White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-04-09

reach the ears Of the Mohawks was In
Jeems' mind as he comforted his
shocked companion. For few mo-
ments 1t was difficult for her to be-
ueve the combat was over and that
the fend who lay like great spider
on his back was no longer menace
to them. To her relief and her faith
In Jeems was added an emotion of Joy
when she saw that Odd was alive.
The dog had dragged himself to his
feet and stood watching the slain man
grimly.
The dead man stared up at them as
they passed. In their path lay the ar
row which had gone clearly through
him. Toinette could not keep back the
hysterical sob which came in her
throat, but she looked at Jeems with
such wonder and love in her face that
he heard only the throbbing tumult
In his heart and brain. He had fought
for her and won't And he had fought
on that same ground where almost six
years before he had failed to whip
Paul Tache!
"The Indians have heard the shot
and will RETURN" he said. "This white
man must have discovered some sign
of us and came to do murder and have
his spoils alone. Dear God, when I
think"
He was looking at Toinettes tresses,
which had burst free from their
plated bonds.
1--WE must rum" he said.
They passed the barn and went
through the deserted field behind it,
Odd following them.
"There is stony ridge less than
mile from here" he encouraged. eff
we can reach it, I know of twenty
places where bare rock will let us
throw them off. our trail"
"We will reach it," breathed Toi-
nette.
He pointed the way and let her go
ahead Of him, turning his head every
dozen steps to look behind.
Along the hardwood knoll where the
Lussans had gathered their fuel, Toi-
nette sped like a graceful nymph, her
long hair streaming about her in the
sun until at times Jeems saw nothing
but It's beauty; and in the contempla-
ton Of it's loneliness a shuddering
horror ran through him. In the stump
field at home Hepsibah had told him
how both the English and the French
had begun to make use of women's
hair, and that many gentleman and
courtly dandy wore shining curls
taken by the scalping knife In wilder
ness orgies Of rapine and murder. In
the narrowness Of Toinette's escape,
the thought oppressed him with sick
ening force.
Soon her lack Of endurance COM
PEELED them to slacken their pace, and
when they reached the rocky ascent
which led to the crest of the ridge,
Toinette's breath was breaking Sob
bingly from her lips and for while
she could 60 no farther. She gazed
in the direction from which they had
come, unterrified, and almost with
challenge in her look, her breast Wild
ly throbbing, her hand reaching out
to Jeems.
Each of the few minutes that passed
seemed an hour to him.
Then they climbed to the crest Of
the ridge. Here Jeems picked his way,
choosing the places where their feet
would not touch scattered stones or
grass or soil, until half an hour of
slow and tedious progress lay between
them and the point where they had
come from the valley.
''If they come this far, they will
think we have taken the wider and
easier country" he explained. Can
you hold out little longer?"
ut was the running that turned me
faint" said Toinette. II am as strong
as you are now, Jeems. But may
stop and braid my hair? 1t is cum
brous and warm, and I wish you
would cut it off"
II would cut off my arm first" de-
clared Jeems. 1--WE will be safe
farther on, and If you will wait until
we have put ourselves beyond that
mass Of rocks off there"
His words remained unfinished.
From behind them come cry. 1t was
not fierce nor one that seemed to carry
menace, and bore with it strange
and almost musical softness. Jeems
knew its meaning. The Mohawks
were on the ridge. One Of them was
calling his scattered companions to
evidence Of their passing which he had
discovered.
Jeems fastened Toinette over the
rocks.
"They have found some sign of u.s."
he explained. ut may be one Of Odds
claw marks on stone, or the scratch
from a nail in your shoe. Whatever
It is, they only know we have come
this way and will still believe we have
taken to the plain"
Toinette saw how desperately he
was trying to keep from her the real
nearness of their peril.
81 have seen Indians climb over
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