Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-06-17
Helena, Montana, Thursday, June II, 1886.

manner OF carrying out their plot
against the prisoner. Hardly daring
to breathe, Soneta listened to the
details and discovered that that
very night the deed was to be done
After the conspirators had left she hastily
went in search of Pono to inform him of his
danger She found him reclining in front
of his wigwam, but two companions were
near him. She dared not address him nor
give any sign for him to come to her. She
walked by and at little distance crouched
behind tree, waiting for an opportunity to
speak with her lover alone After a time
Pono arose and retired to his wigwam, but
the other two Indians remained where they
We're smoking their pipes. The hour for
the attack was near at hand; still the two
men did not move. Soneta was becoming
almost wild with impatience At last the
men arose, stretched themselves and walked
away. The night was gray, but not dark :;
llgnt clouds obscured the moon A short
distance from SOneta an Indian had skulked
behind stump to watch proceedings 1t
was Cheena- Soneta swiftly ran to the wig
wam of Pono and entered. Quickly arousing
him she told the danger to him adding that
not a moment was to be lost in making
his escape. Cheena was frenzied with
rage at seeing the girl enter the wig
wan of his rival and with the
ferocity of the werewolf sprang forward
toward the tepee; at the same time three
other Indians advanced from the opposite
direction. Pono snatched tomahawk from
the belt of Soneta and grasping her hand,
rushed with her out into the open air. He
instantly found that they were surrounded
on all sides except one, that their only es-
cape was by the water. Toward this they
ran, land quickly jumping into canoe, pushed
out upon the dancing waves They were
followed by a shower Of stones and toma-
hawks, but the darkness made the aim of
their enemies uncertain, and they escaped
the danger Heading the canoe toward the
opposite shore, each with a paddle they
glided over the surface of the water as the
wild pigeon darts through the air. Now
the clouds part and the full moon comes
forth in al her glory throwing a path of
gold across the lake from shore to shore
The waters whirl and dance and laugh as
they eddy ABOUT the stern of the boat or lov-
ingly caress and kiss the sides of the little
birch bark as they seem to say, I'VE will
push; we will help you, for we love you,
youth and maiden" Cheena and his assas-
sins are exerting all their strength
to overtake them, and their voices are
plainly heard by Pono as they urge each
other on, and loudest of all is that of their
leader. The canoe, with the fleeing lovers,
touches the white sand on the opposite
shore, and its inmates quickly spring upon
the bank. The moon is directly over the
gorge, and narrow path which leads up the
mountain. Up this valley, Pono, holding
Soneta by the hand, rapidly advances In
a few moments they hear voices behind
them; the pursuers, like hounds, are follow
ing their trail. The path is difficult; rocks
and trees otstruct the way. Soneta begins
TO tire little, and Pono needs to slacken
his pace. The voices sound nearer. The
coyote, disturbed, runs snarling in front Of
the couple; the wild beasts howl on every
side. Pono, tightening his grasp upon his
tomahawk, pushes his way up the steep as
cent, between the great perpendicular walls,
leading and partly lifting Soneta. They |
reach the rocks at the opening Of the cav
ern just as their pursuers come in sight |
Pono lifts Soneta in his strong arms and |
climbs over the fallen rocks to the great fiat |
stone at the entrance to the cave. As he
does so a shout of triumph comes from
Cheena and his companions, as in the clear
moonlight they see the young couple unable
fall into their hands AS Cheena and his
friends mount the rocks Pono leads his COM
panion into the opening. Passing in a short
distance they hide behind a jutting crag
and wait Cheena reaches the entrance, a
hurried consultation is held, and then one
BY one the four Indians stealthily creep up
,he hall, and pass by the lovers without dis
covering them A moment more and the
len is filed with shrieks bowls and piercing
,ries, followed by groans One Indian only
'ushes past them and out.
Terrified, Pono and Soneta follow, and
right gives them siren gth-they fly down
he canyon toward the lake. They are in
line to see man jump into canoe and
,addle toward the villa . 1t is the only
me Of Cheena's party left to relate the
vents of that terrib e night. The next
morning party OF Indians visited the cave,
earching for Cheena and his friends. They
ound nothing excepting the evidence of
truggle and the dragging away of bodies
oward the interior.
Pono and the maiden after several days
cached the tribe of the former in safety.
Iver SINCE upon the night when the moon
, full, Cheena and his two companions
ONE out upon the fat stone in front of the
ave and walk up and down for some min
ties, and when they return to their den the
anne terrible noises are heard as upon the
light of their destruction Earl kennt t in
'ioneer Press.