Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-11-05
i We,S concealed once a about the prisoner.

hha AuNA.
His arms We're sec,re,y ga
a forced, with very little g%entlenssS
upon the horse of the officer. A rona
vas then looped tightly around az
ahNie, loming under the belly al The
mustang, and with one arm aro,nd
a prisoners waist, the captain and
ms men set out on their return '
Young Jack Burnham was orao.l.
interested IN the captive. ne was
ABOUT the same age asthe Indian "a
despite their different blood 80
than one remarked a singular raoNna
oiance between them. The Apaehe
VINO was christened Zidda by his can,
TORS because an exclamation which
escaped him sounded like that word
wore hislong, coarse, black hair loose
about his shoulders, had yerv Sno
teeth, a swarthy Of complexion. and
ms eyes We're as dark as midnight,
The wife OF Captain Burnham vas
spanish lady, living in San Antonio
Texas. The son inherited her darL,
color and handsome features III
hairswas long and siIken, and his
movement We're as easy and graceful
&c lIOSt vi Lllud.
The Apache, however, was bare from
ms shoulders to his waist, BeIow was
a pair OF gGudy Mexican trousers
brllllantly-beaded moccasins. whila .
heaNy golden bracelet adorned his
right wrist. A faded silken sash encir.
cled his waist, and, as a rule. the han.
dies OF a couple OF knives protruded
therefrom, while a cartridge hoy was
suspended from his shoulder by a
string. The rifle which he cast aside,
IKE most ofthose used by the Apacbes
was a breach-loader of the latest inn.
proved pattern.
Jack wore n stiff brimmed somhrarn
and a short cloak such as are often
seen ! II Spanish and Mexican coun-
tries. When mounted on this fleet
mustang and speeding over the prairie
with his long hair and his cloak dut.
tering u the wind, he formed a pictur-
esque figure.
The novelty of Zidda's
wore OIL in the course OF an hour or
two, ana the general opinion prevailed
that the hest thing to do was to
despatch hlm, thus creating one
vacancy at least in the horde of I'M
tlmaDle red men. Capt. Burnhamfelt
no disposition 10 show the savage lit
tie fellow any mercy. and there can be
little doubt that Zidda would have
been shot but for the intercession of
young Jack. He saw the proposed
crime IN its true light, and begged his
father that Zidda might be held a pri-
soner.
The Apaches have white women and
children, and we can exchange him for
some OF them. Such a daring boy must
be highly valued by his people"
I'VE have been discussing the mat
ter SAID Capt. Burnham, "and under
some circumstances we might try TO
turn linn into aBIanddoIlar, undforce
him into circulation; but it may he
several days before we reach the fort,
and more than likely he will glveusthc
slip after all"
let him do So"
ale will pay us by leading a party
who will take every one ofOur scalps."
I'VE run that risk so long as we are
on the plains
~ on II get over this sentimentality
before many years, but on Your nc
count, III consent that he shall lie
kept n prisoner until tomorrow.
Then we'll toss up to see how the
bother shall be ended.
Camp was made in an open spot
that had been used for the same pur-
pose more than once before. 1t was
close to Il stream Of running water,
where enough succuIent grass grew for
the horses, and where, with the bright
moon riding high imam unclOuded sky,
II vas not believed that the Apaches
could surprise them.
Jack Durham stood in front OF the
captive while talking with his father.
The young Indians eyes fitted from
the face OF the parentto the son, with
an intentness of interest that the 9th
ers remarked. The words were in the
mopgrel Spanish of the Southwest and
though il vas unsupported at that
time, Iidda understood everything
SAID. Turning his back uponhim, the
captain walked TO where the soldiers
were grouped. They talked over the
events OF the day, and expressed their
opinions about their fiery little cap
tive who sat cross-leged, with his
hands held forcibly behind his back.
is there anything cane do for your"
asked Jack, in the same mongrel
Spanish, scarcely expecting that he
would be understood.
Isl, senor," was the answer, in low
voice.
What is it?' asked the amazed
Jack.
n amthirsty," answered the Apache
lad,
rYou shall not be thirsty long,"
exclaimed the other, running 10 the
stream, from which he dipped a cup
of rolled water. When he returned,
his father and friends watched the
proceedings with amused interest.
They saw hm advance to where IlG&.t
sat on the ground, and place the cup
to his lips. The Apache met with
considerable difficulty in drinking
without the aid OF his hands. At
first The good Samaritan did not IN,
cine the cop cnough; then he tipped
it too much, aud the contents ran
down the COppery breast OF IHe cap
tive.
II sufferfor water" said he, looking
M; Il cannot drink from the hand OF
another.
Without hesitation, Jack whipped
out his knife, and bending over the
lad, began carefully c~uttingthe thongs
between the hands.
what are you doing?' demanded
the captain. , "a, L.
hands tied" called back the boy, LOOK
ING sideways over his shoulder at ms
parent, while he continued work with
his knife. 81 am not going to unioose
his feet" 81.
The instant the young Apache felt
his hands freed, he caught the KNIFE OF
his friend, and. with q single lightning
like sweep, cut the cords between ms
ankles. threw himself backward lana
upon his feet, and whirling about,
was OF like a shot.
Two OF the cavalry snatched up
- -, ond fred Mt him, but the