git Dave
II
laughed loudly.
cowbells began to clang at the
sdge of the forest.
There they are" cried Polly
j Come on, Lyddy.'
The two girls picked up piggins
and squeezed through the opening
between the heavy gates. The young
hunter entered a door and within
( threw himself across a rude bed,
face down.
Honor" cried one Of the old
women. you go an sut a bucket o.
water"
few minutes later she was at
the spring and ladling water into
her pail with a gourd.
Honor dipped lazily.
"Bool' cried Polly. startling her,
and then teasingly;
Are you in love with Dave. too.
Honor"
The girl reddened.
As Honor turned abruptly for the
fort, a shot came from the woods
+ followed by a warwhoop that stop
ped the blood shuddering in their
veins.
"oh, by Godl" each cried. and
catching at their wet skirts they fed
in terror through the long grass.
They heard the quick commotion
in the fort. heard sharp commands.
cries Of warning, frantic calls for
them to hurry, saw strained faces at
the gates. saw Dave bound through
and rush toward them.
'Gt in II everybody - git in -
quickl"
NtrQm watch-tower. too. a rifle
had cracked A naked savage had
bounded into a spot OF sunlight thal
quivered on the buffalo trail hun.
dred yards deep in the forest anc
leaped hthely aside into the bushes
both rifles had missed.
From tke tower old Jerome saw
reeds begin 10 shake in a cane
brake to the left Of the spring.
Look tharw he called, and thre
rifles. with his own, covered III
spot. small brown arm was thrus
above the shaking reeds with tn
palm Of the hand toward the fort
the peace sign Of the Indian.
moment later naked bo
sprang from the cane brake and ra
toward the blockhouse, with a bo,
and arrow in his left hand and hi
right stretched above his head, il
pleading palm still outward.
Let him in" shouted Jerome, an
as Dave opened the gates anothe
arrow hurtled between the boys ur
raised arm and his body and stuc
quivering in one OF its upright bar
The boy slid through and stoo
painting, shrinking. wild-eyed.
The arrow had grazed his ski
and when Dave lifted his arm an
looked at the oozing drops OF bloc
he gave a startled oath, for ne sa
fash Of white under the ioosene
T breech-clout elbow. The boy undei
stood. Quickly he pushed the clio,
aside on his thigh that all might Sc
nodded gravely, and proudly tapp,
his breast
'Palefacei" he half grunte
white mani"
The wildsl were quiet The b,
pointed TO them and held up thr,
fingers to indicate that there we
only three red men there. and shoe
his head to say there would be ]
attack from them. +if
Whats your name?" The b.
shook his head and looked eager
around.
Francais-French2 ?" he aske
and in turn the big woodsman shoe