Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-08-15

him In the lead. The old Apache
pretended to point out the way, and
he grinned sardonically when. after
nearly day Of travel. no teepees
were in sight
Eat night Kicking Bird tied him
fast and camped until daylight. He
again expostuIated with the Apache,
endeavorlng to impress him with the
story OF the return of HIS own cap
tured relatives.
But the wizened warrior either
could not or would not understand
his sign-talk. Though highly exas-
perated, Kicking Bird again loosed
the Apache's bonds and rode with
him over the prairies. himself seek.
ing for signs OF the hostile camp.
ut was near to midday when
hunting party OF ten or a dozen
horsemen we're sighted. riding swift.
Iy along the fiat lands OF a valley.
Kicking Bird and his charge were
at the time passing ever an old trail
leading along the base of a ledge
which skirted or capped the bluffs OF
a creek valley.
''The Kiowa now turned TO the
Apache and urged him to make the
peace sign, to show to his tribesmen
for they were easily recognizable
that no harm had been intended
to himself. The hunters below had
now sighted the two, and had halted
to take observation. Though he sat
his horse free to act, and the Kiowa
urged him to make a demonstration
the old man still refused to credit
friendly intention. He refused to
lift his hand in a sign, and eyed
Kicking Bird with hostile and fishy
suspicion.
FOOL Don't you see that 1
would kill you at once II l wished to
do so?' shouted Kicking Bird, for.
getting the mans ignorance Of his
tongue. AS the enemy were now
coming toward him. the Kiowa saw
that he must fee If he would escape
a speedy attack.
HE looked for an outlet among
the rocks above. but there was none
to be seen, and suddenly he realized
that he was trapped by a continuous
terrace of rocks, which stretched
along the rim of she bluff. He shot
ahead, leaving the old Apache, and
spurred his horse on at its utmost
speed. Though his pony was the
swiftest of his herd, the angle of the
ledge cut him off from successful re-
treat.
HE saw the enemy stringing along
below. and quickly noted that several
of the foremost would surely cut him
of from rounding the nearest point
ahead. He cast an eye on the slope
" heeled his horse, and dashed down
toward where the line of the attack
ing party was weakest.
Two of the Apaches were near
enough to cast themselves in front OF
him, where they sat their horses and
affixed arrows to their bows. Kick
ing Bird, almost upon them, let out
a yell of defiance. raised himself in
his stirrups, and bent his bow to
launch an arrow, when his pony.
going headlong down a rough steep,
stumbled and flung him rolling under
the hOofs of the enemy's horses.
when he came to himself, his
hands were bound and a dozen grin
ming Apaches were prodding him to
life with their lances. The old man
whom he had taken such pains to de-
Ii ar was most vicious in the jeers
and insults which were neaped upon
him.
With teeth set and in logged ST.
lence the KioEa bore with the kicks,
prods and insults of his captors, who
finally, in no gentle fashion, put him
up on his horse and set out for their
village.
Kicking Bird, having no knowI-
edge of the Apache tongue, and re-
pudiated as an enemy by the man he
had saved, had no hope of survival.
He expected to be put to the torture,
and he was steeling himself for en-
durance.
His arrival at the hunters camp
had been heralded by a runner, and
a crowd of the villagers had gathered
to feast their eyes and to yell their
triumph. Among them, however, q
woman stood looking earnestly and
with kindness on the prisoner. At
a second glance Kicking Bird recog-
nized in her former member of his
tribe who had been taken by the
Apaches some six or seven years
before
He spoke to her, calling her by
name, and the woman came forward
eagerly, having recognized him, and
they began colloquy, to which those
round listened curiously, ceasing for
the moment to revile the prisoner
Kicking Bird told the woman his
story, and she repeated it in Apache,
sentence by sentence, to the on
lockers.
Before the tale was completed,
Cochise himself appeared among the
bystanders. All was repeated for his
benefit, and he at once called up the
Did warrior whom the Kiowa had ran.
somed. and questioned him closely.
In the end the big chief severed
the thongs which bound Kicking
Birds hands.
Give this man his weapons he
those who had captured
the Kiowa.
Now, he said, through the inter-
prefer, you must exonerate us for
seeming rude. We did not under.
stand. wonder at your judgment
in giving so many ponies to ransom
an old fool who is of so little account
Since you have done so, and the man
mas returned you evil, you may here
and now put him to the knife. take |
his scalp, and go home unmolested. !
Kicking Bird laughed and reached |
A hand, which Cochise grasped heart. |
Ily. In peace for to-day he said.
II do not want the scalp of your
nd man said Kicking BIRD and 1 |