The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-08-23
ErSkine Dale Pioneer


forth next morning with wampurn
belt and talk for the council north
where the British were to meet Shaw
nee, IrOqu"is and Algonquin, and urge
them to enter the great war that was
just breaking forth. There was open
and angry protest against sending so
young lad on so great a mission but
the old chief haughtiiy 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 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 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 moved 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 little
French. and the old man welcomed him
as son, though he noted sadly his In.
dian dress and was distressed when he
heard the lads mission. He was quick
ly relieved.
81 am no royalist," he said.
"NOr am l." said Erskine. II came
because Kahtoo. who seemed nigh to
death, begged me to come. l am only
a messenger and shall speak his talk /;
but my heart is with the Americans
and shall fight with them" The old
priest put his fingers to his lips:
"Sh-h-h! 1t is not wise. Are you
not known?'
Erskine hesitated.
Earlier that morning he had seen
three officers riding in. Following was
a youth not in uniform, though he car
ried a sword. On the contrary. he was
dressed like an English dandy, and
then he found himself face to face
with Dane Grey. With no sign of rec
ognition the boy had met his eyes
squarely and passed on.
| There is but one man who does
know me and he did not recognize me.
His name is Dane Grey. l am Won
dering what he is doing here. Can
you find out for me and let me know
The old priest nodded and Erskine
slipped back to the woods.
At sunrise the great council began.
On his way Erskine met Grey. who ap
parently was leaving with band of
traders for Detroit. Again Erskine
met his eyes and this time Grey
smiled:
Aren't you White Arrow" Some
how the tone with which he spoke the
name was an insult.
"Yes."
'"Then its true. We heard that you
had left your friends at the fort and
become an Indian again."
"Yes?"
$50 you are not only going to fight
with the Indians against the whites,
but with the British against America 2
'What | am going to do is no bust
ness of yours Erskine said quietly,
hut hope we shall not he on the same
side. We may meet again."
Grey's face was already red with
drink and it turned purple with an
ger.
"When you tried to stab me do yo,
remember what said?" Erskine nod
ded contemptuously.
"Well. repeat it. Whatever the
side. I'll fight you anywhere at any
time and in any way you please"
"Why not now?'
''This is not the time for private
QuarrelS and you know it,"
Erskine bowed slightiy-an act that
came oddly from an Indian head
dress.
II can wait-and I shall not forget
The day will come"
The old priest touched Erskine's
shoulder as the angry youth rode
away.
II cannot make II out" he said. HE
cinims to represent an English f,il
company. His talk is British. hut III
told one man-last night when he wa.
drunk-ihat he could have commits
sion in the American army"
The council fire was built. The
flames cracked and the snake rollet
upward and swept through the leatles.
trees. Three British agents sat or
blankets. and around them the chief.
were ringed. All day the powwow
lasted. Each agent spoke and the bur
den Of his talk varied very little.
The American palefaces had driver
the Indian over the great wall. The,
were killing his deer. buffalo and elk
robbing him of his land and pushing
him ever backward. They were many
and they would become more. Tit
British were the Indians friends
the Americans were his enemies anC
theirs: could they choose to fight will
their enemies rather than with theil
friends? Each chief answered in turn
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