The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-08-08
SAVED FROM INDIANS

:
more than five miles away, destined 10
be the mistress OF a chief or perhaps
sacrificed in some Of their horrid rites,
And yet these men are right. To un-
deIfake anything for her-toO wild, too
wildm
"I'll go, he muttered at last, ''go
alone TO the Navajo camp, if ] die for
IT, Something SEEMS to urge me and !
will obey. II it be only a morbid fan
cv. alone shall suffer for it. And,
suppose I do die, who's there to mourn
for me except these two rough though
noble hearted men? Besides, if any
thing can be done, one would be more
likely 10 succeed than three. I"
Then, mounting, he rode into the
water and directed his course down the
stream.
An hour longer and he found him
self at the edge Of a narrow valley,
whose opposite side was overshadowcd
10y rocky cliffs one thousand feet
high.
Securing his horse he began to steal
forward on foot, first seeing that his
knife and revolvers were in their ae-
customed places
Ii was a full half hour before he gain
ed that coveted position. Looking
down, lis eyes met scene which
thrilled him with excitement.
Thirty yards distant appeared a low,
hastily constructed tent, hitherto con-
eesled from his view by groups Of eae-
tus.
Around il the Navajo warriors lay,
rolled in their blankets, apparently
buried in slumber.
There * no way Of approaching the
tent except through the groups Of
sleeping warriors.
The latter had evidently sunk to
sleep without posting sentinels, feeling
perfectly secure in this isolated spot.
With the softness and agility Of a
cat, he left his position and began
worming himself through the coarse
grass toward the tent.
But he had not advanced five yards
when dark figure arose near il, and
glaneing for moment over the sleep
ing warriors, darted within.
In the momentary pause made the
trapper saw il was AN Indian girl
What meant her stealfhy movements?
Did she design to help the prisoner 10
escape?
Ten minutes passed, seeming an hour
to the excited trapper. Then he saw
the Indian girl cautiously emerge from
the rude tent and glance anxiousIy
around.
Evidently satisfied that none of the
warriors had moved, she made gest-
ure TO some one behind, who began at
once to follow her, both crawling on
hands and knees toward the base of
low cliffs.
At hast they passed him, and having
gained the cliffs darted noiselessly up
among the dwarfed shrubbery covering
it, sides.
The moment they disappeared their
silent watcher crept hurriedly after
them.
The Indian girl had disguised the
prisoner whom she was assisting TO e.
cape. Nevertheless the trapper had
penetrated il sufficiently 10 know that
the prisoner was white.
at i she! Merciful heaven, almost
know itp' he muttered in his excite
ment. THAT something which urged
me upon this adventure a pre-
sentimentr'
Not three minutes elapsed before he
caught sight Of the fugitiyes a they
disappeared through cleft in the
rocks which opened into the north
ern passage from the valley.
But a scene met his view which held
him motionless with wonder and new
fears.
A powerfully built Indian warrior
stood beside a horse about twenty feet
distant, on the opposite side of the pas
sage.
The young trapper had just time 10
take in the scene when the warrior ad-
vanced, meeting the Indian girl and
her recoiling charge.
You have done well, Menoken. -
said the warrior softly, in good SPAN
ish. you see am ready. Do you
think your warriors suspect that the
Apache chief, War Tongue, has follow
ed them for three days"
''No," she said, ''nor that Menoken,
wife Of a Navajo chief, fears = white
rival might have killed the white
siuaw, but not without being suspect
ed. The tokens-quiekr'
''Hener' he answered, handing her
an arrow and war plume.
"Ii Is WELL" she said. 'sNow go,
quick. Take the pale squaw where Big
Paw can never see her again. With
these Comanehe tokens he viii believe
that some daring warrior Of that tribe
has stolen his prize"
She turned away.
A. she disappeared the poor girl
made sudden spring, but was quickly
secured by the Apache chief, who
smothered the despairing scream that
burst from her lips.
At that moment figure bounded be-
hind the Indian, fingers ofsteel clutch
ed his throat, and keen blade wa,
buried 10 the hilt in his heart.
"Hist, girl said the trapper, in an
excited though assuring voice, as he
raised her from the ground, sit is a
friend You are saved-come ont'
The English voice reassured her al
once, and she 6beyed, hurrying, with
his assistance, through the narrow
cleft As they did 50 wild eommo-
ton was heard in the camp below.
"Thank heavenr' whispered the
trapper, as they halted for moment.
They have missed you, but have