The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-01-15

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derness.
s.From various signs we knew that we
were rapidly overtaking the wanderers.
and. determined to save some Mt least, II
indeed any would be left, we pushed
forward almost reckless of consequences.
at had been day or even more than
common danger, as the redskins were
securing closely on every side, and more
than once we escaped by the merest
chance.
Late in the afternoon, paused upon
the top of a steep. rugged hill, to wait
for Morgan. who had gone round through
a CANYON on the western side, when sud-
denly the silence was broken by a single
wild YELL or rather scream. rs of one In
agony, which came up from the valley
below where | stood.
NV first thought was of Morgan, but
n moment latter he came hurrylng up
the steep ascent. The moment | caught
sight of his face | knew that he had seen
some terrible tragedy, and his first words
proved my suppostion to be correct.
Great God, Carsonr he said, in
hoarse whisper, there is fearful work
going on down there" and he pointed i'll
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sound a moment before.
There. inst below where We stand.
those poor fellows were camped. They
were surprised, and, | suppose, all cap
tured.
:. Eight of them are tied to stakes,
stripped to the skin, and painted black.
Hear that And again that awful yell
of mortal agony rose up on the still
evening air.
They are torturing them. whispered
Morgan. whose eyes were starting from
his head with suppressed excitement and
rage.
How" asked.
"He shuddered as he told me. The
mode of torture was too horrible even
for me to relate. Suffice it to say that
it was sufficiently terrible to make us
both determine to attempt a rescue at all
hazards.
Might was rapidly falling. In ten
minutes more it would be dark. We
could then act But in these ten minutes
how much devils work these tiends
could do One thing was plain; if any
thing was to be done, it would have to
be stratagem, and not open attack.
Following the way in which Morgan
had come up, we crept down the slope
across a narrow strip of half open ground,
and into thicket that grew along the
bed of small stream, now nearly dry.
1.-The shrieks and groans of the victim
had entirely ceased by the time we had
reached the thicket Not sound dis
turbed the silence as we made our way
through the tangled brake. upon the
further side of which my companion
said the camp lay.
'''rhe redskins were resting We knew,
before beginning the torture of another
victim. Step by step we crawled for
ward, reached the edge of the thicket,
and cautiously parting the bushes. looked
out upon the little clearing i'll which the
camp had been pitched.
I'VE found the Indians busily engaged
in lighting II fire, the wood for which
was already piled mp near ut hand. Two
of them were upon their knees. striking
Il LIGHT from their steel. while the others
stood grouped around eagerly watching
the proceedings.
"'t.levcn all told, whispered Morgan,
handling his six-shooter in Il way that
caused me to press his arm warmly. At
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wood. and Il bright flame lcapcd up,
rapidly spreading over the pile, and IL
Illuminating the whole clearing, so as TO
bring out in bold relief every object it
contained.
And the light of that fire, boys,
brought before my eyes II sight the like
of which | never care to look upon
again.
AS Morgan had said the captives
were eight in number. or rather seven,
for the one nearest us we could see WIS
dead, being held erect only by the tough
cords that bound him to the stake. The
remaining seven were likewise security
dashed to upright posts, their naked
bodies painted IL jet black from head to
heel "A certain sign that they were, one
and all doomed to death by torture.
But it was Il pitiful sight, those seven
helpless mcn-thcir forms worn and
wasted by hardship and starvation till
every bone in their bodies showed be
Meath the backencd skin-looking ut
one another as if asking for help that
they knew or thought could never come
Il do not often lose my head. boys,
but | swear that if no other plan had
opened that night, would nave trleu tllc
Internal devils IL fair stand up fight. AS
for Morgan. it required all | could do
to keep him back long enough to think
the matter over.
AS the fire gathered force. the scene
was more completely revealed.
"Nenr the centre of the clearing stood
the stump of IL large tree. and upon this
was piled the plumber obtained by sack
ing the camp.
a few worn and ragged garments,
some kind of an instrument used Ill sur