The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-09-20
PIONEER

Crooked Lightnings brother. whom he
had slain. But If the Indians were
falling into evil ways and following
evil counsels, his heart was sad.
II will come when the leaves fall"
he concluded, "but Crooked Lightning
must pitch his lodge in the wilderness
until he can show that his heart is
good" And then with an imperious
i gesture he waved his hand toward the
west:
Now go!'
! It was hard even for Dave to realize
that the lad, to all purposes, was actu-
ally then the chief of a powerful tribe,
and even he was a little awed by the
instant obedience Of the savages, who,
| without a word, melted into the bushes /
and disappeared. Dave recovered him. |
self with little chuckle only when |
without a word Ersklne clucked Fire
fly forward, quite unOnsciously taking |
the lead. Nearing sunset, from a |
little hill Dave pointed to a thin blue
wisp Of smoke rising far ahead from
the green expanse.
There it Is, boys!" he cried. All
the horses were tired except Firef1y
and with a 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-whoops with which he
was heralding his approach. Nobody
in the fort was fearful, for plainly it
was no unfriendly coming. All were
gathered at the big gate and there
were many yells and cries of welcome
and wonder when the boy swept into
, the clearing on a run, brandshing 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
Look at them clothes!" cried Jack
Sanders. And the wOmen-MOther
Sanders, Mother Noe and Lydia and
Honor and Polly Conrad-gathered
about him, laughing, welcoming, shak-
Il ing hands and asking questions.
where'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 to go, for Dawes rifle cracked
and his voice rose from the woods,
and he and Harry and Hugh galloped
n into the clearing. Then were there
more whoopings and greetings, and
\ Lydia's starting tears turned to smiles
! Dave had to tell about his trip and
| Erskne's races-for the lad would say
| nothing-and in turn followed stories
/ of killing buffalo deer, panther and
Il wildcat during his absence. Early tie
| women disappeared, soon the men be-
i gan to yawn and stretch, and the SEN
u tlnels went to the watch-tOwers. for
n here had been Indian signs that day.
This news thrilled the eastern lads.
n and tney too turned into the same bed
Il built out from the wall of one of the
Al cabi|s and covered with bearskins.
u And Harry just before his eyes closed
saw through the open door Erskine
Il seated alone, the cOnnecting-link be-
u between the tidewater aristocrats and
" these rude pioneers, between these
backwoodsmen and the savage enc
mics out in the black encircling will
derness. And that boys brain was in
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? ,-",.
ed The green of the wilderness dullet
ito I'D burst into the yellow of the buck
eye the scarlet of maple and the rus
set of oak. This glory in turn dullet
We and the leaves, like petals Of witheret
he flowers. began to drift to the earth
eu Through the shower of them wen
;! Erskine and FREELY, who had become
Gu as used to the wilds as to the smiling
wv banks of the far-away James. An,
,.h the two now were one in mutual affec
ne ton and q mutual understanding tina
ep' was uncanny.
u The boy was the son of king agair
", and as such was on his way in answe
u to the wish of king. For food h
" carried only a little sack Of salt. fu
INC his rifle would bring him meat an
=, the forest would give him nuts an
i,h fruit. When the sun was nearing II
1is highest, he "barked" squirrel froI
iel' the trunk Of beech: toward sunse
es- a fat pheasant fiuttered from tn
AS ground TO low limb and he shot II
inu head off and camped for the night.
~. On the second day he reached til
Son broad buffalo trail that led to the sal
~. ticks and on to the river and the
~. memories came. He remembered
~ place where the Indians had campo
w after they had captured himself ar
~, his mother. In his mind was fail
-, picture of her sitting against tr'
.oa and weeping and Of an Indian strikir
.,oa her to make her stop and Of himse
.o,,, leaping at the savage like little viii
~. cat. whereat the others laughed Ill
'a, children. Farther on. next day, W,
Vs.. the spot where the Indians had sep
81 rated them and he saw his mother |
IT,, more. They told him that she h,
.,,,, been taken back TO the whites. but
,,ah was told later that they had kill
-, her because in their flight from Il
49, whites Sha was holding them hack 4