Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-03-19


wrapped. When she had obeyed him
he carefully deposited his bundle in its
place, after which he raised the blanket,
and she then saw that it contained
mass of snow, so shaped as to resem-
BILE human form. An idea of the In
dams stratagem now entered her mind.
and she knew that faithful friend was
| at work for her.
Following his guidance, she was led
| through the bushes, about hundred
yards from the fire, to an immense
fallen tree, which had yielded to some
furious storm, where the savage paused.
He pointed to q spot where an upward
curve in the trunk caused it to rise
some distance clear of the snow, under
which was q circular hole cut through
the Grifted snow down to the ground,
in which were deposited several blank
cts, so arranged that she could repose
within without suffering from contact
with the snow.
He pointed to the opening. and in
broked English directed her to go iu
and remain there until either he or
some of his friends should come to
take her away. She obeyed without
moments hesitation, and after careful
ly folding the blankets around her
form, he stepped few feet to one side,
and carefully raising a coverlet OF snow
crust. placed it over the aperture. 1t
| had been so skillfully cut that it fitted
with precision, and NC one passing
would have suspected the artitice.
Bidding the girl good-by, the Indian
| <nnb hn hnok trail for tnA nf
comm unicating with the whites that he
knew were in pursuit, and informing
the father OF the trick which had been
played for the rescne Of his child.
The Indian who had executed this
clever stratagem had told his comrades
during the evening that he intended to
rise before day aud pursue the same
course in advance of them for the pur
| pose of killing q deer, as the party
were in want of food. In addition to
this he informed friend that the girl
appeared so sick and distressed, that if
she did not respond to their call in the
morning, he had better place her on the
small sled which they had stolen from
the settler, and drag her on that until
they encamped again. f.
When morning dawned the war party
were astir, and the girl still lying mo-
tionless, one of the Indians carefully
raised what he supposed to be her
body, swathed in blankets, and placed
it on the sled. 1t was triAing labor
for them to pull the load along, as they
continued their journey northward.
The party halted about noon, when
one of the Indians drawing the sled
began to wonder ut the still form, which
he had not seen move or give the least
evidence of life. Drawing the blank
cts apart. he revealed to the amazed
Osages the trick which had been played
upon them.
They turned back on their trail, and
just as night was closing in, reached
the place where they had encamped the
preceding night. They approached the
place very stealthily, for they believed
it more than probable that the whites,
led by their late comraGe, were in the
vicinity. The chief, in STOPPING pos
ture, and with the hammer of his rifle
raised, crept within few PAGES of the
spot where he had lain the night before.
Seeing nothing suspicious, he made a
signal to his companions, who immedi-
ateIy gathered around him.
No whites were in the vicinity, and
the Indians were disappointed of the
expected encounter. They wandered
hitler and thither, striking their toma-
hawks in the few trees which were scat
tered here and there, threatening all
kixds OF vengeance upon their enemies
and upon their own comrade, should he
fall into their power.
The chief stood with folded arms
fully quarter of an hour endeavoring
to solve the mystery, of the captive
disappearance. Finally he motioned
to one of the Oldest warriors to come
to his side. A short conference fol-
lowed, and then, at the suggestion OF
their leader, the Indian Frustrated him
self upon the snow, and endeavored,
like the bloodhound, to scent the foot
prints of their treaoherous brother.
Their progress was tardy, but it was
sure. They followed the precise direc-
ton taken by Marian and her dusky
friend, and in due time reached the
tree beneath which she had been SO
carefully and skillfully concealed. A
grunt of satisfaction followed, for they
were sure they had found the pace Of
her retreat.
Scanning the fallen tree for few
moments and finding nothing suspi.
cious, the chief and several others
struck the tomahawks upon it, and i'm
mediately discovered that it was per.
fectly sound and solid.
Completely mystifed. the chief sat
down upon it within half q dozen feet
of where the trembling girl was con-
cealed, while others, passing hither
and thither, frequently trod still
closer.
Marian Hamilton, when left by her
Indian friend, remained anxious and
expectant for several hours; but finally
she fell asleep, from which she was
awakened by the trampling upon the
snow crust, apparently over her head
She was sure that her father and
friends had reached the places and we're
looking for her. Believing that they
had some difficulty in finding the exact
! spot OF her cOncealment, she coucl aded
| to call them Softly aha raneatad tl,a