by John Fox
XVI
A long time Erskine sat motionless, wondering what ailed him. He hadnever liked nor trusted Grey; he believed he would have trouble with himsome day, but he had other enemies and he did not feel toward them as hedid toward this dandy mincing up that beautiful broad path. With alittle grunt he turned back along the path. Firefly whinnied to him andnipped at him with playful restlessness as though eager to be on his wayto the barn, and he stood awhile with one arm across his saddle. Once hereached upward to untie the reins, and with another grunt strode backand went rapidly up the path. Grey and Barbara had disappeared, but atall youth who sat behind one of the big pillars saw him coming androse, bewildered, but not for long. Each recognized the other swiftly,and Hugh came with stiff courtesy forward. Erskine smiled:
"You don't know me?" Hugh bowed:
"Quite well." The woodsman drew himself up with quick breath--palingwithout, flaming within--but before he could speak there was a quick stepand an astonished cry within the hall and Harry sprang out.
"Erskine! Erskine!" he shouted, and he leaped down the steps with bothhands outstretched. "You here! You--you old Indian--how did you get here?"He caught Erskine by both hands and then fell to shaking him by theshoulders. "Where's your horse?" And then he noticed the boy's pale andembarrassed face and his eyes shifting to Hugh, who stood, still cold,still courteous, and he checked some hot outburst at his lips.
"I'm glad you've come, and I'm glad you've come right now--where's yourhorse?"
"I left him hitched at the landing," Erskine had to answer, and Harrylooked puzzled:
"The landing! Why, what----" He wheeled and shouted to a darky:
"Put Master Erskine's horse in the barn and feed him." And he ledErskine within--to the same room where he had slept before, and pouredout some water in a bowl.
"Take your time," he said, and he went back to the porch. Erskine couldhear and see him through the latticed blinds.
"Hugh," said the lad in a low, cold voice, "I am host here, and if youdon't like this you can take that path."
"You are right," was the answer; "but you wait until Uncle Harry getshome."
The matter was quite plain to Erskine within. The presence of Dane Greymade it plain, and as Erskine dipped both hands into the cold water hemade up his mind to an understanding with that young gentleman thatwould be complete and final. And so he was ready when he and Harry wereon the porch again and Barbara and Grey emerged from the rose-bushes andcame slowly up the path. Harry looked worried, but Erskine sat still,with a faint smile at his mouth and in his eyes. Barbara saw him firstand she did not rush forward. Instead she stopped, with wide eyes, astifled cry, and a lifting of one hand toward her heart. Grey saw too,flushed rather painfully, and calmed himself. Erskine had sprung downthe steps.
"Why, have I changed so much?" he cried. "Hugh didn't seem to know me,either." His voice was gay, friendly, even affectionate, but his eyesdanced with strange lights that puzzled the girl.
"Of course I knew you," she faltered, paling a little but gatheringherself rather haughtily--a fact that Erskine seemed not to notice. "Youtook me by surprise and you have changed--but I don't know how much." Thesignificance of this too seemed to pass Erskine by, for he bent overBarbara's hand and kissed it.
"Never to you, my dear cousin," he said gallantly, and then he bowed toDane Grey, not offering to shake hands.
"Of course I know Mr. Grey." To say that the gentleman was dumfounded isto put it mildly--this wild Indian playing the courtier with exquisiteimpudence and doing it well! Harry seemed like to burst with restrainedmerriment, and Barbara was sorely put to it to keep her poise. The greatdinner-bell from behind the house boomed its summons to the woods andfields.
"Come on," called Harry. "I imagine you're hungry, cousin."
"I am," said Erskine. "I've had nothing to eat since--since early morn."Barbara's eyes flashed upward and Grey was plainly startled. Was there aslight stress on those two words? Erskine's face was as expressionlessas bronze. Harry had bolted into the hall.
Mrs. Dale was visiting down the river, so Barbara sat in her mother'splace, with Erskine at her right, Grey to her left, Hugh next to him,and Harry at the head. Harry did not wait long.
"Now, you White Arrow, you Big Chief, tell us the story. Where have youbeen, what have you been doing, and what do you mean to do? I've heard agood deal, but I want it all."
Grey began to look uncomfortable, and so, in truth, did Barbara.
