The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-18
sAM,S WINNEBAGo GIRL.
By WILLIAM R. LEIGHTON.

(Copyright. 1906. by Joseph B. Bowies.) Uncle Mac Is not a ready or willing l talker. when the talk relates to ms own achievements: but this Is tale he told me one day when we sat to- gether within the grateful shelter or his orchard trees:
 It ain't the things that happens 10 feIler that makes hardship; US tne way he looks at 'em. I found that out most the first thing, when l come 70 Nebrasky An there was Sam Weeks, that knowed when was scout. Dia I ever tell you about him?
 sam. he came to our post with a batch O rockies that was sent out from Omaha, when we was policin the Platte country. time they was runnin' the surveys He was funny chap. Tor a soldier. We was most of us pretty toler'ble stout an hearty; but Sam, was a long, slim, wobbly kind or a lcritter, that hadn't no more shape 10 him than a new dropped lamb He looked like the meat on him had been jerked. But the more I knowed him. the curioser he was I liked the most or him, first-rate; but he was awful raw. He didn't know the first thing about real Twin. He was a couple year older n me, but he hadn't been out on the plains. an he used to like to hear me tell about the little scrapes I'd been in, brushin' with y-dians,s an all such like.
 Well, twas only couple weeks after he'd come out when him an me was detailed with a squad that was going out to perfect one of the surveyor grub trains. We had to go with 'em about a hundred mile up the Platte valley. The Sioux was all through the country, more-less. but they hadn been botherin' the surveyors a great sight right here. an we didn't expect no trouble. There want a thing hap pened. goin' out; nor nothin' wonidn't t have happened comin' back, only sam an me an another feller asked to be let to strike of on another trail, one day, from the rest O. the squad. to hunt ant'lope. We stalked 'em back in the rills good ways. but didn't get shot at 'en
 We ken Iookin' out for our antlope. but we didn't see nothin' more of 'ern. Long about dusk, we seen there q been fires built a ways ahead, an we judged it was a bunch of Sioux that had gone into camp, I wanted to see what they looked like So we went in pretty clost, mebbe half a mile. till we come to dry creek that crossed the trail, an we struck up the creek so 5 to get back on the hill ways, an kind O nose round.
 After we'd gone as far as liked to go on our horses. told 'em we'd leave the other fe1Ier down there in the creek to hold the horses, an me an. sam went on afoot. You'd we thought Sam was afeared I was goin' to take him out in the brush an murder him, he was so scared.
 There was about dozen bucks In the party, an reckoned they must've had a good trip, the way they was act in. racketin' round like they didn't care for nobody. Me an Sam. we lay in the brush watchin' 'em mebbe quar- ter of an hour Twas mighty interest," in' for Sam. soon as his scare had wore off some, an he began pesterin' me with all kinds O questions, till after while I seen there was some kind or a fuss amongst lem, an there was one O fhe bucks come in t'wards the fire, dragEin' a woman by the arm. I told Sam to watch, because she'd been took pris'ner, l...ely. She was mighty un- willin, an kep pullin' heself away from the buck, best she could. till they'd got in near to the fire, an while the buck had his arm round her. we seen her reach up an grab her hands in his hair.
 Sam, he'd got upon his knees whiles we was lookin' at lem, an I couldn't make him lay down.
 What they doin'?" he says.
 "Nothin'," I says, "oniy she's Win nebaEo, or Omara, that they took when they was stealth the D. ie Lay down you fool" I says ''or they'll see you.
 'rwhat be they goin' to do with herr" he says; an says. "oh. nuthin' only same as they do with all the women they ketch. They'll take her with 'ein, an one of lem I'll have her for his'n. Lay down. I says, Cor I'll be dummed if I don't make you"
 So we laid an watched 'em spell longer. an pretty soon Sam. he says, say Mac, aint there some way we could get herr"
 "What in thunder you want to get her for?" says.
 "oh, I don't know" he says, "only just want to get her out O that. can't think O no way to do it." he says, "but I'm goin' to make try for 1t, anyway
 Ever hear such foolishness! No there ain't no way" says.
 why" Sam says. If you're scared tc go, I'll do it," he says. Hear him talk
 But the more listened to Sam. the more I knowed I'd either have to j'ine in with him. or else go off and leave him; an of course there want but one thing to do, an I says, "All right Sam; we~- give her try
 left Sam there to watch out. an l went back an told the other feller what we was goin' to do He was willin enough, because he hadn't had no fun that trip yet.
 Well. when the Sioux had got fixed for night, 'twa'n't but little while till their fire died down. There was brush growth within 20 yards the fire; only twas scattered. sos had to get down on my belly an wiggle acrost the bare places. Pretty soon I raised up an looked over the top, sos to locate the souaw. She want but about ten yards from me, but her arm was tied to that O one O the, bucks. I just laid flat on the ground Where I could keep my eye on her, an begun maxim lot O noises, like crickets. an difrent kinds q bugs. I misdoubted if shed be sleepin' very hearty, after what d happened; an nretty soon I seen her turn over an Tiff up on her elbow, like she was listenin' I kep' on. chirpin' an squakin' till shed got me located an looked out my way an then took off my hat an reached Il out from behind the bush makin' mo- tions with it. an then I raised up sos she could see my face.
 She was onto her job, all right; she never made move nor a sound. signed to her what I was tryin' to do an then I took my knife out O the sheath an crep' in a ways further till got where I reckoned could pitch her the knife an let her cut herself loose The knife lit right between her an tho buck. an hit little rock I'd oughte' knowed betteri It sounded like claT O thunder. an the buck he began te move an throw his robe off him. The souaw. she snatched the knife an slash ed her arm loose an then she made . hreak for fl. but the buck set up an