Erskine Dale—Pioneer

by John Fox

  XXI

  Erskine had given Black Wolf his life, and the young brave had acceptedthe debt and fretted under it sorely. Erskine knew it, and all hiskindness had been of little avail, for Black Wolf sulked sullenly by thefire or at his wigwam door. And when Erskine had begun to show some heedto Early Morn a fierce jealousy seized the savage, and his old hatredwas reborn a thousandfold more strong--and that, too, Erskine now knew.Meat ran low and a hunting-party went abroad. Game was scarce and onlyafter the second day was there a kill. Erskine had sighted a huge buck,had fired quickly and at close range. Wounded, the buck had charged,Erskine's knife was twisted in his belt, and the buck was upon himbefore he could get it out. He tried to dart for a tree, stumbled,turned, and caught the infuriated beast by the horns. He uttered no cry,but the angry bellow of the stag reached the ears of Black Wolf throughthe woods, and he darted toward the sound. And he came none too soon.Erskine heard the crack of a rifle, the stag toppled over, and he sawBlack Wolf standing over him with a curiously triumphant look on hissaturnine face. In Erskine, when he rose, the white man was predominant,and he thrust out his hand, but Black Wolf ignored it.

  "White Arrow gave Black Wolf his life. The debt is paid."

  Erskine looked at his enemy, nodded, and the two bore the stag away.

  Instantly a marked change was plain in Black Wolf. He told the story ofthe fight with the buck to all. Boldly he threw off the mantle of shame,stalked haughtily through the village, and went back to open enmity withErskine. At dusk a day or two later, when he was coming down the pathfrom the white woman's wigwam, Black Wolf confronted him, scowling.

  "Early Morn shall belong to Black Wolf," he said insolently. Erskine methis baleful, half-drunken eyes scornfully.

  "We will leave that to Early Morn," he said coolly, and then thunderedsuddenly:

  "Out of my way!"

  Black Wolf hesitated and gave way, but ever thereafter Erskine was onguard.

  In the white woman, too, Erskine now saw a change. Once she hadencouraged him to stay with the Indians; now she lost no opportunity tourge against it. She had heard that Hamilton would try to retakeVincennes, that he was forming a great force with which to march south,sweep through Kentucky, batter down the wooden forts, and force theKentuckians behind the great mountain wall. Erskine would be needed bythe whites, who would never understand or trust him if he should staywith the Indians. All this she spoke one day when Erskine came to hertent to talk. Her face had blanched, she had argued passionately that hemust go, and Erskine was sorely puzzled. The girl, too, had grownrebellious and disobedient, for the change in her mother was plain alsoto her, and she could not understand. Moreover, Erskine's stubbornnessgrew, and he began to flame within at the stalking insolence of BlackWolf, who slipped through the shadows of day and the dusk to spy on thetwo whereever they came together. And one day when the sun was midway,and in the open of the village, the clash came. Black Wolf darted forthfrom his wigwam, his eyes bloodshot with rage and drink, and hishunting-knife in his hand. A cry from Early Morn warned Erskine and hewheeled. As Black Wolf made a vicious slash at him he sprang aside, andwith his fist caught the savage in the jaw. Black Wolf fell heavily andErskine was upon him with his own knife at his enemy's throat.

  "Stop them!" old Kahtoo cried sternly, but it was the terrified shriekof the white woman that stayed Erskine's hand. Two young braves disarmedthe fallen Indian, and Kahtoo looked inquiringly at his adopted son.

  "Turn him loose!" Erskine scorned. "I have no fear of him. He is a womanand drunk, but next time I shall kill him."

  The white woman had run down, caught Early Morn, and was leading herback to her tent. From inside presently came low, passionate pleadingfrom the woman and an occasional sob from the girl. And when an hourlater, at dusk, Erskine turned upward toward the tent, the girl gave ahorrified cry, flashed from the tent, and darted for the high cliff overthe river.

  "Catch her!" cried the mother. "Quick!" Erskine fled after her, overtookher with her hands upraised for the plunge on the very edge of thecliff, and half carried her, struggling and sobbing, back to the tent.Within the girl dropped in a weeping heap, and with her face covered,and the woman turned to Erskine, agonized.

  "I told her," she whispered, "and she was going to kill herself. You aremy son!"

  * * * * *

  Still sleepless at dawn, the boy rode Firefly into the woods. At sunsethe came in, gaunt with brooding and hunger. His foster-mother broughthim food, but he would not touch it. The Indian woman stared at him withkeen suspicion, and presently old Kahtoo, passing slowly, bent on himthe same look, but asked no question. Erskine gave no heed to either,but his mother, watching from her wigwam, understood and grew fearful.Quickly she stepped outside and called him, and he rose and went to herbewildered; she was smiling.

  "They are watching," she said, and Erskine, too, understood, and kepthis back toward the watchers.

  "I have decided," he said. "You and _she_ must leave here and go withme."

  His mother pretended much displeasure. "She will not leave, and I willnot leave her"--her lips trembled--"and I would have gone long ago but----"

  "I understand," interrupted Erskine, "but you will go now with yourson."

  The poor woman had to scowl.

  "No, and you must not tell them. They will never let me go, and theywill use me to keep you here. _You_ must go at once. She will neverleave this tent as long as you are here, and if you stay she will die,or kill herself. Some day----" She turned abruptly and went back into hertent. Erskine wheeled and went to old Kahtoo.

  "You want Early Morn?" asked the old man. "You shall have her."

  "No," said the boy, "I am going back to the big chief."

  "You are my son and I am old and weak."

  "I am a soldier and must obey the big chief's commands, as must you."

  "I shall live," said the old man wearily, "until you come again."

  Erskine nodded and went for his horse. Black Wolf watched him withmalignant satisfaction, but said nothing--nor did Crooked Lightning.Erskine turned once as he rode away. His mother was standing outside herwigwam. Mournfully she waved her hand. Behind her and within the tent hecould see Early Morn with both hands at her breast.