Year: 1872

came among your midst, and is min
still; and by that right will protec
her. Be content to choose from anon,
your own sisters. will see that she /
returned to the home of the white man
therefore lay not hand upon me o
mine"


Letting go of Clarence's arm, Har,
Heart said:


"White chief looks and speaks yer,
brave. He is no squaw; but he depart
not from here. The belt of the rec
chiefs bride will be deeked with tive
brave scalps.n


With shudder Sonora released her
self from Clarence. Turning to Harl
Heart, she said:


"Never! Let the white chief 60, anC
willingly will 1 suffer in his place; but
yours will never be. You may torture
me; but do what you may, will never
be yoursw


Uttering a savage yell, Hard Heart
called to his side two of his stoutest
chiefs. Ordering them to bind the
hands of Clarence, they led him forth
from the presence of Sonora, though not
without great resistance; but they stifled
his cries, as well as the frantic screams
of our heroine, who believed they would
kill him before she should see him again.
But such were not the intentions of
Hard Heart, who meant to keep him a
captive until such times as they should
see fit to torture him, provided he would
not conform TO their wisles-for the
most cruel and heart-rending means are
always adopted, as they prove more sat
isfactory to their hardened natures.


As soon as they were gone, Hard
Heart, taking Sonora by the hand, who
was weeping bitterly, led he- to another
tent some distance off, where, lashing
her firmly to a stake, he left her alone
without speaking one word to let her
know her fate or what she had to hope
for. In this position she remained until
nearly sunset, without morsel to eat or
a draught of water to cool her lips, with
her mind in an agony of suspense. At
length Hard Heart made his appearance,
offering her piece of venisOn and a
flask of water. Watching her as she
swallowed small piece and drank a
little, he at length spoke:


''Does the pale dove consent to stay
in the wigwam of the great chief of the
red man, and let the white chief go? Or
does she refuse, and wish to see him tor
tured before her eyes along with the
other brave pale-faee who comes to
claim his bride ?n


"What mean you ?n asked Sonora, at
this indirect reference to Norman. az
would stay could but take the place Of
yonder white chief at the place of tor
ture. Let him go. The Good Spirit will
watch over me, and save me from be-
coming your slave"


otis well! tits wellp gritted he be-
tween his teeth.


Just then another fierce yell went
forth announcing that something new
had taken place. Going towards his
captive, Hard Heart unloosed her fetters
so that Sonora could lie down, and
leaving a savage to watch her, he has
tened to enquire of this new outbreak.


"White chief has come! White chief
has comew was the exclamation, and
looking in the direction pointed to, he
beheld Norman, mounted upon a mag
nificent charger, talking with one of the
tribe.


Going towards him, Hard Heart
greeted him, and bidding him dismount,
led him to the wigwam which our hero
inc had occupied the night before. Sit
ting down, he quickly related the fact of
the arrival of our friends the day before
and of the capture and confinement of
Clarence in the presence of Sonora.


"Good! That pleases me! You are a
brave chief, and shall have twice the
amount of gold first promised. Say
you that three pale chiefs are here, and
among them a woman?r


'Even so. But one, remember, is a
captive now" was the reply of Hard
Heart.


"Hide me. Let them not know I
am here. Let the two depart in peace,
but keep the one you say she called
Clarence. Keep him; he viii make
fine sport for you. And as for the wom-
an, leave her to me, for methinks l
know her" Twill see that she troubles
me no more, muttered Norman to him
self, as he followed his guide to tent
occupied by some squaws and a sick In
dian.


"Here for the present you are safe"
said Hard Heart, as he left him and re-
turned to the tent of Lodi to inform her
of all that had taken place.


ITO be eontinued.l