The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-11-02
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.
THE STORY OF LITTLE WOLF
AND YELLOW HEAD.
An Episode Of Border Life in the South
west-A Novel Way of Saving q YES
sci on Fire-wisht I Could-Here's q
Queer Game.
Little Wolf.

fondly at the pretty boy, who was al
ready brown with tan and glowing
with health, though only a month
had passed since they ventured into
the wilderness.
81 never go far. mamma-just down
by the spring"
She watched the sturdy little fellow
with pardonable pride as he bounded
away down the slope towards the
spring. A cluster of laurel bushes
almost hid him from sight, when he
was there, but every day his mother
looked down that way whenever she
passed the door, and could always
catch the CLINT of the sunshine on his
tumbled curls.
But here, in this great wilderness,
what reason there might be for fear!
They said that all the wild animals
bad been cleared out of the country
long ago, but she was not so sure of
that. And as for the Indians, who
knew when they might swoop down
upon the settlement, as they had done
upon others? They were barely twenty
miles to the north, and though they
were friendly and in a reservation,
why-Indians were Indians in Mrs.
Grey's eyes.
Horses feet sunk noiselessly into
the soft earth and Mrs. Grey did not
know that any one was near until a
long shadow fell across the floor.
She was not given to screaming, but
she came very near it when she saw
the four mounted Indians sitting Sc
renely on their horses and gazing in
at her.
But the brave little woman did not
utter a sound. Her first thought was
of her boy, and SO she controlled her
self. If only she could keep them
from seeing the child.
white cook, we eat SAID
one of them grufHy, and they swung
themselves down from their horses.
Pale as her face was, she managed
to smile on them; and hastily adding
more wood to the dying fire in the
stove, she set about cooking such
simple fare as she had at hand. The
Indians watched her silently, and
when everything was ready they ate.
with scant ceremony. The meal over,
they gave a grunt that might have
been construed into thanks, and
mounting their horses again went on
their way.
But alas, their way led them past
the spring. In an instant Mrs. Grey
was speeding after them, stealing
through the bushes and trying to keep
from being seen, but intent on reach
ing the boy first. There he was-she
could just see him jumping back and
forth over the little stream that
flowed from the spring. Perhaps
they would pass without seeing him,
after all!
No, she heard the grunt of surprise
caught the CLINT Of sunshine on the
boys curls, and instantly one of the
horses was turned in that direction.
The mother darted forward, but it
was too late. The Indian had stopped
from his saddle and snatched the boy
up.
Mrs. Grey rushed forward with a
scream of fear, but the savage turned
his horse to one side and deity eluded
her.
Little Wolf teach Yellow Head to
SWIM" he said, and at once set put in
a sharp trot down the slope, followed
by the others.
Wildly Mrs. Grey ran after them.
Her home and everything in it was
forgotten. She was crazed with fear.
The river was not more than half a
mile away and they were going
straight towards it. What did they
intend to do with the child?
She ran until her knees seemed to
give way under her. The brambles
caught at her dress and tore it when
she pulled away from them, and still
she ran and stumbled on. The In
dams were out of sight and she was
following their tracks-on and on
and now the river was near and there
on the bank were the horses.
And such a scene as met the moth
er's eyes. There was Little Wolf
standing on the bank with Frank in
his arms, and he swung the child as
easily as though he had been a rabbit,
and flung him far out into the stream.
Then Little Wolf and his compan-
ions leaped in and dived, and as Frank
came to the surface, struggling and
suffering, the four Indians rose
around him. Merrily as Tritons they
sported about him, sometimes hold
ing a hand to him and keeping just
out of his way when he reached for
it; but always taking care that he
kept his head above the water.
After a little while they scrambled
out with him, only to toss him in
again. Surely more fantastic sport
was never seen. The mother watched
as though turned to stone, yet she
could not help seeing that the child
was not frightened, and she heard his
laugh ring out merrily when he had
really learned to strike out boldly for
himself.
did you see that mammal" he
cried when they brought him out. Il
swlmmed! I sure enough swimmed!
Little Wolf taught me-"
With a prayer of thankfulness in
her heart she took the child in her
arms, while the Indians mounted