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Show PIUTE COUNTY NEWS, JUNCTION, UTAH Hugh Pendexter Ings Author of of thg Mitiouri ' Pay Gravl ' A Virginia Scout, ' ' efc. rlght by Hugh Pendexter lilt-111- WNU Servloe lency," pleaded old Jules, these will be our wives." "Not .while you have Indian wives on Lake Borgne," growled the govI will not have the Choctaws ernor. about my ears because their adopted are playing fast and loose with their women. You two young women will return to your compan- brothers Not a word. Mattor, I am In a bad mood. Up with that sail and set me across with all haste. The voyage was uneventful until we drew near the Deer Island channel and sighted a small pirogue rounding the eastern end. Bienville rose to his feet, snatched up one of my robes and waved It back and forth until the two men In the pirogue observed the signal. A moment of hesitation, and then they shifted their course and paddled briskly toward us. They were thin, fellows of the wiry, pronounced French voyageur type, and both were strangers to me. IIo, Jean Dumouy, what brings you here? demanded Bienville. A speaking-barfrom Monsieur le Page du Pratz of Bayou St. Jean, your excellency, replied the fellow holding to the side of olir boat, and using the Indian term for the written message. The governor read the communication with compressed lips ; then asked : You have Just arrived?" With all haste. Yes, your excellency. We were making for the fort when we saw the boats and turned back, thinking to find Enough! Go to the. fort and get food and drink. I will have a message for you to take back." As the pirogue dropped away Bienville reread the message with frowning brows. Du Pratz had spent much time among the Natchez. Knowing the message was from him I was not surprised when Bienville came aft and Informed me: You heard the boatman. Monsieur du Pratz writes to Inform me the Natchez have declared war for the Month of Peaches. Some of his men brought the news down the river. They must have been close on your heels. I recalled my Impression of the object In the river moving behind the mass of drift. As I remained silent Bienville stiffly added: I make my apologies for seeming to doubt your word. You owe me no apologies. I owed It to myself to tell you with all haste, seeing that I make free of the lower Mississippi where you rule. Perhaps my motive was a selfish one; perhaps I feared the Natchez In going to war might mistake me for a Frenchman and stick an ax in my head. We will have a talk later," he muttered, his powerful mind already forecasting the future and seeking ways and means to mollify or block the Natchez. I do not say I shall lift the pence calumet to yoq; but Just now I feel more tolerant." Like the shares of the Mississippi company my stock was going up. I knew my promptness In bringing the Natchez news had proved to be the strongest kind of medicine for me. And In a like manner have I often escaped a dangerous climax by stumbling upon some situation which I could twist to my own use and benefit I was entirely composed by the time we landed on the east shore of the bay near Fort Maurepas. Bienville led the way to a grove of pines and threw himself on the needles and motioned me to take my ease. He began : Monsieur Brampton, I have decided that I believe you when you say you had nothing to do with the desertion of my soldiers. There would be no reflection on your personal honor if I were forced to believe to the contrary. Nor have I any proof that you are an English spy. Now, monsieur, you have lived much along the river. Tell me what you consider to be France's greatest help and her greatest hindrance In developing the Mississippi valley." Promptly and truthfully I answered: You are her greatest help, your excellency. Frances belief in myths and fairy-taleis her greatest hindrance. But your governors believe In mines among your mountains. That Is not believing In myths and fairy stories. There may be mines there. Mines are often found In mountains. But we do not colonize for mines. Englishmen clear the forests, make homes, plant crops. They press forward slowly, making sure of the ground they spread over. When the first colonists came to Virginia .there were many adventurers among them. Like the Spanish and French In Florida and Louisiana they wanted quick wealth. Some went mad in their hunt for pearls after finding them In common use among the Indians. Then came men and women who built cabins and planted crops. They spent no time hunting pearls." With a sigh he said : True. The good God knows I have always urged that colonists be sent over who would work the soil and raise families. My brother Iberville ions. OR I DIE SYNOPSIS. Traveling by canoe the Mississippi, on his way to Biloxi, in the early days of the settlement of Louisiana, William Brampton, English spy, known to Indians and settlers as the "White Indian," sees a Natchei In Ban post a declaration of war against the French. For his own purposes, he hastens to Biloxi to carry the news to Bienville, on French governor. Brampton meets an old friend, Joe Labrador, Indian halfbreed, who warns him Bienville has threatened to hang him as a spy. Brampton refuses to turn back. He falls In with Jules and Basils Mattor, on their way to Biloxi to secure wives from a ship, the Malre, bringing women from France. At