BLACK FEATHER*
e
By HAROLD TITUS ? ? ? vrrr
? ?
CHAPTER VI ? Continued
He ended with the question di
rected at Standing Cloud and the
old chief rose quickly to his feet,
amidst a growing tumult of voices.
Black Beaver was up, as well, and
crying to be heard, but with a ma
jestic, silencing gesture. Standing
Clopd stayed him and checked the
confusion of voices.
"The little trader has spoken!"
he cried. "The little trader has
said he will do things which we
can see with our own eyes. If the
little trader's medicine is greater
than Black Beaver's will we not be
pleased to see it. my children?"
They would be pleased to see it,
indeed! Cries of approval resound
ed. Short harangues followed. Rod
ney declared that he would start
at dawn, so all might see, and
turned to watch Rickman speak
lowly and energetically with Black
Beaver, urging the magician to
some further strategy.
CHAPTER VII
Night again, and Rodney Shaw
made his simple camp beside the
head-waters of the Laughing Mus
quash.
Camp, for him, meant a fire ana
a cleared place in which to lay his
blanket. Not to lay his body. Just
the blanket. A blanket spread half
upon the ground and mounded
up with branches to the size of a
man's body and the balance spread
across this hummock which would
appear to vengeful eyes in the faint
glow from embers as the figure of
a man asleep . . .
While he smoked In triumph with
the ol'" men last night, he had
watched Burke Rickman's face. He
had seen the man stalk, finally, to
his canoe with defeat gnawing at
his pride. And he knew what to
expect.
Fine opportunity, this, for a trad
er outgeneraled as Rickman had
been I A chance for the attainment
of a triple objective with a single
blow. With Shaw gone, vengeance
would be his, trade would be se
cure for the company beyond any
possible challenge, and with Shaw
unreturned from this errand into
Windigo country, the influence of
Black Beaver, already bought and
paid for by Burke Rickman, would
never again in that generation be
questioned.
Just before sundown Rodney
came to the deposit of white clay.
He filled the square of sheeting he
had brought with him, bound it to a
package with thongs, and, in the
last of daylight, made his camp
which was to be no camp.
At some little distance, back
against the bole of a tree, flintlock
across his knees, he sat down to
await what he told himself might
be the most momentous interval ol
his life. . . *
Rodney, even with the conviction
that his life would be sought be
fore dawn, dozed; wakened . . .
dozed . . . wakened again with a
start.
No sound, and yet an awareness
of near danger spread through him
like fire. He felt the skin of his
back creeping and softly, slowly,
making not the slightest rustle, he
rose to his feet, rifle at ready.
His camp fire still glowed. He
could see, from where he stood, the
blanket folded over its deceptive
pile of boughs. But not a sound. . .
And then suddenly a man stood
before him, an outline of darkness
against darkness. Vague, indistinct,
unreal.
But the click of a hammer was
not unreal 1 It was like a shot itself
in contrast to the silence of the
night and Rodney could discern then
a kneeling figure strained forward
and the faint gleam of light from
the embers was caught on the bar
rel of a rifle as it swung into posi
tion. ,
He went blind with rage for an
instant and heard himself cry out as
the other rifle cracked and he fired
blindly, wildly and knew he had
missed when a gun clattered to rock
and the vague figure swayed and
lunged toward him.
He threw himself forward, grap
pling for the man's throat. A fist
bashed into his mouth, throwing
him to one side. He floundered to
his knees and grappled again. His
hand clutched Rickman's powder
horn and jerked it loose and
dropped it as he swung for better
hold.
Rickman hurled himself on Rod
ney, bearing him down, and they
rolled on the ledge. Fingers had
Shaw's throat, now. holding him
brieJy while the other hand rum
maged for a knife. But Rodney
shook off the grip and prisoned the
fumbling hand; rolled over; was
free. Shaw worked a foot behind
Rickman's, a hip against his hip.
One hand over a shoulder and on
the throat, the other encircling the
man's waist, he heaved with all
his strength and slowly his ene
my yielded, fighting the leverage,
making ragged sounds.
Bat he could not break the hold,
could not stand against it. Ha djd
twist from Shaw's grip ?? ha fell,
though, and went sideways and
down, over the rim of the ledge,
disappearing from sight as Shaw
poised to spring.
