Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1938-09-08, Page 6PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, ,SEPTDIVIBER 8, 1938 "She may not the there! She may be drown!" whispered Louis, "but we •creep on, quiet like hare, no noise like deer, stiMer than mountain cat, hist -- what that?" The night breeze set the leaves all atremble—clapping their hands, as the Indians call it—and a whiff of burn- ing bark tainted the air. 'That's ie" said I under .my 'breath. The smoke was 'blowing frOm wooded flats between us and the riv- er. Cautiously parting interlaced branches and as carefall replacing each ,bovegh to .prevent backward snap, we turned down the sloping bank. I suppose necessity's training in the wilds must produce the eame result in man and •beast; and from that fact, faddists of the various "oso- pities" and "ologies" may draw what conclusions they please; but I affirm that no panther could creep on its prey with more stealth, caution and cunning than the trapper and Indian on the enemy's •camp. I have seen wild creatures approaching a foe set each foot down with noiseless tread; but I have never seen such a combination of instincts, 'brute and .human, as Louis and Little Fellow displayed. The In- dian felt the ground for tracks and pitfalls and sticks, that might crackle. Louis, with his whole face pricked forward, trusted more to his eyes and ears and that sense of 'feel" which is —contradictory as it may seem—ut- terly intangible, Once the Indian pick- ed up a stick freshly broken, This was examined by both, and the In- dian smelt it and tried his tongue on the breken edge. Then both fell on all fours, creeping under the branches of the thicket and paueing at every pace. "Would that I had taken lessons in forest lore :before I went among the Sioux," I thought te .myself. Now I knew what had been incomprehensi- ble before—why all my well -laid plans had been detected. A wind rustled through the foliage. That was in our favor; for in spite of our care the 4eaves unshed and erink- led beneath us. At intervals a glim- mer of light shone from the beach. Louis paused and listened ea, intently our breathing was distinctly audible. A vague murmur -of low voices—lilee the "talking of the trees" in Little Fellow's language—floated up from the river; and in the moonlight I saw Laplante laugh noieeleeely. Trees stood farther apart on the elate and brushwood gave place to a forest of ferns, that concealed 'us in their deep foliage; but the thick growth also hid the enemy, and we knew not at what moment we might emerge in full view of the camp. So we stretched out flat. spying throegh the fern etalk s before we parted the stems to draw marselves on a single pace. Presently, the mur- mur separated into distinct voices, with much low laughing and the bitter jeers that make up Indian mirth. We c.ould hear the crackling a the fire, and wormed forward like caterpillars. There was a glare of light through The ferns, and Louis stopped. We all three pulled abreast of him. 'Lying there as a eat watches a mouse, we parted first one and then another of the fronds till the Indian encampment could he clearly 'seen. "Is that the tribe?" I whispered, but Louis gripped my arm in a vice that fonbade speech, The camp was not a hundred feet away. Fereehlazed in the centre. Poles were up for wigwams, and already skins had been overlaid, .completing several lodges, Men lay in lazy atti- tudes about the .fire. Squaws were taking what was left of the evening meal and slave -women were •putting things to eights for the night. Sitting apart, with hands tied, wereother slaves, chiefly young women taken in some recent fray and not yet trusted unbound. Among these was ane bet- ter ,clad than th.e others. Tier wrists were tied; but her hands managed to conceal her face, which was ,bowed low. In her lap was a sleeping child. Was this Miriam? Children were with the other captives; but to my eyes this woman's torn shawl appeared reddish in the fire glow. "Let's go boldly up and offer to buy the slaves," I suggested; bet Lotus' ,grip tightened forbiddingly and Little •Fellow's forefinger pointed towards a big ereatuce, who wets or- deriag the others about. 