Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-07-04
They Had Scarcely Gone a Hundred
Yards When an Indian Stepped Into
the Path Twenty Yards Ahead.

Yards When an Indian stepped into
the Path Twenty Yards Ahead.
had been killed by the palefaces. They
knew that in the fight at tie fort
Erskinc had killed Shawnas, his tor
mentor, for they knew the arrow,
which Erskire had not had time to
withdraw. The dead Shawnee's
brother-Crooked Lightning-was with
them. He it was who had recognized
the boy the day before, and they hai
kept him from killing Erskinc from
the bushes At that moment u gigan-
tic savage stepped from the brush.
''he boys frame quivered, straight
e.ted,. grew rigid, but he met the ma
levO!crt glare turned on him with
emotiunleSS face and himself quietly
began to speak while Harry anG Hugh
and even Dave watched him en-
thralled; for the lad was Indian now
and the old chiefs mantle was about
his shoulders. He sat his horse like a
king and spoke as a king. He thanked
them for holding back Crooked Light
nings evil hand, but-contemptuously
he spat toward the huge savage-he
was not to die by that hand. He was
q paleface and the Indians had slain
his white mother. He had forgiven
that, for he loved the old chief and
his foster mother and brother and Sis
ter, and the tribe had always been
kind to him. Then they had killed his
white father and he had gone to visit
his kindred by the big waters, and now
lie loved them. He had fled from the
ShawneeS because of the cruelty of
Crooked Lightning's brother, whom he
had slain. But if the Indians were
falling into evil ways and following
evil counScls, his heart was sad.
81 will come when the leaves fall"
lie concluded, but Crooked Lightning
must pitch his lodge in the wilderness
until he can show that his heart Is
good.p And then with an imperious
gesture he waved his hand toward the
west:
"NOw go"
1t was hard even for Dave to realize
that the lad, to all purposes, was actu-
ally then the chief of Il powerful tribe,
and even he was Il little awed by the
instant obc,sence of the savageS, who,
without Il word. melted into the bushes
and disappeared Dave recovered him.
self with a little chuckle only whcE
without word Erskine cluckcd Fire
fly forward, quite unonsciouSly taking
the lead Nearing sunset, from Il
little hill Dave pointed to Il thin blue
wiSp of smoke rising far ahead from
the green cXpansp.
"There it is, boySw he cried. All
the horses were tired except Firetly
and with whoop Erskine darted for
ward and disappeared. They followed
as fast as they could and they heard
the report of the boys rifle and the
series of war-whoSpS with which he
was heralding his approach. Nobody
in tfle fort WAS fearful, for plainly it
was no unfriendiy coming. All were
gathered at the big gate and there
were many yellS ana cries OF Welcoile
and wonder Wien the boy swept into
the clearing on run. brandishing his
rifle above his head, and pulled his
fiery black horse up in front of them.
"Whar'd you steal that hoss?" shout
ed Bud.
"Iook at them clothes" cried Jack
Sanders. And the wOmCn-Alothcr
Sanders, Mother Noe and Lydia and
Honor ana Polly Conrad-gathcrcd
about him, laughing, welcoming, shak-
ing hands and asking questions.
"Whcrc'S Dave?" That was the
chief question and asked by several
voices at the same time. The boy
looked grave.
"Dave amt comm back" he said,
and then seeing the look on Lydia's
face. he smiled: Dave" He had no
further 10 60, for Dawes rifle cracked
: and his. voice rose from the woods,
and he and Harry and Hugh galloped
into the clearing. Then were there
y tsore wlroopings and greetings, and
I"6ig's Startinr tears turned to smiles