The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-09-23
jealous in his care Of the Indian. Never

>~->>~~ssey 49, o4AO
the women Of laundress' row looked on
him as they might upon the direct
spawn Of the devil, hailing their own
offspring from him when the Weasel
would have shared their games. Had
they had their way the boy would have
been sent back to the reservation.
A powerful influence was exerted,
however, in the Weasel's behalf, an in
fluence than which none greater was
felt in Fort S. Miss Toonie Adair, lit
tie 6-year-old daughter Of the colonel,
who had been christened Judith "a
name to which she never answered), to
the horror of all the laundresses took a
fancy to the Weasel, and at once adopt
ed him as her own special protege.
What Toonie said, when she said it
from the colonel's knee with her arm
round his neck, invariably was accept
ed as post order, and the Weasel's po-
sltion was assured.
"You're dreadful wicked little saw
age" said Toonie, seated on the colo
nel's porch, With the Weasel squatting
In front Of her, his big, black eyes SOL
emily staring into the depths Of her
big blue ones. 'Ain't you sorry God
horned you a savage? Do you like blue
eyes? My eyes are blue, and they're
very pretty. When you know how to
speak English, you must tell me I have
pretty blue eyes. Everybody does-ev-
erybody I like. You've black eyes,
Black eyes is savage. Did you ever scalp
anybody? If you were to scalp me, my
father would kill you-he would. with
q pistol and sword, because he says my
hair is the prettiest in the world. You've
black hair. It's not pretty, it's savage.
Amt you glad I'm taking care Of you,
little boy? Because it's not your fault
you was horned an Injun, and if you're
good I'll make you Christian, and
then p'raps God will make your eyes
blue and pretty like mine.
"Papal" she cried in the first enthu-
siasm of her liking for the little savage.
"Now I'm real, real colonel, just like
you. I'm going to have an orderly.
And, please, papa, may he have uni
form:''
The laundresses and all others i'll dis.
posed toward the little Indian had now
no word to say. Toonie's orderly be-
came a feature Of Fort s. Where the
little girl went there went he, even
to accompanying her-at the regulation
distance behind, for Toonie was moth
ing II not disciplinarian, and kept him
In his place-on her sudden dashes,
pony back. into the surrounding country
and about the post. For him-when the
big black eyes softened, it was at Too
MES voice; when he bent to study his
lesson it was at Toonie's behest; when
he returned, as he did several times,
after running away in search of savage
freedom, it was to stand meekly and
mournfully before Toonie's fearful re-
buke. For Tommy Cox he had a regard,
varied by sudden outbursts of passionate
disobedience; to Toonie his devotion
was always unbrokenly simple and dog
like in its faithfulness. Sometimes the
officers joked the little maid on her or.
derby, but never after the year in which
she was ard the Weasel about 10.
She had dashed away on one of her
willful trips Of exploration, followed at
Q gallop by the Weasel. 1t was glaring
summer time, and by the river tar from
the post grew big red plums in succu-
lent profusion, cool and juicy. To feast
on these at leisure the girl dismounted,
and the Weasel tied the ponies to
tree. He was not yet finished with this
office, Toonie plunging at once in the
bushes, when the boy was startled by
terrible cry. He quickly made the
ponies fast and darted to the child's aid.
She sat upon the ground in fearful
fright, white and sobbing.
s'The snake The snake!'' she cried.
A great big rattlesnake-it bit me"
She clutched her ankle and moaned.
The little Indian did not hesitate; he
did not lose his head. At some time in
his life with his own people he must
have witnessed some such scenes, for
now he acted with decision and knowl-
edge in case where white boy would
have been helpless. He tore the low
shoe and little stocking away, and
there. already, was the swelling redness
of the serpent's bite. Heowned a knife,
the gift of brotherly trooper, and this
he whipped out. No doubt his black
eyes cleaned strangely with excite
ment, for Toonie was overcome with
new terror at sight of them and of the
sharp and shining blade.
In spite of her screams the grilnly
silent Weasel seized the leg and deliber-
ately and firmly cut into the flesh
round the wound until portion was
hacked out To the cut he applied his
lips and sucked vigorously. Toonie's
shrieks and howls filled the air. but the
boy uttered never word, only stopping
now and then to peer into his mistress
blue and frightened eyes anxiously.
These did not dim, her rigor did not
lessen, and the Weasel sucked away
with confidence. AT last he took her
handkerchief and bound up the wound,
dragged her to her pony and helped her
mount. She was wonderfully strong
and healthful young person and did not
whimper nor faint, only howled in
sturdy and wholesome way. The Wea-
sci rode by her side at tearing gallop
kack t0 the most and ctro;ubt to tho Lo.