The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-16

case of attack, but as a matter of fact
we didn't think much OF that because
there were sixty odd of us and we
thought we We're good for all the SIOUX
and northern Cheyenne that were like
~ to come. We had the lndian Slrl
Winta with us yet, and the mayor gave
her a tent by herself. She was sWeeter
than sweet still ON the youngster
Blake: that is. her eyes would follow
him round and she always smiled when
he spoke to her, something she Woululi [
do for anyone else in the outfit. though
she was always polite and nice enough
Sioux fashion.
I'VE We're running short of meat and
the ma ior sent out a hunting party into
the hills with Il lot of pack horses. They
were gone ten days, and they came
back with enough grub to last us all
winter. but they had Il bit of news that
we didn't like. They told us that not
more than fifteen miles off where two
creeks came together there was a huge
encampment of Indians. evidently set
tied for the winter. They had counted
the tepee poles by the aid of a glass
and figured that there must be at least
5000 Indians in the village. which
meant ii fighting strength of about 500
men.
"A soldiers willin' to fight, but he
can't fight long with odds of fourteen
TO one against him. We didn't care
about going to attack the reds and We
were mighty Well content if they
wouldn't come to attack us.
when Winta, the Indian girl, heard
III, ..I,A ~
her fathers, but that he had changed
his place since she last had seen him.
For three weeks now Winta had been
billing and cooling with young Blake,
rand they certainly We're sweet on each
other, The fellows We're betting even,
though such things don't happen often,
that Blake would make her so back to
civilization with him and that there
they would splice up. They We're two
regular turtle doves.
''rhe day after we heard of the In
dian village Winta went to the ma ior.
got down on her knees in front of him
and prayed that she might be allowed
to so To her fathers village. The ma
ior understood Sioux, He'd been up
against the devils often enough to he
able to write dictionary of their lingo.
"Why. Winta,' he said, If YOU go
back they'll know that somebody must
have brought you most of the way,
and they'll be down on us like IL whirl-
wind
I'm putting the girls talk into
straight English. She said that the
reason she wanted to go was to keep
her father and his men from attacking
us. i am his only child she said, and
he can't refuse me anything. I'll tell
him of your goodness To me and his
heart will be soft Some of the war
riors will find that YOU are here when
they rove in search of game, and then
YOU viii he attacked and killed,
1T was about this time that young
Blake came up. The girl turned face
fun of love toward him Blake blushed
little and said 10 the major, I guess
Winta knows what she's about, and /
think she can keep these fellows quiet
until spring when Ven have some kind
of a chance at them
I'VE fellows all said 10 one another
The GIRLS goin' back to her father to
keep him from getting after us just
for the sake Of the NoungSter. She
don't care a rap for all our kindness,
but she does just dote on Blake.
well, the upshot of ii was that the
major let the girl go. 1t was only a
matter Of fifteen miles, and she had the
same pony that she rode when we cap
tured her, Winta and Blake had a
fearful parting. My fathers people
shall protect YOU she said, Then she
rode away just at reveille ON that
bright November morning.
Just at gray of the day the follow