Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-23

falling back on his bed He was almost ex-
hausted by the effort he had made: but after
he had regalned little strength he spoke to
the Indians. and the thongs were removed
from wrists My hands were lifeless and
| feared that | should never again be able to
use them could not have lifted straw from
the ground Mattel .nx;o,,s,v for wv.,dott. to
speak. and after little time he said. pointing
to Broken Toe. who was standing just inside
the tepee door:
:" Broken Toe stole Your horses?'
Yes, | answered
Your guns''
Your saddles:'
Yes
''Going to kill We maybe?' asked the old
YES / answered
THAT man. he asked. pointing again to
Broken Toe
Yes He directed the preparations to
burn us. l responded.
Wyandottes eyes glistened. and after
great effort he rose again to sitting posture
in his bed uttering the one word. Gun!
Broken Toe handed the old man his gun
and stepped back toward the door of the tepee
with the look of frightened wolf on his face.
Wyandotte examined the gun for moment.
and deliberately lifted it to his shoulder.
flash and report startled us. and Broken Toe
fell dead at the feet of his chief
"Wyandotte put the gun beside him on the
ground. lay down on his blanket and said,
Speaking to me. Go! Wyandotte see You
tomorrow
We stepped over the still quiyering body
of Broken Toe and walked out of Wyandottes
tepee with new lease of life.
:" lust outside the tepee We found a score OF
Indian men standing about in silence They
had discarded their war feathers. and looked
like pack of crestfallen. cowardly wolves.
The fellow that had us in charge spoke few
words to the Others and conducted us to a
tepee nearby The inmates of the wigwam
f,r cd - and We mt n
Our clothing blankets. saddles. saddle bags.
guns. and ammunition were all brought into
the tent and within half an hour young
squaw brought us two broiled prairie hens a
pan of corn pone. and bucket of water
These she placed before US and took her leave.
THE following morning We saw Wyandotte-
But IN tell you. about h;, that tomorrow
Please tell us about it now. Uncle Toni
pleaded Nab
:. Bless your life sweetheart he answered,
YOU can hardly keep y your eyes % open now own
not be able to close them this night for think
ing of those awful Indians and the way they
treated you!" She nervously grasped the
favorite finger. and continued. Oh, but am
glad have you! You shall never never, any
more go where l can't see youi I'll stay
awake all night. watching. you through the
door for fear something will get you. know
l can't sleep wink
les. you WILL iOuCy, thC OAO iioii Gil
swered rising to his feet. "I'Il kiss your eye
lids and speak charm-a sure charm-that
know and you can't help going to sleep
Then the two children. one child in
years. the other child in heart.-hand in
hand. went off to bed.
| remained before the fire long after the
rest of the audience had departed, and pres
emily there came to me over the bed room
transom the deep. clear voice of Tom Andy
Bill speaking the charm as softly mother
COOS to her babe:
Sandman. Danish tears and signs
Sandman-Sandman, close Mabs eyes,!
l sat musing while the soft tones of the deep
voice and the music of the couplet hung in my
ears. and presently heard a baby voice call
ing,
THE charm is a good one-one-Uncle
Tom Andy Bill. m-almost-al-most-
a-a-a-" But only the sandman heard the
sweet word sleep"
The next and last Of the Uncle Tom Andy
Bill stores The Search ior the Treasure, atiI
appear September o.