Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-09-21

! thnir hands, but looked ut tha matter
| philosophcnlly:and accepted the terms
| npon the ground that live man N CHIT
escape whereas dead man could not.
( Two minutes after had gnlied
! nv acceptance, the hideous faced horde
had taken possession of my weapons.
bound my hands upon my back. and
were ready to start toward their village
| with me.
For the next hour l was dragged
along ut ~ rapid pace over the rough
country until. at last, n large aggrega-
ton OF tents and huts appeared before
zoe. making il evident that my destlna-
| so4, had been reached.
| Our approach to the village was hail
I'd by ceaseless barking of number
less half-starved dogs, urged on by the
wells and k-vi of about as many half
| dressed pappooses OF both sexes, who
made Il mad rush toward us the
moment We were sighted entering the
gorge.
With this yelling addition to the
party comprising my escort | was
marched into the village, and secured
in central location when would
| serve us the cynosure OF all eyes; then
| a long pow-wow was held between the
warriors, doubtless to determine what
disposition should be made OF their
hated captive.
While the council was still in session,
was approached by II trim, olive-hued
| maiden. whose shy manner and grace
full form quite capliyated me from the
moment saw her.
was also impressed with the beaut-
full cast of her round face, and the
color and texture of her long, flowing
hair. 1t was of fine texture and in
stead OF the raven blackness common
to the Indians locks. was Il beautiful
wavy chestnut hue. But for her dusky
hue she m ght have passed anywhere
for other than an Indian maiden.
She came up closely. cast Il quick
glance toward the conncil-lodge to see
il her actions were observed, and then
in u soft, musical voice said:
..Mc white mans friend. Iniun
want to kill you; me save pale face
suren'
She turned about quickly and trip
ped back among the other swarthy
women before could find an oppor-
tunity to speak to her.
press:on upon my mind--so much so
ed. showing by their exuberant
spirits that some torturing death had
been decided upon as my portion, was
but little disconnected by the threaten
ing clamor around me.
| was taken into !, small hut-the on
ly one in the village-and with two
armed savases guarding the doorway,
my bonds were cut and | was left to
IN, meditations.
1t was now nearly dark, and soon
after had been domicled i'll the cab
in, an old Indian woman brought in
my supper.
From that time until toward mid
night. hour after hour dragged by
wearily without Il single incident 10 re-
lieve the tiresome monotony.
Then | began to feel less secure.
had, for some vague reason or other.
put almost implicit confidence in what
the Indian girl had told me- but when
midnight came and no signs of my pro-
fessed friend had been apparent, l
began to lose heart and regard the
girls words us but the mere declara-
ton of one who was willing but pow
erless to render me aid.
From what had been able to CLEAN
from the excited jargen of the savages,
the next morning at sunrise had been
the time set for my death-and that
death was at the stake; so, as might
be imagined. | was not in avery cheer
full mood when | realized that but six
hours interviewed between the present
and the hour of my dissolutlon-or
rather of my cremation.
| looked about me for some means of
escape. There were none. A solid
bank of rocky earth formed the rear
wall: solid oak logs served as the 9TH
or stood at the doorway, eager to per-
forate me with bullets at the slightest
attempt to make my exit.
sank down upon the earthen floor,
utterly detected and hopeless, and was
deeply absorbed in my despairing
thoughts when I became aware of Il
slight movement behind me.
turned, half-frlghtened when to my
infinite surprise one of the boulders
comprising the rear wall was gone. and
I could look out upon the star-lit scene
without.
What did it mean-escape? or was it
some fendish device to assassinate me
before my appointed time?
All doubt was removed the next in |
slant when the pretty face of my duskN !
friend appeared at the opening. and |
a reckoning nod enjoined me to follow |
her.
Making sure that the guards had not
observed what had occurred. lost |
little time in slipping through the aper-
ture
The girl awaited me in silence until |
| had emerged. then rolling back the
bowlder in its place, babe me follow |
her.
did so-silently. swiftly until fully
a mile had been put between us and the
Indian village. Then she paused and
spoke.
You are safe" said she. "They will
not miss you until morning, by which
time you can. if you wish, be far
away. y
started and pcered closely into her
face.
You are not what you seem to ben'
| cried exci,edly. Your speech betrays
you! You are a white girl!'
Yes. | am q white girl. although |
have been among these savages for
more than u year. dying my skin. COM
plying with their customs, in order that
| might some day escape without ex-
citing their suspicious This is the
first opportunity in all that time that
has occI)rrr1 to pivp mo hone Ara