UC-NRLF 
 
jr> <rrs. 
 
 
 
 SEVEN 
 YEARS 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 INDIANS 
 
 
FRED LOCKLEY 
 
 RARE WESTERN BOOKS 
 
 4227 S. E. Stark St. 
 PORTLAND. ORE. 
 
THIS BOOK is DEDICATED TO MY FAMILY AND 
 FRIENDS. 
 
 OWEN P. DABNEY* 
 
TRUE STORY 
 
 THE LOST SHACKLE 
 
 Seven Years with the Indians. 
 
 OWEN P. DABNEY, 
 
COPYRIGHTED 1897. 
 
 BY OWEN P. DABNEY. 
 
 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 The farewell visit to the old home. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Th* long journey to the far west. Lillian and iMathew s adventure 
 with an Indian. Their destination reached. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The firt t year in their new home. A perilous night. Lillian Ainsley 
 disappears. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The stricken parents. The search for Lillian. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The movements of the Indians with their captive. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Bessie. A narrow escape. Mathew s adventure with a savage animal. 
 The Rancner s prosperity. The Prospector and the Miners. The 
 Stockman and the Indians. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Matthew s twenty-first birthday. Preparations made to search for 
 Lillian. His journey through the Yellowstone country. Winter 
 in the Yellowstone National Park. Description. The lone 
 Indian. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Mathew s journey resumed. The discovery of a strange cabin. 
 Midnight adventure with an Indian. A clue to Lillian. Sun 
 shine Shadowed. Travels down the Gallatin River. Across the 
 country to the headwaters of the Missouri River. A strange 
 companion. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A strange companion. The old man s story. Matthew s journey 
 resumed. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Lillian and Lewanna s discovery of a beautiful cave in the moun 
 tains. Lillian s sicknes. A dream of home. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The band of buffalo and Indians. Mathew s journey northwat 
 Evidence of Lillian s captivity. In the clutches of the robbers, 
 strange dream. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Mathew a prisoner. His escape. Helpless and alone in the mou 
 tains to die. Found and saved by Lillian and Lewanna. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The warrior s discovery of Lillian s disappearance. Lewatma s crui 
 treatment. Mathew and Lillian s journey home. Their narro 
 escape at a miner s camp. Home at last. Their greeting. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 In Conclusion. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 The farewell visit to the old home. 
 
 About forty years ago John Ainsley and Robert Bently 
 who had been warm friends since early boyhood and who 
 had lived upon adjacent farms for many years, resolved to 
 break loose from the many ties which bound and endeared 
 them to their old home in western Iowa, and seek new 
 homes in the far west. 
 
 Mr. Ainsley s family consisted of his wife and two daugh 
 ters, Lillian who was then fourteen and little Bessie who 
 had just passed her eighth birthday; while Mr. and Mrs. 
 Bently had but one child, Mathew, aged fifteen. 
 
 In those days it required a great deal of bravery and en 
 terprise to start out as these families did, not only leaving 
 home and friends, but leaving civilization behind them. 
 The undertaking was fraught with so much risk and danger 
 that people who sought new homes in the west rarely re 
 turned inside of many years if ever. 
 
 At that time the maps of the west were very incomplete, 
 but after careful consideration Mr. Bently and Mr. Ainsley 
 j decided to follow up the Missouri river for a considerable 
 distance and then bear off more tc the westward. 
 
 Mr. Ainsley s parents lived about twenty miles distant 
 and only a little off the route decided upon and so it was 
 arranged that both families would stop and spend a few 
 days at the old homestead. 
 
 Nearly half a century before this the elder Mr. and Mrs. 
 Ainsley and a few others, including Robert Bently s parents, 
 had started out as their sons were now doing to what was 
 then known as the far west and had settled upon this land 
 when it was a part of the wilderness. Here they had lived 
 
THE JX)ST SHACKLE. 
 
 and ^rown old together; here their children were born and 
 had growp -&;t;matih$o4 and womanhood. 
 
 They had seen the wilderness transformed into a settled 
 and prosperous country. The Pottawottamie Indians had 
 gradually given way to the white settlers until now the 
 land of the red man was dotted over with farms and vil 
 lages, the country was no longer new, and people were 
 again pushing on to the westward. 
 
 It was nearly noon when the wagons pulled up at the 
 old Ainsley place. It being the latter part of August the 
 weather was dry and hot and traveling very tedious and it 
 was with a feeling ef great relief that they climbed down 
 from the dusty wagons. 
 
 Father and Mother Ainsley were expecting them and 
 were now coming down the long path through the garden 
 to meet them. The children rushed into their grand 
 parents arms. After many warm greetings had been ex 
 changed old Mrs. Ainsley led the way to the house, followed 
 by the feminine portion of the party, while Father Ainsley 
 and the rest set about caring for the horses, cattle, chick 
 ens, etc., which the Bentlys and Ainsleys were taking with 
 them on their long journey across the country. 
 
 The day was very warm but a visitor at the olil Ainsley 
 place was never conscious of the extreme heat, for the 
 house was surrounded by fine old oaks and elms which 
 were mere shrubs when the land was settled by Mr. 
 Ainsley nearly fifty years before, and the soft breeze was 
 fragrant with the odor of these sweet oJd fashioned flowers 
 which always grew in Grandma Ainsley s dooryard. 
 
 The table was set out under one of the old elms and 
 dinner was ready and waiting when the men came up from 
 the barn. The dinner, like everything else about the plac e, 
 was old fashioned and delicious and being served as it was, 
 out in the shade of the trees among the birds and the flow 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 3 
 
 ers, an undescribable charm was added to the sweet restful- 
 ness of the occasion . 
 
 After the children had finished their dinner and gone 
 off about their play, the older people lingered a long while 
 and visited, there were so many things to talk about and 
 the time of parting was drawing so near. 
 
 All tried to appear cheerful but there was an~undercur- 
 rent of sadness which was very hard to cast aside. 
 
 The starting away of these young people into the far 
 west recalled to the elder Ainsleys the time when they 
 themselves had left their old New England home and had 
 said to their parents and friends as they bade them farewell , 
 We will come back again in a few years." They recalled 
 how the few years had lengthened into many and how, 
 finally, when it was possible for them to return it was too 
 late, the dear parents were no longer there to greet them; 
 the loved ones whom they would have returned to see had 
 been quietiy lain away to rest in the old church yard. 
 Time had passed on and they were now bending under the 
 weight of nearly seventy years and they fully realized that 
 this parting would also be a final one. 
 
 Not so with the younger Ainsleys, just starting out into 
 a new life where they would find new surroundings, form 
 new ties and gradually grow away from the old. While 
 they exceedingly regretted leaving their aged parents, still 
 they were reconciled by the thought that they would surely 
 return within A very few years and take their parents back 
 with them to their new home in the west. 
 
 But as their visit drew to a close and the time of part 
 ing was close at hand they found it far harder to bid fare 
 well to the parents and the old home than they had antic 
 ipated. They wandered about, here and there, among the 
 happy scenes of childhood. Each tree and flower, the 
 songs of the birds, everything seemed to remind them that 
 
4 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 they were leaving the home of their youth, possibly never to 
 return . 
 
 The children were the only ones who were light hearted 
 and happy. How they revelled in the beautiful surround- 
 ings of the dear old place, romping in the meadows where 
 the men were making hay; or roaming through the wood 
 land, gathering wild flowers and berries; or wandering 
 along the sandy bars of the old Missouri River, with their 
 fishing tackle and well filled lunch- baskets. 
 
 The few days had passed by only too rapidly and the 
 morning set for leaving had now arrived. The teams 
 hitched to the covered wagons were before the gate the 
 cattle which had been turned out of the corral were feeding 
 slowly down the lane, and everything was in readiness for 
 our little party of emigrants to get started on their long- 
 westward journey. 
 
 Dear old Mrs. Ainsley tried to speak bravely and hope 
 fully as she continued tucking away all sortsof good things 
 in the already well filled lunch baskets. 
 
 Grandfather had mysteriously disappeared and now they 
 were only waiting for his return. Presently he came in 
 sight leading a beautiful black pony, allsaddled and bridled 
 his parting gift to Lillian. 
 
 N.IT 6 , 11 , " 1 ,, 1 ? 01116 grCatly attache <Mo Nero, the large 
 New^undland dog and he was to go along as her special 
 
 .. , nijj.au Luuie 10 eacn of 
 
 you , aU t0 Math ** Be y, with a "Godbless 
 
 Her heart was too full to say any more. 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 5 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The longjourney to the far west. Lillian and Mathew s adrenture 
 with an Indian. Their destination reached. 
 
 For several days our little party journeyed along witk 
 little of interest to anyone excepting the children, who found 
 great pleasure in riding horse back. Matthew had also re 
 ceived a beautiful bay pony, a gift from his uncle, and he 
 and Lillian w^ere thoroughly enjoying each mile of the way, 
 laughing, chatting, and running races out of sight of their 
 
 parents. Mathew found this far more pleasant and more to 
 his taste than helping drive the cattle. 
 
 The days passed slowly by with little to break the mono 
 tony or vary the daily routine and our little party had been 
 
 three weeks on the road without any serious interruption or 
 accident of any kind. 
 
 Mathew and Lillian s parents were at first very watchful 
 of them lest they wander too far ahead of the party and 
 were ever cautioning them to always remain in sight of the 
 wagons, but day after day passing without any mishap, it 
 was natural for them to grow a little more careless. 
 
 They were now passing through a wild looking region, 
 very sparsely settled. What few inhabitants they saw were 
 kalf breed Indians who apparently lived by hunting and 
 fishing. The roads seemed very lonely and unfreqnented 
 and were little better than ordinary Indian trails. 
 
 On one occasion Mathew and Lillian had wandered farther 
 ahead than usual and as they rode leisurely along, a turn in 
 the trail led them into a deep gulch or ravine. 
 