With a cry Rickman struck the
water and Rodney, teetering on the
edge, strained his eyes to mark the
place where he would emerge. He
heard, but could not see. The man
gasped hoarsely as he came up but
he began to swim at once.
Seconds passed for Shaw, drag
ging out painfully as the fear that
the man would escape him became
manifest.
"You wolverine I" he cried. "You
dog, Rickman! . . . While a man
sleeps, you'd . .
He stilled his own breathing for
an instant and heard Rickman
crashing through the forest, making
downstream, far enough away to
make pursuit futile.
And now Shaw returned to his
establishment with half a hundred
weight of white, smooth clay in a
package, with hunters trooping
through his gate to stare at this
"That Is the Important Matter,
Major!"
burden and chatter about it and, fi
nally, touch, with old men and
young men overstepping natural
reticence to make voluble protesta
tions of friendship.
That was Rodney Shaw's hour of
triumph. He had discredited the
jessakkid, and more. He had lifted
himself in the eyes of these natives
to a figure that would go down in
song and story.
And in the house of the other
trader was only black and mur
derous despair.
No Indians except thai handful
which had accepted his credits ap
peared before Riclrtnan, to beg to
bacco and wheedle further presents.
The place was all but deserted by
natives and his men went about
the tasks of repair to which they
had been assigned with hushed
voices and frightened glances at the
commander's quarters.
Rickman considered this and
that: night raid, ambush, long waits
for a chance shot from a distance.
None would do. Shaw was no fool.
He would not expose himself or go
unguarded, now. And, in a few
days, his brigade would arrive and
he would have men in plenty to
protect him.
His face writhed in agony as he
thought of those oncoming canoes. A
week of trading and the Pillagers
would be obligated beyond repair.
So long as Shaw lived and was free
to meet and greet hunters ?
So long as the man was free!
Then he stretched, as a man will
who is suddenly at peace after pro
longed trouble. And he laughed.
Rickman sat down after his
laughter, and drew paper and
quill and ink before him and be
gan to write, slowly and at length.
Then, staring through the paneless
window, he saw Conrad Rich
across the enclosure and summoned
him with a shout.
"Yes, Burke?"
"There'll be a canoe leave to
night," the trader said. "Four men.
Select them from the best. An
toine will be in charge."
"A canoe? Tonight? Foi Michili
mackinac?"
"That I And by way of Green Bay.
With the current behind, it will be
a quicker march."
"But . . . but ... I don't . . ."
"No, you wouldn't even guess I It's
this, Rich: the upstart trader is a
fugitive. Back yonder they've only
guessed his destination, it's likely.
This letter to Maclver" ? tapping
the paper ? "it makes guessing un
necessary. And what else it con
tains makes impressive the neces
sity of having the law reach even
to here I"
So a light canoe leff the lake of
the Pillagers and went swiftly down
the Mississippi and on the third day
after its departure Rodney Shaw's
canoes .arrived.
, 5!???* we"> hustled ashore end
h Jt^1' room and Indians
""I*6 hurrying, staring much and
crowding greaUy and talking In
high-pitched, excited voices. Their
Kss Ssxr1 *
? ?stress
thronging the stockade through all
the hours of daylight and for long
after darkness had fallen.
They moved about eyeing this,
fingering that. Little offered wai
new; the great bulk of the goods
were staple, and after the inspec
tion a pipe was lighted and, squat
ted on the floor about Shaw, while
Basile and others brought goods,
the debts were accepted. Tobacco
was passed but Shaw shook his
nirbe7oreWOllld be PaSSed =
For days this procedure was rou
.,e' .ur ?hours at a time Rodney
sat on the floor of his trading room
bargaining, arguing. '
j t^ead, my brother?" he
might say. "Four plus of net
!hreaj' ? That U aU' ^e baU of
thread is the skin. Skin for ulrin
"No, Zhing-wauk. No spirits. No
more than the taste when we end
our trading. At the grand medicine
before 6 ^ thers Plenty. Not
016 ? ^ day foU?wlng
Basile s arrival, few hunters re
mained near the establishment and
Rodney s men were busied with pre
paring the place for the rigorous
seasons to follow. But some Indi
ans remained nearby and among
these was the Weasel, once ejected
from the post but, in this period of
S haws good will toward the band
stockade!*016' tolerated Within
He was given no attention, shoul
dered out of the way, while Shaw
dealt with more dependable individ
ua is.
