The true northerner., 1897-10-12
A BOY HERO.
"TELL us a story, grandpa story,


seat of honor on the old mans knee.
ALI the children, with eager faces,
crowded round his chair, for they knew
that grandpa would refuse his little
favorite nothing.
What kind of story, my pet?" he
said, gently stroking her golden curls.
"A dost story"
Something about pirates!" cried
Ralph, the eldest, who did not believe
in fairies or ghosts.
"Or lndiansl Oh, do tell us a true
story about Indians, grandpa!" eX-
claimed George. Mamma said that
you could tell us something wonderful
that happened once, if you wished to
some thing real true"
Every well, it shall be about Indians"
grandpa answered.; land my hero is
only mine years old-about your age,
Georgia"
AstheChildrendrew their chairs near
er to listen, they made very pretty
picture in that cozy, firelit room.
MANY years ago." grandpa began,
there lived family of English emil
grants on the western frontier. Their
home was not as comfortable as this,
for the house was simply log cabin,
without curtains or carpets, and with
loopholes instead of windows. Yet Mr..
Martin and his wife were very happy,
as long as they were untouched by In
dians, who were very fierce and pow
erful at the time / speak of.
'The husband worked all day, cut
ting down trees in the neighborhood.
Sometimes he took with him his little
son, named Georgie-who looked very
much like the Georgia who is listening
to me now. The boy had large blue eyes
and long yellow curls-just like yours,
my child.
$50 they all lived happily in this
strange, lonely home for about a year;
until one dark, moonless night party
of Sioux Indians, on the warpath, sur
rounded the cabin, and woke the in
mates with a fearful war-whoop.
''Nlr. Martin, springing out of bed,
seized his carbines and two trusty
pistols, and prepared to defend the wife
and child whom he loved SO well.
George held the weapons in readi-
ness for his father, while the mother
loaded them. Soon, alas, a bullet fired
by the Indians passed through the
ioophole, killing instantly the courage
Nus Mrs. Martin"
Grandpa, you are cryiDg!" Sadie in
terrupted. looking up into the old mans
face.
Hush, darlipg!" he answered, brush
ing something like moisture from his
eyes. Let me tell you all the rest.
''Then Mr.. Martin lost all hope but,
for the sake of his child, he made gal
LIANT struggle. The Indians, after six
of their number had been slain, burst
into the cabin, and one of the fore
most, with a single blow of his toma-
hawk, killed the heroic Englishman."
"And what about Dorgie?" Sadie asks,
with breathless interest
"The child fired the last loaded pistol
at the savage who had murdered his
father. The charge took effect-the
Indian was dangerously wounded; but
a dozen weapons were Immediately lev
eled at the boys head. By the inter
ference of the chief, George was saved
from death, and carried away as cap
tive.
'The Indians had two other prisoners
besides him-men whom they intended
to torture on reaching home.
after two weary days of journeying
over the prairies, the party at length ar
rived at Sioux village.
Crowds of old women and children,
accompanied by barking ours, came
forth to meet them, and especially to
jeer the helpless captives.
The next day, amidst great rejoic-
ings, the latter were put to death at the
understanding 10 the invariable GUS
tom of the savages.
George was turned over by the old
warriors to be tortured by the Indian
children.
Initiating their elders, these little
wretches tied the white child with
leathern thongs to a stake driven firm
ly into the ground.
Before piling the brushwood round
him, the Indian children, with much
yelling and confusion, retired TO the
distance of about 20 PAGES, arming them
selves meanwhile with light toma.
hawks and with bows and arrows.
They first drew a line which IL was
forbidden to pass. Then each one in
turn stepped TO the front and shot an
arrow, trying how close he could come
TO the boy without hitting him.
"George felt the arrows whiz past HIS
head. He was too much interested. or
L should say, surprised by the terrible
ordeal through which he was passing
to feel afraid. But he grew very angry
when one of the missiles, better aimed
than the others, carried away lock OF
his golden hair.
"The young Indians yelled their ap
plause at this fine shot, and some
,Souaws standing near by seemed to en-
Joy the sport intensely, for they en-
couraged the children to continue.