 On either side the steep, rugged bluffs rose abruptly be 
 fore them with clumps of bushes, scrub pines and cedars 
 growing here and there among the rocks. 
 
 Occasionally a little stream would add to the charm of the 
 
 wild, lonely scene by sending its bright waters trickling off 
 down the stony bluffs. 
 
6 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 Before they had gone very far a feeling of loneliness crept 
 over both Lillian and Mathew and they regretted having 
 ventured so far ahead of the wagons. It was now time to 
 take up camp and while both secretly felt a little frightened 
 and apprehensive, each disliked to acknowledge to the other 
 so cowardly a thing as a feeling of timidity, so they wan 
 dered slowly on. 
 
 The way grew more and more rugged and the scenery 
 more wild, and finally Lillian suggested that they turn back. 
 Mathew at first demurred but noticing that the sun was fast 
 sinking behind the western hills and the evening shadows 
 were lengthening, he was very glad she had made the sug 
 gestion. He had seen no gaod camping place in the gulch. 
 He knew they would wish to stop for the night where there 
 was plenty of wood, water and good feed for the stock, all 
 of which could be found along the river which he and Lilli 
 an had left when they entered the gulch, so he, too, con 
 eluded that Jhey had better turn back. 
 
 They had not gone far down the gulch when Mathew- 
 descried off some little distance to the right, an object 
 crouching stealthily behind a tree. He gave a slight ex 
 clamation of alarm which he quickly checked that he might 
 not frighten Lillian, but she too had seen the object and 
 knew it to be an Indian, directly past whom they must ride. 
 
 "Keep cool, Lillian!" whispered Mathew, "Let us spur 
 our horses to their utmost and we may be able to distance 
 him." 
 
 They could see by his stealthy movements that he meant 
 mischief and realizing their great danger they urged their 
 horses forward with keen cuts of the whip. The wiry little 
 creatures surprised and smarting under such treatment 
 sprang violently forward. Lillian s horse nearly unseated 
 her but with the tenacity of a person in desperate fear she 
 clung to the saddle and instantly righted herself. Down 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 7 
 
 the gulch th^y rode at breackneck speed. The Indian 
 seeing that he had been discovered, quickly drew aim and 
 launched an arrow directly at Mathew s head. Missing its 
 aim, the arrow whizzed harmlesly into the brush on the 
 3ther side of the gulch. The next one came so close as to 
 ^raze his coat sleeve, but before a third could come they 
 were out of reach of the arrows and in a few moments more 
 :hey were back to the entrance of the gulch, in sight of the 
 wagons. 
 
 Though they now felt comparatively safe they did not 
 Iraw rein until they were securely in camp which had been 
 :aken up a half hour before. 
 
 With blanched faces they related their adventure to the 
 rest of the party who had already begun to feel very uneasy 
 ibout them. Thus far no Indians excepting half breeds 
 had been seen and this occurence caused no little conster 
 nation in the camp. 
 
 They had inquired at the fort some seventy miles back in 
 regard to the hostile Sioux, and had been informed that 
 there were no Indians at present south of the river as they 
 aad all gone north during the hot weather and were not 
 ikely to return before the last of October. 
 
 This information had made our little party feel quite se 
 cure and the question now arose as to whether this was 
 some straggler or a member of some renegade band. It 
 was thought best to fortify the camp against any possible 
 
 attack and that some one should be placed on guard all 
 night. 
 
 Mr. Ainsley volunteered to watch during the fore part of 
 the night but no Indians were seen and the quiet was only 
 Broken by the occasional cry of a night hawk or the hoot of 
 a distant owl. At twelve o clock Mr. Ainsley retired and 
 Mr. Bently stood guard. 
 
 The full moon was just appearing above? the r eastern hor- 
 
8 THE COST SHACKLE. 
 
 izon, every one in camp was sound asleep excepting Mr. 
 Bentley and he was half dozing when the silence was sud 
 denly broken by a shrill, fierce scream which appeared to 
 come from the gulch where Lillian and Matthew had 
 met with their adventure. Bveryone was awake in a mo 
 ment and thinking the sound must be an Indian war-whoop 
 they were all up instantly and ready for defense. 
 
 Again they heard the cry, this time much nearer, and 
 Mr. Bently recognized it as the cry of panther. 
 
 It had scented its prey and as it came nearer the camp it 
 ceased its unearthly screams. The men redoubled their 
 vigilance and rebuilt their camp fires, hoping that it might 
 be frightened away. The cattle were lying down between 
 
 the wagons and the river and that point was carefully 
 watched. 
 
 Finally Mr. Bently discovered the animal crawling stealth 
 ily along the fringe of brush that bordered the river. They 
 were glad to have located their game but quietly waited un 
 til it should emerge from the shadows of the brush. At 
 length it stole out into the moonlight towards where a 
 fine young calf was lying. At a given signal both men fired 
 and with a blood curdling yell and a mighty leap the creat 
 ure fell headlong into the brush. As they heard nothing 
 more they were quite sure the animal had been killed and 
 in the morning when they investigated, they found a panther 
 which measured eight feet from tip to tip. 
 
 They were very glad to have had no more serious trouble 
 and concluded that the Indian was a wandering hunter who 
 had thought to capture the children s ponies. 
 
 The emigrants wished to settle somewhere near the 
 mountains, and having heard of the Yellowstone valley, 
 they had it in mind, thinking it would be a fine place for 
 stock raising and agriculture. 
 
 After a weary journey of nearly six weeks they came to 
 
THE LOST SHACKIvB. 9 
 
 a delightful valley watered by a beautiful stream. It was 
 Saturday and they decided to remain there over Sunday, 
 which would enable them to look over the surrounding 
 country. It was a. lovely spot in every respect. A swift 
 mountain brook here emptying its clear sparkling waters 
 into the river, and a grand old cottonwood grove, flanked by 
 - a thick growth of berry bushes and buck brush, made it an 
 admirable place for camping and a delightful place for 
 Sabbath rest. 
 
 Before them was the beautiful sheen of the rippling river 
 and off in the distance rose the snow capped peaks of the 
 Crazy Mountains. 
 
 The families always aimed to spend the Sabbath in rest 
 and devotion, as nearly as possible like it would have been 
 spent were they at home,* 
 
 Sabbath morning dawned, a beautiful Indian summer 
 morning, and their hearis were filled with thankfulness, rest 
 and security. After they had all read and sung for a while, 
 the children wandered off up the river, gathering pretty 
 
 pebbles and watching the speckled trout jump up out of the 
 river catching flies. 
 
 Nero, the great Newfoundland dog, went with them and 
 in his* staid sober way seemed to enjoy the sport as much 
 as the children, especially when they began throwing sticks 
 into the water for him to go after. 
 
 At one point near where they had been wandering, a tree 
 had fallen into the water, making a very nice place to sit. 
 
 The more venturesome Matthew climbed out on a limb 
 which he used as a swing, but would not allow Bessie to go 
 out on it lest she fall into the river. This did not please the 
 little girl who was rather self willed and who very much de 
 sired to swing on that particular limb. Accordingly, while 
 I/illian and Mathew were a short distance away picking ber 
 ries, she quickly climbed out to the coveted seat. The 
 
io THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 clear, swift running water soon made her dizzy, and grow 
 ing frightened, she hastened to climb from her precarious 
 perch. Her foot slipped and with a loud cry she fell into 
 the river. Mathew ran to her assistance but ere he reached 
 the spot she was being carried rapidly down the swift cur 
 rent. Her broad brimmed hat, securely tied beneath her 
 chin, acting as a buoy, kept her from sinking until Nero 
 caught sight of her. He bounded into the water and quick 
 ly rescued his little mistress from the cold mountain river 
 and laid her at the feet of her father who had hastened to 
 the scene upon hearing the cries of the frightened child 
 ren. This was a great adventure for Bessie but after her 
 fright had worn away, she was none the worse for her cold 
 and unexpected -bath. 
 
 They remained in camp a few days that the men might 
 have ample time to look over the surrounding country. 
 This locality did not entirely meet with their approval and 
 knowing that they were free to choose from almost any of 
 the land which their eyes might survey, they journeyed on 
 for another week which brought them to a most beautiful 
 part of the Yellowstone valley, watered by several mountain 
 streams. This valley seemed to meet every requirement 
 and without looking farther they decided to remain and 
 settle upon it. 
 
 At this early date the government had made no survey 
 and so our little party immediately set about staking off as 
 much land as they thought they could handle, intending 
 to hold it by what was known as squatter s rights. 
 
 It was a wild looking place with buffalo, elk, deer and 
 other game almost constantly in sight, and Indian* trails up 
 and down nearly every ravine. 
 
 The soil was rich and the feed excellent and they were 
 surprised and pleased to learn that the grass cured in the 
 fall without being cut. It retained nearly the same nutri- 
 
THS LOST SHACKLE. 11 
 
 tion as though it had been made into hay and so long as the 
 snow was not too deep, the stock did well on it. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The first year in their new home. A perilous night. Lillian 
 Ainsley s disappearance. 
 
 Our emigrants now settled down as ranchmen and began 
 at once to get out logs and build their cabins as well as 
 sheds and corrals for their horses and cattle. 
 
 They made a strong stockade in which to keep the stock 
 at night that it might not be run off or stolen by any band 
 of invading Indians who watched with jealous eye the en 
 croachment of white settlers in their territory. 
 
 It was the last of October and while the men were busy 
 preparing logs and putting up buildings it fell to the lot of 
 Lillian and Mathew to herd the stock. They enjoyed their 
 work very much for they were both fond of riding- and 
 loved to be out where they could enjoy the open air and 
 beautiful scenery. The little valley was almost surrounded 
 by mountains which presented an ever changing view as 
 from hour to hour the shadows were changed by the sun 
 and the clouds. 
 
