Adventure, December 3, 1920 — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

A Scout for Virginia there came the voice of her father, loudly ad- dressing the settlers. “You people ought to wake up,” he was saying. “Was it your rifles, or was it trade that stopped an attack on these cabins night before last? When will you learn that you can not stop Indian wars until you’ve killed every Indian this side the mountains? Has there ever been a time when you or your fathers could stop their raids with rifles? Well, you’ve seen one raid stopped by the influence of trade.” As he paused for breath the girl quietly said— “Now, answer me.” And I blurted out: “T don’t have any idea that Black Hoof and his warriors will hesitate a second in sacking Howard’s Creek because of anything your father has said or could say. I honestly believe the Shawnees are playing a game, that they are hoping the settlers are silly enough to think themselves safe. -I am convinced that once Black Hoof believes the settlers are in that frame of mind he will return and strike just as venomously as the Shawnees struck in the old . French War and in Pontiac’s War, after feasting with the whites and making them believe the red man was their friend.” She straightened and drew a deep breath, and in a low voice said: “At last you’ve answered me. Now go!” I WITHDREW from the cabin and from the group of men. Dale’s heavy voice was doubly hateful in my ears. The settlement was a small place. Patsy had dismissed me, and there was scarcely room for me without my presence giving her annoyance. I went to the cabin where I had left my few belongings and filled my powder-horn and shot- pouch. I renewed my stock of flints and added to my roll of buckskins, not forgetting a fresh supply of “whangs” for sewing my moccasins. While thus engaged Uncle Dick came in and began sharpening his knife at the fireplace. “Why do. that?” I morosely asked. “You are safe from Indian attacks now the trader has told the Shawnees you are under his pro- tection.” He leered at me cunningly and ran his thumb along the edge of the knife and muttered: “Tf some o’ th’ varmints will only git within strikin’- distance! They sure ran away last night, but how far did they go? Dale seems to | have a pert amount o’ authority over ’em; but how long’s he goin’ to stay here? He can’t go trapezin’ up’n down these valleys and keep men’n women from bein’ killed by jest hangin’ some white wampum on ’em.” “What do the men think?” “Them that has famblies are hopin’ th’ critters won’t come vack. Younger men want Ior to git a crack at ’em. Two nights ago th’ younkers thought Dale was mighty strong medicine. A night or two of sleep leaves ’em ‘lowin’ th’ creek may be safe s’long as he sticks here. Some t’others spit it right out that Black Hoof is playin’ one o’ his Injun games. If that pert young petticoat wa’n’t here mebbe we could git some o’ th’ young men out into th’ woods for to do some real scoutin’, “If my eyes was right I’d go. As it is th’ young folks keep runnin’ a circle round th’ settlement, lickety-larrup, an’ their minds is on th’ gal, an’ they wouldn’t see a buf’lo if one .crossed their path. Then they hustle back an’ say as how they ain’t seen nothin’. I ‘low some 0’ th’ older men will have to scout.” “T’m going out. Ill find the Indians’ trail and follow it,” I told him. ‘“‘That’ll be neighborly of you. If they chase you back an’ git within stickin’-distance I'll soon have their infards out to dry.” I decided to leave my horse, as the travel would take me through rough places. Shoulder- ing my rifle, I struck for the western side of the clearing. Dale had disappeared, gone into the Davis cabin, I assumed, as John Ward was lying on the ground near the door. I hadn’t seen much of Ward for two days. Davis and Moulton were drawing leather through a tan trough, and I turned aside to speak with them. They noticed I was fitted out for a scout and their faces lighted a bit. “Ward’s been out ag’in and says the reds went north toward Tygart’s Valley. He fol- lered ’em quite some considerable. If you can find any new signs an’ can fetch us word——” “That’s what I’m going out for, Davis. How ne you feel about the doings of night before st?” He scratched his chin and after a bit of hesitation answered: “Wife’s cousin is a mighty smart man. Powerful smart. I ’low he knows a heap bout Injuns. Been with ’em so much. But we're sorter uneasy. More so today then we was yesterday. is most as bad, if not worse, then to have a fight an’ have it over with. Once a parcel of Injuns strikes, it either cleans us out or is licked an’ don’t want no more for a long time. Still Dale has a master lot of power among the Injuns. But we'll be glad to know you’re out looking for fresh footing. Their trail oughter be easy to foller, as there was a smart number of ’em had hosses.” “T’ll find the trail easy enough, and I'll satisfy myself they are still making toward the Ohio or have swung back,” I assured him. “While ’'m gone keep the young men in the woods and post sentinels. Don’t get careless. Don’t let the children wander from the cabins. I’m free to tell you, Davis, that I don’t believe for a second that you’ve seen the last of Black EOPMICLOO© This waiting to see what’ll happen (©)