The Red Cloud chief., 1890-05-30

upon her knecs in tho center Of the
canoe. mo touch um," he commanded,
tapping tho sides Of tho ano keep
. heap still" Tho little girl, tired and
subdued. dared not 30 much as stir.
Then John picked up q paddle which he
had laid upon the bank, got carefully
into the canoc NJ tho stern, showed out
into tho river. and padded the frail
craft swiftly down the stream.
The anguish VI tho poor woman was
keen a. she thought Of tho husband who
had so recently been with her, and Of
tho uncertain fate Of her little child and
herself. Shc could not believe tho In
dams story that he was rescu!nR them
from danger. His violence and his rapid
retreat, and this journey upon the river,
leading 10 tho west and away from the
white settlement, could To her mind
moan only that no was carrying them
away into that wretched captivity which
she knew that more than n womsn
and child had suffered at the hands Of
ssvagcs.
Brave woman though shc was, she
gave herself up TO despair.
All that day the canoe sped rapidly
down stream, keeping ~ close under tho
bank ~ possible, and IL was not until
after shutdown that John landed and got
his captivcs out upon the bank where
they could rest their crampcd limbs.
lie then undid q roll Of blankets and got
out some dried meat, which no offered
~ Mrs. Strcctcr. m%otioning that tho
papoose could feed her. Tho woman
could not eat, but by coaxing induced
tho tired and hungry little girl to swal-
low n few scraps Of tho raw, tastclcss
vcnisOn.
After q time tho Indian united Mrs.
Streeter's hands, being careful to keep
between her and his gun. Then he mo-
toned To the blankets.
"Squaw make nm bed, said no, cheap
sleep"
Glad Of so much freedom and n chance
To rest and 10 comfort hcr child. Mrs.
Strecter made o rough couch, took Elsic
In her arms, and lay down upon II. Tho
iittlo girl was soon asleep, but tho
mother lay narrowly watching the In
dian, waiting for q chance to escape II
no should drop asleep or relax his guard
In any way.
She got no opportunity. however,;
John sat nea nj hand, leaning against
u trce, stiR and upright, with his gun
across his logs. After about two hours
Of rest no ordered her to got up again
and got into tho boat, telling her u
take papoosc."
She carried the sleeping child down
tho bank, and while the Indian stesdicd
tho canoc at tho storm, got In At the bow.
John throw In the blankets, got In. put
his gun between his knees. and took ~
tho paddles. All night thcy tioatcJ
swiftly down the river. the long, steady
sweep Of tho Indians paddle doubling
tho rate NJ which tho canoe was borne
by tho rapid current
Mrs. Strccter endured her anxiety and
fatigue m bravcly IN sho could. not dar,
Ing, IN account Of her child. TO make
any demonstrations; hut she was all tho
tim0 on tho watch for q chance To cscapa
from her captor.
At . little Aftcr sunrise tho Winnie
bagO landed upon q bar ~ the north
bank. and ordered her to get out OF the
canoc. After carrying Elsio asleep Ia
hor arms all night She found her own
limbs tO be 10 crampcd and stii' that .,
first II was impossible to use them,
Seeing hcr condition tho Indian swung
tho storm round, dragged tho canoe gu,
upon the bar, and helped her out.
uc now for tho t'rst timc aroused In
her q littlo hope by saying: Heap
white mans, heap sojc." pointing to tho
northwest, "Waik, sun No." showing
her where tho sun would bc when their
journey should end. Ito again offered
his aaptivos tho dried meat, and the
pangs Of hunger compelled both woman
and child TO mako n hearty meal,
AftNr they had rested awhile and 20,
the NrAmp out of their logs and arms,
tho Indian pointed out tho direction Ia
which thoy were to go, and ordered Mrs.
Strcctcr 70 walk ahead and lead tho
little girl. Ue let thcm walk slowly,
keeping q rod ar two behind them with
his gun and blankets. After thrcC
hours Of tramping they came out Of the
woods upon n hill overlooking = broad
vallCy-tbe Mississippi vallcy--and
then tho Indian camc eagerly forward.
''Scc," no xaid. his face erinning and
working with evident pleasure as he
pointed to q distant cluster Of buildings
upon tho bank ~ q wide river which lay
In front ~ them. SEQ, P'dk doc sAaRH!"
II wAs thu frontier fort and trading
post Of Prairie an CHEN. Mrs, StrssteI
had hoard Of ,his place, but had knows
only vaguely whore IL was situated.
Shc now perceived that her captor he'd
intended all his acts In friondlincss. An
hour later She and hcr child wero safely
housed Ut the fort, and hcr delight and
thankfulncss NJ tho outcome to her -
venture may bc imagined.
Mrs, Strcctcr's alarm for her hus
bands safety was great until John
whose services werc'again secured. made
y trip 10 l~hodgeville and brought him
across tho country to her. Mr.. StrcctcI
had discovered their danger. from msct'
Ing u body ~ soldiers Avn the second
morning after his departure from home,
They had accompanied him hastily back
70 his cabin. only a find Il burned dowr