The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-08-20

u0noe Vi AHe. DraWlng the blankets
apart, he revealed to the amazed OsageG
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 encanped the pre-
ceding 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 vicinity.
The chief, in a STOPPING posture, and
with the hammer Of 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 in the 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
quarter Of an hour endeavoringto solve
the 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 endeayored, 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 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 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 mystified, 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 r.
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
had heard the voice, but could not
divine its source. While they stood III
doubt and bewilderment, again came
the word:
Father r
The Indians looked startled and
alarmed, half believing that it was a
voice which they heard;
but something like grim smile crossed
the face Of the chief. He had pene-
trated the secret.
Creeping forward on his hands and
knees, he carefully sounded the crust in
front of him until it gave back pecul-
lar hollow sound-proof that he had
discovered the retreat of their captive.
harder blow upon the she'll
like crust, it broke in several pieces, and
the hiding place of Marian Hamilton
was laid open to the gaze of the Osages.
The girl could recognize nothing in
the darkness. She only saw the dark
forms standing around, but whether
friends or foes she could not tell.
The chief looked at her a moment,
and drew his tomahawk. But at this
iuncture the sharp crack Of rifle broke
the stiffness, and the chief tumbled
headlong into the opening with bullet
through his brain. The next moment,
and before the Osaees could recover
from their surprise, volley was poured
into their midst, and such as were not