 Somethimes the mountains would appear very close by 
 and at other times far in the distance. On the side of one 
 of the steep mountains was a singular path entirely free 
 from trees and rocks and extending from the gulch below 
 to near the summit of the mountain. This, they concluded, 
 must have been caused by an avalanche. On another 
 mountain was a somewhat similar path which was enclosed 
 by two parallel walls which seemed as regular and as care 
 fully made -as though they had been built by a stone mason. 
 This they named the "Devil s Slide." 
 Mathew was quite an expert marksman and under his 
 
12 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 supervision Lillian had become nearly as proficient with 
 the rifle. Many a happy hour did they spend together 
 shooting small game or catching trout in the mountain 
 stream and often when evening came they would carry 
 home a fine string of fish or mess of grouse as they drove 
 in the stock. 
 
 Game of all kinds was very plentiful and the settlers took 
 occasion to supply themselves with venison and other wild 
 meat before winter set in. 
 
 Everything moved on smoothly and both families were 
 very tiappy in their new home in the mountains and while 
 they loved to think and talk of their former home and 
 friends yet they were far too busy to be homesick. 
 
 They lacked nearly all of the luxuries and a great many 
 of the ordinary comforts and conveniences of a well regu 
 lated home in the east but they cheerfully made the most 
 of what they had and cultivated the spirit of contentment. 
 
 It was a common thing to see Indians passing along the 
 creeks on the opposite side of the river and the settlers 
 were growing accustomed to them and felt no alarm even 
 when they came in greater numbers hunting and trapping 
 beaver which were so plentiful along the mountain streams. 
 
 Frequently the Indians would stop and beg food which 
 was never refused them, partly because the settlers enter 
 tained a kindly feeling towards the Indians and partly as a 
 matter of policy for they fully realized their own lack of 
 strength and did not wish to provoke the ill will of the In 
 dians who, as yet, had shown no signs of molesting them. 
 
 It was now January and although considerable snow had 
 fallen in the mountains very little had fallen in the valley. 
 No winter morning could have been more perfect than this; 
 the air was soft and balmy, a chinook breeze causing the 
 snow to pack a little. 
 
 Mr. Ainsley concluded, while the sleding was good and 
 
THE LO ST SHACKLE. 13 
 
 the weather so fine, to go to the mountains several miles 
 distant and bring down some logs and poles ready to use 
 early in the spring in improving his place. 
 
 He made an early start and soon reached the foothills 
 and as he passed along over the gradually ascending road 
 the country seemed wild and lonely to him. He carefully 
 examined his gun to make sure that it was ready for instant 
 use and was just replacing it when he saw a large animal 
 emerge from the clump of underbrush which he was pass 
 ing. It was perhaps forty feet from him and walked leis 
 urely along occasionally eyeing him as though meditating 
 an attack. It stopped and was getting in position to spring 
 when Mr. Ainsley quickly brought his rifle to his shoulder 
 and fired. The mules startled by the click of the gun 
 moved the sled a little and he missed aim. 
 
 With flashing eyes the animal made one terrible bound 
 toward him but, owing to the depth of the snow, it had not 
 gathered sufficient force and fell within about six feet of 
 him. Again Mr. Ainsley brought the gun to his shoulder 
 and as the animal was ready to make a second spring fired 
 at him once more. The savage creature dropped in the 
 snow but whether it was killed or not Mr. Ainsley was un 
 able to decide for the frighteded mules dashed ahead at a 
 furious rate and his whole attention was required in getting 
 them under control. 
 
 By the middle of the afternoon Mr. Ainsley had his load 
 and was ready to start home. He drove briskly along for 
 the weather was growing colder. When he reached the 
 place of his morning s encounter there lay, cold and stiff, a 
 huge mountain lion. As quickly as possible he removed its 
 hide and loaded it on his sled. 
 
 Glancing to the northward he naticed a heavy cloud en- 
 velopirig the mountains. He hurried the mules onward as 
 rapidly as possible, hoping it was a wind cloud which 
 
14 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 would soon pass over, but when he had gone only a short 
 distance further one of those phenomenal storms called a 
 blizzard burst suddenly upon him. The sun was almost 
 instantly obscured; the air seemed full of cutting sleet and 
 show and the weather had grown intensely cold. With 
 much difficulty he threw off his load that he might travel 
 faster. Maddened by the severity of the storm the mules 
 became almost unmanageable and twice while he was re 
 moving his load they came near getting away from him. 
 He now fully realized his danger, having seen similar storms 
 in Iowa, though never one so severe as this proved to be. 
 He adjusted the hide on the sled and seating himself as 
 firmly as possible started on his race for life. He knew 
 not whether the team- would take him home but being un 
 able to see to guide the mules it was only left for him to 
 trust to their segacity. 
 
 Maddened by the fierce winds and s,now they ran as they 
 had never run before. In many places the way was so 
 rough that the sled was thrown from side to side and it was 
 with no little difficulty that Mr. Ainsley retained his seat. 
 On, on they sped over hills, boulders and through ravines, 
 little knowing how or when they might end and fearing 
 each moment might be the last. 
 
 The buffalo robe which he tried to wrap about him was 
 little protection from the cold and snow, for it was impossi 
 ble to keep it in place. He gradually grew numb, then 
 drowsy. He no longer felt the cold. His thoughts of home 
 and friends and of his great danger were no longer clear as 
 at breakneck speed the mules rushed madly on. 
 
 He was just dozing off into unconsciousness when the 
 mules made a quick turn and came to a sudden halt. 
 
 Rousing himself with a^mightyj" effort he discovered that 
 the trusty animals had stopped at the gate in front of his 
 cabin door where his anxious family had long been watch- 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 15 
 
 ing for him. Coving hands quickl}- assisted him to the 
 house and attended to his needs. The faithfnl mules were 
 next cared for and ever afterward remembered with very 
 kind treatment. The mountain lion skin was made into a 
 handsome rug which, as it lay before the large old fashioned 
 fireplace, often reminded Mr. Ainsley of his perilous ride 
 in the blizzard on that terrible winter s night. 
 
 In many ways the winter seemed very long but spring 
 time came at last with all its welcome freshness. The 
 tender grass came forth covering the valley with a mantle 
 of velvet; countless numbers of beautiful wild flowers dot 
 ted the hill tops and mountain sides; the birds returned 
 and once more cheered the valley with their happy song. 
 
 It was now a busy time for the settlers. Gardens must 
 be made, more fencing done, some grain put in, irrigating 
 ditches dug, and so many things of various kinds that in 
 dividing the labor it was thought best for Mathew to help 
 the men and for Lillian to herd the stock. 
 
 Lillian greatly enjoyed her free mountain life and loved 
 to be out from morning until night. Having formerly been 
 always accompanied by Matthew she had grown so accus 
 tomed to his companionship that she felt exceedingly lone 
 ly and missed him continually as she herded the cattle over 
 the hills and through the vales; but especially was she 
 lonely at noontime when she had rounded up the cattle in 
 some shady place, picketed her pony and sat down by her 
 self to eat her noonday lunch. 
 
 While the cattle browsed off the willow twigs or lay 
 about on the grass or perhaps waded in the cool mountain 
 brook, Lillian would often take out the little bible which 
 Grandma Ainsley had given her and spend a quiet hour 
 perusing its sacred pages. 
 
 Sometimes as she quetly sat there day dreaming amid the 
 soft air delicately scented with wild flowers, the gently 
 
16 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 murmuring brook and the sweet songs of the meadowlark, 
 she would be lulled into a quiet nap and sleep until the 
 cattle began to grow restless and wander off. In one of 
 these cozy resting places was a large peculiarly shaped fir 
 tree which Lillian particularly liked. It overshadowed : [a 
 babbling spring and a large irregularly shaped rock which 
 was overrun with wild honeysuckle. Ferns and wild 
 flowers grew there in abundance. Some of the limbs were 
 gnailed and bent over in such a manner as to form a very 
 comfortable seat. 
 
 Oftentimes on the Sabbath the two families would carry 
 their dinners and spend the whole day in this delightful 
 spot. 
 
 While the older people enjoyed the rest and change, the 
 children B were happy with their books and games. One 
 afternoon Matthew took his jackknife and carved Lillian s 
 and his initials on the old tree. To their surprise and 
 amusement they saw that their initials had spelled the word 
 "Lamb" and henceforth in speaking of the retreat it was 
 always called the "Lamb Tree." 
 
 At another time when Matthew was climbing about 
 among the top branches he found the skull and jaw bone of 
 an Indian and proudly placed them among the specimens 
 in his cabinet. 
 
 The summer was wearing away and nearly a year had 
 now passed without the settlers having been molested in 
 any way by the Indians and the Indians appeared to feel 
 very friendly towards these families who always treated 
 them so kindly. Both families were always more or less on 
 their guard, still they felt comparatively safe and did not 
 apprahend any serious trouble with the Indians. How 
 little the Ainsleys foresaw the calamity which wasso soon 
 to bring sorrow to their happy, peaceful home. 
 Lillian had now grown accustomed to Mathew s absence 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 17 
 
 and seldom thought of feeling lonely any more for the birds, 
 the flowers and the brooks were her friends, and the gentle 
 fleet-footed Gypsy her inseparable companion, and she was 
 more than ever attached to the lovely valley and beautiful 
 mountains. 
 
 Since the August heat had grown so oppressive she 
 would often, after eating her noonday lunch, indulge in a 
 quiet little nap which greatly refreshed her for her after- 
 aoon s work. 
 
 One sultry morning she had taken the cattle to the hills 
 as usual and at noontime had rounded them up under the 
 old Lamb tree. Then forming a little pillow of moss and 
 ferns she was soon fast asleep and being unusually drowsy 
 slept very soundly for some time. A slight crackling of the 
 brush near her caused her to awaken with a start and to her 
 intense horror she found herself surrounded by savages who 
 were arranged in a circle about her. 
 
 Astonished and terrified she lay perfectly quiet almost 
 fearing to breathe. What should she do? What could she 
 do to save herself? As she realized her utter helplessness 
 she offered up a little prayer that God would protect her and 
 give her strength. 
 
