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

nearly laughed outright
At last the feast was over and the
pals returned TO The squaws, and a
grunt of satisfaction went around the
circle.
Now was my time lifting up my
voice in the darkness, | called out in
Kiowa that l was q friend and wanted
to see the great chiel Leaplug Panther;
aud then walked boldly INTO the CEN
ter of the slolid group with out-stretch-
ed hands, in token of amiiy.
The great chief designated was the
only one who stirred his first move
ment having been 10 lay bis hand on
his knife to remove it as quickly when
he saw the intruder was an unalmed
man. Moreover my arttul little bit OF
hattery pleased his va nifty.
AS | advanced, he rose to meet me,
and introducing himself, asked my bus
iness with him.
1 am hungry, brother said L. Let
me eat first, then l will tell the great
chief that l have come 10 him for refuge
from the soldiers, who chased me from
the settlement
Those few words aud The hint they
conveyed, evidently pleased him, and.
bidding ME sit down, he directed a
squaw 10 fill a pail With snccotash for
me-
We'll the upshot Of it all was that l
succeeded even beyond my hopes in
winning the con fidence Of the usually
suspicious chief. He was not merely
tolerant of my presence, but sough.
me out TO 90 on hunting expeditions
with him, for / was a good shot and a
fearless rider. Unfortunately, a num-
Der of his braves alwsys accompanied
him so that the success OF my project
seemed as far off as in the beginning
and there remained only three weeks
more Of my allotted time.
At last was puzzllng my brains how
to allure Leaplng Panther away from
his people, fortune came to my aid ond
smoothed the way.
One morning the chief told me that
he was going to visit another tribe to
the eastward-some ffty miles away.
His two squaws only were TO accom-
pany him, unless his white brother
would 90 also.
/ had hard work TO hide my exulta'
ton at this unlocked for solution of my
difficulty. l would have preferred, Of
course, that the women should have
been left behind, but l felt no doubt
bout being able to manage them when
the m oment for action came.
The next day we started, four ofus
IN all, each mounted on a good, stout
pony.
To deny lhatI felt no unpleasant
qualms regarding the underhand part
| was playing toward man who had
certainly been kind 10 me, would be
to deny the truth; but then felt there
was no choice, and l know he would
have treated me differently, had he
not believed that l was a base, cruel
wretch, "a man after his own heart
So | kept the memory Of bis wicked
deeds before me, and steeled my beart
by stern uncempromslug reason and
duty.
That very day, as we halted for the
.quaws to prepare our dinner, his evil
passions swept away all reluctance on
my part and precipitated his doom by
some hours.
One of bis wives displeased him, In
some tr.hing way, and with his heavy
fist be struck her 10 the ground. My
blood rose suddenly 10 boiling heat, aud
leaping to my feet drew my revolver
and covered the astcnished brute with
its six gaping chambers, exclaiming:
IF you stir hand or foot, chief, you
are dead man.
lie laughed a little at drst-for In
dians laugh sometimes, traditions to The
contrary notwilhstanding-but it was
an uneasy sort Of merriment, that
quickly dleI away as he saw that | was
not Joking, but IN dead earnest.
Remember | repeated, L will
shoot you, If you move your hands, or
resist my orders.'
He was no coward, but he saw that l
had the power and The will to DO as l
said, so, looking rather bewildered, he
stood motionless.
Still keeping my faithful revolver
ready for instant use, ordered the two
frightened women (the one knocked
down was up by this time.) to take the
ropes that lashed the luggage upon the
pack-horse and tie Leaping Panther's
hands behind his back, and in spite oi
his black looks they trembingly obeycd.
the magic of that little cylinder of iron
compelling prompt obedience 10 my
will.
The chiefs hands tied by his squaws
I slipped tie revolver back into my
belt, and approaching my new helpless
captive, made sure that the knots we're
securely fastened, aad l found the
work so well done that strongly sus
pecled the squaws had rather enjoyed
the operation Of bindi s their tyrant'
So at last tie most difficult part o
, nv mission was accomplished, and
y Leaplng Panther was my captive, and
that, too. without the shedding oil
= blood.
I could hardly credit 1t, even as da,
, after day we journeyed on, a Strang