Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-12-23

Cummings arrival the par1ah nad
erept noiselessly into the lodge and
lain down in the shadows. From
there, careful all the while to be quiet
and to keep himself well screened, he
listened to Lame Foot But when the
chief came to his Dragging conclusion
Squaw Charley forgot his own degra-
dation for a moment and forgot to fear
discovery. Was battle indeed COM
ing? New hope all at once-the hope
that he would have the opportunity
long desired Of getting away from the
squaws. old men and the hooking chill
dren and going with the warriors!
Once with them. even in the role or
cook or drudge, the chance might come
to do brave act. such an act as would
relnstate him. Perhaps he could
wound an enemy and count coup up
ON him. Perhaps he could face bullets
or arrows to rescue a brother.
His dull eyes glinted like cut beads.
In very excitement he raised his bent,
spare body.
Hearing the movement Lame Foot
glared round. and his eyes fell upon
the outcast
woo" he cried. "a squaw in the
council lodge! Woor'
There was a general turning, and
those nearest the pariah made peremp-
tory gestures.
A second Charley stood uncertainty.
Then the look of one accused came
into his face He tottered backward
through the lodge opening and out
into the snow.
The council continued.
A dozen warriors followed the war
priest in speechmaking Each of them
said no more than he. To Colonel
Cummings disgust each one said no
less. Added to the tediousness of 1t
all were Matthews interpretations.
Toward o'clock, however the prime
object of the meeting was reached.
When the commanding officer at last
rose he was in no mood to mince mat,
ters. He used few words, but they
were forcible. He asked the inter
prefer to repeat them precisely.
They had their effect. While Mat
thews was doing this the colonel did,
not glance away from the council fire,
yet he knew that in the semicircle
there was genuine CONSERVATION,
| Grunts, startled. angry, threatening.
|. ran up and down the line. Those war
riors named for possible execution
alone were silent.
Presently one of the others spoke.
IF we tell you where to go, how do
we know the white chief will not fall
upon the winter camp of our brothers
as Custer, the Long Hair fell upon
Black Kettle's?"
81 am not going with the pony sol
diers," Matthews FASTENED to say.
ACROSS the Muddy Water, where the
road passes, is a wide piece of land
which has been stolen from me-"
One of the four condemned glanced
up 1t was Lame Foot. by the Plow
Woman?" he asked.
by her father | shall stay until
that land is mine again. One of you
must ask your chief that he give up
the paleface squaws."
Canada John answered him. "a
brave can but take the words of the
white chief. That is not we'll One of
double tongue must 60"
THE white chief has but one" said
Matthews and tapped his own chest.
A silence followed.
"The journey begins when the sun is
little" he added and sat down.
"Will not the white chief wait until
spring." asked Lame Foot whose
guile made up for his physical defect
The others studied Colonel Cum
mings' face as the question was put
to him. They saw the purpose-post-
/ ponement, which might bring freedom
/ for them and also a retention Of the
! captive women.
/ The coloners answer did not need In
terpreting Nor he said and struck
his knees with his open palms.
why should two squaws matter?"
/ asked Shoot-at-the-Tree. 'Are there
not many everywhere? We will give
the white chief some of our ponies"
"Your ponies fioated, belly up, down
the river moons ago." said Matthews.
/ Twenty pairs Of eyes sparkled with
hate. That was news indeed!
/ Lame Foot spoke again. There was
/ a mathematical phase of the terms
which troubled him. "Why should
four die for two" he demanded.
Among the whites has squaw the
value of two soldiers?
Matthews answered gravely that 1t
was so. The brave snorted contemp-
/ tuously.
Canada John shook his head. Thus
comes much evil because We shot the
pinto buffalo"
At that point the hoof sheaths that
trimmed a rope near the entrance rat
tied The semlcircle craned their
necks. A plump hand was pulling
aside the flap Of the lodge. Then
through the low aperture and into the
light of the fire stepped an Indian
woman. She flung back head shawl
and faced red man and white. A