'Twas a wo- man .of giant, bronzed forrn, with the bold stride of a conquering •wenrior and a tropby-decked belt about her waist. The fire shone against her gir- dle and the stones in the leather strap glowed lback blood-eed, Father Hol- land breathed 020 one word in my ear, "Agates;" and the fire of the wed stones 'flashed like some mystic flame through my being till brain and heart were hot with vengeance and my hands burned as if every nerve from palm to finger-tips were a blade point reaching out to destroy that createre of cruelty. "Diable's squaw," I gasped out, be- side myself with anger and joy. "Let me but within arm's length of her—" "Hold quiet," the priest hissed low and angry, gripping my shoulder like a steel winch. '"Vengeance is mine,' said the Lord! See that you save the white woman! Leave the evil -doer to God! The Lord's with us, but I tell you, don't you bungee!" "Bungle!" I could have shouted out defiance to the Whole band. "let go!" I ordered, trying to struggle up; for the iron hand gall held me „"Let go, or I'll—" But Louis Laplante's palm was forcibly slapped across my mouth and his other hand he laid significantly on his dagger, giving me one threatening look. By the fire light I saw his lips mechanically counting the numbers of the enemy and mechanically I audited his count. "Twenty men, thirty squaws and the slaves," said he under his breath. An Indian left the fire and ap- proached the captives. "See! Watch] le that woman Miri- am?" demanded the priest. "She'll take her hands from her face now." 'Of' couree it is!' I was furious at the restraint and hesitancy; but as I said before, the experienced intriguer proceeds as warily as a cat. "You not sure—not for sore—no," muttered Laplante; and he was right. With the forest shadows across the captives, it was impossible to dis- tinguish the color of their faces. Taking a knife from his belt, the Indian cut the cords of all but the wo- 111213 with her hands across her face. se, girl brought refuse of food; but this woman took no notice, never moving her hands. Thereupon the young 5 quaky eneered and the Indian idlers jeered held in harsh, strident laughter. This roueed the big squaw. She strode up, Little Fellow all the while with glistening teeth following her mo - as a cat's head turns to a mouee. With the flat of her hand she struck the client woman, who leaped up arid ran to a wigwam. In speechless fear, the child ,had scrambled to its feet and backed away from the angry group towards the ferns; but the light was fitful and shadowy, and we could .rec- ognize neither woman, nor child, "I cant t d s an this any longer, I declared. "I must know if that's Miri- am. Let's draw closer." Father Holland and I crawled steal- thily to the very border of fern growth, Louis and, the Indian lying still and muttering over some action. "Hist," said the priest, "We'll try the child," Unlike naked Indian children, the little thing had a loose .garment ,band- ed about its waist; ,but its feet were bare and its hair as raven ,black as that of any young savage. It stood like some woodland elf in the maze oi heavy sleepiness, at each harsh word from the camp, sidling shyly closer to our hidin.g-place. We dragged for- ward till I could have touched the child, but feared to startle it. Putting his bend out slowly. Fa- ther Holland caught the little .crea- tare's arne It gave a start, jerked back and looked in mete wonderment at •our strangehiding,place. "Pretty boy," crooned' the priest in low, coaxing tones, gently tightening ins hold.. "Is it whiter I vvidsperecl. "1 can't see." "Goad little man," he went on, slowly folding his hands 'about it. Drawing quickly .back, he lif ted the child completely into his arms. is boy sleepy?" he asked. "Call ,him 'Eric," I 'urged. Is Eric sleepy?" The .child's head 'fell wearily against the priest's shouider. Snuggling elos- er, 'he lisped iba•ok in perfect English "Eric .tired." At once once Father Holland's free hand ,caught nty arm as if he feared I might reset out. For a moment neither of us spoke. Then he said, ''1Give me your .coat." I ripped ,off my a:moleskin smock, Wrapping the sleeping boy .a.bout, the priest 'laid him gently among the ferns.. "Where's the mother?" asked Fath- er Holland with a .catching intake of breath. I pointed to the wikeram. The big squaw had come out, leaving Miriam alone and was engaged in noisy dis- pute with the men. ,Louis and 'Little Fellow had now wriggled abreast of "Ha, ha, mon' brave—youe time, it come nowt You save the white wo- man! I pay my .devoirs to the lady, ha, ha—I owe her much—I pay you both back with one stroke, one grand stroke. Little Fellow, he watch for spring sunprise land belp us both! Swoop—snitch—snatch—snap her up! 