The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-07-18
LAME CHARLES "TOLE."
BY Franklin Welles Calkins.

them Charlie knew at glance that
these Indians were Assiniboins. Most
heartily he wished himself out of the
scrape. He was an adopted member
of Black Kettles band of Cut Heads,
inveterate foes of all ASsiniboins. If
these Indians were made aware of that
fact Black Kettles camp would speed
lily lose valuable ally.
He was too tired, however, to risk
taking to his heels, and so, when an
Indian hailed him he answered, How!
Howl! and Went boldly forward.
A group of blanketed figures quickly
gathered round him. Al Indian spoke
to him in English, asking whence he
had come. The trapper Iep'ied that he
had chased a wolf which had led him
far from his camp and Immediately re-
lated the incident of his tumbling down
the bluff. In order to divert the saw
ages mind from further inquiry Lame
Charlie gave his adventure humor-
Gus turn, describing minutely and with
many gestures, the somersaults he had
taken.
Those who were able TO understand
laughed with him and in turn repeated
his story to their fellows. At the end
tall, muffled figure turned from the
group and bade the hunter follow. A
moment later Lame Charlie entered a
tecpee and seated himself before a
heap OF live embers. The tall Indian
still muffled in his blanket threw fresh
sticks upon the fire and blew the Goals
to a blaze. Then he uncovered his
black pail ard squatted upon the
ground, confronting his guest. To his
dismay Lame Charlie foun@ himself
face to face with Gaucher, the most
villainous and widely known rascal of
all the Assiniboin tribes.
Tradegs, trappers, royageurs and va
rlous tribes of savdges kne" Kim uu-
der many titles-Left Hand, Knife
Holder, Big Medicine, PoiSoner, the
Kid, Bear Leader and "The Napoleon
of the Prairie" None knew any good
of him. The man was 2. f menter of
difficulties, secret and treacherous
foe, poisoner and deviser of inhuman
cruelty to hapless captives. By the
members Of his own band he was held
in superstitious dread.
Lame Charlie gave himself up for
lost, for the cruel chief knew him per-
sonally. One glance into the evil, shift
ing eyes of Gaucher convinced the
helpless trapper that his hours were
numbered. Had his gun been loaded
he would have discharged it at the
chief instantly. But the weapon was
useless, and outside he heard the
muffied crunching of moccasined feet.
The teepee was surrounded.
There was medicine" in all this, so
the trapper believed. The black wolf
had been a tole of Gaucher. Truly,
the man was powerful in his medicine.
Thus reasoned Lame Charlie, and with
the stoicism of an Indian captive he
sank upon an elbow and awaited his
fate.
| Gaucher very deliberately filed and
lighted long stemmed pipe, and
smoked in silence for a time, appar-
emily devising some cruelty which
should sustain his evil reputation. At
last, moved, as it appeared, by angry
mutterings outside his teepee, the chief
knocked the ashes from his pipe bowl
and spoke.
you come from Black Kettles vii
lage," said he. II will send you back
to him. But first give me your rife
so that 1 may know you will not fire
back at us"
At this instant several of his bucks
crowded in at the entrance of the tee
pee. Seeing there was no alternative
Lame Charlie surrendered his useless
gun. Then, at word of command,
several Indians laid hands upon the
: trapper and stripped him of his cow
skin coat and two blue wooden shirts.
Why the savages left him his leg
gings, moccasins and his old skin cap
, Lame Charlie does not know, but
: doubtless it was from refinement OF
cruelty. Gaucher, secure in the belief
} that his victim must perish in the bit.
: ter cold, wished to prolong his misery
; to the last extremity.
The trapper was thrust half naked
into the night and hidden to make his
! way homeward. AS they showed him
? out of the teepee, the Indians laughed
= immoderately at Gaucher's new freal;
Qf cruelty.
t Keenly the trapper regretted that he
had not dubbed his gun and striven tc
! sell his life at some cost to these mis-
: creants. AS it was there seemed moth
! ing to do but to run until he should
fall, freezing and exhausted. Notwlth
: standing his recent long run he fed
. from the hooting. taunting Assiniboins
: at the top Of Lis speed. The bitter
! night air cut him to the bone, apd life
S lay in vigorous action.
D He knew well that he could not ir
( any event have finished run back Il
!, his cabin-much less could he do so IL
< his present plight. He determined t(
run as long as he could without freez
3 ing, then to remove his outer leggings
( wrap his body as best he might ant