The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-05-11
CHAPTER II


After passing through the Blue
ridge | felt as If my visit to Alexan.
edria had taken place in a dream. No
place here for gay coats and ruffled
shirts and silken hose. and what
mockery would the underground make
OF my dainty lady's exquisite attire!
A buzzard quartered the sky. and ]
knew there would be many of them
before long following the army.
Round Paw OF the Wolf clan bare
~ glanced up as stood beside his
small fire. and yet he had discovered
me coming or else he would not have
been seated with his scarlet blanket
covering him from head to foot.
dropped on the ground and laid aside
my rife. he flied and lighted his
pipe and passed it through the blue
smoke. After few whiffs ! returned
it. Finally he remarked:
my white brother has come from
the home of his father"
"My father Is a ghost. There is no
home for me in Alexandria. My ia
theirs house belongs to another"
He was silent for few minutes,
then asked:
"You carry belts for Onas?'' tThe
governor Of Pennsylvania
~ carry talking-paper to George
Croghan." | told him. tapping the
breast OF my hunting shirt. 1.-THE big
chief from over the sinking water
has asked me to get men with long
rifles for his army. And I have said
would go to Duquesne again. Does
the man of the Wolf go with met"
He rose and allowed his blanket to
drop down on his loins. During my
absence he had repainted white the
paw on his chest. the totem mark of
his clan. and he was oiled for war. !
knew he was eager ia be deep In the
forests beyond the Alleghenies and
was even now ready to start. AL
though leg-tired did not unpack my
blankets. but signjfied my readiness
to travel. He produced some smoked
meat and parched corn for me to eat
and after had finished be made up
his traveI-bundie. and we were of.
AS walked behind him, as much
of an indian In appearance as ne II
not for my disheveled hair, ! described
the gallant appearance Of the army as
it marched out of Alexandria. Bis
only comment was:
''Big noise. The Swannock Eng
lishmen--cann shoot with drums"
answered that the soldiers would
have no chance to use their guns be-
cause Of the weak condition OF the
fort and garrison. A year earlier,
when Mr.. Washington marched ont OF
Fort Necessity. the situation might
have been different. Then Duquesne
was garrisoned by close to thousand
men under the command Of veterans.
Twelve months had seen q change
In conditions. The portage at Niagara
had slowed up the arrival Of stores
from Canada. The horses expected
from Presqu' isle had not been deliv-
cred. The garrison had been weak.
ened by the sending back Of troops to
Canada.
Those bringing supplies from Can
ada arrived attired in rich velvets and
genial from rare wines, bur with their
sacks empty. Waste and confusion
had blighted the fine spirit Of Du-
quesne's defenders. had learned this
much from Captain Beaujeu who had
readily accepted me as loyal French
man.
Round Paw was never a gossip. We
had Travelled together for two years
and there had been many days when
he barely spoke. We first met on
Lake Erie's southern shore when a
pack of Hurons and a few Frenchmen
were giving me hard run and on
the point OF catching me. It was
Round Paws fierce war, cry. the ter
rible defiance of the Onondagas,N and
his deadly arrows that had caused my
pursuers to slow up the chase, fear
ing an ambuscade.
(TO BE CONTINUED