?=?he? theJ Weasel would seat him
distance and scratch his
back with a stick and lament.
Each day he performed so. but
each night he paddled from his
lodge across the lake to the com
pany fort and met Burke Rickman
and whispered what he had learned
And so Rickman paced his en
a"d drank and fumed and
")^ntef . the tune, reckoned the
miles his letter to Maclver would
be borne that day, estimated the
weeks it would be before the oppo
a 'leader1"' woujd find itself without
??n,0e reached Mackinac.
U> dZIm" m tterr Was handed at last
? P., Maclver. And the Scot,
f"d ?tJler company heads read and
uTin hand.86' ^ minds to 1)16
e limbed the hill and sat
Taw "Jaj?r 011(1 1116 grizzled old
bfttlo veteran 01 many an Indian
than h WaS ,JaJ Iesa comfortable
than he would have been under fire
of hostile savages.
and Protested and
'?a!ed. But he gave in, knowing a
surrender in the field, in such an
instance was a lesser hazard than
a disturbance in Washington, and a
canoe with Capes, the lieutenant,
and four soldiers embarked that
day. the warrant for Rodney Shaw
safe m an official dispatch case.
And then, indeed, the major was
in for it.
Flying up the hill to the fort
Annette Leclere burst in upon the
old soldier. And the major My
deared and There-thered. and paced
before his desk and pulled at his
mustache and harrumped as he ad
mitted that, yes, soldiery was on
the way to bring young Rodney
aw back to answer to a charge of
murder.
"But it is not so, major I It is
common talk in the town that the
thing was infamously gotten up to
delay Rodney! Youj own surgeon
has said the man died from no knife
wound!"
"But the warrant exist* I " the ma
jor thundered. "And Leslie's man
Giles does not deny the story that
Shaw and his employer quarreled
over the goods. What can I do?"?
And his boots went clump, clump,
clump as the lovely Annette dropped
her face into her hands and wept.
And after a time he patted her
hand and his gruff voice grew al
most gentle.
"Therel . . . That's better, my
dearl . . . And what is that in your
hand? A feather? A black ostrich
plume . . . Oh, I did not know it
was some secret I" ? as, flushing
quickly, Annette thrust the remnant
of the black plume into her bodice
and began to talk of Giles . . .
So down the hill again as the sun
sank went Annette, dismayed but
purposeful; and along narrow
streets. And a few who happened
near felt their eves bulge as the
mademoiselle walked alone on the
beach with the gnarled and leath
ery Giles, now an employee in the
great warehouse ...
At midnight the major roused at
the rapping and descended to hi*
door and there was Annette.
"Giles will make affidavit I" she
gasped. "He tells that Leslie gave
his goods to Rodney without reser
vation! He tells before witnesses,
and he will say so to the marshal
and the justice!"
"So all is settled!" boomed the
major. "So when young Shaw re
turns he will be vindicated and free
to?"
"Returns? Returns!" The sharp
ness of her cry, so in contrast to
her look of a moment before,
caused the major to hesitate. "That
is the important matter, major I
That he be not returned! Do you
not understand?" ? with an impa
tient stamp of a tiny foot. "Burke
Rickman is there. If Rodney is
taken from his establishment by sol
diery, even for a brief absence, hia
trade will be gone! It is all Rick
man asks, major! Another message
must be sent, recalling the lieu
tenant and voiding the warrant! "
Annette clasped her hands be
neath her trembling chin in an ec
stasy of hope which went out like a
snuffed candle when the major
threw up his arms in a helpless
gesture. Because, that day, an or
der had arrived calling a detach
ment to Detroit and the garrison
would be so drained of men that
it would be impossible to spare
others for such an errand as was
proposed.
