The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-07

snow.
He pointed to the opening, and in bro
ken English directed her to go in and re-
main there until either he or some of his
friends should come to take her away.
She obeyed without moments hesita-
ton, and after carefully folding the
blankets around her form, he stepped a
few feet to one side, and carefully rails
ing a eoverlet of snow-crust placed it
over the aperture. 1t had been 30 skill
fully cut that it fitted with precision,
and no one passing would have suspected
the artifce.
Bidding the girl good-by, the Indian
took the back trail for the purpose Of
communicating with the whites that he
knew were in pursuit, and Informing the
father of the trick which had been played
for the rescue Of his child.
The Indian who had executed this
clever stratagem had told his comrades
dnring the evening that he intended to
rise before the day and pursue the same
course in advance Of them for the purpose
of killing deer, as the party were in
want of food. In addition to this he in
formed 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 en-
camped again.
When morning dawned the war party
were astir, and the girl still lying motion
less, one Of the Indians carefully raised
what he supposed to be her body, swathed
in blankets, and placed it on the sled. 1t
was trifing labor for them to pull the
load along, as they continued their jour
ney northward.
The party halted about noon, when
one of the Indians drawing the sled be-
gan to wonder at the still form, which he
had not seen move or give the least evil
dence Of life. Drawing the blankets
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 pre-
ceeding night. They approached the
place very stealthily, for they believed
it more than probable that the whites,
led by their late comrade, were in the vi
cinity. The Chief, in stopping posture,
and with the hammer Of his rifle raised,
crept within few PAGES of the spot where
hehad lain the night before. Seeing moth
ing suspicious, he made signal to his
companions, who Immediately gathered
around him.
No whites were In tho vicinity, and
the Indians were disappointed Of the ex.
pected encounter. They wandered hither
and thither, striking their tomahawks in
the few trees which were scattered here
and there, threatening all kinds of ven
geance upon their enemies, and upon
their own comrade, should he fall into
their power.
The chief stood with folded arms fully
a quarter of an hour, endeavoring tc
solve the mystery Of the captive's disap-
pearance. Finally he motioned to one Of
the Oldest warriors to come to his side. A
short conference followed, and then al
the suggestion of their leader, the Indiar
Frustrated himself upon the snow, and
endeavored, like the bloodhound to seem
the footprints Of their treachorous
brother.
Their progress was tardy, but 1t 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 place of her retreat
Scanning the fallen tree for few mo
ments and finding nothing suspicious
the chief and several others struck theil
tomahawks upon it, and Immediately
discovered that it was perfectly SOUND
and solid.
Completely mistiAed, the chief sat
down upon it within half dozen feet Of
where the trembling girl was concealed
while Others, passing hither and thither
frequently trod still closer.
Marian Hamilton, when left by hel
Indian friend, remained anxious and ex.
pectant for several hours; but finally she
fell asleep, from which she was awakened
by the trampling upon the snow-crust,
apparently directly over her head. She
was sure that her father and friends had
reached the place and were looking fol
her. Believing that they had some diff,
Guilty in finding the exact spot of hei
concealment, she concluded to call them,
Softly she repeated the one word:
"Fatherl"
The chief, who was sitting upon the
log, sprang up as If bitten by rattle
snake, and gazed about him with be.
wildered look.
He and several of the nearest warriors
heard the voice, but could not divine its
source. While they stood in doubt and
bewilderment, again came the word:
! "Fatherp
4 The Indians looked startled and
alarmed, half believing that it was SUI
pernatural voice which they heard; but
something like grim smile crossed the
face of the chief. He had penetrated the
secret.
Creeping forward on hands and knees
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