'Tis done—tra-lal" °and Louis drew up for all the world !like a tiger about to spring, 'but, the priest drew him down. "Listen," commanded the church- man, in the slow, tense way of one who intended to be obeyed, "111 go back and come .up by the beach. I'll browabeat them and tongue -whack them for having slaves. They'll offer to fight; so'll I. They'll ell run down; that's your chance. Wait tiff they all go. I'll make them, every one. That's ,your chance, You rush! Try that! If it fait, in the name of the Lord, have y'r weapons ready—and the Lord be with us!" "They'll Idll you," I protested, "Let me go!" "You? What about Frances?" "Pah!" said Louis. "I go myself - 1 trap -1 snare ern'—" "Hush to ye, ye braggart," inter- rupted the priest. "Gillespie is a Iflab- by as dough from an illness. 'Tis here you sit quiet, and help with Miriam as ye'd save y'r soul! Plowld ,clown with y'r bouncing nonsense, lad, and the saints he with ye; Lor it's a fight there'll be, and there is the fightin' stuff of a soldier in ye! Never turn to me—mind ye never turn to help rn.e, or the curse of the fool he on y'r head —anel the Lord be with us!" 'Amen." But I spoke in vacancy. While a rising wind set the branch- es overhead grating noisily, he had risen and darted away. Louis La- plante, contrary to the priest's orders, also rose and ,disappeared in the woods. Little Fellow still lay by me, but I could not rely on him fof intelli- gent action, an.d there came over me that sense of aloneness in danger, evhich I knew so well in the Mandane country. The, child's .slightest cry might alarm the camp, and I shiver- ed when Ile ,breathed heavily, or turn- ed in his sleep. The Indians might miss the boy and search the woods. Inetin.ctively my hand was on my pis- te!. It was well to be as near Miriam's tent as possible; and I, too, took ad- vantage of the wind to change my place.. I moved back, signaling the Indian, to follow, and skirted roend the open till I was .directly opposite Meciam's wigwam, Why had Louis gone off, and why did he not come back? Had he gone to keep secret guard over the priest, or to decoy the vigilant Sioux woman? In his inten- tions I had confidence enough, but not in his judgment. At that moment my speculations were interrupted by a loud shout from the beach. Every In- dian in camp etarted u,p as if hostiles had titteredtheir war -cry. "Hallo, there! Hallo! there!" .called the priest. Indians dashed to the river, while Ibedraggled scalaws and naked children .rushed from wigwams and stood in clamorous groups be- tween the lodges and the water. The to,prnost branches of the trees swayetl back and forward in the wind, altern- ately throwing shafts of moonlight an.d shadows across the opening of Miriam's wigwam. When the light flooded the tent a solitary, .whiteefaced form appeared in dark, sharp outline. The 'hare arms were tied at •the wrists, and beat aimlessly through the darkness. And there was a sound of piteous weeping. Should I make the final, desperate dash now "Don't bungle His plans," came the priest's warning; and 1 waited. The squaws were very near; and the angular figure of Diable's wife hting on the rear of the group. She n -as scalding like a termagant in the Sioux tongue, ordering the other woinen to the °fray; but still she kept back, looking over her shoulder sits- aiciausly st Miriam's tent, uncertain whether to go or stay, ,Wle had failed in every other attempt to rescue Mir - lam,, If the Lord—as the priest be- lieved—had planned the sufferer's aid, His instruments 'had iblund.ered bad- ly. There 1110St be no more feeble - fingering. "Thieves! Thieves! Cutethroats I" bawled Father Holland in a storm of abuse. "Ye rascals," he thundered, cutting the air with his stick and pur- posely .backing away from the camp to draw the Indians off. Then his voice was lost in a ehorus af shrill screams. The moonlight .shone across tbe vvigwein opening. The captive had heard the 'English tongue, and was listening. 