Indeed, he'd write an order to
recall Capes! He'd write an order
that would bring Capes back to his
post without even stops for food
and rest! On his honor, that order
would be something to read; he'd
write an order to peel a man's
ears, but he could not send it. There
was no chance ... no chance
whatever. But let any company or
individual come to him again and
try to wheedle him into pulling
chestnuts from the Are and see
what happened. He'd skin them
alive, he would . . . But this time
nothing could be done. Nothing
whatever . . .
And so, as eastern stars faded,
Annette went slowly down the hill,
cheeks as wet with tears as the
grass was with dew, the black
feather tight in a hand which
clenched desperately.
Nightfall. And a canoe making
its weary way toward Rickman'a
establishment, stared at in the gath
ering dusk by men at the stockade
gate.
"The fort!" came a voice from
the canoe, as paddles ceased dip
ping. "Is this the As tor establish
ment?"
"Yes! Who asks?"
"Capes, from Mack ? "
"Ah, Capes! Capes, at last! Land
here, Capes! Here, you men, help
them! So. Quickly, but easy . . .
Ah, Capes!"
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Faltbooting, New Sport in America,
Is Old in Many European Countries
'An outdoor sport, new to America
but practiced for years in many
European countries, made its debut
in New York recently when a spe
cial train was chartered to take over
200 persons interested in faltbooting
to the Connecticut river to enjoy
the introduced sport.
The faltbo)>t originated in Ger
many, observes Albert Stoll, Jr.. in
the Detroit News. It is a folding
boat which, when assembled, com
bines many of the features of an
Eskimo kayak with Those of our
Indian canoe. It is made of rub
berized sail cloth, waterproof can
vas and sticks, and can be folded
into a couple of bundles about as
large as a suitcase. The "boat" can
be assembled in a few minutes and
holds water-tight compartment (tore
and aft. A cockpit in the center will
hold one or two person*. It has a
low center of gravity and will not
tip easily and can breast rapids,
small fails and white waters found
in swift-flowing streams. It has no
rudder and is guided solely by
double-bladed paddles. For shoot
ing rapids the boat is equipped with
a spray cover forward which can
be fastened around the waists of
the paddlers. An inflated cushion and
back pads absorb the shock of rid- .
ing bounding waves or shooting rap
ids.
The advocates of this sport say
that in Europe the sport has ad
vanced to such a stage that many
rivers have been completely chart
ed and special guide books issued
for faltfoot fans. As a sport it
U exciting and healthful and spills
are frequent, but the boats help
keep the over-turned occupants
afloat until they reach shore or
touch river bottom.
Water enthusiasts should take
kindly to this sport, tor there are
many fine, swift-flowing streams
where faltbooting would be found at
its best.
e
? Science Service.? WNU Service.
Wide Usefulness
of Bags Despite
the Tin Can's Rise
Paper Lining Prevents
Sifting of Contents
By ROBERT D. POTTER
New York. ? The tale of the
tin can's rise to a well-earned
niche on America's family cup
board shelves is well known,
but the advances in another
packaging method ? the bag ?
are little noted. This is because
the bag is seldom used by the
average family except as a tem
porary container from the gro
cery store and possibly for
sugar, salt and flour.
But bags are not "dead" in any
sense, for they still help build the
homes of America and its highways,
as only two examples.
Burlap, commonest fabric for
rough bags, was first imported in
volume from India just before the
turn of the century. With the pres
ent 1-cent-a-pound import tax, bur
lap still is considerably lower in
cost than domestic cotton fabric.
Some Modern Improvements.
Bags have now been so improved
that manufacturers can claim to of
fer any degree of protection from
air, acid, dust, oil, moisture, odors
or vermin.
The crinkled paper linings for
bags allow them to offer serious
competition with rigid containers.
Materials that formerly sifted
through cloth bags can now be
shipped satisfactorily and cheaply.
These lining* permit shipment with
out contamination of the contents
from foreign materials or outside
odors.
Multiwalled bags, first introduced
only a little over a decade ago,
have taken over the greater part of
the world's cement output and vir
tually all the packaging of hydrat
j ed lime and gypsum plaster.
Keeping U|
Ocean Currents Play
Tricks for Mariners
Washington. ? Queer pranks and
conditions played by localized
ocean current rips have been re
ported to the hydrographic office of
the United States navy.
