OCR Text |
Show ERSKINE P.I GIN HERE TODAY. Ersklno Dale, captured in Infancy by tho Indians, is adopted by the chief. Kahtoo and reared as an Indian under un-der tho name of While Arrow. Ho Is told that his mother, captured with him. was killed. Maltreated by an Indian biave, Ersklne flees Id a settlers' set-tlers' stockade in Kentucky and Is recognized by his mortally wounded father. The boy goes to Red akos, the Krcat Dale plantation on the James Itlver. now occupied by Colonel Dale, younger brother of Erskine's father. The boy is kindly received by his cousins. Barbara and Harry Ers-jkine Ers-jkine flees to the wilderness and leaves Red Oakcs, legally his, to Barbara, after threatening to kill Dane Grey, 'with whom he has quarreled in Jeal- Ousy over tho girl He Is mot by 'Shawnee Indians who persuade him to visit his fosKr-fnther, the old chler Kahtoo In the Indian camp he finds a white woman condemned to death Her beautiful half-breed daughter. Early Morn, is loved by Erskine's cn-!emv, cn-!emv, Black Wolf. i.o OH WITH THE STORY The old chief's eyes shifted uneasily. un-easily. 'Why did you leave us""' To see my people and because of ,Crooked Lightning and his brother." "You fought us." "Only tho brother, and I killed jhim." The dauntless mien of the boy pleased the old man The lad must take his place as chief. Now White Arrow turned questioner ques-tioner "I told you I would come when tho leaves foil and I am here. Why is Crooked Lightning here ' Why is the What has she done that she must die0 What Is the peace talk you wish me to carry north?" "The story of tho prophet and Crooked Lightning Is too long," he said wearily. "I will tell tomorrow-The tomorrow-The woman must die because hor people peo-ple hao slain , mine. You carry the white wampum to a council. The Shawnee may Join the British against our enemies- the palefaces." T will wait. " said the lad "I will carry the white wampum If you war against the paleface on this side of the mountain I am your enemy. If you war with the British against them all I nm your enemy. And the woman wom-an must not die." "I have spoken," said the old man "I have spoken." said the boy. Just outside tho tent a figure slip-Iped slip-Iped away as noiselessly as a snake. When It roso and emerged from the shadows tho firelight showed the malignant, triumphant face of Crooked Crook-ed Lightning. XL Dressed as nn Indian. Erskine rode forth next morning with a wampum belt for the council where the British were to meet Shawnee. Iroquois, and Algonquin, and urge them to onter tho groat war that was Just breaking break-ing forth. One question the boy asked as he made ready: "Tho while woman must not be burned while I nm gone?" "No," promised the old chief. And so White Arrow fared forth. Four davs he rode through the north woods, and on the fifth he strode through the streets of a town that was yet filled with great forest trees. He j slipped to the house of an old priest. Father Andre, who had taught hini some religion and a little French. The old man was distressed when he hoard the lad s mission. "I am no royalist." he said. "Nor am I." said Erskine. I came because Kahtoo begged me to come. He could trust no other 1 am only a messenger and I shall speak his talk but my hdart is with the Americans' Ameri-cans' and 1 shall fight with them." ai .nnrid ilio trr:.l roiincil bOCltl On his way Erskine met (5rey. who lapparentlv was leaving with a band I of traders for Detroit. Erskine met jhis eves and Grey smiled: .. .. "Aren't you White Arrow?" Some-how Some-how the tone with which he spoke tho name was an insult "Yes." "Grey's face. already red with drink, "turned purple with unger When you tried to stab me do you remember what I said?" Erskine nodded nod-ded contemptuously "Well. 1 repeat It. I'll fight you anywhere and in any way you please." "Why not now?" "This is nut the time for private quarrels and vou know it." ' 1 can wait and I shall not forget The dav will come." Tho old priest touched Erskine's shoulder as the. angry youth rode away. ' "I cannot mako It out, ho said "He claims to represent an English fur company. His talk is British but I he told one man when he was drunk that he could havo a commission In the American army." Tho council-fire was built. Three British agents sat on blankets and around them the chiefs were ringed. Tho burden of his talk varied very little- , . The American palefaces had driven tho Indian over the great wall. They were killing his deer, buffalo, and elk robblnp, him of his lund and pushing push-ing him ever backward. They were many and they would