 Wl^en the Indians saw her eyes open they began talking 
 among themselves in their gruff, gutteral language and she 
 knew from their looks and actions that they were meditat 
 ing no good to her. With all the calmness she could pos 
 sibly command she roused up but with sinking heart saw 
 that a stalwart savage was holding her horse by the bridle. 
 The Indians were evidently parleying what should be done 
 with their captive but Lillian was not left long in doubt for 
 they soon placed her on her pony and securely fastened her 
 to the saddle. 
 
 Knowing resistance to be entirely useless she offered none 
 but in speechless terror silently prayed for deliverance from 
 her savage captors. 
 
i8 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 Having secured her to their satisfaction the Indians 
 hastily mounted their own ponies and all rode off rapidly 
 toward the mountains. 
 
 Poor Lillian, as she turned and gazed longing at the old 
 familiar haunts fast receding from view and felt how help 
 less and alone she was, her grief knew no bounds. 
 
 She wept as though her heart would break but received 
 no sympathy from the gruff stolid Indians who regarded 
 her with curiosity and savage exultation and talked among 
 themselves with many gesticulations. 
 
 Very soon after starting it occured to Lillian that she 
 must leave a clue of some kind to enable her friends to fol 
 low her and she quickly tore small pieces from her apron 
 and dropped them at intervals along the road, fervently 
 hoping that her movements would not be noticed by any of 
 the Indians but not daring to glance backward. 
 
 Unfortunately she was closely watched and even shred 
 
 which she dropped was as carefully gathered up by the old 
 Indian who followed in the rear. 
 
 Mile after mile they followed the narrow lonely trail 
 which led them over hills, through .winding gulches and 
 along the banks of steep ravines. In crossing through the 
 dense woodland the path was nearly concealed by under 
 brush and the fir branches overhead were so interwoven as 
 to be almost impenetrable to other than Indians or wild 
 beasts. Lillian s hands were bound so that she was unable 
 to shield herself or evade the branches and she received 
 many painful scratches as they hurried rapidly along. All 
 the afternoon they rode without halting. The day was op 
 pressively warm and Lillian was nearly overcome with heat 
 and exhaustion. Along towards dusk they reached the 
 camp where the squaws were cooking their evening meal 
 and were saluted by a number of barking dogs and gapping 
 papooses. Lillian was quickly surrounded by the dirty, 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 swarthy looking people and was soon unbound and taken 
 from her horse. She was placed in one of the wigwams, : 
 where she threw herself down on an old bear skin and gave 
 way to her grief. As she lay there unconscious of every 
 thing but the thought of her utter helplessness, a rough 
 but rather kindly faced old Indian seated himself close by 
 with his tomahawk to guard her. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The stricken parents, the search for Lillian. 
 
 It had been a very busy 
 day on the ranch. They 
 were right in the midst 
 of their little harvest and 
 the grain must be gath 
 ered in for clouds were 
 slowly gathering and a 
 rain would do great dam 
 age if the grain were left 
 down in its present con 
 dition, so the men all 
 worked harder and later 
 than usual. As they 
 drove in with the last load they were met at the gate by 
 Mrs. Ainsley who wore a very anxious expression as she 
 told them that Lillian had not yet returned with the cattle. 
 "Is that so?" said Mr. Ainsley with a look of deep concern, 
 "I will go at once and see what has detained her." He 
 took a drink of the cool spring water and without waiting 
 for supper hurriedly saddled his horse and started in quest 
 of his daughter. Lillian had been in the habit of corraling 
 and milking the cows during the busy harvest time, and it 
 was now so far beyond her usual time of returning home 
 that they had great cause for feeling uneasy. 
 
 LILLIAN AINSLEY. 
 
20 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 Mr. Ainsley started out in the direction of the Lambtree. 
 He met some of the cows slowly feeding along the path and 
 farther on passed others lying down as though they had not 
 been driven or disturbed for several hours. He rode on 
 calling Lillian s name loudly, his anxiety increasing each 
 moment. Not thinking to count the cattle which he had 
 passed, the thought occurred to him that Lillian might have 
 let some of them stray off and that she was hunting for 
 them. He rode on and on, calling and hallooing time and 
 again but received no answer. 
 
 It was growing so dark that he could scarcely see and the 
 storm clouds were rolling up in great banks. A flash of 
 lightning and a peal of thunder warned him of the rapidly 
 approaching storm. Still he called and hallooed, thinking 
 she might have grown bewildered and lost her way, but 
 there was no answer excepting the echo of his own voice. 
 With many misgivings and a sinking heart he turned slow 
 ly toward home, still carefully noticing every clump of 
 bushes, every stone and shrub which were revealed by 
 flashes of lightning as he passed along. 
 
 Mr. Ainsley kney not what to think or how to account 
 for his daughter s strange disappearance. He feared some 
 wild beast had devoured her, yet, in that case what had be 
 come of her pony? He regretted not having noticed more 
 closely before it had grown so dark for he might have dis 
 covered some clue which would have helped him to find 
 her. It was now so dark that it was impossible to continue 
 the search and the rain was beginning to fall in great drops. 
 Blinded by the storm and the darkness he gave his horse 
 the reins and trusted the animal to find the way safely home, 
 thinking that Lillian must surely have returned during his 
 absence. 
 
 He urged his horse rapidly on through the rain which 
 was now descending in torrents. As he rode up to the 
 
THE IX)ST SHACKLE. 21 
 
 cabin and saw the anxious faces awaiting him he knew that 
 his last hope was groundless. 
 
 Mr. Bently and Mathew after taking care of the grain, 
 seeing nothing of Lillian or her father, had also gone out 
 
 and searched but had returned with the same sad results 
 just before the rain set in. 
 
 The severe storm that was raging and the extreme dark 
 ness prevented further search that night. With impatient 
 suspense they waited for the storm and darkness to abate 
 as with sinking hearts they conjectured what might have 
 happened to Lillian. Mr. Ainsley wearily paced back and 
 forth, unable to rest or remain quiet a moment while he felt 
 so uneasy about his darling child who he now feared was 
 either lost or dead. 
 
 Before the first appearance of dawn, Mr. Ainsley, Mr. 
 Bently and Mathew all started out for the range where 
 Lillian had been accustomed to herd the cattle. They 
 called and hallooed wildly and with the first glimmer of 
 daybreak began searching carefully for some trace of Lillian 
 but to their dismay found that the rain had beatten down 
 with such force as to obliterate all tracks of the day before. 
 All day long they searched and far into the night before re 
 turning to the heart-broken friends at home who wearily 
 waited and prayed for Lillian s safe return. Day after day 
 they pursued the search and night after night were forced 
 to return without any trace of Lillian. They were unable 
 
 to find any clew that would give them an idea as to what 
 had become of the child. 
 
 The older people at length rather settled upon the idea 
 
 that a band of the large grey wolves, occasionally seen in 
 the mountains, must have overtaken Lillian and her pony, 
 dragged them to some lonely gulch and devoured them. 
 This conclusion was forced upon them through Mathew 
 having been attacked by the hungry creatures one evening 
 some months before, barely escaping with his life. 
 
32 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 But Mathew did not agree with them in this matter. It 
 seemed to him more probable that the Indians had taken 
 Lillian captive. He recalled the day of her disappearance 
 and how uneasy he had felt about her, especially along about 
 noontime. He remembered how his mind had kept wan 
 dering to Lillian and the old Lamb tree and once he had 
 remarked to his father that he feared something was wrong 
 with Lillian. Mr. Bently had paid little heed to the remark 
 and they had worked on until night, when Lillian s failure 
 to return was the first they knew of her disappearance. 
 Mathew s first thought had then been that the Indians had 
 surprised and captured her and, although there seemed little 
 ground for his conclusion, that thought was uppermost in 
 his mind. 
 
 Weeks passed by, the search was gradually discontinued 
 
 and the Ainsleys mourned their daughter as dead. But 
 there was one among the little party who had not given up 
 hope. Mathew Bently firmly believed that Lillian was 
 alive and that he would some day see her again. During 
 their years of association he had learned to love Lillian very 
 dearly and he could never believe in her death until he had 
 seen some positive proof of it. As he worked industriously 
 day after day he often made many plans for the future. 
 His parents thought his explanation of Lillian s disappear 
 ance so reasonable that he rarely referred to the matter, but 
 he resolved in his own mind that when he was of age and 
 
 free to use his time as he liked, he would go systematically 
 to work and find Lillian if she were alive. 
 
 He would rescue her from the Indians and bring her 
 home to her people. Then he would build a nice little 
 home and Lillian should be his wife. 
 
 Often after the day s work was done he would wander to 
 the old Lamb tree and live over the happy days he and 
 Lillian had spent together there and time and again he 
 would Jenew his vow to find her if she still lived. 
 
THE LOST SHACKEL. 23 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The movements of the Indians with their captive. 
 
 Lillian was so fatigued and lame after her ride with the 
 Indians that she was scarcely able to move. Her head was 
 tired and ached severely. She did not feel enough interest 
 in her surroundings to gaze about her but simply wished 
 to lie still and be left alone. 
 
 The silence was soon broken by an old squaw entering 
 the wigwam bringing some supper which. she not unkindly 
 proffered Lillian. The food consisted of a piece of half 
 cooked venison and a gourd full of porridge which appeared 
 to be made of roots and herbs. Even had the food been 
 appetizing, Lillian was too tired and heart sick to eat and 
 was about to push it away untouched when it occurred to 
 her that the Indian woman was wishing to treat her kindly 
 and might be offended if the food were ignored. With a 
 great effort she swallowed a little and then motioned that 
 she was not hungry. Many curious eyes were peeping in 
 at the opening of the wigwam and some of the Indians were 
 entering when they were quickly driven back by the one 
 who had been stationed as her guard. 
 
