The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-12-13
the land Of the Dakotas find peace and

A rev weeks AFTER lllatOnka ad-
venture strong band of Osages start
ed upon a marauding expedition into
the Pawnee territory. Hiatonka ac-
companied it, partly through his anx-
iety for Walala's safety and partly in
the hope of meeting her and etfecting
their escape. The Pawnces were at
first i'm scattered bands, which were
driven back, but a hundred miles to the
north they concentrated their forces
and defeated the invaders. Southwark
they drove them with great loss, until
but a remnant of the band was SUR
rounded at the historic hill. They dug
the trench, then probably five or six
feet deep, and prepared to fight to the
bitter end. Their ponies had nearly
all been killed or captured, and their
supply of food was small. The Paw
nees encircled the hill and grimly set
tied down to the work of starving out
the enemy, and with tirelcss vigilance
picked off every Usage who exposed
himself above the bank.
Hiatonka was among the besieged.
The Pawnee women and children had
been brought along behind the war
riors, and Walala was among them,
fully aware of her lovers peril. Ihey
had not been able to meet each other,
but by an exchange of signals which
they had arranged early in their court
ship they were acquainted with each
others situation.
The provisions on the hill were soon
exhausted. The pangs of hunger rem
dered the imprisoned Indians desper-
ate, and they resolved to escape or die
in the attempt
One day after the siege had lasted
week the rain poured down in torrents
and the river ran bank full. Walala
had revolved in her brain plan after
plan for the succor of her lover, only to
dismiss each one as impractical BILE. But
the rain and darkness suggested last
desperate expedient She knew that on
the hillside next to the river the line OF
besiegers was thin, and on this stormy
night it would be still further weak
ened by the Withdrawal of many OF the
braves to the more sheltered tents on
the other sides. There was chance
nels and escape, or if she failed to get
her lover away from the Osages there
was still n forlorn hope that the entire
band could break away and reach the
woods along the river.
Resolved upon the attempt, she left
the camp of women and children and in
the blackness of the night, with the
the Neosho rushing in torrents at her
feet, Walala stealthily avoided the
Pawnee sentinels and crept up the hill.
A few rods from the trench she paused
and softly gave the signal. An anxious,
almost breathless moment of suspense,
and then She heard the answering sig
nal of Hiatonka.
A little less cautiously now she went
forward. Hiatonka could not conjec-
turc the cause of his sweethearts APP
proach, but he knew that it was she,
and he hurriedly moved among the In
dams warning them not to shoot at the
advancing figure. But the warning
came too late. The watchful eye of a
young brave had pierced the darkness
and in the shadowy form of Walaia he
thought he detected the approach of
an enemy. There was the whirrin8
sound of an arrow, a piercing scream,
and the Indian girl fell forward with
the ugly missile buried in her shoulder
wild tumult followed the scream
| Hiatonka sprang over the embanllment
and rushed to the PROSTATE form. I'm
In h, l,f rtt1 & : IA. Ne rroc
had already planned to make their sor-
tie that night, and they, too, had chosen
the side of the hill next to the river
Thinking the signal had been given
they rushe~ after Hiatonka, their de-
! fiant war whcop rising wild and tern
| bic above the roar of the storm. The
| Pawnees sprang to arms and started &c
intercept the foe.
The Osages plunged down the hill to-
ward the southeast, hoping to escape
along the right bank of the river. Fore
most among them was IIiatonka, bear
ing Walala in his arms. He had drawn
the arrow from her shoulder, and she
soon revived and spoke to him words o
encouragement and love. With the res
| OI the desperate Dduu lutH pitASCb VI
down the hill; but from every point o
the besieging line the foe converget
upon them. They were headed off
oyerpowered by numbers, and to avoid
the dread alternative of capture the,
turned and plunged into the river
A forlorn few of that proud array o
invaders swan across and escaped tt
their own country, and they handed
down to succeeding generations th
story Of that awful night. They tolt
how IIiatonka plunged into the raging
waters, one arm supporting the wound
ed and helpless Walala, while with tn
other he battled against the fearful
odds; how less than half the distanc
was gained when his strength failet
and the waters engulfed them, and how
after the food subsidized, the bodies wer
found clasped together in the embrac
of death.
Tradition says they were buried thu
at the foot of Indian hill, and when tn