Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-13


cral loads of lumber to the site of the
pony corral From that lumber-it was
said openly, and he had told 1t In sign
language to the braves-was to he
built scafTold!
The other tragedy lowered in the ill.,
ness Of Brown Mink Since her lodge
had been placed against the upper
curve of the pen there had been much
singing, conjuring, dancing and beating
Of drums. But to no purpose. Daily
she wasted She was dying
He was not allowed to see her, to
tend her fire or clean her kettle. When
on her removal he had dared to stop at
her tent flap with a string of pike.
Afrald-of-a -Fawn swooped down upon
him, her long tushes clicking and froth
Ing, snatched the wall eyes from his
hold and belabored him with them lie
had not gone back. But in secret he
grieved over Brown Mink's suffering
and often he petitioned in her behalf
and lifted his worshiping vine toward
the MILKY Way.
In his sorrow his shoulders were
bent lower than ever, his ebon eyes
were more doglike yet he still dream
ed OF reinstatement, for he saw,
though he could not understand it,
that the warriors were again counting
on escape.
They were unkcmpt no longer, but
wore their hair neatly braided and
we'll creased. They ate sparingly and
only twice day. They almost for
swore water. And by covert exercise
they trained away their flesh. Stand
ing Buffalo and his naughty comrades
did not waddle now under a weight of
fat. AS on the day Of their capture,
they were lank and stately.
Rejoicing in their hopes, he, too, had
not been without preparation. A rusty
knife found in a rubbish heap by the
river had been polished by thrusting
1t repeatedly into the dirt. In spare
moments he made himself a sinew
backed bow and practiced many hours
with it. He spent no time In the lean
to. His guard there had ceased. The
necessity for food did not take him to
the shack. His arrows brought down
game, which he cooked. At any time
with a sharp stick he could root up his
fill Of wild turnips. He knew where
ripe berries loaded the bushes and
where the plums REDEEMED in the thick
cts. And how could he chance stay
ing out of the stockade after midnight
when any dawn might find his broth
ers free?
Thoughts Of Brown Mink alone took
| his mind from his dream. He yearn-
cd to see her again, to mark how far
disease had ravaged. to show her that,
though all others were Indifferent, he
was not. And he had determined to
| tell her farewell, to tell her that he
would win back his lost rank. For
/ this he would even break his VOW of
silence.
The end that he might gain her side
hinged upon two things-his reaching
her wickiup unseen and the absence Of
the crone. These he hoped for now as
be peered from his corner.
Despite the smudge he could see
whatever went on in the stockade, for
the sky was clear and the stars hung
low Before long his patience was re-
warded by a gradual quieting about
the grouped wigwams. AS the smoke
thinned for lack Of fuel the mosquitoes
drove the braves to their beds. The
squaws dispersed to attend them. The
children, tired with play, struggled aft
er. The lengthening night brought a
welcome GOODNESS with II. So q sentry
room roared a command from the board
walk. Then the only hostage that was
left arose slowly, stretched himself and
disappeared.
The dwindling pack were the last to
lie down. Some wolves were chal
longing saucily from the coulee mouth
The dogs answered them in long drawn
walls. Finally the wolves took off ur
the river. and the dogs scratched about
to find n moist spot and nestled down
There was silence now except when 1
cur, dreaming OF the chase, yapped In
his troubled sleep.
Squaw Charley crawled from under
the roof and along the high wall. be
ing careful to mark the whereabouts
of the brave that was always on the
watch. Above him paced the sentrles
but these did not see him because hc
kept in the shadow. Foot by foot he
went, making toward Brown Mink's
tent
At last he was so near to it that
reaching out his arm, he could touch
the base Of a supporting pole. He
drew back then and squatted. his eye:
on the entrance. Thus upward Of al
hour went by. The time passed quick
ly, for 1t was good to be near the be
loved.
Crouched within the shelter OF tht
skins was another who waited-tht
bag. She was looking down the stock
ade through a narrow slit. When sht
judged that the sentries We're growing
less vigilant she stood up, The out
cast heard the crack of her old joints
A moment and she stepped on
stealthily and scanned the rim of thu
pen. Against the sky the figure o
each sentry was plainly outlined. Nom
was near. Softly she padded for thu
lodge of Standing Buffalo.
The pariah leaped up now and tool
swift step. But as his fingers CLOSED
upon the edge of the tent flap a whis
pered summons made him pause anC
glance around. There was whisper
ed reply. followed by steps as swift Al
his own. He sank, rolling himself int
ball He was not second too quick