 The hard storm which had been threatening for some 
 time now burst forth in all its fury. Brilliant flashes of 
 lightning were immediately followed by deafening peals of 
 thunder which rolled and crashed as though they would 
 rend the very mountains asunder. The wind blew violent 
 ly and beat the rain into the wigwam, making Lillian very 
 uncomf table. The blanket they had given her as a cover 
 ing was anything but clean and she could scarcely bear to 
 have it touch her, but she was so weak and exhausted that 
 neither these discomforts nor the storm raging without kept 
 her from falling asleep. 
 
 Sometime after midnight she awoke to find that the storm 
 
24 THE LOST SHACKEL. 
 
 had ceased and the camp was in perfect quiet. A little to 
 her right sat the old Indian who was left to guard her. He 
 had gone to sleep, his head resting on his knees and his 
 tomahawk lying at his feet where it had fallen from his 
 hand when he dropped off into unconsciousness. 
 
 Lillian was at first completely bewildered as she tried to 
 make out her surroundings in the dim moonlight. When 
 she recalled wnere she was and the circumstances which 
 brought her there, her first thought was of instant flight but 
 her better judgment soon told her that an immediate attempt 
 to escape would be worse than useless, for if she succeeded 
 in evading the Indian placed to guard her, there was little 
 hope of her getting past the dogs on the outside without 
 their giving alarm. 
 
 Again, the night was dark and she was a long way from 
 home, in what direction she knew not. Would it not be 
 wiser for her to remain where she was for the present than 
 to risk being lost in the mountains and perhaps meet with 
 starvation or fall prey to wild beasts, if she was not retaken 
 by her present captors. This point being settled in her 
 mind her thoughts dwelt upon her home and friends. She 
 wondered what they would think at her failure to return at 
 night; if when they went out to search for her they had 
 found the pieces of clothing she had torn off and scattered 
 along the way. She knew thev would never give up 
 searching as long as they thought her alive. But what if 
 they did not find the scraps of clothing or any other clew, 
 would they after a few days or weeks search give her up as 
 dead? They knew nothing of the strange band of Indians 
 in the neighborhood and might never think of her having 
 been taken captive. These and many similar thoughts 
 passed through Lillian s tired brain. When she thought 
 of her parents and little Bessie and how happy she had al 
 ways been with them, she wondered if Mathew * would 
 
THE LOST SHACKEL. 25 
 
 miss her so very much and if he and his parents would help 
 rescue her. Then her mind returned to her own sad plight 
 and with a feeling of utter desolation she sobbed herself to 
 sleep. 
 
 About sunrise Lillian was aroused by the stir in camp as 
 the Indians made preparations for the day s journey. 
 
 As they ate their rude morning meal they seemed to be 
 in earnest consultation and immediately after breakfast 
 they began tearing down their wigwams and packing every 
 thing. It was evident that they were going to make a 
 change in their camping place. 
 
 Everything was finally in readiness. Some of the pap- 
 pooses were strapped to their mothers backs and others 
 were placed in baskets on the ponies. One little brown 
 pony carried five of these baskets strapped together and 
 thrown over his back in the manner of saddle bags. 
 
 Lillian could not help being more or less interested in 
 their proceedings though she was far from being in condi 
 tion to enjoy them. They started off single file, a half 
 dozen dogs trotting along at their heels. Lillian was not 
 bound to the saddle this time though she ^ was very closely 
 watched. The rain had made the trail very slippery which 
 prevented their traveling as rapidly as they wished and 
 they frequently glanced back to see if their tracks had been 
 discovered. 
 
 After moving forward for several hours they came to a 
 narrow valley through which a mountain stream sped on 
 its course. It was broad and shallow with a pebbly bed. 
 They entered the stream and after following its course 
 downward for perhaps a half mile came out again on the 
 bank from which they entered, that their trail might be lost 
 to any who were perhaps following them. All day they 
 traveled on and as Lillian felt that home and friends were 
 gliding farther and farther from her her hope of being res- 
 
26 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 cued grew more faint and night time found her in silent 
 despair. 
 
 Lillian gradually grew weaker under her grief and lack 
 of proper food and as they traveled on day after day she 
 was scarcely able to keep in her saddle. Sometimes when 
 she felt so faint and weak and sick at heaat she wondered 
 if God had entirely forgotten and forsaken her. 
 
 The Indians did not seem to notice or mind Lillian s con 
 dition excepting the chief s daughter, Lewanna, who was a 
 pleasant, modest looking Indian maiden of about Lillian s 
 age or a little younger. But Lillian was so completely ab 
 sorbed in her own sad thoughts that she had not noticed 
 the friendly advances of Lewanna. 
 
 However, a little occurance happened one day which 
 proved to her that she had a very true friend in the little 
 dusky maiden. They had come to a river which was con 
 siderably swoolen and, wishing to cross it, they made a sort 
 of raft out of buffalo skins and attached it to some of their 
 riding ponies that the loads of the pack horses might be 
 made lighter. Lillian rode her pony- as usual and when 
 near the middle of the stream grew very dizzy and fell from 
 her horse. She was saved from drowning by Lewanna who 
 was riding close behind and instantly sprang from her own 
 horse to Lillian s rescue. They were both carried down a 
 considerable distance by the swift currant but Lewanna 
 was a good swimmer and managed to keep Lillian s head 
 above water until one of the Indian men came to her assist 
 ance and helped them both safely to shore. 
 
 Lillian never forgot Le wanna s kind act and felt glad of 
 the Indian girl s frienship. 
 
 They had now arrived at an exceptionally fine place for 
 hunting and fishing, far from the habitation of white man, 
 and they resolved to camp there a while. 
 
 The little valley was thickly wooded, though interspersed 
 
THE IX>ST SHACKLE. *7 
 
 with stretches of excellent pasture land. The spot where 
 they camped lay near the entrance of a deep and rocky pass 
 leading through the mountains into other valleys and occa 
 sionally hundreds of buffalo might be seen trailing through 
 from one valley to another. 
 
 Lillian now felt that if she succeeded in escaping from the 
 Indians, the deep river which they had just crossed was a 
 great barrier between herself and home and she knew it 
 would not be prudent for her to attempt an escape while so 
 helpless and ignorant of the country. 
 
 The Indians seemed disposed to treat her kindly but were 
 constantly on the alert and were always careful to tie her 
 pony in a place where she could not reach it without attract 
 ing their attention, so she concluded to remain where she 
 was for the present and be as happy as possible under ex 
 isting circumstances, but determined to be ever on the 
 watch for an opportunity to escape. She knew that if she 
 were compelled to remain long with the Indians she could 
 make a friend and companion of Lewanna but she was lone 
 ly beyond description and longed to be at home. She felt 
 that if she should be forever separated from her friends life 
 would not be worth living. At times she was very des 
 pondent and the days seemed long and tedious, but even 
 when most dejected she never entirely lost heart. 
 
 At night she would often dream that she was at home 
 and that her adventures with the Indians was only a very 
 unpleasant dream. Sometimes she would awaken pinch 
 ing herself to determine if she were awake or asleep, and 
 to her unutterable disappointment would find that what 
 she had hoped to be a bad dream was in truth a sad reality, 
 and then she would sob herself to sleep again. 
 
 As the days grew into weeks, Lillian s physical condition 
 improved, and being naturally of a cheerful disposition she 
 was inclined to make the best of things. 
 
28 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 She ^nd Lewanna were constantly together and became 
 stanch friends. She learned the Indian language from 
 Lewanna and in turn taught Lewanna to speak English. 
 As Lillian grew more accustomed to her wild life and be 
 came able to understand the Indian language, she grew 
 more interested in that which was going on about her. 
 She and Lewanna would often paddle about in their light 
 canoe on the small lake near by or wander off into the 
 mountains after berries, but best of all she was glad to 
 note that the Indians had ceased to watch her movements 
 so closely as at first. 
 
 The fall had been warm and pleasant, but as Indian sum 
 mer wore away Lillian s summer clothing felt thin and 
 cool. For the sake of comfort she was forced to don the 
 Indian garb piece by piece until when cold weather set in 
 she was dressed much the same as Lewanna, and had it not 
 been for her delicate skin, blue eyes and auburn curls she 
 might readily have passed for an Indian girl. 
 
 Lewanna being a chiefs daughter was allowed many 
 privileges not granted the rest, but after much coaxing she 
 induced the old chief to allow Lillian nearly the same lib 
 erty as she herself enjoyed. 
 
 This at first caused some dissention and jealousy among 
 the Indian women but only temporarily for they all loved 
 the gentle ways of the beautiful white girl and were 
 proud to see her enjoying especial privileges, 
 
 The squaws were very fond of doing bead work and did a 
 great deal of it in the winter when they were forced to sit 
 about the fire to keep warm. After watching them one day 
 Lillian asked for some material. She had always been fond 
 of fancy work and this seemed very simple to her and she 
 found it a pleasant pastime. The squaws were delighted 
 and amazed at her ingenuity in making new designs and 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. a* 
 
 often marveled over the wonderful white girl who could so 
 easily do work which seemed so difficult to them. 
 
 On days when the weather was not severe, if there 
 chanced to be a firm crust on the snow, the two girls 
 would take their bows and arrows and go out on hunting 
 expeditions which greatly helped to relieve the monotony of 
 the long weeks of cold weather. 
 
 The winter passed by without any incidents of especial 
 importance or any means of escape presenting itself to Lilli 
 an. In passing along the trail she often cut her name on 
 the trees, hoping it might catch the eye of some white hunter 
 who had possibly heard of her disappearance. 
 
 Time rolled along in this manner for nearly three years, 
 the Indians remaining in the same locality. On different 
 occasions all the strong warriors had gone off and remained 
 several weeks at a time. Sometimes they would return 
 gruff and ugly, at other times they would bring back a lot 
 of strange horses and would be in high spirits, and once 
 when they returned some of their members had been killed 
 in battle, and there was great mourning in the camp when 
 the news was told. They all engaged in a wild, weird spirit 
 dance in which the Indian men all danced around a smould 
 ering fire while the squaws sat huddled together at one side 
 wailing in a low mournful manner: This strange dance 
 continued for several hours, then all of the belong 
 ings of the dead Indians were gathered together 
 and made into bundles. Just at break of day, as the sun first 
 appeared above the eastern, horizon these bundles were 
 placed among the high branches of the trees ready for their 
 dead companions to use on reaching the happy hunting 
 ground. 
 