While on a voyage from Balboa,
C. Z., to San Diego, Calif., recently,
the American steamer Jefferson My
ers reported a current rip directly
across its path that had water with
a temperature of 84 degrees Fahren
heit and deep blue in color, on its
south side. On the north side, how
ever, the water was dark green and
had a temperature of only 68 de
grees. Similarly when the ship
passed over the rip the air tempera
ture changed from 84 to 68 degrees.
The British steamer Pentridge
Hill reports, while on a voyage from
Rotterdam to Bio de la Plata, South
America, a current rip in the South
Atlantic that, for five miles of
length, had the appearance of
breakers in very shallow water.
A current rip was described near
the equator in the South Atlantic by
the American vessel Charles Pratt,
which turned the ship's course off
five degrees.
Moon Mountain Changes
Call for Explanation
Washington. ? While astronomical
findings indicate that the moon is
lifeless and, Indeed, probably with
out an atmosphere, there are some
matters of lunar topography that
need more explanation. Appearing
in the magazine Popular Astrono
my, published by Goodeli Observa
tory of Carleton college, are draw
ings made of mountains on the
moon which show changed mark
ings from time to time that must
be attributed to something ? haze,
melting snow, or jets of steam.
Pico, an 8,000 foot peak on the
moon, was the mountain chosen for
study by G. W. Rawstron, amateur
astronomer of Liverpool, England.
Some 48 drawings of the mountain,
made with a four-inch diameter
telescope, show that light and dark
areas on the lunar mountains vary
from time to time.
Penguins Qualify as
Old Southern Family
Washington,? Penguins can easily
qualify as an Old Southern Fam
ily?very much so, since the
place they apparently like best is
the chill-watered region surround
ing the icebound continent of Ant
arctica. Little land is theirs, and
that mostly stones; but after all
penguins need only enough dry
space for their family-rearing ac
tivities. Outside of that, the more
sea the better, from the penquin's
point of view. For the sea means
fish, and fish is what peng uins live
on.
Babylonians Were
Fathers of Science,
Says Orientalist
Knew Much of Medicine
and About Astronomy
By OR. WALDO H. DUBBERSTEIN
The Oriental Institute,
University of Chicago
Chicago. ? Assuredly the an
cient Babylonians deserve the
title "Fathers of Science."
Through 3,000 years of docu
mented history we can trace
their slow steps toward modern
science. We today have no rea
son to feel smugly superior in
our advanced knowledge. The
really hard steps in progress
are the first ones. Those were
taken for us thousands of years
ago.
Four thousand years ago, Babylo
nian surgeons set broken bones,
made major and minor body inci
sions, and even attempted eye op
erations. A pictorial representation
shows the physician with his inev
itable case and bandages.
Sicknesses were known by specific
names, and symptoms were record
ed. Magical and religious elements
of Babylonian medicine are easily
over-emphasized, while honest med
ical prescriptions are overlooked.
There is a reasonable purpose in
Babylonian magic. Once gods and
demons had been accepted, then
charms and incantations for their
control were also necessary. Had
magic been omitted, the patient
would certainly have lacked confi
dence in his physician. It was part
of his professional "bedside" tech
nique. But scores of simple medi
cal prescriptions have no magic in
them. Some even have real medici
nal value.
Mathematics and Astronomy.
Mathematics was obviously prac
tical in a complicated business de
velopment such as Babylonia expe
rienced almost 5,000 years ago. An
cient textbooks offer simple and
complex problems.
In the oldest texts are found addi
tion, subtraction, division, multipli
cation, and fractional numbers.
Square and cube root tables, as well
as multiplication tables, were also
compiled. Even the theorems com
monly ascribed to the Greek Pyth
agoras and Thales, who lived in the
Sixth century B. C., seem to have
been known, empirically at least,
in Babylonia 4,000 years ago.
Astronomy began its climb to
ward a respectable science as an
assistant to that pseudo-science, as
trology. Yet by 2000 B. C. Babylo
nian astronomy had assumed much
of its later form as a practical sci
ence. The necessary adjustment be
tween the lunar and the solar year
was made by inserting extra
months. All this demanded specific
astronomical information. The path
of the sun through the heavens had
been charted through the 12 con
stellations, whose names still sur
vive in our zodiac.
