Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-19

JSTShIHC CJuChcu FHeut uH-
consciously taking the lead. Near
Ing sunset. from a little hill Dave
pointed to a thin blue wisp Of smoke
rising far ahead from the green cx-
panse.
"There it is, boys" he cried. All
the horses were tired except FfrefIy,
and with a wheop Erskine darted for
ward and disappeared. They followed
| as fast as they could and they heard
the report OF the boys rife and the
series Of war-whoops with which he
vas heraldin his approach. Nobody
In tho fort was fearful, for plainly 1t
was no unfriendly coming. All were
gathered at the big gate, and there
| were many yeIls and cries OF welcome
and wonder when the boy swept into
the clearing on a run. brandishine
his rife above his head, and pulled
his fiery black horse up in front OF
them.
Wizard you steal that hoss?"
shouted Bud.
Look at them clothes!" cried Jack
Sanders. And the wcmen-Mother
Sanders. Mother Noe and Lydia and
about him. laughing. welcoming.
shaking hands and asking questions.
where's Dave?" That was the
chief question and asked by several
voices at Tho same time. The boy
looked grl>e.
Dave amt coming back" he said.
and then seeing the look on LydiA's
face. he smiled; Dave" He had
no further to go, for Dawes rife
cracked and his voice rose from the
woods. and he and Harry and Hugh
galloped into the clearing. Then were
there more ~whoopings and greetings.
and Lydin's starting tears turned to
smiles.
Dave had to tell about his trip and
Erskine's ~races~-for the lad would say
nothing--ard In turn followed stories
Of killing buffalo. deer. panther and
wildcat during his absence. Early the
women dIsa ppaAred. soon the men be-
gan to yawn and gtretch. and the SEN
tinels went TO the watch-towers, for
there had been Indian signs that day.
This news thrilled the eastern lads,
and they, too, turned into the same
bed built out fran the wall OF one OF
the cabins and covered with bear
skins. And Harry. just before his
eyes closed. saw through the open
door Erskine seated alone, tho con-
Meeting link between the tidcwater
~hristocrats ana these rude pioneers,
between these backwoodsmen and
the savage enemies out in the black
encirclins wilderness. And that boy's
brain was in n turmoil-what was to
be his fate. there, here. or out there
where he had promised to go at the
next falling Of the leaves?
h green Of the wilderness dulIed
and burst into the yellow Of the buck
eye the scarlet or maple and the
russell Of oak. This glory in turn
dulled and the leaves, like petals Of
withered flowers, began to drift to
the Garth. Through the shower OF
them weni Erskine and Firehy. who
had become As used 10 the wilds an
TO the smiling banks OF the PARKWAY
James. And the two now were one
in mutual afection and "A mutual un-
derstanding that was uncanny.
Tho boy was he son Of a king
again, and as such was or his way
In answcr to the wish OF n king. For
food he carried only 4 little sack
OF salt, for his rife would bring him
meat and the forest would give him
nuts and fruit. When the sun was
nearing its highest. he "barked' a.
squirrel from the trunk Of a beech;
toward sunset y fat pheasant fut-
tered from b ground TO n low limb,
and he shot its head of and camped
For the night.
On the second day he reached tho
broad buffalo trail that led to the
salt-llcks and nm to the river. and
then memories came. He remember
cd a place where the Indians had
camped after they had captured him
self and his mother. In his mind
was a faint picture of her sitting
against a tree and Weeping and Of
an Indian striking her to made hep
stop and Of himself leaning at the
savage like a little wildcat. whereat
the others laughed like children.
Farther on, next day. was the spot
where the Indians aid separated them
and he saw his mother no more.
They told him that she had been
taken back to the whites. but he was
told later that they had killed her
because in their fight from the
whites she was holding them back
where they had hurried from the
trail and thrust him into d hollow
log. barring the exit with stones, and
had left him for Il night.
On the seventh day he was nearing
the village, where the sick chief lay,
and when he caught sight of the tee
pees In a little creek bottom, he fired
his rife. and putting Firehy into a
sallop and with right hand high.
bucks had caught up bow or riffe at
the report OF the gun and the clat-
ter OF hoofs, but their hands relaxed
when they saw his sign OF peace.
The squaws gathered and there were
grunts OF recognition and greeting
when the boy pulled up In their
midst. The flaps OF the chiefs tent
parted and his foster -mother started
toward him with a sudden stream OF
tears and turned quickly back. The
old chiefs keen black eyes were watt
Ing for her and he spoke before she
could open her lips:
White Arrow! 1t is well. Here
AT once"
Erskinc had swung from his horse
ana followed. The old chief measured
him from head to foot slowly. and his
face grew content:
'Show me the horse
The boy threw back the flaps of
the tent and with q gesture hade an
Indian to lead Frefy to IN fro. The
horse even thrust his beautiful hoad
over his masters shoulder and look
ed within, snorting gently. Kahtoo
waved Dismissal:
You must ride north soon to carry
the white wanaPum n a peace talk.
And when you go you must hurry
back. for when-th sun is highest on
the day after you return, my spirit
will pass"
And thereupon he turned his face
and went back to sleep.
Just after sunset rifle -shots sound
ed In the distance-the hunters were
coming inland the accommodating
whoops meant great success. Each
OF three bucks carried q deer over
his shoulders, and foremost Of the
thres was Crooked Lightning. who
barely paused when he, saw Erskine.
and then with nm tnsojent glare ana
grunts passed him end tossed his deer
at the feet of the squaws. The boys
Aapa dipped toward the handle Of
IL hda n f0fmn I'm ~ - hut unxnn .mrilIEAln