The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-03-14
pending over all. Do you believe in
prescntiments, Mabel?"

casioned by ones physical condition..
1T am in exuberant health and spir-
its have delicious day dreams, but if
[ am dyspeptic, and consequently de-.
spondent, l am afflieted with dark
presentiments, which are never real
lied. Yet there are, doubtless, cases
in which coming events cast their
shadows before.'''
81 think mine is one of those cases"
said Joe, earnestly, and lapsed- into.
thoughtful silence.
Having rested his allotted time, Joe
set out upon his return trip. About
the middle of the afternoon, while.
passing through dangerous defle,
overhung with a thick growth Of
bushes, he was suddenly surrounded
by large party of Arapaho braves.
and though he fought desperately and
managed to kill two of them, they
nverpowered him, and, having bound
him upon one of his own horses.
started for the village. They did not.
reach it until next day, and meantime
Joe was closely watched, so that he
had no opportunity to escape. On ar
irving in camp he was delivered to the
chief, who ordered him to be bound
to a tree, and assembled council
of braves to decide his fate
While the warriors sat in grave de-
liberation, the squaws and children
amused themselves by insulting the
helpless prisoner, who bore their an
noyances and prosecutions with be-.
coming fortitude. AT length squaw
approached, and she seemed to Joe
as being quite different from the rest.
She was much better dressed, cleaner
looking, and lighter in complexion.
though her face was dabbed with
the usual red and yellow paint.
She scowled angrily at the prisoner.
hurled some sticks and pebbles at.
him, and objurgated him with the
choicest Indian eNpletives; but what.
was his establishment to hear her, in.
the midst of her violent TRADE, adj
dress him by name. Then she ierked
out in broken sentences mixed with
Indian, like this:
Be careful-don't look surprised
curse me-spit at me-do anything to.
deceive these creatures-your safety
and mine depend on it--scowl and
look angry when you speak to me
l am Mile Stacey. Be careful, and
we will both get Free
1t required all Joe's self command
to follow the cunning woman's direc-
tons, and avoid betraying them both,.
but he succeeded. AS she left and re-
turned to him from time to time,
she gradually informed him of the
decision of the warriors concerning
his case, which was that he should be
tortured as soon as scouting party,
then absent, returned, and also of her
plans of escape.
When the camp was wrapped in !.
slumber and darkness, Mile cautious
~ approached, cut the thongs where
with Joe was bound, led him swiftly
and silently to where his own two.
horses stood waiting for them, and in
a moment they were mounted and
away. Millie carried a suspicious
looking bundle, and Joe asked her
what is was.
That's my baby, Joe; you wouldn't.
have me leave that behind, would
you?" ~
There was no time to discuss the
question, for the camp was aroused.
and with whoops and yells the In
dams were preparing to pursue. Joe
had no weapons, and they must out
ride the savages or be lost; but their
horses were much superior in fleet.
ness to the ponies of the Indians, and
once out of bullet range they were
safe. But before they could accom-
plish this, a volley was fired. Millies
uttered a cry of pain, aud her child.
too, screamed as if it had been hit;
but she bore up bravely and rejoiced
that Joe had escaped unhurt. Like
the wind they fled across the open
plain, until the sounds of pursuing
hoofs were no longer heard behind
them, when Joe drew rein and in.
quired into Miles condition.
II fear am badly hurt" she said in
a weak voice, "and baby is so quiet
l think he must be dead. May be
that would be better for your sake,
Joe-but I loved the little fellow, for
l am his mother. had to marry
White Wolf or die, and wanted to
live. You don't blame me, Joe?" she.
asked in piteous, pleading tone
81 can't blame you, Millie," he said
tenderly.
But there seemed to be weight at
his heart as he uttered the words
The hoof beats were again heard
in the distance, and Mile reused her
self for another effort. But it was her
last. When again they paused for a
breathing space she fell from her
horse, and when Joe dismounted to
assist her he found her dead. Her
child was also cold and stark.
Tenderly he kissed her lips, quietly
he laid the dead mother and child
in the shadow of a clump of bushes,
and then resumed his fight, for the
yelling sayages still continued to pur-
sue. After time, however, they gave
up the chase as fruitless. Then he
cautiously returned to where he had