The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-02

ley was not unmindful Of her. Where
the river bluffs back of Brannon SHOW
ed their dark shoulders through the
snow, the wind having swept their
tops clean of the last downfall, he was
working away like a muskrat To and
fro he went, searching diligently for
buffalo chips. A sack followed him on
a rope tied to leather belt, so that
be could beat his hands against his
breast as he covered every square rod
of dead. curly grass on the uplands.
The bag crammed TO the top, be took
off his blanket and. despite the cold,
began to FL it also For he knew,
and fully as well as they who watched
the thermometer hanging just outside
the entrance at headquarters, that the
night would require much fuel
AS he hunted along the bare ridge
something more than the frigid gusts
that whipped the skirt about his lean
shanks urged him to finish his gath
ering and go riyerward. In the little
snug cabin out on the prairie a CHEEKY
welcome awaited him. Before the
glowing Goals in the stone fireplace he
could warm his shaking legs. There
was good food for his empty stomach.
But, better than all else, there a kind
ly face always smiled a greeting.
The blanket piled so high with chips
that its weight balanced the grain
sack he prepared TO start riverward.
But first. prompted by an old habit
he climbed to a high point of bluff
70
had maintained a post before severe
weather compelled their withdrawal
carefully scanned the white horizon.
To the west from where-the band in
the stockade boaSted-warriors of their
tribe would come in the spring TO
make a rescue; TO the north. on either
side of the ice bound Missouri; to the
east, in the wide gap between the dis
tant ranges of hills. he saw no crea-
ture moving But facing southwark,
| his hands shading his eyes carefully
from the glare. he spied on the eastern
bank. and at not a great distance, the
approach of a familiar milk white
horse drawing a heavy pung.
The STOPPING pariah was transform
ed by the sight. He threw up his arms
with an inarticulate cry and sprang
away down the slope to his sack and
blanket Selling them he made for
! the level ground north of the barracks
descended TO the ice, swiftly crossed
and dragged the fuel up to the cotton
woods. Then he started down the riv
er, taking long leaps.
The upper part of the improvised
sleigh that was fitting it's way across
the drifts like a skiff on angry water
was the green box of an ordinary
farm wagon set on runners. The
wheels of the vehicle lay on some hay
in the rear of the box. On the broad
wooden seat was a man, facing rear
ward to get the wind at his back. H
was almost concealed by quilts bis
arms being wrapped close to his body
and the milk white horse was takin!
his leisurely way unguided Abov'
the man, and nailed so loosely to th'
wagon seat that it wavered from sid
TO side and kept up squeaking. wa
tall board cross. rude and implanted
When he came close to the sleigl
Squaw Charley caught the sound o
singing and stopped The traveller wa
comforting his lonely way with a sa
cred hymn. the words of which. seat
tered by the wind reached the Indial
in broken but martial phrases:
Onward. Christian soldiers.
Marching . war
." the cross of Jesus
on before.
Again Squaw Charley spurred him
self into long leaps And behind Shan
ty Town, on the open prairie. b
brought the horse to a halt.
Once more he gave his wordless or
"a cry like the brill hail of a mute
1t brought the man face about Ar
other second, answering. be stood VI
shook off the quilts to free his arm:
reached down and caught the paria
to his breast.
Tall and spare he was and aged
Over his shoulders flowed long whit
hair A beard as white fell to hi
waist His sharp eyes were shade
. by heavy brows. He wore a coat c
coarse cloth that touched his feet. an
about his head was wound q nubis
As with face appraised he embrace
, the Indian he was stately, venerabl
figure.
God be praisedr' he said over an
over. Then he held Squaw Charlie
away from him for a moment to loo
him up and down. Il feared som
harm had come to you-that your pc
pie had behaved so cruelty to you tn;
you had died. But you are we'll. Y
how thin. All, am so glad to see yo
once more"
He held him close again, murmu
ing a blessing When he released hil
it was to make room for him on Il
: seat and wrap him up in thick, so
quilt. All the while the benevolel
old face was shining with happine:
and tears were streaming down Il
wrinkled cheeks.
Squaw Charley. too, was overcom
His black eyes were no longer sad ar