 The Indians were very superstitious and immediately set 
 about to change their camping place. After roaming about 
 
30 THB W>ST SHACKLE. 
 
 for several months they settled down in what is now known 
 as Bear Pan Mountains. 
 
 It had been a long three years to Lillian and she had 
 thought she would be glad of any change, though when she 
 found that they were in a wilder and more inaccessible place 
 than the last she felt disheartened and feared she would 
 never again see civilization. 
 
 She had once prevailed upon Lewanna to intercede in 
 her behalf and induce the old chief to return her to her peo 
 ple, but the result had been far from satisfactory, for it had 
 alarmed the Indians and caused them to watch her very 
 closely for a long time. They had grown strongly attached 
 to the fair white girl and also feared if they lost her it would 
 bring them much bad luck. 
 
 The next year and the next passed slowly by. Lillian 
 had now grown to womanhood and had been five years 
 among the Indians. It had been five long years since she 
 had seen her home and friends, five years since she had 
 seen a white person or a sign of civilization. But dur 
 ing these five years she had never once entirely given up 
 hope of seeing her home and friends and many of her hap 
 piest hours were spent in recalling with fond recollectians 
 all of the many little events which had made her life so 
 pleasant when a child at home. 
 
 She often thought of Mathew and wondered what he 
 had been doing through all these long years. How she 
 yearned to send him some message, for she knew he would 
 allow nothing to keep him from rescuing her if he only had 
 some clue as to her whereabouts, One day while in their 
 wanderings she went down to a spring- to get water she 
 carved the initials, L. A. M. B. on the large shaft of lime 
 stone which overhung the spring, and as she cut the letters 
 on the rock she thought of the time when she had watched 
 Matthew carve those same initials on the old tree by the 
 
THB LOST SHAOXX& Jl 
 
 pring at home, and possibly a faint hope flitted through 
 her mind that those same letters might in some manner 
 lead to her discovery by her friends. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Bessie. A narrow escape. Mathew s adventure with a savage animal. 
 The Rancher s prosperity. The Prospector and the Miners, The 
 Stockman and the Indians. 
 
 The homes of the ranchmen were indeed lonesome with 
 out Lillian but time brought on its pleasures and trouble 
 intermingled and many were their experiences which helped 
 to divert their minds from their sad loss. After Lillian s 
 disappearance Bessie was a special object of love and care, 
 not only to her parents, but to Mathew and the Bentleys. 
 She was watched very closely and not allowed out of their 
 sight scarcely. She was a little wayward, full of mischief 
 and fun, but the loss of her sister was grief she could not 
 soon forget, as they dearly loved each other, and at first her 
 loneliness and sorrow cast a gloom over all, and it was many 
 months ere she began to manifest her bright little self again. 
 Bessie would sometimes go with Mathew over to the old 
 Lamb tree and they together would talk over old times 
 when Lillian was with them. Old Nero was almost always 
 with them and was a source of great comfort to the little 
 girl who would talk to him as though he was a person, he 
 reciprocating her love and attention in his clumsy dog 
 fashion. 
 
 One day when Mathew and Bessie were returning from a 
 visit to the tree and were gathering a boquet of flowers, 
 which grew in profusion along their pathway, Bessie espied 
 a beautiful bunch of mountain pinks near a heap of broken 
 rocks a short distance away and hastened to get them, as 
 they were her especial favorites. She stooped to pick them 
 but sprang back with a scream which soon brought old 
 
$a THE lyOST SHACKLE. 
 
 Nero to her side in an instant. A huge rattlesnake had 
 coiled itself and was just ready to spring at Bessie when the 
 dog sprung at it, his shaggy coat shielding him from its 
 venomous fangs. He caught it, bit it and shook it until it 
 was dead. Mathew took Bessie by the hand and petting 
 the faithful dog on the head hastened home, thankful that 
 his little friend had been rescued from such peril, and all 
 loved old Nero better than ever. , 
 
 As time wore on and they all began to be reconciled in a 
 measure to Lillian s absence, Bessie began to manifest her 
 old happy self. Her father gave her a small white pony 
 which he had purchased from the Indians. It was very 
 gentle and they became firm friends. She called it Pinto 
 and it would come at her call. She was allowed to ride 
 about over the ranch in sight of the house but not to go far 
 without some of the older people with her. It was her 
 special delight to ride about the meadow where her father 
 was cutting hay and occasionally bring him a cool drink 
 from the spring. Bessie loved Mathew and the attach 
 ment which grew between them was beautiful to see. 
 Mathew was as careful of her as if she was his own little 
 sister. 
 
 In the spring, nearly two years after Lillian had passed 
 from them, an accident occurred which came near robbing 
 the Bentlys of their only child. As Mr. Bently s ranch 
 lay on both sides of the river ,he had begun fencing on the 
 opposite side from where the house was. He and Mathew, 
 one day in early June, went there to work, taking their 
 dinner with them, expecting to be from home all day. As 
 they crossed the riyer in the morning they noticed it was 
 rising some but did not think but that they would be able 
 to return in the evening as their team was large and trusty. 
 
 The day was unusually fine, the June sun shining upon 
 the snow-capped mountains. At noon, when they led their 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 33 
 
 horses to the creek for water, they noticed that it was ris 
 ing very rapidly but, while they felt some misgiving about 
 the river ford, they worked on in their endeavor to com 
 plete their task. They finished it however sooner than 
 they expected and set out for home. Before they had 
 reached the river they heard its heavy roar and knew they 
 would have a hazardous task in crossing. However, it 
 it must be done, as the Indians were more savage on that 
 side of the river and they feared an attack from them when 
 night came on. 
 
 Mrs. Ainsley and Bessie had been spending the day with 
 Mrs. Bently and they had been watching the river and 
 were thinking of Mr. Bently and Mathew s return with 
 great apprehension and as they saw them coming over the 
 hill they started down to the ford to see them cross. 
 
 Mr. Bently paused ere he entered the stream to give an 
 encouraging word to the horses, who seemed loath to enter 
 the water. He told Mathew to pull off his boots, he doing 
 the same, so as to be ready to swim should any accident 
 occur. Mr. Ainsley rode up at this moment with whis 
 pered prayer and bated breath. They watched them as 
 they drove into the rushing current and made their wa) 
 toward the shore. Bessie s face grew pale as she stood, 
 almost afraid to watch them. As they neared the middle 
 of the current the wagon box began to float. The horses 
 struggled on, but against fearful odds, as the wagon was 
 slowly drifting down the stream. One of the noble beasts 
 at last fell and the other was also drawn under. 
 
 Mr. Bently and Mathew sprang into the water and be 
 gan to swim for their lives. Both were good swimmers, but 
 the water was so cold and the current so swift that it was 
 very difficult work. Mr. Bently however soon reached the 
 shore and turned to see where his son was, and was horri 
 fied to see him drifting down stream, but Mr. Ainsley had 
 
34 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 loosed the rope from his saddle, and had ran down the bank 
 and cast it out to the struggling boy. At last Mathew suc 
 ceeded in catching it and was drawn to the shore almost 
 drowned, but was tenderly cared for. Poor Bessie in a 
 frenzy of fright almost fell into the river in her anxiety to 
 help her friend. 
 
 The loss of the horses was keenly felt but they were all 
 glad that the accident had been no worse. 
 
 It was several days ere Mathew was able to go about much 
 and Bessie and Nero were his daily visitors. The following 
 fall Mathew met with quite an adventure. One evening 
 while his parents had gone to Mr. Ainsley s he had milked 
 the cows and attended to the milk, when he happened to 
 think that he had forgotten to shut up the chicken house 
 door which was adjoining the stable and corrals and were all 
 nearly surrounded by a dense thicket of swamp willows ex 
 cept between them and the cabin about one hundred yards 
 distant. Mathew had just turned around the corner of the 
 cabin when to his surprise he saw a large spotted lynx stand 
 ing just out side of the hen house door. He seized his rifle 
 and with considerable nerve started toward his savage look 
 ing antagonist but when he walked a few steps toward it he 
 felt so nervous that he thought it no use to shoot without 
 getting up close to the fierce looking animal which never 
 moved but looked straight ar Mathew, until he was probab 
 ly within twenty paces of it. Then he raised his rifle but 
 the gun only snapped and to his surprise he found that it 
 was not loaded. The animal rolled his savage eyes and be 
 gan to twist his tail as he started slowly toward Mathew, 
 with a low growl and showing his long, sharp teeth. Mathew 
 now began to walk backward toward the cabin, knowing 
 that if he turned his back to the animal that it would quick 
 ly spring upon him, while the animal still followed him up. 
 As he stepped inside the cabin door the beast made a spring 
 
THE LOST SHACKEL. 35 
 
 at him, but Mathew was a little too quick, and slammed the 
 door; but it came with such force against, it that it almost 
 broke it open notwithstanding Mathew had all the strength 
 against it he could command. It was now growing dark 
 and Mathew was too nervous to venture out again and the 
 savage animal had his own way and as he neared the corrals 
 he gave such a scream that it seut a thrill to every nerve of 
 Mathew, and he barred and propped the door and went to 
 bed in the darkness. When his parents came home they 
 tried to unbolt the door, but found that it was not only 
 bolted but propped up tight and solid and they wondered 
 what in the world was wrong as they pounded on the door 
 and called to him. After awhile he awoke and let them in, 
 telling them of his adventure and, when he and his father 
 went to the hen house, the animal was gone, and thirteen of 
 their chickens missing. The next evening they both 
 watched. About dusk the animal poked his head out from 
 the thick brush. He saw them and instantly disappeared. 
 The next evening he made his appearance again in the edge 
 of the brush. They again armed themselves but before they 
 could get a shot the animal was off again. They thought 
 to follow him this time. As they were creeping through 
 the brush something caught the hammer of Mathew s gun 
 which discharged it, almost shooting Mathew in the foot. 
 Of course this scared the animal away so he did not make 
 his appearance again for nearly three weeks, when he 
 again appeared in the edge of the willows. They were un 
 able to shoot him and set a large double spring steel trap in 
 the passage way between the hen house and a large rick of 
 hay. For two nights the trap was not disturbed, but on the 
 third morning when they went to the trap sure enough the 
 large spotted lynx had one foot securely fastened in it and 
 was raving with madness. Mathew and his father took 
 their guns out to shoot him, but when they were within a 
 
36 THE LOST SHACKBL. 
 
 few feet of him he gave one quick spring at Mathew, break 
 ing, the heavy spring trap into small pieces, and had Mr. 
 Bendy not have shot as he made the spring Matthew un 
 doubtedly would have been badly hurt. The hide was 
 made into a lovely rug and for many years graced the 
 parlor floor of a distinguished gentleman in the State of 
 Iowa. 
 
