Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-14
CHAPTER III.

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Old Jerome and Dave and the other
men gathered in one corner Of the
stockade for a council of war. The
boy had made it plain that the attack
ing party was at least two days be-
hind the three Indians from whom he
had escaped, SO that there was nc
danger that day, n they could wait
until night to send messengers to
warn the settlers outside to seek safe
ty within the fort. Meanwhile, Je-
rome would dispatch five men with
Dave to scout for the three Indians
who might be ear by in the woods,
and the boy. who saw them slip out
the rear gate of the fort, at once
knew their purpose, shook his head,
n waved his hand to say that his
late friends were gone back to hurry
on the big war party to the attack.
% that the whites themselves knew
their danger. Old Jerome nodded
that he understood, and nodded IT,
others his appreciation of the ems
and keenness of the lad, but he let
the men go just the same.
Mother Sanders appeared and cried
to Bud to bring the "Injun" to her
clothes for the little heathen." and
Bud helped to put them ON. In a rev
minutes the lad reappeared in fringed
hunting shirt and trousers. wriggling
in them most uncomfortably. for they
made him itch. but at the same time
wearing them proudly.
On the mighty wilderness the u
sank slowly and old jerome sat in
the western tower to watch alone.
The silence out there was oppressive
and significant. for it meant that the
boys theory was right; the three In
dams had gone back to their fellows,
and when darkness came the old man
sent runners to the outlying cabins
to warn b inmates to take refuge
was lone too soon. The hooting of
owls started before dawn. A flaming
arrow Kissed from the woods, thud-
ded into the roof of one of the cab
ms, sputtered feebly on a dew-drench-
ed ridge-pole, mi went out. Savage
war-hoops rent the air, and the bat
tie wal on. There were feints of at
tack in front and rushes from the
rear, and there were rushes from all
sides. The women loaded rifles n
cooked n cared for the wounded.
Thrice an Indian reached the wall
of the stockade n set a cabin on
fire, but not one of the three got
back to the woods alive. The strang-
er boy sat stoically in the center of
the enclosure watching everythins
and making no effort to take part.
Late in the afternoon the ammuni-
, ton began to run low, and the mud
dy discoloration of the river showed
that the red men had begun to tun-
mel under the walls Of the fort. And
yet a last sally was made just be-
fore unset. A body pushed against
Dave In the tower n Dave saw the
stranger boy at his side with his bow
land arrow. A few minutes later he
heard a yell from the lad which
rang high over the din. and he saw
the feathered tip of an arrow shak-
ing IN the breast of a big Indian who
staggered n fell behind a lush. Just
at that moment there e yells
from the woods 'behind-the yells of
i white men that were answered by
joyful yells within the fort:
THE Virginians! The V~irginians!"
And as the dashed into sight
or horse and afoot, Dave saw the
lad leap the wall of the stockade and
disappear behind the fleeing Indians.
Zone back to EN-" he grunted to
himself. The gates were thrown open.
Old Jerome and his men rushed out,
, their fire after the running Indians.
J some of whom turned bravely to
empty heir rifles one more.
I. Cit In! Git in quick" yelled old
Joel. He knew another volley would
come as 500 as the Indians reached
cover OF Ch1ck WOooS, and come
the vol1ey did. Three men fe1l-one
the leader of the Virginians, whose
head Topped forward az he entered
the gate and was caught in old Joels
arms. Not another sound came from
the woods, but again Dave from the
tower saw the c~ane-brush rustic at
the edge Of a thicket, saw a hand
thrust upward with the palm of peace
towardt he fort, n again the strang-
er boy emergde-this time with a
bloody scalp dangling in his left hand.
Dave. sprang down and me- him at
the gate. The boy shook his bow
and arrow proudly. pointed to a crisis
cross sea on the scalp, and Dave
made out from his explanation that
once before the lad had tried to kill
his tormentor and hat the scar
was the sign. In the center Of the
enclosure the wounded Virginian lay,
and when old Jerome stripped the
shirt from his breast he shook his
head gravely. The wounded man
opened his eyes just in time to see
and he smiled.
II know it," he said family, and
then his eyes caught the boy with
the scalp, were fixed steadily and
I began to widen.
WHO Is hat boy?' he asked
sharply.
Never mind now" said old Joe,