The Adair County news., 1922-08-29


his rife behind Befere he was close
enough to leap for Firehy's back, three
bucks darted from behind lodge and
threw themselves upon him. In a mo-
ment ne was face down on the ground,
his hands were tied behind his back.
and when turned over he looked up
into the grinning face of Black Wolf,
who with the help of another brave
dragged him to a lodge and roughly
threw him within, and left him alone.
On the way he saw his foster-mOther's
eyes flashing helplessly, saw the girl
Early Morn Indignantly telling her
mother what was going on, and the
white woman's tace was wet with
tears. He turned over so that he could
look through the tent-faps. Two
bucks were driving a stake in the cen
ter of the space around which the
lodges were ringed. Two more were
bringing fagots of wood and it was
plain what was going to become of
him. His fOster-mOther, who was
fiercely haranguing one of the chiefs,
turned angrily into KahtoO's lodge and
he could see the white woman rocking
her body and wringing her hands.
Then the old chief appeared and lifted
his hands.
Crooked Lightning will be very
angry. The prisoner is his-nOt yours.
1t is for him to say what the punish
ment shall be-nOt for you. Wait for
him! Hold a council and If you decide
| against him, though he Is my sOn-he
| shall die" For moment the prep
aratiOns ceased and all turned to the
prophet, who had appeared before his
lodge.
"KahtOo is right" he said. "The
Great Spirit will not approve if White
Arrow die except by the will of the
cOuncil-and Crooked Lightning will
be angry" There was a chorus of pro-
| testing grunts, but the preparations
ceased. The boy could feel the malevo-
lence in the prophets tone and he
knew that the impOstor wanted to
curry further favor with Crooked
Lightning and not rob him Of the joy
| of watching his victims torture. So
the braves went back to their fire
water, and soon the boys foster moth
er brought him something to eat, but
she could say nothing, for Black Wolf
had appointed himself sentinel and
sat, rife In hand, at the door Of the
hodge.
Night came on. The drinking be
came more furious and once ErskiDe
saw pale-brewn arm thrust from be
hind the lodge and place jug at the
feet of Black Wolf, who grunted and
drank deep. One by one the braves
went to drunken sleep about the FIRE
The fire died down and by the last
| Pickering fame the had saw BlaeR
WOfes chin sinking sleepify to his
chest. There WIS the slightest rustic
behind the tent He felt something
grOping for his hands and feet, felt
the point of knife Craze the skin Of
i his wrist and ankles-felt the thongs
loosen and drop apart. NOiselessly
inch by~inch, he crept to the wall Of
the tent, which was carefully lifted
for him. Outside he rose and waited
Like a shadow the girl Early MOrr
stole before him and like a shadow h
followed. In a few minutes they were
by the 'river-bank, away from th'
town. The moon rose, and from tht
shadow of beech the white woman
stepped forth with his rife and pow
der-hOrn and 7bullet-pOuch and som'
| food. She pointed to his horse a litti,
farther down. He looked long ant
silently into the Indian girls eyes ant
took the white woman's shaking hand
Once he looked back The Indian cir
was stole as stone. A bar of moon
light showed the white woman's fac
wet with tears.
| - -
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