The Harrison times., 1908-10-17

The watermen entered the cabin
and in course OF conversation concern
ing the. little girl were informed that
she was a mulatto Of good blood who
was to be sold into perpetual slavery
in New Orleans.
As the watermen left the cabin one
whispered, He's a liar. The child
has the perforated ears of the Usage.
The daughter of chief perhaps
where did he get her?'
The watcrmen went to their camp
fire and lay down. but when the light
burned low they arose and with weap-
ons in hand hurried away in the dark.
ness Of the forest taking their direc,
ton to the Post of Arkansas.
1t was not yet late when they ar
rived at the residence Of Governor
Miller and told what they knew Of
the little Usage.
Governor Miller enQuired particu-
larly concerning the child and when
he became satisfied that she was an
Usage he determined to secure her
and make an investigation, for such
disturbances as the Indian knew how
to make when the white man gave
occasion for grievance were not TO be
considered lightly.
Accordingly notices were prepared
for posting on the morrow and a re-
ward was offered for the delivery of
the child into the custody Of proper
officers.
When the watermen returned to the
camp they found it deserted, for Nc.
Call, missing them had determined
that whatever the mission of their
midnight travel, he himself would take
a journey.
so it happened that almost imme.
diately after they had left for the Post
he had taken the little Usage in a
light canoe, and under cover Of dark.
ness had passed the Post itself, pei.
haps even while the governor was
writing his rewards, and was well on
has way down the Mississippi
The next morning notices were read
at the Post of Arkansas offering a re,
ward for the capture Of the slave
trader who had in his possession a
little Osage
Eager to get the reward and not
less anxious to capture the slave
trader, the watermon in light canoe
set out at daybreak down the Missis.
sippi in pursuit Of the man and the
child.
But they were hours behind the
slave trader, who, suspecting the ac
ton Of the watermen and fearing lest
he might in someway loose the three
! hundred dollars he had put into the
little Usage, was making a flying trip
down the river bending every energy
to get across the Louisiana line.
The watermen, however, had twice
the power and made fast time, eager
ly scanning the river exposure for
the speck of boat ahead, their in
terest growing to feyerish excitement
as they neared the state line.
When within a short distance of the
Louisiana line they discovered tho
tip end Of a canoe showing between
some branches near the shore.
Examination showed the boat to be
buried, its only exposed end presum.
ably protected by the oyerhanging
foliage. Further examination gave
evidence that the canoe was that OF
| Mccall,
At no great distance from the boat
on the edge of cane-brake they dis
covered a settlers cabin to which they
made their way. Here they discovered
the little Usage.
While they were talking to the
woman they found in the cabin,
a step was heard and for pass.
) ing second the figure Of a man
. was seen at the door Recogniz'
' + 4 ing Mccall, the watermen sprang
&1M up and gave chase but the
/ slave trader disappeared in the cane
brake and having no desire to enter
this, the watermen took the child
and returned TO the Post where she
was taken in charge by Governor
! Miller.
The watermen received their reward
and went their way, For time the
brilliant young governor kept the
child Then among visitors to the
governors home came a Mr.. Finney,
teacher in a newlylormed Mission
school at Dwight, a point about half
way between the Post Of Arkansas
and the Fort Of Smith, on the Ar.
kansas River. To this teacher the
governor gave the little Indian until
such time as she should be claimed,
Weeks, months and years passed,
but nobody claimed little Cry-in,thc.
Grass. She learned easily and grew
with the passing years into a sweet.
faced young woman who herself
taught little Indian children. After