The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-24
RARE GEMS OF MONTANA SAPPH|RES,
ritle by his side. the fierce copper face chis.

rifle by his side. the fierce copper face chls-
elled az if in metal.
Had the Indians disposed Of their guns as
the whites do. by stacking or resting them
against q tree, the task of securing them
would have been less risky. But they had
kept their arms within reach, and some
oven had their tomahawks loosened from
the belt, as if for instant use. The Indian
rarely sets a guard at night, unless in the
immediate presence Of an enemy. Here in
the depth of n great cypress swamp, i'm
pasSsble to troops. q surprise would seem
impossible. Yet even now the cunning and
suspicion of the race had not forsaken
them.
The nerves OF the young officer were
strung to the highest tension. One by one
he stealthily lifted tho rifles from the earth
till he had what he could carry. These he
bore to the low bank and passed to the men
on guard in the duRous. No word was OK
changed. Again he returned to the dan
gerous sleepers, . distance of about q
hundred feet from shore, for q second load.
A brRwny savage, tossing in his dreams,
gave a fierce grant and threw out q hand,
which touched the young thief's ankle a. if
10 clutch it. The movement thrilled him
with all the agony of discovery, but he
stood stock still waiting for something
further. II was a false alarm, bat cold
sweat poured from bis face. Another Of
the s.1ages had his hand on the stock of
his gun and the piece had to be gently slid
from under his fingers.
Again, the third time, he went back to
complete his work. The moon was now
high up in the sky n poured a food Of
light on the little island. The r%ecumbent
Indians were cut ont like monstrous silhou-
cites against the ground. The boys swim
ming head warned him that his strength
couldn't last much longer. But he rsso-
lutely went at his task, though his throat
felt 90 it squeezed by an iron grip. He had
gathered his last armful, when one of tho
red men In his dreams raised himself on
bis launches, and sat resting on his knees.
through the quivsring foliage, and bis
sunken eyer appeared half open and fol-
lowing his white enemy. The watchful
ScraRgs, too, observed this movement, and
his tanned checks turned white ~ chalk. az
his finger was about to press his rife trig-
ger. Bat he waited and the savage sleeper
made no further sign.
At last the work was done. The ten
minutes had seemed a Year. The lad stag
gered to the boat. shaking as if with the
sRus. II must speak," he painted. ''or /
shhll ysll. I thought twice I'd have to
whoop or 90 into a faint. But, SeragRs, /
pulled through. didn't l? Help me in."
"Wall! You've got the guns Shore" said
ScraQgs. and dart my skin Of the biggest
--y N>"oeF . S"AAt ""oAA q NoAS ts
I've heerd afore that pups o your breed
want a-skeerd or man or devil"
No time had been lost while Scraggs was
relieving his mind; the dugout WAS skim
ming out into the stream with lively pad.
die strokes. The plan was boldly exc
outed in the morning. With she coming of
light, the Ssminolss discovered the robbery
of their weapong and rushed to the edge of
the swamp with frantic yells, brandishing
thor tomakaWks. Bat the nRraudsrs were
far beyond the throw OF axe or knife, and
set with levslled riies.
Then came q shrill treble voice. demand.
ing il Spanish the instant surrender of the
little Seminole band, for at that time
nearly every one in F~lorida-Indian. neg G
and whlte-knew something of this Ian
Guage. After considerable parley tho red
men agreed 70 throw their knives and tom
ahawks into the marsh. They were taken
aboard in pairs and their right wrist,
tightly fastened together with stout strip,
of scragRs' nomespun shirt. The dugouI
towed the canoes up stream, while III.
young officer sat in the stern and guarded
the captives with loaded pistols.
So the daredevil returned to camp tn
same afternoon, and instead of a rowing
General Jsssup and his little army.
This boy aftsrward became . distin,
gulshsd gsnersl-Maj-Gen. William Lorinl
who led armies in tbs far distant east a
a pashs in the service of the Egyptian khe
dive. ~ we'll 81 in this country. But in hi
long career he never did anything NOR
daring and heroic than the feat plann6'
and executed by the boy of fifteen. the sub
sssntial facts OF which were ted me by ii
general himself.