Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-03-18
miles wide and Indians thick as hops

with the forest, the fiendish arts of the
Indians, and, above all. their language.
do not know of a man who can speak
the Comanche language that's fitted to
60 otherwise.
Il will 60" said clear, firm voice.
All looked in mute surprise at the
speaker, Jennie Moor. Jennie's father
(then quite old) had lived long on the
border. and she had no remembrance
of other home than the border. She
could ride the widest mustang, handle
the rifle skillfully or drive a canoe
across the rushing waters of the Big
Wichita, equal to a Comanche brave,
and, from years of friendly inter-
course with Solemn Face, medicine
squaw, could speak their language
fluently. Jennie was fearless as a war
rior, yet as tender and sympathetic as
a maiden could be. Yet all looked in
establishment at Jennie, who. resting
her clasped hands on her fathers shout
der, turned a composed glance at the
group of anxious settlers standing near.
"You need all the men you have
here tonight. 1 can make the journey
more safely and more surely than any
one present. l know the forest per-
fectly; can speak the Indian jargon as
well as can English, and would rath-
er risk my life in the forest tonight
than remain in the stockade, for if one
of the men is sent for help we are lost.
for he will be captured without doubt. :"
'.But what will save you also from
capture?' questioned her father.
"God and my own judgment" an
swered Jennie. Il will personate
Solemn Face, the medicine squaw, who
died four months ago. Tonight it will
be easy to work upon their supersti-
ton, and pass the Indian sentries and
camp as Solemn Face
Captain Moor folded her in his arms,
saying: go, then, my child, and may
God go with you and bring you safe
again to your old fathers arms"
Amen responded all present,
deeply moved.
They all knew that if any one could
succeed in the task it would be Jennie.
SO after hearty "God-speed" from
those present she wendell her way to
her cabin to make the necessary prep
arations for the hazardous journey on
which SO many lives depended. Sol
emn Face was Jennie's fac smile in all
but hair and complexion, Jennie inher-
iting the bright yellow hair and pure
rose complexion from her Scotch an
cestors; while the squaw possessed a
rare combination found in the Saxon
race, uniting the dusky hair and COM
pleXion of her Indian mother with the
deep-blue eyes and delicate features of
her English father, who had been a
trader among the Indians. Solemn
Face held high place among the saw
ages from her superior intelligence.
They believed her to be gifted with
some supernatural power. From child
hood she had hated the pale-face, Jen-
ME being the only one she would speak
to. Jennie was soon made ready with
dye and dress, and at the cleaning
stood ready by the gate. The moment
came and amid tears of women and the
silent agony of her father, she went
out in the deep darkness, undaunted
by the dangerous journey. She knew
in reason she would have to pass near
the Indian encampment. That she
might secure Solemn Faces pony, the
beautiful little horse had been trained
to obey her call as readily as it would
its own mistress.
She pressed on steadily through the
deep, dark underbrush. when her quick
ear caught the steaithy tread of some
thing, either brute or human, in the
bushes near her. She stood still.
Against human foes she felt that she
IL To-
with wlSch to meet a panther. Sud-
denly, with quick bound, an animal
reached her side. and looking down she
saw Solemn Faces dog. magnificent
hound, crawling at her feet. A swift,
silent prayer went up from her heart
for this new protection. for the dog
trotted along obediently by her side.
obcying her slightest call. She knew
the Indian encampment must be near,
and. knowing Solemn Faces habits.
called the dog and moved boldly for
ward. and in few moments stood in
the light of the camp-fires of the Co.
manches.
The warriors let fall their rifles with
prolonged simultaneous Ugh"
and FRUSTRATED themselves flat on the
ground, believing Solemn Face stood
among them in the spirit. Shaking
her long hair, dyed a deep black. over
her face and shoulders, she halted
among them, and. touching one of the
nearest warriors with her foot. she
babe him rise. Then pointing to the
sky and suddenly flinging her arms
tragically toward the fort, initiating
Solemn Faces actions and words. she
said: go tell your Chief Warlopa
that the Great Spirit sends me from
the happy hunting-grounds to advise
him with words of wisdom. Tell him
to see the clouds floating like steeds
above the breeze; it will storm to-
night, and that he must not attack the
pale-face until he hears Solemn Face
sing the death-song; then he can sue
ceed. Tell Wariopa to obey Monitow.
have spoken Then turning quick
ly she was soon lost in the forest.
A hundred yards farther on she came
to an Indian sentinel guarding the
horses. She addressed him in a quick
tone of command, saying: "Monitow
sends me to you; bring me my horse. l
have spoken"
Soon the Indian. trembling with fear.
led Solemn Eace'S Oony tn her side