Pete Morrison

The opening scene of the picture shows a pioneer family at work on the finishing touches of their new log house, built upon a section of land upon which they have staked their claim. Jim, the eldest son of the Waymans, has been pa...

On the Warpath

The opening scene of the picture shows a pioneer family at work on the finishing touches of their new log house, built upon a section of land upon which they have staked their claim. Jim, the eldest son of the Waymans, has been paying attention to pretty Betty Price, the only daughter of old Tom Price, a trapper and scout, whose comfortable home is situated within a short distance of the Waymans. Betty, who had had some of the advantages of Eastern schools, but who had foresworn all the pleasures of a social life to be with her father on the frontier, was rather impressed with the handsome young suitor, and at the beginning of our story had made Jim supremely happy by giving him her promise to become his wife just as soon as he was able to clear his own land and provide her with a home. Bright were the prospects of these two young lovers until a shadow crept into their lives in the shape of Bill Horn, a half-breed Indian scout. Through dealings Bill had with Tom Price, he encountered and fell in love with the old scout's beautiful daughter. Confiding his love to her father, he was met with such a stern rebuff that he was careful for some time not to mention the subject, and his visits became less frequent until reports brought him news of Betty's engagement to Jim Wayman. Then all the hatred and jealous rage of his Indian nature came to the surface and he determined to have the girl by fair means or foul. Allying himself with a certain Sioux chief not far from the settlement of the whites, he succeeds by misrepresentation in arousing "Old Whirlwind" and his band of braves to go upon the warpath and destroy the whites, who he claimed were encroaching upon their hunting grounds. His plan was to murder all but Betty, who would thus be in his power to do with as he willed. Before carrying out his plans, however, the half-breed determined to again visit the girl and give her the chance to save her father and her friends by becoming his wife. Watching his opportunity when Betty was at home alone with her Indian maid companion, he unceremoniously entered the house and presented his conditions to the frightened girl. With her dark eyes flashing fire. Betty ordered him out of the house, telling him that her father would kill him on sight when he learned of his vile threats. Seizing the helpless girl in his arms, he attempts to drag her out the door and bear her away, but the Indian girl, hearing the screams of her beloved mistress, rushes into the room and seizing a heavy stool brings it down with all her force upon the unprotected head of the ruffian. Holding him long enough for her and Betty to get away, our heroine springs to her pony and rides at top speed to the home of the Waymans and acquaints them with the threats of the half-breed. Seizing their rifles, the men strike out for the girl's home, determined to defend it against any attacks that might be made upon it by the hostile savages. A friendly Indian, who follows Bill to the Sioux's village, learns of the plan to murder his white benefactors, and hastening to the home of the old scout he informs them of the danger they are in. "Its the girl they are after," the Indian tells them, and advises them to abandon Price's house and retire to the home of the Waymans, where a better defense might be made. Following his advice, they repair to the more secure stronghold find there await the threatened attack. It is not long in coming. In the Indian village the war dance is on and preparations are under way for the contemplated massacre. We next see them on their ponies riding stealthily around the rocks and cliffs, guided over the narrow trail by the treacherous half-breed. Arriving at the cabin of the Prices the bloodthirsty Redskins are not long in finding it empty. Again they take up the trail and are soon in the vicinity of the Waymans' home. Dismounting, they creep quietly over the rooks until they have surrounded the house. In order to expose the inmates of the little cabin to the aim of the murderous band, the half-breed steals to the door and knocks for admittance. The ruse works and old man Wayman opens the door to investigate the noise. A shot rings and he staggers back with a bullet through his wrist. The fight is now on. We are given a view of the interior of the cabin, showing the entire family loading their rifles and firing from the small loopholes that have been provided for such an emergency. Keeping closely under cover, but little damage is done to the attacking party, who keep up a steady fire in order to hide the efforts of the half-breed's purpose to set fire to the cabin. Failing to evade the sharp eyes of the defenders, the Indians abandon the plan for a while and pretend to withdraw from the scene of action. Knowing that their ammunition cannot hold out much longer, young Jim determines upon a desperate mission to obtain help. Bidding all good-bye, he and the friendly Indian, Chico, make a flash for the outside. Evading the shots of the watchful savages, they succeed in getting out of range of their rifles. Hastening with the speed of desperation, the two struggle on over the snow and through the rugged passes of the foothills towards the nearest settlement. Arriving there more dead than alive, they learn of the temporary presence of a troop of cavalry who are on their way to quell any threatening demonstrations of the Sioux, who for some time have been uneasy and restless. Finding them encamped for the night in an old barn, Jim gasps out the story of his family's peril, entreating them to lose no time in going to the rescue. Only a few minutes were spent in getting away, and Uncle Sam's Indian fighters are riding rapidly towards the scene of trouble. Leaving their horses in a gorge near the fight the cavalrymen make their way on foot towards the besieged cabin. Quickly surrounding the unsuspecting Indians, the signal of attack is given, and with a cheer that thrills the blood of the despairing little band, who have been stubbornly fighting for their lives, the boys in blue pounce upon their savage foe, and with a perfect whirlwind of fire pouring from their carbines, completely annihilate the murderous band of bloodthirsty savages. Their arrival was well timed, as the little cabin was in flames and nothing else could have saved the almost helpless victims of the half-breed's treachery. - The Moving Picture World, February 20, 1909

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On the Warpath

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