Gilpin observer., 1915-11-04
CHAPTER VII.
An Indian Mothers Gratitude.


The squaws waited at the pool at
the bottom of the coulee till the
laundering herd had passed.
Then back to their village went the
squaws. the mother of the lost pa
poose weeping and wailing all the way.
Tom, in his prison tepee, overheard
the squaws outside telling Swift Wind
how the laundering herd had separat.
ed them from the white woman and
the papoose and the iravois and how
they had seen the horse leap away
dragging the white woman and the
baby, with the ouffaioes close upon
them. To all this Tom listened ap-
palled. He resolved that somehow he
would now make break for liberty,
nd, f he aucceeded. hasten to rejoin
Sally.
But before he could think of a likely
plan of escape his Indian guards en-
tered and dragged him out Starlight
came to him a. they led him toward
painted pole which marked the start
ing place at which he would begin run
ming the gauntlet.
In the broken English which she
ha picked up from time to time from
white prisoners Starlight said to Tom:
III you escape from the gauntlet,
run to the left toward the setting sun
to che great rock by the water. There
you will find me awaiting with a
horse"
They now compelled Tom to take
his place at the painted post. Two
lines of Indians extended from the
post all the way to the council wig
wan, distance of perhaps two hun
dred yards. The braves were armed
with sticks, clubs, poles. spears and
firebrands. All was ready for the
gauntlet. The rules of the game"
were that Tom should run between
the two lines of Indians and, if he
reached the council wigwam and took
refuge therein it would be regarded as
sanctuary and none would dare fur
ther to molest him until he had recov-
cred from his wounds received while
running the gauntlet and was ready
for second running.
Swift Wind gave war whoop. 1t
was the signal for the game" to
start. Tom dashed headlong forward
between the two lines of men. who
belabored him with their weapons.
Against the rules, some of the braves
tried to intercept him, stepping out OF
the ranks for the purpose. These Tom
attacked. putting up such a splendid
fight as to win the admiration of Chief
Swift Wind, who ordered his men to
obey the rules and stay in the line.
Tom, however, now suddenly bolted
toward the setting sun. The whole
pack was at his heels. Onward he
flew to the great rock by the water
as described by Starlight. And there
he found Starlight herself waiting
with horse. Tom made flying leap
to the horses back and sped away
like the wind, soon outdistancing his
pursuers, who were afoot. The conse-
quence was that the Indians we're
obliged to return to the village to get
their horses to continue the pursuit.
And this gave Tom ample opportunity
to make great headway
To his Joy. too, Tom found that
Starlight had tied a scalping knife to
the horses name. He had heard that
Sally was roped to the travois and the
knife would be needed probably to cut
her loose.
Straight to the top of the coulee
above the pool he rode, and then fol.
lowed the edge Of the coulee south
ward, feeling sure that the horse with
the travels had taken that course.
Meantime the braves, at their vii.
lage, mounted their ponies and rode
in pursuit, led by Swift Wind. But
not till after Swift Wind had up
braided his sister Starlight for aiding
Tom to escape.- To which reprimand