Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-26

II
 A 1CROSS the sky, pale shining aIA ribbon, stretched the Milky ESf@S Way. The braves in the stock GGss2J ade were watching it, theil faces reverently upturned. They sat be fore their lodges in silent knots of two or three or stood apart here and there shrouded in summer sheets of dressed cowskin and motionless as statues When they moved, it was to draw heavily upon pipestone bowl and wait the incense of kinnikinick toward the glimmering strip overhead-the sa cred road that leads the Sioux to the happy hunting grounds. One moon had passed since the sig nal smoke arose on Medicine mountain In that time, though they had lasted and prayed, not crumb of hope had come to feed their languishing spirits Truly it seemed as if the pied buffalo were bringing them more than gen. erous share of i'll luck. The interpreter told them only evil news-that all but sixty of the pony soldiers had gone to hunt and kill Indians. AS for the dis. tant peak, from it had curled up no news at all.
 They gambled no more. They spoke no more of the captive white women The four condemned brooded in their wigwams, with eyes gloomy, with hair unkempt. Among the squaws, hot dis content was working. They greeted even those who brought them rations with black looks and menacing ges- lures. And all--warriors as we'll as squaws-got up with the sun and paced along the log walls like prisoned ami mals wearing a deep rut into the earth
 Throughout the winter they had been contented enough with their lot. In no other winter had they enjoyed such free dom from labor and care, such health, comfort and abundant food. But now the grass was grazing high. The new leaves were opening. The willows were in bud. The wild fowl were back and nesting by the river and slough. In lonely ravines the antelope kids were bleating-proof that it was the killing season of the pronghorn. And here the village was yet shut in pen like pigs! @
 Soon-it might be any day--the four chiefs would be dragged out to die by the rope. If the rest were sent away, would 1t not be to some reservation? And if by chance they got free? Their ponies were gone. Where could they get others? Then it would be late in the summer perhaps. On what would their women and children live? There would be no, dried meat for pemmican, no caches of roots or berries, no pack ed fish, no smoked tongue. no backfat nothing. And all would go hungry.
 The post saw how terrible was the ferment among the hostage crew and, following David Bonds last visit to the stockade, had used extra precau- tions. The officers families never en- tered the sliding panel now, but climb ed ladder and viewed the Indians from the safe height of the board walk. An armed escort went with the rations on issue days. The sentry beats were haved. and the number of watchers thus doubled. Ana every night de- tail entered and rigidly searched each lodge to see that no brave was trying, after the fashion of the badger, to bur row a way out. Squaw Charley alone was exempt from any new ruling, for he came and went when he chose.
 Yet he had changed in no less degree than his brothers, though in different way. The word from Medicine noun tain had been blow to quiver under. For months the outcast whose loyalty the Flow Woman boasted had been slipping from his old time fealty to her, made false by his dream of win ming back his rank. In a moment he had seen his chance for honor wiped out. Before him again there lay only woman's work, curses, beatings and a life with the dogs-even worse, to see her whom he coveted going to Stand ing Buffalo!
 He could bear the curses and the cruelty. He could sit quiet under the ridicule that outraged the childish van- fly of his kind. He could thirst He could starve. But, returning to the roof one night, he had prowIed yearn- ingly past her lodge and had come upon her and her new lover standing cheek to cheek, close wrapped fin a single blanket.
 And so this night. while the warriors watched the sacred track upon the sky. he made his way to the river. For there he meant to plead the God of David Bond, that he send him a chance for valor--a chance to slay. Out in the starlight, therefore, he fell upon his knees.
 + But before his simple mind had framed his petition there entered a thought that puzzled and alarmed. He p0ndered upon it. The God of David Bond was a God of peace, who frown- cd in awful anger upon fighting and bloodshed. The preacher had said so. Had taught Thou shalt not kIll-' Had taught that no answers were vouch- safed to wicked prayers. but punish ments instead. How. then, could q prayer of that kind be sent to him?
 The outcast was dismayed-
 Then came a happier idea. The Gol of David Bond, being a God of peace, why trouble his cart Why not pray this one prayer for blOod to the great spirit he had served befOre-the great : spirit who marked out the destinies of the Dakotas. who was ever strongest \ In times Of wsrz
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