Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-20
outrun an arrow, a bullet, a hurr4-

~ .al-4' --'.a.Na .a r. Y o.
A foot race? The old chief smiled
when Crooked Lightning shook Ibis
head again-no brave in the tribe
even could. match the speed that gave
the lad his name. The bow and ar
row, the rifle, the tomahawk? Tom
ahawks and bows and arrows were
brought out. Black Wolf was half q
head shorter, but stocky and power
fully built. White Arrows sinews
had strengthened. but he had scarce
ly used bow and tomahawk since he
had left the tribe. He had the power
but not the practice. and Black Wolf
won with, great Ease. When they
came to the rifle, Black Wolf was out
Of the game, for never a bull's-eye
did White Arrow miss.
Tomorrow" said the old chief,
they shall hunt. Each shall take
his bow and the same number Of ar
rows at sunrise and return at sum
down. . f. The next day they shall
do the same with the rife. It Ia
enough for today"
The first 10 fell that night, and
at dawn the two lads started out
each with a bow n a dozen arrows.
Erskine's woodcraft had not suffered
and the nights story Of the wilder
a a printed page. For two hours
he tramped swiftly. but never sign
Of deer, elk, bear or buffalo.
And then an hour later he heard a
snort from a thick copse and the
crash Of an unsee body in fight
through the brush, n he Hoped after
its tracks.
Black Wolf came in at sunset With
a bear cub which he had. found feed
triumphant, and Crooked Lightning
was scornful when White Arrow ap-
peared empty-handed. His left wrist
was bruised and swollen, and there
was a cash the length Of his FORE
arm.
Follow my tracks back" he said,
until you come to h hill" With a
whoop two Indians bounded away and
in an hour returned with a buck.
row, land killed him with the knife.
He horned me- and went into his
tent.
The bruised wrist and wounded
forearm made no matter, for the rifle
was the weapon mex day-but White
Arrow went another way to look for
game, Each had twelve bullets.
Black Wolf came in with a deer and
! one bullet. White Arrow told them
w~here1they could n a deer. a bear,
a buffalo and an elk, and he showed
eight bullets in the palm Of his hand.
And he noted now that the Indian
I! girl was always an intent observer OF
each contest, and that she always
went swiftly back to her tent to tell
his deeds to the white woman within.
There was a feast and a dance that
! night. and Kahtoo could have gon to
his fathers and left the lad. youns
he ready. and Crooked Lightning,
too, bided his time.
Dressed as al Indian, Erskine rode
forth mex morning with a wampum
belt n a talk for the council north
where the British were to meet shaw
nee, Iroquois and Algonquin, and
urge them to enter the great war that
was just breaking forth. There was
ing so young a lad on so great a mis-
sion. but the old chief h%aughtily
brushed it aside:,
HE is young. but his feet are swift,
his arm is strong, his heart good, and
his head is old. He speaks the tongue
of the paleface. Besides, he is my
son.
One question the boy asked as he
made ready:
The white woman must not be
burned while I am gomez"
NO promised the old chief. And
SO White Arrow Jared forth. -Four
days he rode through the north woods,
and on the fifth he strobe through
the streets Of a town that was yet
filled with great forest trees; a town
at which he had spent three winters
when the game was scarce and the
tribe had nov north for good. He
lodged with no chief. but slept in the
woods with his feet to the fire. The
next night he slipped to the house OF
the old priest, Father Andre, who had
taught him some religion and a little
! French, and the old man welcomed
him as a son, though he noted sadly
his Indian dress and vas distressed
when he heard the lads mission. He
was quickly relieved.
Il am no royalist," he said.
Nor am l." said Erskine. Il came
because Kahtoo, who seemed nigh to
death. begged me to come. I am
only a messenger. and I shall speak
his talk: but my heart is with the
Americans and shall fight with
them" The old priest put his fngera
to his lips:
"sh-h-h! 1t is not wise. Are
you not known #s.
Erskine h~esitated. .
Earlier that morning he had seen
three officers riding in. Following
was a youth not in uniform, though
he carried a sword. On the contrary,
he was dressed like an English dandy,
and then he found himself face ia
face with Dane Grey. With no Sign