Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-29
THE SENTINEL ROCK.
Chapter II.
NOKcr Smith.

noHle ana get behind this rock"
ne great rock stood tall and erect
ar u bcckohtd To the people 10
gam shelter behind It's massive bulk
Nearer and nearer came Tho adyanc-
ing Indians. Terror was depicted on
every one OF the villagers counte-
nanccs. They ran tn the rock withaIl
their might. Only the leader was
calm. II" had the horses bride In
MS hands. and Il daring idea cam.
mo his head. He let go the horses,
ana with ono bound they sprung into
the woods. their hoofs ringing on
the ground. Just as tho Indians
with their murherous Ratchet. car
ried by the chief. came up the hill
the horscs were out OF sight. and the
leader crcpt behind the rock to keen
the frightened women and children
quiet.
Not sound disturbed the still-
ness except the ring of the horses
hoofa on the ground. The leader OF
the villagers "a tall midd!c-uged
rnn) was in frenzy of hope and
fear Would the Indians discover
the tracks Of the horscs and follow
them? Or would they stay with their
murderous Ratchet? and then. {.
The leader shuddcred al he thought
OF the fate OF his people.
Meanwhile. the Indiana camr with
In two feet OF the rock. 40 sign of
them here" the chief announced. his
race showing in II savage grin. He
raised the red Ratchet and brought
It down To the ground with yen.
III catch those pale fnccs." he
cried. "Tl do them like this-and
this. Each time he brought the
Ratchet down tn the ground with Il
thud
Then he happened To glance down
TO the ground. and his face became
distorted with a Acndish delight ter
Eiblc 10 see. For on the soft ground
was the distinct imprint Of horses
hoofs. Behind the rock. the leader,
to his face. and hcf breathed a silent
prayer as he heard the Indian chiefs
words we have discovered their
tracks the chief announced. one
eye. you lead the way and follow the
tracks with care. Jury" Then.
they were on, but before they left.
Major James had IA glimpse of the
ch:c's face II was distorted with
hendish cruelty. a face which would
Remain In your memory The black
eyes seemed TO he sunkcn In his head,
black. buShy eyebrows came down 10
his eyciashes, and his long. straight
black hair hung to his walstline.
Feathers were stuck In his hair. and
his face was painted ia aiming red.
Ills NOUN WIS tEiCh anu DcrlnS-
Il mouth from which only cruel words
came. No warm lips had pressed on
them; no smile came from them
only that hidcous. mocking lecr,
which brought all OF tho chiefs
cruelty to his face
on and on they followed the
tracks. There came only the feeble
rrunts OF One-eye as he led the way.
The chief became more impatient
~
faster. One Eye" he said. "or else
they shall escape us" Now. tho
tracks were easy to follow. as they
sank into the soft mud
Faster and faster they ga!loped.
over brush ana weeds Soon they
came to square. open place. About
stones throw away stood two
horses quietly nibblIng grass. the
wagon still fastened onto them.
rir chief now gnlloped ahead and
caught the horses as they started OFF
again. lie opened up the flap OF the
wagon aud then uttered savage
snarl The wagon was empty!
They have trlcked U.S. Black
clouds OF anger showed on III. chiefs
face. by tho laws OF the Great
Spirit they shall pay for this. Catch
the horses. One Eye, and every man
get ready to ride. Hurry! Hurry.
before they escape u.s.
With one bound the tribe turned.
Their horses hoofs rang on the
ground. Every hoof-heat sounded the
death kncll. They seemed to say,
They shall pay They shall pay!
The Great Spirit shall make them
pay"
Behind tho rock everything was
peaceful The people knew that il
death awaited them. So why not
stay behind the shrlterinE rock? AL
ready the people felt that the rock
was their protcc;ion--likc sentinel
il was.
Major James set to work 10 build
n stone wall around tho rock 40 as
to protect his people. Then lie
soothed their few remaining fears
and soon not a sound was heard hut
the chatter of ii wren or squirrel.
foon the Indians returned. their
faces having nm unhuman look. They
diSmounted from the horses and the
chief looked around the patch of
wood. I'VE have TO find them" he
said. Look, One Eye. and sec if you
can help us. DO you sec any other
tracks,
Not sign said One Eye. after
critlcai examination. (Major
James previously had covered up
their tracks with mud.)
Then. calling all his hundred men
to him, they held n Whispered con-
suliation. Occasionally the people
heard word like pale faces"
tracks, ito tho left" "bound to he
or some other word
which was barely distInguishablc
The women behind tho rock were
so busy listening that they did not
notice little girl about 3 years OF
age slip In front OF the rock. On
pccping out. her eyes caught the
glitter OF Il piece OF silver on the
ground.
She was little Nancy James. daugh-
ter OF Major James. Slipping out
unnoticed. she came within Il foot OF
the whispering Indians, whose backs
were turned. She caught the money
In her hands and set down on tho
grass. delighted with her new play
thing.
Two keen gray eyes happened to
glance out OF the rock and saw the
girl. He looked about 20 years OF
age. HfY hair was auburn tInied