The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-12
NO. 1863.
AT THE STAKE.

came back that they had struck the
fresh trail of war party. Two or
three of them disappeared among the
foothills and were gone for an hour.
When they returned, it was reported
that the war party had gone into camp
four miles away, and that the Indians
had a white man with them as captive.
From his dress they believed him to be
| a government scout, and from certain
preparations being made they felt GER
tain he was going to be put to the.
torture
There were hundred troopers Of US,
while the Indians numbered only
forty, but they had gone to camp at
the foot of the base of mountain spur
from which they could note the ap-
prosch of any one coming within a
mile, except it be to the rear. If we
moved as a body, they would mount
and away before we were within rife
shot. 1t was finally decided that one
Of the Pawnees should conduct ten
dismounted troopers over the noun
tain to approach the camp in the
rear, while the main command was to
move up as near as possible without
discovery and be ready to dash at the
the camp when the signal was given.
1t was o'clock before we reached the
crest of the mountain. 1t was before
we found the ravine which the scout
said would lead US right into the In
dian camp. While we had only about
a mile to go, it had to be travelled in
darkness over a route which would
have been perlous by daylight, and
1t was close upon 9 o'clock when we
finally reached the fringe of bushes
growing at the mouth of the ravine.
Right before US and not a hundred
feet away was the Indian camp. There
were three small fires burning, with
smell OF roasting meat in the air, and
from the movements OF the red skins
we concluded they had just finished
their supper, late as was the hour. 1t
was some little time before we made
out the whites,man, as he was bound
hand and foot and lying at full length
on the ground Fresh fuel was thrown
on the fires, and as the camp was
lighted up an Indian came forward to
the bushes and hacked down a sapling
with his tomahawk While he cut and
trimmed he was within twenty-five feet
of US. Had we not crept back when
we saw him approaching he would have
run right over the line. The stake was
sharpened and driven into the earth at
about the center of the camp, and
while two or three Indians were en-
gagged at that four or five we're collect
ing fuel.
Fortunately for us they gathered it
to our left, where big tree had been
uprooted by the wind. A cart load of
dry limbs was conveyed to the stake
and piled up, and then the feet of the
captive were loosened, and two Indians
pulled him up. He was bareheaded,
and the instant the flames showed US
his face we recognized him as Charley
Keats, the Government scout attached
to Fort Wallace. He had been cap
tured at daylight that morning about
thirty miles away
"Whlte man cold-going to build
fire for him-make him warm % said
the chief of the band as he pointed to
the stake.
"Waugh You are a pack of skulk-
ing towards " answert the scout as he
drew himself up. "Burn and be
hanged! I've got the scalp locks of
SIX OF your best men, and you won't be
very much ahead Of Charley Keats !"
A dozen warriors ran in upon him
with raised tomahawks, but the chief
shouted TO them to hold on and ordered
the prisoner led to the stake. A raw
hide lariat, which had been soaking in
the spring, was then brought along, and
after the scout had been stripped of his
lclothlng he was made fast To the stake
| by the lariat being passed around his
waist. He thus had the freedom of
his arms and legs, and the fuel was so
aranged that it did not come within
three feet of the stake. While they
were thus preparing him for torture we
saw him glance about as if he might
have FAINT hope of rescue, but pres
emily despair come to his heart, and he
turned to the chief and said:
"You are a squaw, ard these people
are children whom ! could drive with
a stick There isn't real warrior in
your tribe. have made the whole
gang of you run like rabbts!'
There was rush for him, but the
chief drove the warriors back, and,
standing with folded arms before the
scout, he answered:
"We know you. You are a brave
man. You speak truly when you say
you have the soaps Of some of our
warriors. But we sba'l see how it will
be with you when we prick you with
, knives, when we shoot powder into
your flesh, when we thrust in these
splnters and light them, when we Gu
of ears and nose and tonguel Aftel
that we will light the fire and sit dowr
and listen to your cries'
"li you hear one yell from me yor
may tell every white man in this countr,