Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-01-26

ssss "a 'ss sIotsss! i''sss'
line abodl y II5 6nd climbed on ths
great branch, and thence up 10 thu
large limbs above. 10 q height OF some
twenty feet above the rushing waters.
Selecting a spot where two limbs
branchei o / parallel with each other,
he now lowered one end OF his rope Il
the sisters, for the old door and boards.
Before climbing up he had instructed
them what to do aud how to do it; and
in very short time the boards, the
door and the coils Of rope were hauled
up one after another, and securely
fastened.
The door and boards were then placed
on the parallel branches and tied with
the rope; and in this manner a small
foor. or platform. six or eight feet
square. was laid, large enough for all
three to sit or lie on.
II did not take long now to draw up
he food and blankets; but there still re-
molncd for the lad the harder and more
perilous task OF hoisting up the little
girls to his airy platform.
He had reserved the longest and strong
est rope for this purpose, and looping
1t in the middle over limb and letting
the two ends all to tho roof. he de-
scsndcd and tied an end firmly beneath
the arms OF beth Izah and Jennie In
turn.
To climb back to his old position was
but the work Of a moment. Then came
the real work. Izah was a plump little
girl. and Jennie was still heavier,
though not as old. They were fright
ened and screamed considerably, but he
hauled them up. one after the other,
safely on to the platform.
Meanwhile the wild rushing waters
were steadily rising and had now nearly
reached the kitchen window sills. Still
larger cakes Of ice were driving ponder
ously along among the trees; OCCASION
ally one ground against the elm. giving
1t q heavy, jarring bump, or struck the
walls Of the house with force that
made the timbers crack
The little girls trcmb!ed with fear;
and now that the excitement Of climb
ing into the tree was over, despair
again seized upon them. In vain Henry
tried 10 quiet their fears Great sobs
would wei up in spite Of their childish
efforts to be brave.
II wasin truth an appalling situation.
Faster poured the erer-rising food; and
now the icc-cakcs and great drft-loxs
were smashing in the lower windows.
Nothing was left Of the stock-yar,ls,
sheds and barn; but here and there
some OF the Nretched cattle still kept
their heads above water; and more 8
heartening than everything else were
the poor creatures mournful lowings
There was no help for them. Their
drowning WIS but The question Of an
hour or two; everything was going
down beneath the black rolling torrent.
And wei might the children feel thank
full II even the great elm withstood the
bstfering Of the pondcrous icc-cakcs
which co1ne grinding in among the.
scattered trees Of the grove.
Henry heart almost failed him. II
required his best efforts TO keep from
breaking cou11efe1y dsxn and giving
way % kis fright and grief But mas
lerinx these tcrrors q length. he
rarncMlH w&1n v><k - mskr every
hing upon Ne platform secure. he
|elf. TOO. that be ought " save the bed
ling and the most valuable Of the
furniture: for he saw that the
most Of It might be hung upon the limts
II the elm. II only he had dared 10 de-
'cend after il into ths shaf1ersd and
'ockinz building.
But the creaking and gruaninx of the
imbers commingling with lie hosrse
Of the water. appalled, him.
he house seemed On the point Of being
'vspt away; md sadly Ne watched Z
1eayc and SWAY - each fresh mass Of |
&C cane plunginG against t.
Fearing 70 trust the little sisfers upon
he frail platform unsupported. Re lied |
hem securely 10 Limbs abo-e. 1exvin0
he ropes slack enough 10 allow q fkeif |
novink about Once. for ! uonr.f /
= alnoss nnds then snlle ~ c.j1inr |
hen ~ LITE peuies pietefed ont to |
11s<" He even tired 10 tel them /
toEie4 and kept cour1ee N their Etz16
'ear11 By he assurance that - nnd /
~ would soon cone and fnks fhem /
vay II big boat
Ihgs the kouFs wufe - Ths house
TN sfood bus the un<eu Gruu< hieher /
I'd hikbef. tiu q noon he rircf = /
e1<1y eren viii tbe tops q ~ ~
ouR SIN the o1d tree gave 70 erj-
ence q yje8ings aDd e 1enxth ske
1nRs q hunger making fhenns1ros
~ tier - . benrtT mcSI II spIte Of
lsir nlEunQe ~ almos1 desucrnie a1ru-
NJ s1rses. p.-sd. onoe shsy