The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-09-06

be deer in that timber across the
creek. I'll sneak over there myself
as soon as we get the girls fixed up.
Help me with this one, SiInmie."
Simmie handed the child to him.
Her eyes were closed. Bowie ex-
amined her as he chafed her hands.
She seemed asleep. Overcome by
the long strain of deadly fear and
extreme fatigue, wet and weary
though she was, nature had asserted
itself. To awaken her now--to be
sure she was only sleeping-he
chafed her temples. Pardaloe, fol-
lowing instructions, did the same
for his charge. The younger girl
began to sob faintly-as If all
strength had already been spent in
anxiety and tears. The sobbing
awakened her older sister, who slow
ly opened her eyes, and, as he bent
over her, she looked into Bowie's
face.
In spite Of himself, he started.
The child's eyes were dark, large,
gentle, yet they came as shock.
In a brief confusion he could only
realize that he had never seen such
eyes. They rested on him for only
moment, then their tranquil light
changed to dread, and as they
closed on the face bent above her
tears rolled from under the long
lashes. He placed her so she could
sit partially upright with her back
against small sycamore.
He worked so long with his charge
that Pardaloe became impatient
and, printing his rifle afresh, started
off after something for breakfast.
Despite the savagely cruel treat
ment Of the child, the ravages Of
distress and weeping, the frock in
disarray, the disheveled hair, the
scratched and bruised legs and
arms, the features pitiflllly streaked
with soil and caked with tears,
something told Bowie that this
youngster was not common wait.
Pardaloe came out Of the chapar-
raj with doe slung over his Shout
der, and while Simmie started a
fire, Bowie rummaged some Of the
Spanish loot recovered from the war
party. It had been carried in a
buckskin bag, and in this he found a
large mug, curiously chased, and
from the brawling stream below the
camp he brought good water.
He had left the younger of the
girls lying on the ground near the
elder. On his return he found the
younger lying with her head in the
lap of the elder, and he imagined
them sisters.
But what surprised him most was
the expression of deadly fear in the
eyes of the elder girl as he walked
toward her, holding the cup of wa
ter in his hand. When she saw him
approaching she quickly drew the
little sister closer to her breast as
if suspecting an-effort to part them.
Bowie smiled to show his, friend
Illness: the gesture meant nothing to
the frightened stranger. With every
step he took her pitiful dread in
creased. When he bent down on one
knee and held out the water she
grew hysterical, closed her eyes
tight and turned her head away.
He laughed and spoke. ''Don't be
afraid. This is only water for you
to drink"
The words drew no response. "Of
course" he said to himself, "she
knows no English. What can / do?"
The panic-stricken child would not
look up. Bowie perceived it must be
trial of endurance. While Simmie
and Pardaloe were roasting the sad
die Of venison at the fire Bowie sat
in front of the girls, watching them
and thinking. After time he looked
toward his older charge. She was
stealing glance at him. sWhy be
afraid?" he asked very softly. eve
are your friends.
"This'-he pointed to the cup
s'is water. See!" He held the cup to
his lips, drank little and poured a
little on the ground.
Some advantage, he perceived,
had been gained; she no longer
averted her head but tinidly
watched him. Yet every time he
held out the cup she turned ner
face. He could only laugh and keep
trying; she was equally persistent
in refusing.
Smiling, Bowie called to Simmie,
''Slice off a little strip of that veni-
son and bring it here, Simmie. Per-
haps it's hunger she feels"
Again he suffered defeat. She
would have none of the roasted meat
held temptingly before her on the
point of a stout twig. Bowie took a
little bite of the meat himself to
prove it was good. No signs, ges-
lures or supplications moved his
stubborn captive.
Discouraged and annoyed, Bowie
walked down to where Pardaloe was
finishing his ample venison break
fast. "Come over here, Ben," said
Bowie testify. ''See whether you
can make this girl eat or drink.
can't do a thing with her."
The efforts of the tall awkward
scout to make an impression were
more spectacular but not more sue
1910 I.~.~.