The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-17

venlSOn.
After time the Indian united Mrs
Streeter's hands, being careful to keen
between her and his gun. Then he mo-
toned to the blankets.
/ ''Squaw make UNI bed" said he, ''heap
Sleep"
/ Glad of so much freedom and chance
to rest and to comfort her child, Mrs.
Streeter made a rough couch, took Elsie
in her arms, and lay down upon it. The
little girl was soon asleep, but the
mother lay narrowly watching the In
dian, waiting for chance to escape if
he should drop asleep or relax his guard
in any way.
! She got no opportunity, however;
John sat near at hand, leaning against
a tree, stiff and upright, with his gun
across his legs. After about two hours
of rest he ordered her to get up again
and get into the boat, telling her to
take papoose."
She carried the sleeping child down
the bank, and while the Indian steadied
the canoe at the stern. got in at the bow.
John threw in the blankets, got in, put
his gun between his knees, and took up
the paddles. All night they foated
swiftly down the river, the long, steady
sweep of the Indians paddle doubling
the rate at which the canoe was borne
by the rapid current
| Mrs Streeter endured her anxiety and
fatigue as bravely as she could, not dar-
ing, on account of her child, to make
any demonstrations; but she was all the
| time on the watch for chance to escape
! from her captor.
| At little after sunrise the Winnie
bagO landed upon bar at the north
bank, and ordered her to get out of the
canoe. After carrying Elsie asleep in
her arms all night she found her own
limbs to be so cramped and stiff that at
| first it was impossible to use them
Seeing her condition the Indian swung
the stern round, dragged the canoe out
upon the bar, and helped her out.
| He now for the first time aroused in
her a little hope by saying: "Heap
white mans, heap soje," pointing to the
northwest ''Walk, sun So" showing
her where the sun would be when their
journey should end. He again offered
his captives the dried meat, and the
pangs of hunger compelled both woman
and child to make hearty meal.
After they had rested awhile and got
the cramp out of their legs and arms,
the Indian pointed out the direction in
which they were to 60, and ordered Mrs.
Streeter to walk ahead and lead the
little girl. He let them walk slowly,
keeping rod or two behind them with
| his gun and blankets. After three
hours of tramping they came out of the
woods upon hill overlooking broad
valley-the Mississippi valley-and
then the Indian came eagerly forward.
''See," he said, his face grinning and
working with evident pleasure as he
pointed to distant cluster of buildings
: upon the bank of wide river which lay
in front of them. ''See, PLATA doc shanat"
1t was the frontier fort and trading
post of Prairie du Chen. Mrs. Streeter
had heard of this place, but had known
only vaguely where it was situated.
She now perceived that her captor had
intended all his acts in friendliness. An
hour later she and her child were safely
housed at the fort and her delight and
thankfulness at the outcome to her adj
venture may be imagined.
Mrs. Streeter's alarm for her hus-
bands safety was great until John,
whose services were again secured, made
a trip to Dodgeville and brought him
across the country to her. Mr.. Streeter
had discovered their danger, from meet
ing body of soldiers on the second
rnorninr aftor hic 1opo rturo from, homo {
They had accompanied him hastily back
to his cabin, only to find it burned down
and the premises deserted. He had
mourned his wife and child as dead I'M
til word was brought by the Winnebago
of their rescue and safety.-Frank
Welles Calkins, in Youths Companion