Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-07-20
E. Q. GOODRICH Publisher.

| Tor me. | tried in vain to open converSa-
| ton with them but they pretended not to
understand me, maintaining a dogged ST.
lence At last we reached their village.
| Boys, women, and children thronged around,
heaping opprobrious epithets upon me,
jostling, pelting, splitting upon me, and
shouting IN derision at my bonds. knew
it was useless to talk of mercy--Pd sooner
die than show the white feather and 50 |
took it all cavalierly as if I'd been used to
such things from boy. | was carried
triumphantly to lodge in the centre of the
village, and left to the gaze of the idle and
curious while the old men deliberated about
my fate.
What were my emotions during that ter
rlble day! 1t was one thing to appear
stoical, but not to feel | shuddered to
think of my probable doom and | saw no
hope of avertng it. My Sioux friends, |
doubted not, would hasten to my rescue 4;
but | had seen enough of the strength of
the village, in my hasty passage through
it, to feel certain that its warriors trebled
CLEAN of hope. But | resolved to die as
became me.
At night the lodge was deserted, through
a couple of warriors kept watch beside the
door. After a day of agony | was glad to
find relief even in last troubled sleep; for
felt that | should never enjoy another.
was buried in deep repose, when | fan
cied | heard my name breathed beside me,
and awaking at the sound, started half
up and gazed around me. .. t..
1t was deep in the night; and everything
III the village was silent. The fire had
gone out in the lodge, and its whole inte-
rior was wrapped in darkness. Th} door
was open, and through it solitary star
glimmered i'll the heavens while the dark
form of one of my jailors sat motionless
and statue-like in the dim obscurity | was
about to return to my rude pillow, satisfied
that the sound | had listened to was caused
by my fancy, when | heard my name re-
peated distinctly in whisper at my elbow,
and turning suddenly around | beheld to
my surprise, the form Of Mencateeah AS
tonishment for moment deprived me of
speech, and before | could recover my ut
terance, my companion placed her finger on
her lip, silently motion'ng towards the I'M
movable sentinel at my door at the same
instant, before ! could comprehend her
meaning, she severed the bonds from my
hands and ankles. | started to my feet
with a JOY words cannot explain but
motion from my deliverer again warned me
to be silent She beckoned me to follow
her, and hastily lifting one corner of the
tent, ushered me into the fresh air. Paus-
ing but moment to listen if our escape
had been detected, she again imposed ST.
lence upon me by d gesture and led the
way swiftly and silently out of the camp.
| was too well acquainted with Indian
life not to know that we momentarily ran
the greatest risk of discovery, and that GER
tain death awaited us if surprised in at
tempting an escape. Acute iii ear prompt
in action, relentless in revenge, it was an
act amounting to madness to attempt fly,
ing from our savage foes. As we stole
noiseless through the village, | scarcely
dared to breathe, lest we should arouse the
sleeping inmates within Once, they bay
Of distant dog startled us, and the wind
signing over the prairie was magnified into
the voices of pursuers. Meneateeah still
glided before me, occasionally pausing to
listen, and then stealing softly among the
wigwams towards the outskirts of the vii
lage. Not word as yet had passed be-
tween us and could not account for her
opportune aid. How had she obtained her
liberty? By what means was my prison
house gained unobserved Even amid all
our danger | could scarcely refrain from in
quirlng but my sweet guide always 81
fenced me by the same hurried gesture. We
had just reached the edge of the village,
when suddenly dark figure emerged into
the light 1t was a Pawnee scout return
ing from the prairie. We had scarcely
To do hab nd hn oh ,fa loJC
when he came 50 close that | could have
touched him. felt my companion tremble
violently For moment | held my breath
in agony, but the scout passed us, and was
lost to sight behind the clustering lodges
With thrill of joy we found ourselves in
another instant on the open prairie. A mo-
mentary ejaculation of gratitude to Heaven
burst from my bosom, and then, turning to
my guide, inquired in what manner she
had been enabled to 1ull suspicion and to
come to my aid. .a. y.a
Until this moment Meneateeah had not
uttered word, nor had she scarcely lifted
her eyes from the ground When she did
so now, it was with a timid, uncertain
glance, half in doubt in what manner |
might regard her conduct. The excitement
which had hitherto sustained her had passed
away, and her native modesty began to as
sert it's supremacy Her words, though
soft as music, were trembling and low.
"The Pale Flower she said has done
a great thing in the eyes of the white wor-
rior-has she not? The maiden of his own
land come not to the lodge of their enemy
to set free their warriors, and Meneateeah
should not have done SO, even though she
loved the War Eagle like brother"
No, no. said |, taking her hand the
War Eagle owes his life to Meneateeah.--
The Pale Flower is dear to the white war
rior---what can he do to repay her ~. .t
u 1t is good, then-Meneateeah has not
done wrong ?" said the Indian girl, looking
up into my face, with her dark eyes swim
ming with the tears of joy she could not
repress. .a...3 .. .a.'.r.N p.
"No, my sweet preserver," said | for
no one could have withstood that look /
pressed her to my bosom | kissed away
her tears while she in all her artless hap
piness, leaned upon my shoulder, " But
how did you escape yourself fp'said |, after
few moments silence ; " and when did
you learn | was prisoner. Will the Pale
Flower tell her brother ~ s.. ...f ! l .#
She looked up into my face with glance
of unrpSpryed cOnfdpnca and narrated her