Richland beacon., 1880-08-28

them.
They turned back on their trail, and,
just as night was closing in, reached the
place where they had encamped the pre-
celing night. They approached the place
very stealthily, for they believed it more
than probable that the whites, led by
their late comrade, We're in the vicinity.
The chief, i'll STOPPING posture, and
with the hammer cf his rifle raised, crept
within few PAGES of the spot where he
had lain the night before. Seeing moth
ing suspicious, he made signal to his
companions, who Immediately gath
cred around him.
No whites were i'll the vicinity, and
the Indians were disappointed Of the ex-
pccted encounter. They wandered hither
and thither, striking their tomahawks in
I the few trees which We're scattered here
and there, threatening ali 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 endeavoringto to solve
| .hc mystery of the captive's disappear
ance. Finally he motioned to one Of the
Oldest warriors to come to his side. A
short conference followed, and then, at
! the suggestion of their leader, the In
dian prostrated himself upon the snow,
! and endeavored, like the bloodhound to
scent the footsteps Of their treacherous
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 beer 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 or few mo-
ments and finding nothing supicious,
the chief and several others struck
their tomahawks upon it, and imme-
diately discovered that it was perfectly
sound and solid.
Completely mystifed, 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 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 place and were looking
for her. Believing that they had some
difficulty in finding the exact spot Of
her concealment, she concluded to call
them. Softly she repeated the one word
Father ~
The chief, who was sitting upon the
log, sprang up as if bitten by rattle
snake, and gazed about him with Il be-
wildered look.
He and several of the nearest warriors
had heard the voice, but could not
, divine its source. While they stood III
doubt and bewilderment, again came
the word:
Father
The Indians looked startled and
alarmed, half believing that it was a
supernatural voice which they heard
but something like grim smile crossed
: the face Of the chief He had pene.
trated the secret
4 Creeping forward on his hands aDd
{ knees, he carefully sounded the crust in
: front of him until it gave back pecul-
E lar hollow sound-proof that he had
l discovered the retreat of their captive.
Striking harder blow upon the shell
like crust, it. broke in several pieces, anG
1ne ululIlS PldSc VI "i AA"D'ht'i
WAS laid open to the gaze of the Osages
The girl could recognize nothing IL
the darkness. She only saw the Iarl
forms standing around, but whether
friends or foes she could not tell.
The chief looked at her a moment
i and drew his tomahawk. But at thi:
juncture the sharp crack of rifle broke
(, the stiffness, and the chief tumbled
: headlong into the opening with bulle
through his brain. The next moment
and before the Osa9es could recovel
from their surprise, volley was po'lre'
: into their midst, and such as were no
killed or desperately wounded immedi
ately fled.
, Charles Hamilton, upon reaching tin
settlement, after he had discovered tn,
= abduction of his daughter, procure