The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1908-04-22
swift as hawks. will sweep down M

swift as hawks. will sweep down up
on the pony soldiers and Stay them"
He sat down amid a chorus of ''Ho,
nor The semicircle moved and bent
and nodded. 1t was plain that he had
expressed common belief.
There was one Indian not of the
council to whom his words meant more
than freedom. That Indian was Squaw
Charley A moment after Colonel
Cummings arrival the pariah had
crept 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 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!
cook or drudge. the chance might come
to do brave act. such an act as would
reinstate him. Perhaps he could
wound an enemy and count coup up.
on him. Perhaps he could face BULLETS
or arrows TO rescue 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! Woo!'
There was 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 3 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?'
II 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. I 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 well. One of
a double tongue must CO."
"The white chief has but one," said
Matthews and tapped his own chest.
silence followed
"The journey begins when the sun Is
little" he added and sat down.
Twill 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 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 matterT
asked Shoot-at-the-Tree. Are there
not many everywhere? We will give
the white chief some of our ponies"
"Your ponies doated. belly up. down