 It was the night before Christmas of the same year and 
 the wet snow was falling the same as it had been for the 
 last two days. Mr. Ainsley his wife and Bessie were sit 
 ting by the fire place talking over old times and their dear 
 lost Lillian. "Oh! Dear," said Mrs. Ainsley, "if we could 
 only be back at the old home tonight instead of being coop 
 ed up here in this miserable old log shack by the frog pond. " 
 (There was quite a pond about twenty feet from the door.) 
 "Pshaw," said Mr. Ainsley, "just imagine you home in a 
 handsome cottage on the pebbly shore of a beautifril lake 
 where one can sit by the water s edge, fish out speckled trout 
 and with one swing of the rod land them over into the fry 
 ing pan on the fire. 
 
 Just at this minute there was a loud noise overhead like 
 the report of a gun and Mr. Ainsley picked up Bessie, at the 
 same time exclaiming "Let us get out of here quickly." 
 The cabin was lined overhead with muslin, and for the time 
 being, prevented them from seeing what was the matter. An 
 old hunter to whom Mr. Ainsley had given permission to 
 winter in the adjoining cabin, came rushing to the door. 
 He had also heard the loud report, and enquired what was 
 the matter. After all were safely out of the cabin, Mr. 
 Ainsley and the hunter went to see if they could discover 
 what was the trouble. 
 
 Instantly they noticed the roof gradually sinking down 
 under the heavy weight of snow. They immediately got 
 props and put them under the heavy ridge poles and soon 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 37 
 
 had it quite safe. The props made the small cabin much 
 more inconvenient, but Mrs. Ainsley felt so thankful to es 
 cape perhaps a sad accident and was very well content to 
 live in the old cabin until the new house was erected the 
 next fall. 
 
 Several years have gone by, and Mr. Ainsley has become 
 a prosperous ranchman; his fields were enlarged and his 
 herds increased rapidly, yet often he thought that if they 
 could only have their daughter Lillian back again to fill her 
 place at the old fire side he would willingly give up all else. 
 But the idea that she was still living was far from him; in 
 fact, they could not believe for an instant that it was possi 
 ble that poor Lillian was still living. He loved Mathew as 
 a son and that love was reciprocated and Mathew often 
 spent hours at their house with always a cheering \vord (al 
 though downcast himself.) 
 
 Mr. Bently had also prospered and had increased his fields 
 and herds. The old log cabins were replaced by good 
 hewed log house, and they were really enjoying life in the 
 Rocky Mountains. There was now quite a mining excite 
 ment in Alder Gulch and other places in Montana and the 
 prospectors and miners began to come into the mountains 
 in the Yellowstone country, and the ranchers had no diffi 
 culty in selling them all they could produce at a very high 
 price. Mr. Bently was ever planning for Ma the w s welfare 
 as only a father can for an only son. Stockmen began to 
 come into the new country slowly and locate ranches along 
 at various places on the rivers and streams. Some of them 
 only occupied them during the winter season, spending the 
 most of their time in fthe mountains during the summer 
 prospecting. This seemed to create quite a good deal of un 
 easiness and trouble among the Indians, as some of the 
 new comers seemed^to take a delight in killing off the In- 
 
3 8 THE LOST SHACKLE- 
 
 dian s game, buffalo, elk and other animals more for the 
 sport than any thing else. 
 
 One day as Mr. Bently was hunting for some of his cattle 
 which had strayed off he was fired upon by two Indians who 
 lay in ambush some distance to the right of the trail, but he, 
 putting spurs to his horse, was soon out of their reach; but 
 they came very near hitting him as one of their arrows 
 whizzed passed him in front, barely missing his coat. 
 
 Another day while he was in the field irrigating he heard 
 a shot fired-and in an instant a bullet fell in the ditch of 
 water about two feet away. He looked around but could see 
 no one, when there came another report and the bullet 
 whizzed over his head. He now felt sure that he was the 
 mark for some skulking Indian and as quickly as possible 
 mounted his horse and rode to the house. 
 
 The red men seemed to realize that they soon would have 
 no hunting grounds, as the buffalo and other game were be 
 ing rapidly killed off and driven .from that charming andde- 
 ligntful valley, as the ranchmen put in their cattle and 
 horses. They indeed got" so bad for a while that the ranch 
 men had to keep a watch through the day while others did 
 their work. The guard would go with his horse* and gun 
 and station himself on some high promontory where he 
 could see all over the surrounding country by the aid of his 
 field glass and should he discover the Indians coming he 
 would fire a signal shot and gojto the ranch in post haste for 
 defense and sometimes they barely escaped with their lives 
 by hiding in the thick brush along the creek, while some 
 times their cabins were being burned to the ground, which 
 they generally defended only when the red men were too 
 numerous for them. 
 
 The families of Bentlys and Ainsleys were never molested 
 after Lillian was taken away by the roving band of Indians 
 (except the time Mr. Bently was shot at, and he was un- 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 39 
 
 doubtedly mistaken for one of the stock men who had real 
 ly been cruel to them) for they always treated them kindly 
 when they came to their house and gave them something 
 to eat if they asked for it, which they were always sure to 
 do when they came. Of course the story of Lillian s disap 
 pearance was told to more than one, yet none seem to think 
 other than that she had been killed by either the wild beasts 
 or perhaps the Indians had killed her and taken her pony. 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Matthew s twenty-first birthday. Preparations made to search for 
 Lillian. His journey through the Yellowstone country.* Winter 
 in the Yellowstone National Park. Description. The lone 
 Indian. 
 
 Mathew was a 
 good, honest and 
 industrious boy and 
 learned to be brave 
 as well. His birth 
 day was slowly ap 
 proaching when he 
 would be twenty- 
 one years old. "Iet 
 -me-see," he said 
 to himself one day, 
 4 September fourth? 
 Yes, just twenty 
 days more and I 
 will be twenty-one. 
 Oh, what an under 
 taking," he said to 
 himself, "but I 
 will keep my vow." 
 Of course there 
 had been more or 
 less talking in the 
 families and be- 
 MATHEW BENTLY. tween them as to 
 
 Mathew s future, but he always managedjto evade any di- 
 T ect answer on the subject. Yet they did not have the 
 least thought of the idea which Mathew had been carrying 
 all these years. The fourth day of September at last came 
 and Mathew Bently felt that he was nowfa free man, not 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 41 
 
 that his father really compelled him to remain with him and 
 work out his Full time. Far from it. But Mathew felt as 
 though itjwas bis duty to do so, and he was one of those 
 kind of boys that whatever he thought his duty to do he 
 was willing to perform. The morning of September fifth 
 Mathew was up bright and early. It was a delightful one. 
 The sun rose slowly, appearing over the mountain tops, 
 melting the glistening frost. The air was cool and bracing 
 and all nature seemed to enjoy "that beautiful morning. 
 Mathew went about the morning chores as usual, but sing 
 ing in a low mournful tone which his father had never- 
 heard before. At the breakfast table he indeed looked and 
 felt more sorrowful than he had for many, many months 
 before. The thought of leaving his dear parents and 
 friends, to go he knew not where, made him downcast ,. 
 for it was a hazardous undertaking. Mr. Bently, who 
 noticed his son looking so melancholy, at last said, "Well 
 Mathew, I suppose you feel that you are a man today. 
 Have you come to any conclusion as to the vocation you 
 wish to follow?" 
 
 "I can t 4ecide that now, father," he said, "for I have 
 an undertaking before me which I must attend to first." 
 
 "And what is it," inquired his mother, very much con 
 cerned? 
 
 "Well, mother," he said slowly, "I have never forgotten 
 Lillian and believe she is still living and I must find her." 
 
 "Oh, nonsense, my son," replied Mr. Bently, "there is 
 no doubt but that the poor girl has been dead these many 
 years, and you had better go and locate on that piece of 
 land across the creek, for someday there will no doubt be a 
 railroad running up this valley and it will be valuable 
 property." 
 
 Mathew s only answer was, "I must find Lillian. " 
 
42 THE IX)ST SHACKLE. 
 
 Mr. Bently, seeing that his son was fully determined to 
 make the search, said: 
 
 Well, my dear boy, if you feel that it is the only right 
 and proper thing to do, then go and may God bless you 
 and your efforts." 
 
 "Thank you, father," said Mathew with tears in his eyes. 
 
 Mathew spent the day in making the necessary prepara 
 tions as far as possible for such an undertaking. He had 
 taken extra good care of the horse his father had given him 
 a year before and had him in fine condition. He was a 
 beautiful bay horse, medium size, with white hind feet and 
 long, heavy mane and foretop. He was very quick and a 
 splendid traveler, was gentle and kind, and he always 
 seemed to appreciate Mathew s kindness to him. 
 
