Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-04-22
SAVED FROM THE INDIANS.


past half hour
The speaker was one OF a trio oil
trappsrs who on their return toward
Santa Fe, had camped for the night
on small plateau overlooking deep
canyon.
30 yoi think those Indians are
camped over yonder, Neilson?' was
the reply.
That's what l sald, wasn't it2 But
what OF that?'
Il was thinking about the prisoner
hey had with them. Ill bet the price
of our united packs twas a white
girl
%, you will, eh? Well, how're ye
going to get at it? Tnat's the point.
Exactly. III tell you. By leav-
Ing our packs here and stealing a
march on their camp. And then we
might get chance to liberate her;
who knowsY'
Are you a fool MortT
But little more was said. Mort
Renfrew, whatever his thoughts, re-
lapsed into silence and his companions
were soon buried in slumber.
I'll go!' he muttered at last, 'go
alone to see the Navajo camp, if |
die for It'll Something seems to urge
me and I'll obey. If it be only a
morbid fancy l alone shall suffer for
it. And suppose do die who's there
to mourn for me except these two
rough tough noble hearted men1 Be-
sides, if anything can be done, one
would be more apt to succeed than
three"
Then mounting he rode into the
water and directed his course down
stream.
An hour longer and he foun1 him.
self at the edga OF narrow valley
whose opposite side was overshadowd
ed by rocky cliffs 1000 feet high.
But he saw no sign as yet Of the
Navajo camp.
They were certainly not on his side
of the valley, or else he would have
detected them through the pale star
light.
Bat his searching eye soon dis
tinguished an opening to the extreme
northwest Of the valley, leading. he
doubted not, out of the mountains.
He saw that, by scouting up mile
along the edge of the the timber, be
could turn to the left and gain point
of observation from the low cliffs and
boulders.
Securing his horse he began to steal
forward on foot, first seeing that his
knife and revolvers were in their &C
customed places.
1t was full half hour before he
gained the coveted position. Look
ing down his eyes met scene which
thrilled him with excitement.
Thirty yards distant appeared low,
hastily constructed tent, hitherto con-
cealed from his views by groups OF
cactus.
Around it the Navajo warriors lay
rolled in their blankets, evidently
buried In slumber.
There was no way of approaching
the tent except through the groups
of sleeping warriors.
The latter had evidently sunk to
slumber without posting sentinels,
feeling perfectly secure in this isolat-
ed place.
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 it, and
glancing for moment over the slum
bering warriors, darted within.
In the momentary pause made the
trapper saw that it was an Indian
girl.
What meant her stealthy move
ments? Did she design to help the
prisoner to escape?
Ten minutes passed, seeming az
hour to the excited trapoer. Then he
saw the Indian girl cautiously emerge
fran the tent and glance anxiously
all around.
Evidently satisfied that none of the
warriors had moved, she made ges-
ture to someone behind, who began a.
once to follow her, both crawling or
hands and knees toward the base o.
the low cliffs.
At last they passed him and having
gained the cliffs, darted noisless ul
among the dwarfed shrubbery cover
ing its sides.
The moment they disappeared theil
silent watcher crept silently afte
them.
The Indian girl had disguised th'
prisoner whom she was assisting tt
escape. Nevertheless the trapper hac
penetrated it sufficiently to know tina
ther prisoner was white.
1T is she Merciful heaven, al
most know it, he muttered in his ex
citement. 'I'hat something which
urged me upon this adventure -'twa
a presentment!
Not three minutes elapsed befor
he caught sight OF the fugitives a
they disappeared through a cleft il
the rocks, which opened into th'
northern passage from the valley.
But scene met his view which helt
him motionless with wonder and nev
fears.
A powerfully built Indian warrlo
stood beside a horse about twent,
fook distant ~, tho oppooita ci1o n