Lewiston evening teller., 1908-01-08
CHAPTER xxvI.


fore their lodges In silent knots Of two
or three or stood apart here and there,
Mhrouded in summer sheets Of dressed
cowsixin and motionless as statues.
When they moved, 1t was to draw
heavily upon pipestone bowl and
watt the incense of kinnikinick toward
the glimmering strip overhead 1.-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 tasted
and prayed not crumb of hope had
come to feed their languishing spirits.
Truly 1t seemed as II the pied buffalo
were bringing them more than gem
erous share of III luck. The interpreter
told them only evil news that all but
SIXTY of the pony soldiers had gone to
hunt and kill Indiana AS for the dis
fant peak. from 1t 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
wtgwams, with eyes gloomy, with hair
Mnkempt Among the squaws, hot dis
eOntent was working. They greeted
even those who brought them rations
with black looks and menacing ges-
knre0. And aTlv-warriors as well as
nquawsgot up with the sun and paced
along the log walls Hike prisoned AMI
mails. wearing deep rut into the
earth.
Throughout the winter they had been
contented enough with their lot. In no
Otherwlnter had they enjoyed such free
dom from labor and care. such health,
eOmfOrt and abundant food. But now
tho 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.
n lonely ravines the antelope kids
were bleating proof that 1t was the
killing season Of the pronghorn- And
here the village was yet shut in . PEN
Ike pigsl
Soon II might be any day--the four
chiefs would be dragged out to die by
the rope. II the rest were sent away,
would II not be to some reservation
And II BY chance they got free7 Their
ponies were gone. Where could they
eet others2 Then II would be late In
the summer perhaps On what would
their women and children liver There
would be no dried meat for pemmican,
no caches OF roots or berries. no pack
"a fish. no smoked tongxe, no backfas
nothing. And all would 60 hungry.
The post saw how terrible was the
ferIlbat among the hostage crew and
following David Bonds last visit tc
the atockatle. had used extra precau-
lions. The officers families never en-
tered the sliding panel now. bat climb
Cd ladder and viewed the Indians
from the safe height Of the board walk
An armed escort went with the 'rationl
on issue days. The sentry btats wer'
Aalyed. and the number Of watcher
thus doubled. And every night d
kaii entered and rigidly searched eacl
lodge to see that no brave was trying
after the fashion Of the badger, to buI
row a way out Squaw Charley alon
was exempt from any new ruling. 10
he came and went when be chose.
Yet he had changed in no less degre
than his brothers, though in differer
way. The word from Medicine mouT
tain had been blow TO quiver unde
For months the outcast whose loyalt
the Piow Woman boasted had bee
slipping from his old time fealty
her. made false by his dream of vii
ming back his rank, In moment
had seen his chance for honor wipe
ont. Before him agnin there lay onl
woman's work. curses, beatings and
life with the dogs-even worse, to 81
her whom he coveted going to Stan,
ang Buffalo!
He could bear the curses and Il
cruelty He could sit quiet under Il
ridicule that outraged the childish va
fly of his kind. He could thirst T
could starve. But, returning TO Il
roof one night. he had prowled year
ingly past her lodge and had con
upon her and her new lover standiI
cheek to cheek. close wrapped in
single blanket.
And so this night, while the warrio
watched the sacred track upon the sk
be made his way to the river. +
there he meant to plead the God
David Bond, that he send him chan
FOR valor-a chance to slay. Out
the starlight, therefore. he fell up
his knees.
But before his, simple mind b
framed his petition there entered
Thought that puzzled and alarmed.
pondered upon it. The God of Day
Bond was God of peace, who frow
ed IN awful anger upon fighting a
bloodshed. The preacher had said
Had taught Thou shalt not kille' II
taught that no answers were vouC
safed to wicked prayers, but punis
ments Instead How, then, could
prayer OF that kind be sent to him.
The outcast was dismayed.
Then came a happier idea. The G
OF David Bond, being God Of pea
why trouble his ear7 Why not pr
&hfa ona Yoraver for bIood IN fha ol-e