Biloxi Brampton protects a woman from a sergeant's brutality. She tells him she Is Claire Dahlsgaarde, picked up In a raid In Parle. Evidently well bred and educated, she Is a mystery to Brampton. He Intervenes to prevent a man, English, known as Old Six Fingers," following her to New Orleans. A Frenchman, Francois Narbonne, slightly demented by stories he has heard of the riches of the New World, Introduces himself. Bienville accuses Brampton of treachery. CHAPTER III Continued I can hold deceit to be excusable when you are fighting against the galI have not Inleys, be answered. tended to Insult you, elmply to speak what Is In my heart. Monsieur Brampton, you know the Indians of the valley. You must know that a declaration of wnr, posted within the limits of any French settlement, would never be left for you to bring to me. And I have heard the news from no one else. Enough of this. I trust the English as 1 would that lying Recollect priest Ilennepln, who did so much mischief by hl cursedly false description ofthls country. j There was nothing for me to 'say; and I stood and stared out over the gulf. The governor continued brittle voice .i a cold, Iennsvlyanla has sent out scouts for three years on the Ohio and the Mississippi to learn what the French are doing. Yet Governor Spotswood, only this last spring, reported to the Lords of Trade that the French have a settlement at Ilabbamalas. I was told this In Canada by a friendly Carolinian. It shows that Spotswoods scouts have been ten years In learning of the It French occupation of Alabama. would seem that the English scouts are a small danger. lie wrinkled his brows In perplexity. If I were what he charged, then I must be of but small value to the English for not having reported the Alabama settlement In 1717, when I first visited the lower river. As a matter of fact I had never dreamed that my countrymen were In lgnorunce of conditions which had existed ever since 1710. After a brief silence he asked: You say the Spaniards have visited the Missouri by an overland trail from Santa Fe? They Joined the Faducahs near the Kansn river. Intending to raid Fort The entire Invading force Chartres. was killed by the Osage Indians." But you did not say this before, that they were killed, that they came to attack Chartres! he cried, now betrayed into a bit of excitement I considered the thing most Important to you to be the fact that there Is an overland trail to Santa Fe, practical for troops. 1 save unimportant, but Interesting, details for friends. There Is no clanger to Fort Chartres." We will go back In your boat he muttered, loading the way to where tlje two Matters were Impatiently waiting for me. With them were two women. How do I know the Natchez have declared war? The question satisfied me he was beginning to weaken, to doubt my guilt. Impose your cursed sentence and But have done with It, I exploded. do not insult me further unless you are ready to give me satisfaction. As I grew hot he grew cold and eyed me curiously. The governor of Louisiana can hardly fight with a felon. He will not fight with a friend, he quietly reIf the Natchez have struck marked. the Warriors Post and I will soon learn the truth I shall suspend sentence on you until I can probe deeper Into the desertions. Here, yon, Jules Mattor! We sto back at once. We have no room for women. They must go In the packets." But pleoe. Monsieur your Excel k s prophesied that the English would control the whole continent within 100 years If we French did not take root up and down the valley. And you may have seen today what kind of colonists they send me ! What are your plans? Our wandering talk, ending with the pointed question, satisfied me he had I been laying an ambush for me. I have yawned sleepily and said: none. By and by back to Canada. Perhaps a trip Into the West among the Indians of the plains." You dare not go back to the English colonies?" I laughed grimly. Virginia or Carolina would give many pounds to get me there. Which was true In a fashion, for my budget of news was easily worth a good price now that the English were awakening to the fact that the French were thick among the Alabamas. Bienville rose and brushed the needles from his coat and said : You are English, monsieur. I have made my decision. The English have their spies up and down the river. L too, have spies on the coast. One of them should be showing up any time now If he has not been killed. He will bring your complete history. You are what you claim to be, or an enemy of France. I must know the truth." I thank your excellency. I only hope your man Is painstaking and hon- est" He Is what he Is, but he will bring an honest talk to me. He Is very wise. You must stay here until he returns. I am under arrest?" No, no. Simply my guest until I can give you a dean bill. Damoan will be most careful to get the facts right. There was a mist before my eyes that was not from the steaming water. There was a chill In my heart that even the Louisiana sun could not dispel. Yet force of habit permitted me to wear a mask of Indifference, but It was a moment before I dared trust my voice. Then I said: I am glad Damoan Is the man to look me up. He will make no mistake, ne will not hold back for fear of discovery, and then come here and report lies to you." I rejoice you accept It so amiably. It encourages