13,ut the Sioux squaw had. also heard and recognized the voice of a former prisoner. She ran forward a pace, then hesitated, looking back doubtfully. Al she tuened her heed, out front the gloom of the thicket with the leap of a lynx, lithe and swift, sprang the, crouching form of Louis Laplante, I felt Little Fellow all in a tremor eley my side; the tremor not of fear, but of the .couch - ant panther; and he uttered the most vicious snarl I have aver heard from human throat Louis alighted neatly and noiselessly, directly behind the Sioux woman. She must have feet 'his presence, for she turned round and round expectantly. Louis, silent and elusive as a shadow, circled about her, tripping from side to side as she turned her head,. 'But the ,fire ibetrayed him. She had wheeled towards the forest as if spying for the unseen pre- senee among the foliage, and Louis deftly dodged ,behind. The move put him between the fire and his antago- nist, ated the full profile of his 'queer, .bending ,figure was shadowed clear past the woman. She turned like some vengeful, malign goddess, and I thought it 'ell up with with the <taring trapper; but he doffed his red toque and swept the advanoing fury the low bow of a French •caurtier. Then he drew himself erect and laughed insol- ently in the woman's face. His care- less assurance allayed her suspicions. "10h, 'tie you!" she growled. "'Tis 1, fleet -foot, winged messen- ger, humble slave," laughed Louis, with another .grotesque bow; but the rogue had cleverly put himself be- tween the squaw and iMiniarn's tent. I should have rushed to Miriam's rescue long sinee, instead of watching this ,by-play between trapper and mountain ,cat; Ibut as the foray waxed hotter with the priest, the young braves had run back to their tents for guns and clubs. "Stand off, ye scoundrels," roared the priest, in tones of genuine anger; for the Indians were closing threaten- ingly about him. "Stand ,back, -ye knaves, ye sons of Satan," and every soul b.ut Louis Laplante and the Si- oux squaw ran with querulous shouts to the river. "Cruel!. Cruel I Cruel!" sobbed a voice from the wigwam; and there was a straining to +break the 'thongs which bound her. 'Cruel! Cruel! Haat Thou no pity?. 0 my God! Haat Thou no pity? Shall not a sparrow fall to the ground without Thy knowledge? Is this Thy pity? 0 my God!" The voice broke in a torrent of heart -piercing cries. I could endure it no longer. "Have at ye, ye villians! Come out like men! Now, me 'bhoyss, show the stuff that's in ye! A fig for y'r valor if ye fail! The curse o' the Lord on the coward heart! Back with ere, ye red ,divils! Out with ye, Refuel The Lord shall deliver' the captive! What, 'an 'weld ye dare strike a servant o' the Lord.? iLet the deliverer appear. I say," he shouted, Weaving in cont mande to us as he dealt stout blowe about him and receded down the river ban k. 'Take 'Shat—and that—and that," I heard him shout, with a rat - rat -too of sharp thuds from the staff accompanying each word. Then I knew the quarrel on the beach was at its height; and Louis Laplante was still foiling the Sioux's approach to Miriam's wigwam like a deft fencer. "Follow me, Little Fellow," I com- manded. 'Have your knife ready," and I had not finished speaking when three shrill. whistles 'came from Louis. 'Twas Isis old-time signal of danger. Above the hub-lbub at the river th.e Sioux squaw was screaming to the braves. Bounding from concealment, I tore off the layer roofing of the wigwam, plunged °through the tapering pole frame, shaking the frail lean-to like a 'loose of cards, and was beside Mir- iam, Again I heard Louis' whistle and again the squaw's angry scream; but Little Fellow had followed on my heels and stood with knife.' -blade glit- tering bare at the tent-ent?ance. "Hush,"- I whispere.d, slashing my dagger through . the thongs around. her hands and cutting the -rope that held her to Ile central stake. "We've found ,you at last. Gomel Comet" and I caught her up, "0 my God!" she cried. "At last! At last! Where is the child? They have taken little Eric!' We have him safe! His father is wailing! 