The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-11-17

that the prisoner had managed to free
one of his hands and cut the cords him
self, and If there were some among
them who were not so credulous, Wa
lala's station rendered her above sus-
picion of treachery.
The escaped Hiatonka bore with him
the image of lovely Indian face, and
Walala dreamed and waited. Present.
ly an opportunity for meeting came,
and then another and another, until
they pledged each other to be faithful
unto death and planned to escape to-
gether from their own people and in
the land of the Dakotas find peace and
happiness.
A few weeks after Hiatonka's 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 effecting
their escape. The Pawnees were at
first in scattered bands, which were
driven back, but hundred miles to the
north they concentrated their forces
and defeated the invaders. Southwark
they drove them with great loss, until
but 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 X ID or captured, and their
supply OF ID was small. The Paw
nees enciro the hill and grimly set
tied down to the work of starving out
the enemy, and with tireless 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. They
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 a
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 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 a chance
that they could slip past the senti-
nels and escape, or if she failed to get
her lover away from the Osages there
was still 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 Vomen and children and in
the blackness of the night, with the
wind and rain beating upon her, and
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-
ture the cause of his sweetheart's ap-
proach, but he knew that it was she,
and he hurriedly moved among the In
dians warning them not to shoot at the
advancing figure. But the warning
came too late. The watchful eye of
young brave had pierced the darkness
and in the shadowy form of Walala he
thought he detected the approach of
an enemy. There was the whirring
sound Of an arrow, piercing scream,
and the Indian girl fell forward with
the ugly missile buried in her shoulder.
A wild tumult followed the scream.
Hiatonka sprang over the embankment
and rushed to the PROSTATE form. Un-
known to the girl, of course, the Osages
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 rushed after Hiatonka, their de-
fiant war whoop rising wild and tern
BILE above the roar of the storm. The
Pawnees sprang 10 arms and started TO
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 Hiatonka, bear
ing Walala in his arms. He had drawn
the arrow from her shoulder, and she
soon revived and spoke to him words of
and love- With the rest
OF the desperate band they pressed on
down the hill; but from every point of
the besieging line the foe converged
upon them. They were headed off.
overpowered by numbers, and to avoid
the dread alternative of capture they
turned and plunged into the river.
A forlorn few of that proud array af
invaders swan across and escaped to
their own country, and they handed