The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-16
A Debt Paid
BY WILLIAM BLAKEMAN
Copyright. 1910 by American Press
Association.

between him and them so great that
they would likely fire long time at
him before giving him his death
wound. He had been struck several
times, but not yet In vital part.
Captain Tisdale bought the boy for
$40. The captive, who was tied TO the
trunk Of tree. was unbound and taken
up by the captains order behind one
Of the troopers. Tisdale had no use
for his purchase, but IL the boy were
left to himself he would either die
without food or be recaptured, tortur'
ed and killed. SO the captain decided
to keep him with the command and
when the troop returned to the fort
take him along.
The boys Indian name being I'M
pronounceable. he was given another
Jim. There was no reason why he
should not have been called John or
Jack or Joe instead. 1t happened sim
ply that the captain first thought Of
Jim. The boy was about fifteen years
old. tall and straight and had all the
fortltude of his race. When released
from being n target. though fainting
from loss of blood, he kept a resolute
look on bis face and did not seem es-
peclally pleased that his life had been
saved.
Since there was nothing for Jim to
do at the fort. Captain Tisdale con-
cluded to make him his servant. Serv-
ants were hard TO get In western
garrisons, and Tisdale, who was a mar
rled man. thought Jim would make a
good waiter. The captain proposed
this to the boy. but received no reply
of either assent or. dissent He went
about his duties sullenly. but attended
to them faithfully. Tisdale was sur
prised that he displayed no gratitude
for the saving Of his life. but Tisdale
had little faith In the better impulses
Of the savages and ascribed Jim's APP
parent Indifference to his redskln ma
ture. Mrs. Tisdale went even further.
She feared all Indians and dreaded lest
they should be murdered by Jim some
night and he would be missing in the
morning.
Then came news that the tribe by
which Jim had been made captive had
broken away from their reservation
and were roaming about numbering
settlers. burning houses and pillaging
All the garrison of Fort - except n
sufficient guard went out to drive the
savages back into their proper limits.
Captain Tisdale before departing said
TO Jim:
Jim. wish you to be good to Mrs.
Tlsdale while I am awayF'
ME 90. too" replied Jim.
"All right" said the captain. who
was fearful Of leaving him. "I'll get
you a horse from the quartermaster
and you shall be my orderly"
For the first time since Jim had
been purchased a light came into his
eye.
you would rather fight than wait
on the table. wouldn't you. JimT said
the captain.
my father chief" said Jim proudly
The change In Jim mounted on a
charger from carrying viands on a
tray was something wonderful. And
was he not going TO fight the very
tribe who had intended to shoot him
to death? When the command trotted
out OF the fort, many of the men so
bered by the thought that they might
never get back TO It. Jim rode behind
Captain Tisdale. the light OF supreme
happiness In his eye.
In those days, though the savagcs
were armed with rifles. they could moi
always get the requisite ammunition
and were obliged TO supplement thell
armament with the bows and arrows
The United States force that marched
against them, learning that they were
In camp within striking distance. at
tempted 10 surprise them in the early
morning. but the cavalry were lat,
In getting on the ground and found {
force four times their own numbers
drawn up to receive them.
During the fight Jim fought like I
young devil. But he never left hi
captain. Tisdale was leading n charg,
Into n nest OF Indians when an arrow
struck him In the forearm. At thu
same moment his horse fell dead. jim
like n flash jumped from his owl
horse, raised his captain. pulled tn
arrow from the wound. looked at III
point and. kneeling by the captain
who was sitting dazcd on the ground
began to suck the wound.
The Indians were driven before tn
advancing force. and when succor ar
rived for Captain Tlsdale he was foun'
In stupor. Jim beside him chant
Ing his own death song. The DO!
was recountlng the few deeds Of yalo
he had had opportunity to perform II
bis boyhood. and rs part OF his SOM
was In English those about knew tina
his captain had been struck by a pol
soned arrow and Jim had sucked IN
poison into his own system.
A surgeon came and gave both IN
captain aud his young orderly an anti
Tote. Tlsdale recovered. but jim. hi
system having absorbed most OF tn
poison. sank lower till his song ceases
and he was dead.
When the command heard that jim
hnd died for his captain he was &C