'Don't hesitate, Miriam!" 'Rem Little ;Fellow," I ordered, "Across the camp. Get the child," and I. sprang from the wigwam, which .crashed to the ground behind me. I had thought to save skirting the woods by a sun across the 'camp- ing -ground;, hut when my Indian clashed for the chffd and the Sioux saw me undefended with the white woman in my earns, she made a des- perate lunge at ILaplante and called at the top .of her voice far the braves Louis, with weapons in .hand, still kept between the fury and Miriam; but 1 thirslc his Feetech chivalry Must have been restraining hint. 'Though the Sioux offered him many oppoe- tunities and was doing her best to sheathe a knife in his heart, he seem- ed to refrain from using either dag- ger or pistol. An insolent laugh was on his lace. The life-and-de‘ath game which he was playing was to his dar- ing spirit something novel and amusing, "The lady is—pertunbed," he laugh- ed, dodging a thrust at his neck; "the fences wide, tra-la," this as the barrel th his pistol parried a 'drive of 'her knife; "she hits afar—ho--ho—not so fast my fury—not so .furious, my fair, —zipp, he—ha—ha—another miss— another miss—the lady's a-mis.s," f or the egnaw's weapon stnuck .fire against his own, "Look out for the braves, have a care," I shouted; for a dozen }melee backs were running up behind to the woman's aid. "Ha—ha-emenez garde—my tiger - cat has kittens," he laughed; andhe looked over his sboulder. That backward look gave the fury her opportunity. In the tfirelight ,blue steel flashed bright. Th.e Frenchman reeled, threw up ids arms, and fell. Otte sharp, deep, broken draw of breath, and with a laugh on his lips, Louis Laplante died as he had 'lived. Then the tiger -cat leaped over the dead form at Miriam and me. What happened next I can no more set down consecutively than I can distinguish e the parts in a. .confused picture with a red -eyed fury striking at me, naked Indians brandishing war -clubs, flashes of powder smoke, a circle of gesticulating, screeching dark .faces in the background, my In- dian fighting .like a very 'fiend, and a pale -faced woman with a littlecurly- headed boy at her feet standing against the woods. "Run, Monsieur; I keep bad In- dians off," urged Little Fellow. "Run —save white squaw and papoose— run, Monsieur," NOW, whatever may he said to the contrary, however breve tsvo men may +be, they cannot stand off a horde of armed savages. 1 let go my whole pistol -charge, which sent the reel de- mons to a distance and intended dash- ing- for the woods, when the Sioux woman pm her hand in her pocket and hurled a flint head at Little Fel- low, The brave Indian sprang aside and th.e thing fell to the ground. Wadi It fell a crumpled sheet .of paper. I heard rather than saw Little Fellow's crouching leap. Two forms rolled over and over in the camp ashes; and with 'Miriam on my shoulder and the child under the other irmo I had dashed into the thicket of the upper ground. Overhead tossed the trees in a swelling wind, and up front the shore rushed the din of wrangling tongues, screaming and swearing in a clam& of savage wrath. The wind grew more boisterous as I ran. Behind the In- dian cries died faintly away; but ,still with a strength not my own, always keeping the river in .view, and often mistaking the pointed hranches, which tore clothing and flesh front' head to feet, for the hands of enemies. fled as if wolves had been pursuing. Again and again eobbed Miriam— '10, my God! At last! At last! Thanks be to God! At last! At lastl" We were on a hillock above aur camp. .Petting Miriam down, I gave her my hand ancl carried the child. When I related our long, futile search and told her that Eric was waiting, agitation overcame her, and I said no more till we were within a few feet of the