The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-03

broad hand Of the surprised captain,
which he placed over his heart. The
large, 1ustrous eyes of the Indian spoke
volumes as they gazed straight into the
captains. and with the cultural words,
owe ere brothers-I shall remember"
turned and stalked rapidly away with
out further demonstration.
A year rolled by, and the captain with
his regiment was on duty in the Yellow
stone valley, where the Sioux were re-
ported as acting suspiciously, the young
bucks especially showing q restless splr-
It, with all the indications of their early
appearance on the warpa6h.
The captain had always been fond OF
the pleasures Of the chase, and it was
while on a trip after game that he found
himself hopelessly entangled and COM
pletely lost amid the towering crests and
lofty hills Of a spur forming portion of
the Belt range.
Debouching upon the banks Of a broad
but shallow stream, he came suddenly
upon an Indian encampment that was
on the opposite side. From his point of
observation the soldier could make out
number of braves walking about and an
occasional squaw engaged in her duties
about the camp. Hungry, tired and
cold, for it was getting late in the sea-
son, Ross resolved to secure the friendly
Offices of a guide, if possible, and return
to his command, from which he had al
ready absented himself longer than pru-
LIZ, tod
Riding down to point directly oppo-
site the camp he hailed repeatedly, but
no one within the limits of the array of
tents took the slightest notice of him.
Nettled, as well as impatient, at such
cool indifference, the captain forded the
stream and rode into the camp.
No one spoke to the soldier; not buck
condescended to pay the slightest atten-
ton to his inquiries relative to the loca-
ton he was in or the chances Of obtain
ing a guide. Grimly silent and sullen,
they turned their backs or retreated
within the smoky recesses of their tepees
Ross had been on the frontier for mal4y
years, was well acquainted with the
habits of the savages, understood a vari-
ETY. of the Indian dialects, and was
looked upon as one of the most accom-
plished scouts and fighters in the serv-
ice. It did not require q second glance
to convince the officer that he was in
grave danger. He realized that his pres
ence in that camp was not welcome,
and he would gave given much to have
been safely back on the other side of the
broad running stream. But pride and
his reputation would scarcely permit
his turning hastily from them or at
tempting any movement that could be
construed by the redskins into confess
sion of alarm or a retreat.
Refining up his roam in the shadow OF
a large tent, he deiberated for moment
upon the best course to pursue. Ere he
had formed any plan an Indian warrior,
in full warpaint and regalia, suddenly
issued from the folds of the tepee, con-
fronting the officer with a stern, forbid
ding aspect.
.What seeks the paleface who has
come here unbidden?"
.sShelter, food and a guide to the white
mans camp" was the response.
The Sioux motioned for him to dis
mount, and, throwing his bride rein over
a projecting bough Of tree, Ross passed
into the interior of the council tent and
was Immediately made a prisoner, but
not bound. Surrounded by numbers Of
well armed warriors, he realized that
the slightest attempt on his part to effect
an escape would result at once in the loss
of his life.
Sitting amid the dusky throng he lis
tened to the talk of the council. His fate
was soon decided. He was to die the
next morning at sunrise-tied to a stake
and burned to death, the first offering
dedicated to the opening campaign, and
esteemed particularly propitious as an
Indication of their success on the war
path, inas1nuch as the victim was one OF
the despised aud hated ''Long Knives"
One by one the warriors filed out OF
the council, leaving the captain solitary
and alone. No attempt to bind him was
made. It was impossible for him to es-
cape from the limits of the camp. Throw
ing himself on pile of buffalo skins the
prisoner gave himself up to reflection
and thought. To die at the hands of
such miscreants, to ELL q nameless grave,
his fate enshrouled i'll mystery an
ending to his brilliant hopes and aspira-
tons! What finale to dis military
careerl
The soft oatter of a moccasin foot and
a dark shadow falling athwart the rude
seat upon which he reclined attracted
the captains attention. CHANGING up,
he beheld standing beside him vel!
proportional warrior, arrayed in full
warpaint, with his tawny locks bedecked
with feathers. Silent and motionless as
a statue, tue Indian gazed at the officer
for fully q minute, and Ross, unable to
subdue feeling of extreme nervousness,
rose to his feet.
s.Does the Long Knife remember me?'
| the Indian demanded.
The captain shook his head, CHANGING
hastily at the hideously painted face be-