Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-09-25
CHAPTER KY.

and had now nerved herself for the
worst. She had heard that the Indians
have neither mercy nor pity for anyone
who may exhibit fear of death; she knew
that no entreaties or tears would move
them in the slightest, but that courage
aud frmness would at any rate command
their respect and admiration. She had
therefore schooled herself to show no
emotion.
Nevertheless, as, after four days, the
troop drew up in front of the council hut
and alighted, the women pressed round
to heap abuse upon the prisoner; but one
Of the Indians stepped up to her and
waved them back, and saying ''She is the
child Of a great chief" took her by the
arm and handed her over to the care of
the wife Of one of the principal chiefs.
The selection was a good one, for the
woman, who was young, was known in
the tribe as the Fawn, for her gentle
disposition. She at once led the captive
away to her lodge, where she bade her
sit down. offered her food and spoke kind
ly to her in her low, soft, Indian tongue.
Ethel could not understand her, but the
kindly tones moved her more than the
threats of the crowd outside had done,
and she broke down in torrent Of tears.
The next morning an incident occurred
which, although she knew it not at the
time, entirely altered her destination and
prospects.
She was sitting upon the ground, when
a man, who by his bearing appeared to be
the principal chief present, passed in
earnest talk with another chief. In the
latter she recognized at once one of the
wounded Indian prisoners who had re-
manned at her fathers home for full
week.
"Tawaina," she said, leaping to her
feet.
He paid no attention to her call, and
she repeated it in louder tone.
The principal chief stopped; Tawaina
did the same. Then he walked slowly
toward the captive.
Save me, Tawaina," she said, "and
send me back again home"
Tawaina shook his head.
mot can," he said. "Tawaina friend.
Help some time-not now." And he turn
ed away again.
Does Tawaina know the White Bird"
name?"
Tawaina paused and said:
"Tawaina knows her. Her father is
the great white brave"
The Indian chief gave a bound of as
tonshment and pleasure.
'The white brave with the shooting
flamesW
Tawaina nodded. His meeting with
Ethel had been apparently accidental, but
was in reality Intentional Her actual
captor was one Of the chiefs, although
not the principal one, of the Pampas In
dians; and in the division of the spoil,
preparations for which were going on,
there was no doubt that she would be as
signed to that tribe. He therefore went
direct to the chief of the Pampas In
dians and asked that the white girl might
fall to his tribe. The chief hestated.
"She is our captive" he said. 1.-The
people will like to see her."
The delight of the Indians, when they
found that they had the daughter Of their
twice victorious enemy in their hands,
was unbounded. Vengeance is to the In
dians even more precious than plunder.
triumphant whoops resounded through
out the camp; and Ethel inside her tent
felt her blood run cold at the savage ex-
ultation which they conveyed.
She was greatly troubled by the fire,
for she saw that 1t must efface all signs
of the trail, and render the task of her
friends long aud difficult and she felt
greatly depressed at what she looked up
ON as n certain postponement of her res
cue. She lay thinking over all this for
a long time, until the camp had subsidized
into perfect quiet. Then the skins were
slightly lifted near her head, and she
heard voice whisper:
"Me, Tawaina-friend. Great chief
come to look for girl. Two trails-eyes
blinded. Tawaina make sign-pont way
Give piece dress, that great chief may
believe"
Ethel at once understood She eau
tiously tore off narrow strip from tho
bottom of her dress, and put it under
the skin to the speaker.
Good" he said. "Tawaina fsiend
Ethel hope"
Greatly relieved by knowing that a
clcw would be now given to her friends.
and ovcrpowered by fatigue, Ethel was
very shortly fast asleep.
The next morning she was awake
early, and had it not been for the terrible
situation in which she was placed she
would have been amused by the busy stir
in the village, aud by the little copper.
colorcd urchins at play, or going out with
the women to collect wood or fetch wat
en- There was nothing to prevent Ethel
from going out among them, but the
looks of scowling hatred which they east
at her made her draw back again into the
hut, after long, anxious look around.
1t was relief at least to have halted.
great as her danger undoubtedly was.