The Iola register., 1882-01-20
BIG THUNDER AND BITING TIGER,

1" It's shame, that what it is, and
/ don't think mothers have got any right
to make boys eight years old tend little
dried-up-looking babies that can't do
anything but cry"
Eddie Barnard's voice expressed the
sympathy he felt for his cousin, Charley
Harnden, when he found him caring for
the baby on that particular Saturday
afternoon they had counted on for put
ting the finishing touches to a large kite
which it was believed would outsail any
other in the village.
"Boys wasn't made to sit round
holdin' babies, and l just wish Doctor
Abbott hadn't brought this one, cause
it's Just done nothing but plague me
ever since it Gomez and Charley almost
shook his little baby brother, who was
sucking his thumb as cOntentedly as if
he hadn't an idea how sadly he was in
the way.
"Pll tell you what we might do, and
then babies wouldn't bother us any
more," said Eddie. as he jumped to his
feet suddenly. "We might turn Injuns,
like two l read of in a book Sam Basset
lent me. We could be reg'lar Injun
chiefs, an 60 out to Chickcommon woods
to live"
At first Charley was delighted with
the idea, and he danced around at great
risk of upsetting the baby entirely; but
q sudden thought clouded his Joy.
"Injuns have wigwams, an squaws,
an ponies, an we can't get any of
them"
"Yes we can; we can catch Tom
Downey's old blind horse an play it was
a pony, an you amt smart if you don't
know where to catch squaw.'
"Where?' asked Charley, breath
lessly.
"Ain't there your sister Nellie? Can't
we get lot of grasshoppers an coax
her out behind the meetin' house to see
them? An then can't we catch her an
tie her, an drag her by the arms up to
the woods, just like any Injuns do?'
"Of course. An we could get some
bed-quilts for camp.''
eyes, an we'll name you Biting
Tiger, an I'll be Big Thunder, an Mel
lie can be Moon-face, just as it was in
the book
For some moments the boys sat in
silent bliss. Then after a time serious
doubt crept into Biting Tigers heart,
and he asked:
ssBut what will we do for things to
eat?''
"Things to eatp'' echoed Eddie.
"Chiefs don't bother about such things;
they just send the squaws out to get it,
cause that's what squaws are for"
"My! but won't mother be scared
when she finds out that she got an Injun
to hold the baby?' said Charley, think
ing with delight that in his mother fear
he should be more than repaid for all the
trouble the little fellow had caused him.
''But then she won't be so awfully fright
ened, for he amt got anything to scalp,
if you wanted to do it.
ave can wait till he grows, an then
scalp him most every day." said Eddie,
consolingly.
Then came the question of how they
were to get away, for, valiant chiefs as
they were, they could hardly drop the
baby on the floor and run.
"rn tell you what we can do," said
Eddie. "rIl 90 home an get some
ropes to tie Nellie with, an then I'll go
for the grasshoppers. When you hear
me holler you send Nellie over, an put
the baby in the cradle. and come over
ickety-split, SOS to hold the squaw's
mouth if she sets up yell.''
Big Thunder started for his mothers
clothes-line and some grasshoppers,
while Biting Tiger sat holding the baby
as quietly as if he had never thought of
being an Indian.
Surely there never were two chiefs on
the eve of starting in the Indian busi-
ness so fortunate as these two were, for
in short time after Big Thunder's de-
parture Mrs. Harnden took the baby,
and Nellie seated herself on the door
step to play with her doll.
Charley told her of the captive grass
hoppers she would see if she went with
him; and clasping her doll firmly in her
arms, she started for the meeting house
near by, while Charley followed, ready
to spring upon her as soon as he should
see his brother chief.
Eddie was prepared for the first actin
his new life. He had armed himself
with a long carving-knife and fully ten
yards of clOthes-line, SO that he was ready
for any desperate attempt at escape the
squaw might make.
All unsuspecting the horrible fate
that awaited her, Nellie approached the
fatal spot, when Big Thunder sprang
out, winding the rope around her body a
dozen times.
"Why don't you cry an screech an
kick?" asked Charley, thoroughly dis
appointed because their captive had
submitted so quietly.
"What for?' asked Nellie, in sur
prise.
"Why, cause we're Iniuns, an
you're squaw we've caught, an now
we're goin to drag you off to the woods"
replied Eddie, brandishing his knife.
Il don't want to be squaw;'' and
Nellie now showed signs of making as
much OF an outcry as the boys could
have wished for.
I" But you must, and that's all there is
about it, said Eddie, sternly; and then
he took hold of the ends of the rope, as
he shouted to Charley: "Hold your
hands over her mouth while I pull her
along"
Charley hardly had time to reply be-