Adventure, December 3, 1920 — page 103: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Scout for Virginia 93 to be took in by such a clumsy trick as that.” “It’s an old trick,” I conceded, taking the moccasin from my shirt. “If it had been any Indian finery I would have kept clear of it. But this happens to belong to Ericus Dale’s girl. She dropped it coming down the slope.” He heard this in astonishment and scratched his head helplessly. “Then I must ’a’ been asleep, or in a —— of a hurry when I come to this slope,”’ he muttered. “And it ain’t just the right kind of a slope to go galloping over. I don’t understand it a bit. They was riding into the settlement when I come out. I called to Dale and askedif he’d seen any Injun signs. He told me he hadn’t seen any. ‘Then that feller Ward come trotting out the woods, looking like a Injun, and I was bringing up my rifle to give him his needings when Dale let out a yelp and said he was a white man. Wal, it’ll tickle the gal to learn how near her moccasin come to killing “The Indian knew it was there and knew we were coming, and used it for bait,”’ I mused. “A five-year-old child would know that,” was the scornful rejoinder. “But what no five-year-old on Howard’s Creek would ’a’ done was to go for to git it after I’d called a halt, You must ’a’ been foolish in your mind. The Injun took a spot where he could line his gun on the moccasin. The growth cut off any sight of the trace ’cept where the moccasin lay. All he had to do was to line it and shoot when you stooped over it. The second he couldn’t see the moccasin he’d know some one’s body was between it and him. He heard you bawl out, but he didn’t git sight of you till you was over it, and by that time my old hoss give youa belt and made you keep on moving.” “He undershot, yet as I was bending close to it he would have bagged me,” I said. “I have to thank you for saving my life.” “Part of a day’s work,” he carelessly ob- served. “Wal, seeing as the skunk has ske- daddled, we might as well push on rather smart and tell the fellers there’s a loose red round these parts.” t WHEN we entered the settlement we saw men and women gathered in front of the Davis cabin, frankly curious to see the newcomers and eager to volley them with questions. I joined the group and through a window beheld Patsy in animated conversation with what women could crowd inside. Mrs. Davis was very proud of her cousin’s daughter and was preening herself considerably. Patsy’s cheeks were flushed and her tongue was racing as only a woman’s can. As she talked I could see she was trying to get used to the table of split slabs and its four round legs set in auger-holes, the pewter tableware Vii and the spoons and bowls fashioned from wood, and the gourds and hard-shell squash hollowed out for noggings. With a slant of half-veiled eyes she also was studying the women’s linsey petticoats and bare feet, for now that it was warm weather many dispensed with any foot-covering. In turn the women were openly examining the texture and style of her town gown, and shrilly calling on each other to come and admire her soft leather boots. I did not see Dale, and Davis informed me he was inspecting the fort. As Ward was not in sight I assumed he, too, was at the fort. Making my way to the window, I caught Patsy’s eye and handed her her lost moccasin. She stared at the moccasin in bewilderment, but what with the newness of her experience and the voluble praise of the women and the open-eyed admiration of the men, she was finely excited. She forgot to ask where I found the moccasin or how I happened to be there. She was in the act of giving me a smile and a nod when Mrs. Davis tugged her to the right-about. Realizing it was useless to strive for the girl’s attention until the neighbors returned to their cabins, I walked to the fort, leading my horse. Hughes was there ahead of me and stood with a group of sullen-faced men. who were being addressed by Ericus Dale. “T say there ain’t going to be any war,” he cried as I took a position behind him. “The Indians don’t want war. They want trade. Take a pack of goods on your horse and walk into a Shawnee village and see how quick = quit the war-post to buy red paint and cloth “Open a keg of New England rum among the Mingos and see how quick they'll drop their axes and hunt for tin dippers. Take blankets and beads to the Wyandots and watch them hang up white wampum. Take ——” “Oh ——! That’s all fool talk!”’ thun- dered Hughes, crowding forward and staring angrily into the trader’s deep-set eyes. can’t lead a pack-hoss fifty miles from this creek without losing your hair, neighbor.” “T can! I will!” wrathfully replied Dale. “T’ve traded for years with the Indians, I never yet went to them with a gun in my hand. If ever I need protection, they’ll protect me. They are my friends. This war is all wrong. You can have it if you insist. But if you’d rather have trade, then you needn’t build any more forts west of the Alleghanies.”’ Hughes laughed hoarsely and called out to the silent settlers: “What do you fellers say to all this twaddle? Any of you believe it?” Uncle Dick, whom I had left whetting his knife on the stones of the Davis fireplace, gave a cackling laugh and- answered: COMIC OOO KS You - (E@)