It was their practical compila
tion of observed phenomena, as well
as their discovery of general truths,
that made the Babylonians pioneer
ing scientists! (
New York and Los Angeles
Centers for Television
Hollywood, Calif. ? New York
and Los Angeles are the two
most logical choices for the begin
nings of commercial television
broadcasting in America, report*
the scientific committee of the re
search council of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
here.
The great need for talented ac
tors is a primary reason for this
decision. On the New York stage
and radio and in Hollywood's mo
tion picture studios are the best ac
tors in the country.
Geographically Los Angeles ex
cels New York in its facility for
television broadcasts on the "line
of sight" properties of the televi
sion waves, also reports the commit
tee. While New York and its sur
rounding area can be covered from
towering Manhattan skyscrapers the
city of Los Angeles has its own
natural high landmarks.
Rattles More Used by
Adults Than by Babies
Chicago. ? Almost 5,000 years ago
babies in the old city of Kish in
Mesopotamia were kept happy with
rattles, says Richard A. Martin,
archeologist, of the Field Museum
of Natural History, here. Yet, rat
tles have been used more by adults
than by children in most lands ex
plored by science.
Soldiers in ancient China were
stirred by music of bronze rattles
in military orchestras. African
tribes devised many kinds of rat
tles for use in magical rites. Egyp
tians had a kind of rattle called a
list rum, made of a staff with metal
rings dangling at the end, and used
in solemn religious ceremonies.
American Indians used rattles in
religion and magic.
Rattles unearthed at Kish include
some shaped like goats and hedge
hogs, to catch the babies' eyes, as
well as amusing them with the Jiiv
gla of pebbles inside the hollow toys.
Cutwork That Is
Anything but Work
"Cutwork without bars?" Ex
actly?and that'i the very reason
this lovely Wild Rose design for
doilies or buffet set is so easy to
do. So encouraging, too, for the
beginner who'd like to try her
hand at it. Aren't they life-like ?
these roses? Delicate shades of
pink would be most realistic, of
Pattern 5503.
course, but the pattern is no less
lovely if worked in thread to
match your linen. A refreshment
table set with these would be
most tempting! In pattern 5503
you will find a transfer pattern of
a doilie 11 by 17 "A inches and one
and one reverse doilie 6 by 9
inches; material requirements; il
lustrations of all stitches used;
color suggestions.
To obtain this pattern, send 15
cents in stamps or coins (coins
preferred) to The Sewing Circle
Household Arts Dept., 259 W.
Fourteenth St., New York, N. Y.
Please write plainly your name,
address and pattern number.
Un cle Phll^S.
Yes, Somebody Else
When a speaker abuses mankind
in general, his hearers approve
because they know somebody else
"who is just like that."
Laugh at the world, and the
world will laugh with you.
You don't have to fool all of the
people all of the time. A majority
of one is enough.
To every young maiden mar
riage is a solemn thing; and not
to be married still a more solemn
thing.
Airplanes "drone" and "zoom,"
but no word seems to be perfect
in its application to an airplane's
noise.
Sometimes nothing can beautify
the ugly business district of a lit
tle town but a big fire.
Mlkllhl'JJLil'
Many doctor* recommend Nujol
because of It* gentle action on
the bowel*. Don't confute Nujol
with unknown product*.
INSIST ON GENUINE NUJOl
HOW LONG CAN A
THREE-QUARTER WIFE
HOLD HER HUSBAND?
Y?J
OU hare to work it marri age
? to make a kuccmi of lk Men
ajr be selfish. unsympathetic,
but that's the way they're made
~ * > Ik
i scream. dcm't take it out
on your husband. He can't possibly
know bow you feeL
For three generations one woman
has toid another bow to go " mail
ing through" with Lydia E. Pink
ham's Vegetable Compound. It
helps Nature tooe up the system,
thus lessening the dlsoomforts from
the functional disorders which
women must endure in the three
ordeals of Ufa: 1. Turning from
girlhood to womanhood. 2. Pre*
paring for motherhood. 3. Ap
proaching "middle age."
Don't be a three-quarter wife,
take LYDIA E. PINKHAM'8
VEGETABLE COMPOUND and
Go "Smiling Through."
CLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT
REMEDIES
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