The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-29

voice.
Quickly was the door unbarred, and
squaw, wrapped in heavy blanket,
entered. She looked ut me with
questioning gaze, ,ut only for q
moment.
white youth must go. kiowas
come over the river kill white boy. lie
got gold" and she laid one hand ear
nestly on Edgars arm, with the other
she pointed to an iron-bound chest in
one corner.
"Who told you to come here and |
warn me-" questioned Edgar. Did
Decrfoot send you?'
NO, Ialona no sent here; come with |
out. Your father kind to me; save
pappoose life. / save your life"
All this she said in such broken En-
through Edgar's Interpretation.
| "And when must l go?" asked the |
youth, the flush of excitement deepen
ing on his cheek.
"To-night-now,' was the answer.
"But we will be lost, and will perish
on the prairie.
"Lalona take white boy. No get lost.
Get horse, get blankets, now." And,
crossing over to the fire, the sluaw
stood with folded arms, immovable rs
statue.
"Do you think there is danger?" /
asked Of Edgar, as he turned. "Will
it be necessary, do you think, for us to
go?'
IF we stay here it is either death or
captivity. For my part prefer death
on the prairie to death by the Indians
Some Of the Kiowas are very blood
thirsty, and if they are incensed against
Lalona's tribe, who are my friends,
they will not hesitate at committing any
crime"
do you think, then, we had better
start at once?"
"Yes, there is no time to lose," said
Edgar. "As I said before, l would
rather face the storm than the Indians. "
Every we'll. will get out the horses
while you make your preparations.
Dress warmly, for you have long, cold
ride before" And, having equipped
myself, opened the door and went out
into the night.
The moon rode high in the heavens,
her rays lighting up the prairie and
stealing through the trees that grew
near the cabin. But the keen wind
pierced like knife. a ride Of ten
miles tonight will bc the death Of Ed
gar Raleigh. This bitter cold will snap
the slender cord that binds him to
earth"
With these thoughts in my mind, I
led my faithful horse and Edgar's stur-
dy little pony to where Lalona's horse
was tethered to slender sapling. Re-
turning to the cabin, found Edgar en-
yeloped in warm fur coat, and close
fitting fur cap covering his head.
"Here am, q veritable Esquimau.'
And he held up his hands, encascd in
fur gloves.
"Have You collected what you wish
to take with you?" | asked, as Lalona
stood impatiently waiting.
ayes; and here is small casket /
wish you would care for;' and he hand
ell me an oddly-carved box, which l
securely buttoned in my ovcrcoat
pocket, on leaving the cabin. Edgar
went to Il snow-coyered mound, under
the dropping branches of willow, and
l knew the lone boy was bidding his
fathers grave "good-by.' Half an hour
later, as We galloped swiftly away from
the cabin, we came to quite an eleva-
ton in the prairie. The squaw, Lalona,
turned her horse and looked back over
the path we had come. aha" she
, cried, "white man look. Say Lalona
, lie, now?" Away toward the south
. where the cabin stood bright fire was
shining.
"My home," said Edgar, "the In
dians are destroying it! Thank God,
and Lalona, we have escaped"
Indeed, we have had narrow es-
, cape,' and 1 trembled as thought
what our fate might have been.
"kiowa's come, too. Better go;'
, and, wheeling her horse, Lalona gal
, loped away, while we sped after. toward
| the Wichita river. Our destination
( was about thirty miles distant, where,
Edgar informed me, there was quite a
settlement Of hunters and trappers.
|, But would we ever reach it? was the
, question asked myself. Already my
limbs We're growing numb with the
, cold, and not half the journey trav-
! ersed. If the blasts chilled my healthy,
, bounding blood SO soon, how would
Edgar, his system debilitated and
/ weakened by disease, withstand the
, piercing wind that swept over the
prairie? Intent upon these thoughts,
! I had not noticed that Lalona had
changed her course of travel, until
Edgar, who rode before me, halloed
, ioyfully back, "Hurrah! we have
reached the woods"
: Sure enough We were riding on the
: sheltered side Of quite q heavy growth
0 of timber. 1t broke the force of the
I wind so efiectually that We suffered far
/. in sheltered dell, we halted long
]; enough to give our tired horses q
t breathing spell. But Lalona was inn
I patient and feared pursuit, SO We sped
| onward. just as day dawned, We
reached the end of our nights journey.
The rough but kindly men who well
$ coined us made our party as comforta-
S BILE as possible. When our story was
told they We're loud in their praise oi
t Lalona, who could only be persuaded
to rest her horse for couple of hours
I and partake of the substantial break.
Q fast prepared for us in one of the trap
4 per's cabins.
When the brave little squaw took her
departure she bore with her many a
!, little trinket brought from the depths
! Of thh trapper's chest or hunters
l "pack." Nothing of great value, yet
: dear to the heart of the Indian, whose
{ love of ornaments and gaudy colors is
|. proverbial. Edgar and myself had al,
1 ready given her testimonials OF oul
z gratitude, which she would accept only
4 rs present, not as pay for service
Q rendered. Several offered to accom-.
G pany Lalona as a sort of body guard
j against the Kiowas, who might be on
Q the lookout eager to assault the un
a wary traveller. She scornfully refused
o the proilered company-"Squaw nc
S fraid Got fast horse" And she
r proudly caressed the beautifully arched