The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-10-21

some day he would have to live with
them,' / said.
You see, Roy, I had to be very
severe with every one that week tC
keep up my own courage, besides
making all the preparations for de
parture myself; aunt Mary refusing
to help, and Jimmy doing nothing
except when ordered, and then under
protest. And all the time our little
prince. unconscious and happy as a
bird, sang. played, cbatted and laugh
ed in blissful ignorance of impending
fate.
II told him | was gong to take
him on journey whereat he was de
lighted, and wondered much at your
aunt Mary's tears and violent dem
onstrations of affection, when she
realized, as she did the last day, that
the order must he obeyed and her
darling lost forever.
Prince will come back the child
assured her in his lordly way, patting
her cheek Prince Thinks he won't
60 he added, his upder lip trembling
as Mary still clung to him.
Almost with force | drew him
away and hurried down to the boat,
as night was fast closing in. Once on
board his delight knew no bounds
jimmy had declined to take farewell,
but had sent a small till sword as a
parting gift which the child proudly
wore until he stumbled over it strik-
ing his head on the floor and raising
a frightful bump on his forehead
then l took it away. His excitement
was intense. | could not keep track
of him. He was here, there. every
where!
presently I lost sight of him-no-
where to be found The whole ships
crew was in commotion and / was
nearly frantic.
To have harm come to him now,
would not only be my ruin, but would
bring disaster and desolation to many
others. Just then a merry 'boop came
from out the darkness. There he was,
hiding near the deck railing. He
startek to run as | came forward,
tripped by the open guard, fell, and
the next thing | heard was an omi
nous splash In the black rushing
water In moment L was in after
him, giving the alarm as jumped and
striking wildly out for the little form
which L knew must soon rise to the
surface.
Z" 'Princel Princer | called Not a
sign, only the rushing to and fro of
the men lowering the boats-and the
sobbing of the water as it dashed
against the pier, perhaps already
tossing in It's cruel arms the dead
body of my little prince. But even
in my agony l could not but think
fate was doing him good turn, say
ing him from life to him worse than
dsatA
The boats We're now in the water,
the men holding huge pine torches
which threw a lurid glare over the
sullen water. They picked me up
well-nigh exhausted and then, with
hooks and ropes, searched diligently
Suddenly one of the torches fared
into greater brilliancy just before ex
piring, and in the distance we discern
ed a moving object log of wood
most likely-no, dog, for it was
swimming. Fastening to it, what do
yon think that it was but the prince
carried along by the current, but fight
ing bravely, his head still above water
"A real Injun" cried one of the
men. Yer can't drown 'em-lf yer
try Sure enough, the one Indian
trait had never discovered in our
captive; where white child would
have gone to the bottom without a
struggle, he swan as naturally as a
duck.
''But for some time it was a ques
ton whether his brave effort had not
cost him his life. But bless you. by
morning, he was almost as spry as
ever, only tnfe languid, and evinc
ing an increased desire to cling to me
making it all the harder for me to re,
sign him.
But the time was approaching.
The boat was irawing near her land
ing. Among the trees l could see
the I-dians' tents; n goodly number
In truth the chief had come to
meet his son and heir with royal
honors. | wanted to wait until he
was asleep and then leave him with
his father. But the chief would not
listen to such a plan. He must be
brought midway between his camp
and ours, and there, in the presence
of the assembled troops and braves
be must he formally delivered into
his fathers hands, Then, and not
till then wonld the treaty be signed.
"'Will Prince go with big man to
learn no " to be soldler?'
Go wiz jimmy he answered
promptly.
No, not with Jimmy, with great
big soldier like this. l said, pointing
to one of the panels of the boat
whereon a glowing picture OF an In
dian chief safely crossing the Gas
cades in al impossible skiff was
painted.
"'Not wiv the ugly men. he take all
my hair? he cried grasping my hand.
Alas for Jimmy's teaching
"lry as would l could cot dissi-
pate his fear. With sinking heart
| led HIM FROM the boat.
I'm solemn procession. the officers
and myself, with the prince between
US, marched to tho appointed place
Seaing the Indians, the prince had
discreetly retired behind me, but the
chief, catching sight of the boy SC
long LOST, rushed forward and clasped
the child to his bosom, lavishing soft
Indian terms of endearment upon
him.
The little fellow with an agonizine
scream threw himself back senseIess
in the chieftain's arms-dead from
fright. Thought at first, as your aunt
had prophesied.
That, Roy, was the last / ever
saw of my little prince-to all ap-
pearances dead in the arms of his
father, and surrounded by hundred
sullen savages.
ssTha u,,n oil ,.xl, !.