Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-07-11

Oull u itVuAOhHAsi "hOoN PNJ
would not support wife.
III YOU possessed a couple of thous-
and dollars, and would turn your at
tention toward cattle-raising instead Of
Iudian-slaying,' said the prudent ola
gentleman, Il would gladly welcome
you as a son-iu-law but as II s-no.
"A couple of thousand AS we'll
might he ask me for couple of million
dollars l thought, as l plodded weari-
ly through my monotonous duties.
But now there was gleam Of light
shining through the clouds. True the
clouds were very dark-a thunderbolt
was IN their midst, that might dart out
upon me and make sudden end Of it
all. But 1 did not care-liie without
Mary was of less than no value to me;
and so, as l lay tossing on my pallet
that night, l resolved TO cast my all
upon one throw of the dice-to stake
my lite IN The game with fortune, dar-
Ing all, and winning or losing all.
Thus it happened that the next day
found me riding away from the fort, ac
companled by earnest 'God-speeds'
and anxious looks from my brother
officers, who had striven in vain to dis
suade me from my hazardous under
taking.
preferred gong alone believing
that my best chance of succeeding 10
the object 1 had in view was to find
an opportunity to seize upon Leaplne
Panther apart from his people. was
thoroughly acquainted with the country
l had to traverse. spoke the Kiowa
language we'll, and had hit upon plan
to WIN the confidence Of the chief, that
| felt was almost certain to succeed.
He hated the American soldiers and
made friends with villains pursued by
them. l had resolved TO be an escaped
murderer, seeking refuge with him from
The pursuit Of The soldiers.
l left farewell letter for Mary, with
Colonel Rawle, to be forwarded TO her
if / did moi return within two months
tie utmost limit OF the time | allowed
myself in either case of success or
failure.
IfI am not here by that time,' SAID
1, 10 The colonel, in parting, 1T Will be
because nv ife's journeys ended.
Our fort was near the southwestern
corner Of the territorial llne, on the
border of the Kiowa country, and, to
lull all suspicion on the part Of Leaping
Panther, made long detour, aud in
stead Of entering his domain from the
south where he knew his recent decd
OF brutality had incensed every man.
I struck nor,hward, along the western
line, until | reached his northern
boun larry.
Before leaving tie fort had exchang-
ed my uniform for rough hunting suit,
such as was worn by the frontiersmen
and after swimming creeks, wadlng
through marshes, and plunging aDong
brambles, soon came to look fully the
character was about 10 play.
1t took a week TO make the detour,
although l used all possible speed. AT
the end Of that time, however, had
reached the desired position, and enter
ed boldly upon the domains of Leaping
Panther, feeling rather desirous than
otherwise of speedy meeting with
himself or his braves, while still near
his porthern border, so that their own
eyes might bear witness TO the likeli-
hood of the truth of my story-that |
was a fugitive from the white settle
ments TO the north of the territory.
Well, for two days journeYed on
without meeting a single Indian. Just
as was about to camp on the event ne
of the second day, however, l noticed a
glimmer of light ahead Of me.
Tetherng my horse, crept stealIhi'
" forward TO reconnoitre, and as l
looked on the scene thus suddenly pre-.
sented 10 my view, half-smothered
exclamation of satisfaction burst from
me. aud l felt that the stars were pro-
oi,lous, for 10 the midst Of group oil
twenty or more Indians, l recognized
Leaping Panther.
I had seen him once, though he bad
not seen me, and If ever thero was a
time when he could be found in a good
humor, 1t was now and here.
1 saw at glance what was on the
tapis-a big supper of succotash-and
if there is anything an Indian loves as
we'll as ire.water, it Is succotash, and
lif ever be is friendly and hospitable 1t
is when his stomach is well-flled from
that tempting dish.
So resolved 10 lie perdu until the
feast was over, and then appear as a
suppliant for the remnants.
Evidently l had stumbled upon one
of Leapng Panthsr's villages, for wo-
men and children were fitting to and
fro, and wigwams looned up here and
there out Of the darkness.
4 Tie central point OF interest TO al
was a high. square framework OF greer
sappllpgs, beneath which was a roaring
Ore. with two or three iron kettles sus
pended over it, and then the succolash
was boiling and frlzzing.
I knew what 1t was from the traces
scattered around. don't wonder th'
Indians like their succotash, they know
how TO make it 10 perfection-or woult
, If they were more cleanly IN their cook
ing.
They half gil each kettle with corr