"What have you heard?" asked Erskine quietly.
"Never mind," interposed Barbara quickly; "you tell us."
"Well," began Erskine slowly, "you remember that day we met some Indianswho told me that old Kahtoo, my foster-father, was ill, and that hewanted to see me before he died? I went exactly as I would have gone hadwhite men given the same message from Colonel Dale, and even for betterreasons. A bad prophet was stirring up trouble in the tribe against theold chief. An enemy of mine, Crooked Lightning, was helping him. Hewanted his son, Black Wolf, as chief, and the old chief wanted me. Iheard the Indians were going to join the British. I didn't want to bechief, but I did want influence in the tribe, so I stayed. There was awhite woman in the camp and an Indian girl named Early Morn. I told theold chief that I would fight with the whites against the Indians andwith the whites against them both. Crooked Lightning overheard me, andyou can imagine what use he made of what I said. I took the wampum beltfor the old chief to the powwow between the Indians and the British, andI found I could do nothing. I met Mr. Grey there." He bowed slightly toDane and then looked at him steadily. "I was told that he was there inthe interest of an English fur company. When I found I could do nothingwith the Indians, I told the council what I had told the old chief." Hepaused. Barbara's face was pale and she was breathing hard. She had notlooked at Grey, but Harry had been watching him covertly and he did notlook comfortable. Erskine paused.
"What!" shouted Harry. "You told both that you would fight with thewhites against both! What'd they do to you?"
Erskine smiled.
"Well, here I am. I jumped over the heads of the outer ring and ran.Firefly heard me calling him. I had left his halter loose. He brokeaway. I jumped on him, and you know nothing can catch Firefly."
"Didn't they shoot at you?"
"Of course." Again he paused.
"Well," said Harry impatiently, "that isn't the end."
"I went back to the camp. Crooked Lightning followed me and they tied meand were going to burn me at the stake."
"Good heavens!" breathed Barbara.
"How'd you get away?"
"The Indian girl, Early Morn, slipped under the tent and cut me loose.The white woman got my gun, and Firefly--you know nothing can catchFirefly." The silence was intense. Hugh looked dazed, Barbara was on thepoint of tears, Harry was triumphant, and Grey was painfully flushed.
"And you want to know what I am going to do now?" Erskine went on. "I'mgoing with Captain George Rogers Clark--with what command are you, Mr.Grey?"
"That's a secret," he smiled coolly. "I'll let you know later," andBarbara, with an inward sigh of relief, rose quickly, but would notleave them behind.
"But the white woman?" questioned Harry. "Why doesn't she leave theIndians?"
"Early Morn--a half-breed--is her daughter," said Erskine simply.
"Oh!" and Harry questioned no further.
"Early Morn was the best-looking Indian girl I ever saw," said Erskine,"and the bravest." For the first time Grey glanced at Barbara. "Shesaved my life," Erskine went on gravely, "and mine is hers whenever sheneeds it." Harry reached over and gripped his hand.
As yet not one word had been said of Grey's misdoing, but Barbara's cooldisdain made him shamed and hot, and in her eyes was the sorrow of herinjustice to Erskine. In the hallway she excused herself with acourtesy, Hugh went to the stables, Harry disappeared for a moment, andthe two were left alone. With smouldering fire Erskine turned to Grey.
"It seems you have been amusing yourself with my kinspeople at myexp
ense." Grey drew himself up in haughty silence. Erskine went on:
"I have known some liars who were not cowards."
"You forget yourself."
"No--nor you."
"You remember a promise I made you once?"
"Twice," corrected Erskine. Grey's eyes flashed upward to the crossedrapiers on the wall.
"Precisely," answered Erskine, "and when?"
"At the first opportunity."
"From this moment I shall be waiting for nothing else."
Barbara, reappearing, heard their last words, and she came forward paleand with piercing eyes:
"Cousin Erskine, I want to apologize to you for my little faith. I hopeyou will forgive me. Mr. Grey, your horse will be at the door at once. Iwish you a safe journey--to your command." Grey bowed and turned--furious.
Erskine was on the porch when Grey came out to mount his horse.
"You will want seconds?" asked Grey.
"They might try to stop us--no!"
"I shall ride slowly," Grey said. Erskine bowed.
"I shall not."