tents. "Please wait." I left her a short distance from the .camp that I, might go and forewarn Eric. Frandes Sutherland met me in the way and read the news which I could not speak. "Have you—oh—have you?" she asked. "Who is that?" an.d she point- ed to, the child ha my arms. "Where's Hamilton? Where's your father?" I demanded, treenbling front exhaestion and all uodone. "Mr. Hamilton is in his tont prim- ing a gun. Faeleer is watching the river. And oh, Rufus! is it reality so?" sh,e cried, catching sight of Miriam's stooped, ragged figure. Then she dart- ed past me. Both her arins encircled Miriam, and the two .began weeping on eachother's shoulders after the fashion of women. I heard' a cough inside 'Hamilton's tent. Going forward, T lifted the can.' vas flap and found Eric sitting gloom - PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical SEAFORTH CLINIC Del, E. A, IVIciVlaster, MB., Gradu- ate of University a Toronto. J. D. Colquhoun, M.D., C.M., 'Grad- uate of 'Dalhousie University, Halifax. The Clinic"is fully equipped with, complete end modern x-ray end other up-to-date 'diagnostic and thereuptic equipenent; Dr. Margaret, K. Camp.bell, leLD,, L.A.B.P., Specialist in Diseases 121" :Infants and Children, will be at the 'Clinic last T,hursday in every month *bra 315o '6 p.m. Dr. F. J. R. Forster, Specialist in, Diseases .of th.e Esc, Ey.e, Nose and Throat, will be at the Clinic the fiost Tuesday in every mental, from 4 to 6 p.m. Free well -baby clinic will he held on the second and lest Thursday irr every month from 1 to ogn. . W. C. 'SPROAT, RA:C.S. Surgery Phone 90-W. iOffice John St., Seaforth DR, H. HUGH ROSS, Physician and Surgeon Late of London Hoe- pital, London, England. Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose atel throat. ()Mee and aesidence behind Dominion Ban'k, Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104. DR, F. J. R. FORSTER— Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 11997, Late Aesistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and 'Golden Square throat .hospi- tals, London. At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday M each month from 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Auctioneer. GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AH'REtNS, Licensed Auetiot eer far Perth and Huron Counties. Sales Solicited. Terms on Application. Farm Stock, chattels and redl estate property. R. R. No. 4, Mitchell, Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office. WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in 'First -Class Companies. THE illicKILLOP Mutual Fire Insurance Co HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont. OFFICERS President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice President, William Knox, Lon,desboro; Secretary Treasurer, M A. Reid, Seaforth. AGENTS F. MoKercher, R.R.11, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brucefield; E. R. G. jarmouth, Brodhagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine; Wen. Yeo, Holmesville. . DIRECTORS .Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No. .3; James Sholdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, ' Londesboro; George Leonhard% Bornholm No. 1; Frank IvloGregor, Clinton No. 5; James Connolly, God- erich; Alex McEwing, Blyth No, 1; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth No. 5; Wm. R. Archibald, Seaforth No. 4. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their respective post - offices. ily on a pile of robes. "Eric," I cried, in as steady a voice as I ootild command, which, indeed, was shaking sadly, and I heect the child back thee Hamilton might not see, 'Eric, old man, I think at Jest we've run the .knaves down." "Hullo!" he exclaimed with a start, not knowing what I had said. 'Ave you men back? Did you find out anything?" "Why—Yes," said. I: "we found this," and I signalled Frances to bring Miriam. This was do way to Iprepare a man for a shook that might unhinge rea- son; but my mind had became a vac - aunt and the warm breath of the child nestling about my neck ,brought a mist before my eyes. " 'What did you say you had (Concluded on next page:)