The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-10-10
THE LEGEND OF
BONNIE FEMME.
A Story of Early Days in
Missouri.
BY SIDNEY Il. POWELL.
BY SIDNEY Il. POWELL.
Noio First Published.
CHAPTER x.--A MARROW ESCAPE.

the power of the savages. She did
not scream nor beg for her life, but
like a bruised broken flower, sank
cold and white against the damp
wall. They stood around her, and
though she tried not to look at them,
she recognized old Wolf, who had 80
often proved himself her friend.
The same red CLEAN from his eyes
pierced her with terror as it did the
first day he met her in her fathers
forest. She saw Sarafan too and
buried her face in her hand that he
might not recognize her. But it was
useless, he had seen her. His eyes
did not leave her long, though he
walked the cave like a beast search
ing for something to eat. Wolf too,
had his eyes on her, and the thought
that he knew DER, was q little ray OF
hope, for no had said be would nevey
forget that her father had given him
bread when he was starving. Her
pleading looks were often turned to
him and che saw the old warriors
troubled, restless look as though he
was at loss what to do.
Not long did 1t take them to strip
the trapper's rude home of its little
comforts, and Sarafan's rough hand
rested on Annette's arm, ready to
drag her out, when the trapper told
him to loose her. The tomahawk
was "a sed to strike him down when
Wolf came forward and warded Oh
the blow with bis own weapon.
"This no white man. he said.
"This iniun warrior from a far tribe
you kill him and all his tribe come
down like wild buffalo herd-beat
Comanche far away over Missouri
burn %wigwams, scalp child"
Sarafan stayed his hand and
asked what tribe he belonged to.
The trapper muttered out the
name of a tribe the Comanches par.
ticularly feared. Sara an loosed
Annette and walked away but the
trapper followed him thinking to
conciliate him by giving him from
his little store of provisions he had
in his wallet. In an instant as they
turned away Wolf threw his blanket
around Annette and gathering the
corners together threw the SEEM
ingly huge bundle across his shout
der and swiftly ran with her from the
cave, cunningly escaping the notice
of any one. Annette knew that
Wolf was bearing him away, and she
believed it was to save her from a
cruel death, so she made no resist
ance o sound for fear Sarafan or
some OF his band should hear her.
1t was really a short while, though
seeming intolerably long to Annette,
before he put his burden down and
looking around she found herself in
Loni's wigwam, where she had spent
those first days of suffering and
dread.
Loni looked with astonishment on
the strange scene, for believing An
nette had long ago been restored to
her friends she seemed like one risen
from the dead.
But Wolf did not give her time to
wonder, he was anxious to get back
to his band. Glide her." he said
briefly and Immediately left in a run.
Loni as quickly executed his or
ders. A pile of skins and debris of
great variety was in the. corner and
Annette was at once buried beneath
it and then Loni constructed her own
sleeping quarters in front of it which
completely screened the heap from
view. But as no intruder entered
the wigwam they slept in safety.
A little before day break Loni stood
by the bed and whispered to her to
awake. She was startled to see the
old squaw standing over her.
"No be 'fraid," she whispered,
"Loni fr,end-pale face get up-run
in DARK night, before light makes
dark shade come-pale face die here
for five, ten chiefs say they have
pale facets scalp, big man, old
sqhaw, little child, a%ll-they burn
house-they kill all, no leave one in
all pale face wigwam, down on the
lite river other side of Missouri u
"When?"asked Annette, trembling,
"The next night" said Loni.
"Tomorrow night" asked Annette.
eyes, tomorrow night-they say
they kill me, if me tell--but me old,
let me die, pale face find canoe, fnt
oar-come with me-" she said sud
denly jumping from her kneelinl
position. Annette, too, got up ant
hastily wrapping herself in the large
blanket Wolf had left prepared to gt
with Loni.
They started out in the darkness
Loni leading the way, listening a
every step to avoid meeting the In
dams. Once they were 80 close they
heard their voices, but Loni ant
Annette orouched 30 low they passeS
them unobserved.
Safely they got to the river ant
che old squaw whispering, told he
why she had betrayed the secret o
her tribe.
"Great spirit say to me in darl
night hour, "Loni, you old, you g.
to Great Spirits home fore long