become more The British were the Indian's friends the Americans were his enemies and theirs; could they choBsc to tight with their enemies rather than with their friends? Each chief answered in turn, and each cast forward his wampum until only Erskine. who sat silent, remained, and Pontlac himself turned to him "What says the son of Kahtoo? Even as ho rose tho lad saw creep- Injc to the outer rinft his enemy. Crooked LlBhtning. but he appeared not to see. The whites looked surprised sur-prised when his boyish figure stood straight, and they were amazed when he addressed the traders In French, the agents In English, and spoke to the feathered chiefs in their own .tongue. He cast the belt forwsrd. ' That Is KahtOO'l talk, but this Is j mine." i Who had driven the Indian from the great waters to the great wall .' The British. Who were tho Americans Ameri-cans flKhtlnij now? British Why were th American flphtlntr now? Because Be-cause the British, their kinsmen, vvould not give theni their riRhts. If the Indians must fight, why fight w-ith tho British to beat tho Americans, Ameri-cans, and then have to fight both a I later day? If the British would not treat their own kinsmen fairly, was it likely that they would treat the In-Idian In-Idian fairly? Would It not be better for the Indian to make the while man on his own land a friend rather than the white man who lived moro than a moon away across the big seas? Ho lifted htH hand high and paused Crooked lightning had sprung to hla feet with a hoarse cry. With a gesture Pontlac bade Crooked Lightning Light-ning speak. ... "The tongue of White Arrow is forked, i have heard him say he would flpht with the Long Knives ugulnst the British and ho would ' "That Is Kahtno's Talk But This Is Mine." fight with them even against his own tribe." One grunt of rage ran the round of three circles and yet Pontlac stopped Crooked Lightning and turned to the lad. Slowly the boy s uplifted hand enme down With a bound he leaped through the head-dress of a chief In tho outer ring and sped away through tho village vil-lage Some started on foot after him, some rushed to their ponies. and some sent arrows and bullets after him. At the edge of the village tho boy gave a loud, clear call and then another an-other as he ran. Something black sprang snorting from the edge of tho woods with pointed ears and searching search-ing eyes. Another call came and like the swirling edge of a hurricane-driven thunder-cloud Firefly swept after his master. The boy ran to meet him. caught one hand In his name before he stopped, swung himself up. and in a hall of arrows and bullets swept out of sight XII. The sound of pursuit soon died I aw ay, but Erskine kept Firefly at his I best, for ho knew that Crooked Lightning Light-ning would be quick and fast on his trail. Ho guessed that Crooked Lightning had already told the trlbo what he had just told the council, and that he and the prophet had already made in the Shawnee town. The old tdilcf looked grave when the lad told the story of tho council. "The people arc angry. They say you are a traitor and a spy. They Bay you must die. And I cannot help you I am too old and the prophet lis too strong. ' "And the white woman"" "She will not burn. .ome fur traders trad-ers have been here. The white chief ICoOee sent me a wampum felt and I promised that she should live. But 1 cannot help you." Erskine thought quickly. He laid his rifle down, stepped slowly outside out-side and stretched his arms with a yawn. Then still leisurely he moved toward his horse as though to take care of it. But the braves were too keen and watchful and they were not fooled by the fact that he had left his rifle behind. be-hind. Before he was close enough to leap for Firefly's back, three bucks darted from behind a lodge and threw themselves upon him. ' in a moment he was fare down on I tho grtound. his hands w ere tied be-Ihlnd be-Ihlnd his back, and when turned over he looked UP into the grinning face of Black Wolf, who with the help of another brave dragged him to a lodge and roughly threw him within and left him alone. H On tho way he saw his foster- mother's eyes flashing helplessly, saw thj girl Karly Morn Indignantly tell- lng ler .mother what was going on. and the white woman's face was wet with tears. i He turned over so that he could 1 look through the tent-flaps. Two trucks were driving a stake in the cen- I ter of tho space around which the I lodges were ringed. Two more were -isiiiil bringing fagots of wood and It was I plain what was going to become of m (Continued ,n Our Next issue.) |