The Kings Arrow | Page 7

was
upon them. A sledge-hammer drive to the jaw of one sent him reeling
backwards among the trees, while a mighty swinging blow to the right
crumpled up another in the middle of the road. So astonished was the
third at this unexpected attack, and the complete knock-out of his
companions, that he did not raise a hand in their defence. A sudden
terror possessed him, so leaping aside just in time to escape the
whirlwind of a man charging upon him, he ran as he had never run in
his life before.

Dane stood looking after him, and a smile overspread his face.
"Hi, there, you've forgotten the message," he called. "Come back and
get it."
But the man paid no heed. He kept steadily on, and only slowed down
to a walk as he neared the store. Dane next turned his attention to the
other two men. They had both recovered, and were sitting upon the
ground, rubbing their injured faces in the most doleful manner.
"Why, what's the matter?" he bantered. "Did something hit you?"
"Did it?" one of them growled. "Did lightning ever hit a tree? Who in
h---- are you, anyway?"
"Oh, I'm the man with the message. I've got it yet; don't you want it? I
thought you were in a hurry."
As the crestfallen men made no reply, Dane stepped toward them.
"I'll tell you who I am," he began. "I am the King's Arrow. I go where I
am sent, and I hit the bull's eye every time, and hit it hard, too. Do you
doubt it?"
"Good Lord, no!" was the gasping confession from each.
"And let me tell you further," Dane continued, "that as I have dealt with
you now, so others will deal with you in the future if you try any more
of your mean tricks. Perhaps you will not get off so easily then as you
have this time. I know who you are. You are employed by the slashers
to spy upon the King's men, engaged in the lawful business of cutting
masts for his Majesty's navy. They are well named, for they are
slashing everywhere, and ruining the forests. But they have about
reached the end of their tether, and you can tell them so from me, Dane
Norwood, the King's Arrow."
Without another word he turned, and walked rapidly along the road
leading to the mill-pond.

CHAPTER III
CUPID'S ARROW
Before a rude shack, somewhat back from the water, a middle aged
colored woman was seated upon a block of wood. In her hands she held
a waffle-iron, the farther end of which was thrust into a small fire
between several stones. She was a bunty little body, clad in a plain grey
dress, with a cap, somewhat in the form of a white turban, adorning her
head. Her naturally good-natured face bore an anxious expression, and
a worried look appeared in her eyes as she turned them occasionally to
the people moving about farther down the hill.
Presently she drew the iron from the fire, unclamped it, and with
remarkable deftness turned out a nicely-browned waffle into a dish by
her side. She then greased both halves of the pan, filled them with
batter, reclamped the iron and thrust it again into the fire. This she did
several times until the dish was almost filled with delicious-smelling
waffles.
"Guess dey'll suit de Cun'l," she said to herself. "He's mighty fond of
waffles, he shur' is. An' Missie Jean is, too, fo' dat matter. I wonder
what's keepin' dem. Dey's generally on time fo' supper. But, den, t'ings
are so upset dese days dat only de Lo'd knows what's goin' to happen
next."
Then she began to sing in a subdued voice the Twenty-third psalm, the
only piece she knew.
"I hab no doubt about de Lo'd bein' my Shepa'd," she commented, "an' I
guess He'll not let me want. But He hasn't led me into green past'rs dis
time. I wonder if de Good Lo'd made dis place, anyway," and she gazed
ruefully around. "It looks to me as if de deb'l had a mighty big hand in
it, fo' sich a mixed up contraption of a hole I nebber set my two eyes on
befo'. An' to t'ink dat de Cun'l had to leab his nice home in Ol' Connec.,
an' come to a jumpin'-off place like dis. I hope de ever-lastin' fire will
be seben times hot when it gits dem skunks dat stirred up ructions 'ginst
good King George, I sa'tinly do."

A slight noise startled her, and turning her head, she smiled as she saw
a girl standing near her side.
"Land sakes! Missie Jean, how yo' did scare me!" she exclaimed. "I
thought mebbe it was a bear or a tager