Page:War Drums (1928).pdf/191

 All were armed with rifles, two carried steel hatchets, while the others bore tomahawks of stone. They were unmounted, for the Congarees were too poor to own horses, and they carried on their backs the bundles of skins that they would barter in Charles Town for taffai rum.

Recognizing Pearson, they stopped and made as if to show the pelts that they carried, hoping to get their rum at once instead of trudging the weary miles to Charles Town; but Jock, knowing the Congarees of old and aware that few skins of value would be found in their bundles, bade them roughly get on and clear the road. It was just after they had passed that Jolie beckoned Lachlan and he rode forward and joined her.

"Your warriors," she said, "Striking Hawk and Little Mink. I have not seen them this day. Where are they?"

"Little Mink is ahead of us, Mam'selle," Lachlan told her, "and Striking Hawk follows in our rear."

"But why?" she asked.

"You are not travelling the safe roads of England," he replied. "Here it is well to know who comes on the Path in front of you and who follows on the Path behind."

Her eyebrows lifted. "Did you know that those Congaree Indians were coming?" she inquired.

Lachlan nodded.

"A logcock called from the woods in front of us some minutes ago," he said. "It was the voice of