me. You are free to wander about. With a laugh I accepted the situation and humorously remarked: If your excellency had not placed me on bounds I would have been content to Idle away a month here. Now I am Itching to go somewhere else. That would be unwise most unhealthy, monsieur. The climate Is bad for those who exert themselves. If a man should lose himself I simply call, and the natives, from the Dllnols to the mouth of the Mississippi, hear me and look for that man. I shall be pleased to have you dine with me In the cool of the evening. I must leave you now and arrange for the Immigrants to start on their Journeys, as another ship Is due to arrive any time." I was thinking of the girl In black, and asked: "What of Mademoiselle Dahlsgaarde? Does she return to France on the Malre, or must she wait until you verify her story?" lie halted and stared at me blankly. Her story? Return her to France? Gods mercy, but weve already returned two thousand out of the seven thousand sent over by the company! It would require a most excellent story to get mademoiselle back to France." Yet decency and Justice demand her return If she was Illegally seized by the police In their raid," I persisted. He smiled slightly, and coolly advised: Seek some deep shade, monsieur. The sun has made you believe In fairy tales. The young woman made no claim on my Indulgence. She said nothing to me about being taken in a raid. It is too much to expect to find a virtuous woman among those frail ones, but she Is young and has much room to mend her morals over here; so I shall see her married to one of Monsieur du Pratzs men and sent to a cabin near the Natchez." I was astounded. The girl had represented herself to me as the victim of an Indiscriminate raid. I thought of her soft hands. I thought of the monotonous corn rations, which the Canadian French would eat but which the lower Mississippi French refused, except as a famine diet. I was astounded, I say, and yet why should I expect one of her caste to tell the truth? Nevertheless, there was something infinitely pathetic in picturing one so young and so unused to the wilderness being held a prisoner In the forest cabin of a Dumouy. Her frailty was the fault of her environment. But a lonely Mississippi cabin was a terrible price for her to pay unless the men were similarly punished. Owing to the disturbing revelations his excellency had made about Damoan the Fox I cpuld not give the girl much of my thoughts. The exigence of my own affairs demanded my most careful attention. So as the governor strode away to the fort I wandered toward the shore to concentrate on my predicament. Damoan was deep in my confidence. It was Imperative that my Canadian data should be delivered, and his trip up the Ohio afforded me an excellent and safe opportunity. And I had placed In his hands conclaslve evidence of my guilt, and the moment he returned It would not be the galleys, but the noose. Had It been any other than thq Fox I might have retained some hope. But Damoan would be most cunning. I could see him presenting my budget of news and thereby winning Spotswoods confidence. I could see him accepted as my trusted friend, eager to sell France for English gold. He would have my history complete once he finished with my countrymen. Over my head hung the shadow of a noose. Monsieur, murmured a voice behind me. I turned, but there was no one except a lout of a soldier standing with his back to me, the butt of his flintlock resting on the ground, his gaze turned toward the forest-walBefore I could question him he was softly repeating: Do not look at me, monsieur. Something for you under the butt of my musket. Walt till I am gone before you pick It, up. I pretended to watch the small I heard the group about Narbonne. soldier moving away and gave him half a minute before leaning back on one elbow and securing a folded bit oZ paper stamped Into the sand by tbq gun. Satisfied no spying eyes were ai me I opened it. It was written in Eng llsh, and read: Monsieur the Englishman. Monsieur I bribed a soldier to give this to you. He promised on the Cross. I must escape up the river and to the If there is one English settlements. generous heart In this horrible land to help me I know the good God will reward. When you get this I shall be on the way to New Orleans. 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I knew I should help her If It was within my power. A voice disturbed my meditations by Ironically saying : Monsieur Is burled beneath admiration for this golden bay. I am told that If one skim off the top six Inches of water It changes to solid gold over night. It was the tattered Narbonne. Back of him was Six Fingers, hls parchment face leering malevolently. Farther Ii the background were several of the women. I lazily remarked: You two have With a composed your differences? nod toward the pirate. La I we are brothers I simpered He goes with me to my Narbonne. estate. He Is to be my You know, we are to find much gold and many precious stones. Six Fingers came nearer and In English said: Monsieur and I start at once for New Orleans. Will you ship with us that far? I know the coast to the east I know all the Spanish ports. But clew me to the anchor and dump m overboard If I know this d d river with Its many mouths! 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