 Mr. Bently gave Mathew his best saddle and told him 
 that he had better get up Jack, the little mule, and take 
 him along for a pack animal. This pleased him very much 
 for he had really been at a loss to know how he would carry 
 his blankets and other equipments, but he had been taught 
 that where there s a will there s a way, and he had gone on 
 making the preparations. He had also cleaned up the best 
 rifle and revolver, putting them in prime condition, and by 
 nightfall everything was in good shape for the journey, his 
 mother taking care that he had plenty of blankets and 
 such things. 
 
 On the morning of the sixth day of September, Mathew 
 bade farewell to his parents and home and started on his 
 quest for I^illian. 
 
 Indian Summer is always a delightful time in the Rocky 
 Mountain regions. The soft breezy air thrilling with a sub 
 tle sense of rest and sweetness, and while Mathew felt sad 
 at leaving his parents and home, yet his pulse beat high 
 with hope. 
 
 He paused on a knoll and took a parting look at his 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 43 
 
 home. His father and mother still stood at the gate watch 
 ing him and waved their handkerchiefs, which he knew 
 had been drying the tears from their eyes. He stood for a 
 moment, waved his hat, and passed out of their sight. 
 
 How desolate seemed that home, for the only son had 
 left it, and they knew not whether he would ever return. 
 Still, they had the consolation of knowing his nobie Chris 
 tian character, which greatly relieved their fears for him. 
 
 When Mr. and Mrs. Ainsly were informed of Mathew s 
 departure and his dangerous and weary quest, they were 
 very much moved by his fidility and loyalty to the memory 
 of their dear lost daughter, and hope revived somewhat as 
 they commended the young man to the Heavenly Father s 
 care that night at the family altar. "Well," said Bessie, 
 crying, "he might at least have come and said good bye." 
 
 "He told me" said Mrs. Bently "to give you all a lov 
 ing farewell for him. " 
 
 Mathew did not know very much about the lay of the 
 country- farther away than ten or twelve miles from home, 
 except over the route which they had traveled several years 
 before in coming to the country. He had decided to follow 
 down the Yellowstone river some distance at least, as below 
 the lower canyon on that river was considered more the In 
 dian country, and then later would perhaps follow up some 
 one of the rivers bearing southward. 
 
 At the end of his first day s journey he camped on the 
 rocky banks of the Yellowstone, and after tethering his 
 horses he proceeded to fish out some beautiful trout from 
 its bright rippling waters which he cooked and ate with 
 part of the lunch his mother had prepared. Mathew felt 
 a little lonely as he lay down to sleep that night for he had 
 never been so far from home before, but was so tired that 
 he slept very soundly and in the morning was up quite ear 
 ly and soon on his way again. He passed several days of 
 
44 THE IvOST SHACKLE. 
 
 careful maneuvering and travel, without any clue or suc 
 cess. He saw many Indians and their camps and with his 
 field glass he watched them and their movements from a 
 long distance and thereby quite well satisfied himself that 
 there were no white people with them, and by this means, 
 too, was able to avord coming directly in contact with them. 
 In several places he saw the dead bodies of the Indians 
 suspended from the branches of trees, wrapped in their 
 blankets. Some of them, however, where the strings had 
 rotted and decayed had fallen to the ground, and their 
 skulls and bones lay on the ground bleaching in^ the sun 
 light. At one place he noticed several skulls of adults 
 with the skin dried to their cheek bones and the most of 
 tnem still had the war paint on them. Some of them with 
 -black, brown, and others with gray hair tied, twisted and 
 knotted as in real life. In many other places, he found 
 them buried just a little under the ground, with leaves and 
 twigs thrown over them, stones thrown over some of them 
 in high heaps or mounds. These things were all of inter 
 est to Mat hew, as he had never seen the like before, and 
 it was also giving him a better idea of their habits. 
 
 Mathew determined now to proceed up one of the rivers 
 bearing to the southward. There was only a trail leading 
 up the river and the narrow valley through which he had 
 to travel *for two days was literally strewn with boulders 
 and the trail zig-zagged in every way to avoid them. At 
 last the trail led him to the entrance of quite a deep, dark 
 canyon. As he neared the top of the mountain over which 
 the trail led the scene was grand. 
 
 Below him flowed the beautiful river, dashing and splash 
 ing, and which, from his height, looked like a thread of 
 silver winding along through the narrow valley, at some 
 points touching the side of the mountain over which he was 
 riding and -again winding across to the other side of the 
 
THE LOST SHACKEL. ^ 45 
 
 canyon, dashing its waters against the steep cliffs which 
 showed the different formations of rock in its various colors, 
 red, yellow, and grey, and the everchanging shades which 
 can only be seen in the grand mountain air as the sun 
 brings them. And as Mathew rode along he could not 
 help but feel thankful for this beautiful world. "Oh, what 
 a beautiful valley," he thought to himself as he descended 
 into it on the other side of the canyon, "and what a lovely 
 place it would be for a home." The great snowy peaks to 
 the right rose like enormous pyramids while away in the 
 distance to the southward were a succession of them; to 
 the left of him were long ranges of mountains not so high 
 but crowned with beautifnl green forests, The valley 
 varied from a quarter to a mile in width and was watered 
 by the beautiful river now known as the Bowlder. 
 
 Matthew had brought with him a chart which he had 
 drawn from his geography, although it was quite imperfect 
 at this time, and by the aid of his compass he knew that he 
 must now be going in the direction of the Yellowstone Na 
 tional Park region. He not having any success in his 
 search in the Yellowstone country now determined to try 
 and find a way through the mountains to the head waters 
 of the Snake river, which he knew headed in or near the 
 Park. He fortunately had not happened to come in im 
 mediate contact with the savages although he had seen a 
 great many of them, and only once met a small party of 
 gold hunters, with whom he camped over night and in rela 
 ting his story to them, they replied that they thought while 
 he was quite brave and venturesome, yet they would advise 
 him to give up the quest and return to his home. But 
 Matthew, learning from them the way through a narrow 
 pass in the mountains which would lead him over onto the 
 head waters of the Yellowstone, pressed forward. Some 
 times he felt very lonely and almost wished himself at 
 
46 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 home again. Every day he would see an abundance of 
 wild game, bands of elk, deer, mountain sheep, bevies of 
 grouse and orfce in a while some buffalo, but he never wan 
 tonly killed anything except as he needed it for food. By 
 some mistake he had taken a different trail and instead of 
 coming out on the head waters of the Yellowstone he 
 landed at the Gardner river, perhaps more than one hundred 
 miles below. He at last reached the mammoth hot spring 
 on the twenty-second day of October. 
 
 Matthew was indeed quite tired out and so were his ani 
 mals and he thought it best to tarry here for a few days for 
 rest. The scenery all along his journey had been a contin 
 ued grandeur, but this locality far surpassed any thing he 
 had ever seen or dreamed of. There had been but very 
 little snow as yet, but the weather was getting quite cold, 
 in fact the ground was frozen quite hard and some of the 
 mountain streams where the water was not too swift were 
 frozen over hard enough to bear up a horse. Mathew 
 knew that it would probably set in stormy in that high al 
 titude before many days, hence he wished to go from there 
 as soon as his animals were sufficiently rested to stand the 
 rest of the journey through the mountains, which was quite 
 a long one yet. He had been camping a short distance 
 from the spring in a clump of timber. There he had discov 
 ered an old wigwam built of poles with the earth thrown 
 up against it all around, about four feet high, just leaving a 
 place to go in and out. This he found to be quite a com 
 fortable place. He had decided that on the next day, which 
 wonld be Monday, he would start on his journey, as he had 
 noticed for the last two days that the clouds were hovering 
 close to the mountains and he knew that was a token of 
 storm before many days. On Sunday evening it began 
 snowing some and before morning it was storming very 
 hard, snowing and blowing. For three days the storm 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 47 
 
 raged and Mathew saw that it would be impossible to go 
 farther through the mountains very soon and set to work to 
 fix up the best he could for a longer stay. 
 
 He already had a comfortable place in the old wigwam, 
 which seemed to have been abandoned for many years, but 
 the poor animals which had stood out in that severe storm 
 were cold and shivering and must be provided for as soon as 
 possible. He soom built a shed for them with poles and 
 covered it with brush and pine boughs, and it was not long 
 before he had quite a comfortable place for them to stay in 
 at night, but of course the only feed they could get was the 
 grass and that by pawing the deep snow from it, which was 
 a very common thing for horses to do in that mountainous 
 country. 
 
 Few have not read a description of the now famous 
 Mammoth Hot Springs of the Yellowstone National Park, 
 but to have seen them at the time Mathew was there was 
 to see them ere they had been shorn of any of their beauty 
 by tourists and specimen hunters and the scene then pre 
 sented was simply magnificent and far beyond description. 
 The sides of the mountains were ornamented with a series 
 of semi-circular basins beautifully scalloped and adorned 
 with a kind of bead work of limestone formation formed as 
 the hot water boils up and flows over the sides from one 
 basin to another. The circumference of the basins meas 
 ured from ten to fifty feet and the succession of basins ex 
 tended hundreds of feet down the side of the mountain. 
 The water in them ranged from one to five feet deep. 
 
 While Mathew called it a limestone formation, he was 
 satisfied it was composed of several different formalities to 
 produce so many different colors in the bead work of the 
 basins giving out, as it did, all colors of the rainbow. The 
 water was so clear and blue that he could look down into 
 the beautiful depths to the bottom of the pools or basins, 
 
48 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 and the blue sky reflected in the transparent water gave an 
 azure tint to the whole which surpasses all art. To see 
 them in the sunshine, and again in a snow storm, is an ex 
 perience few have the opportunity to behold. The steam 
 rising to meet the clouds; the water so blue and deep, 
 looking so placid and serene, defying the ravages of Jack 
 Frost or the attempts of the snow to mantle them with her 
 soft covering, for the heat of the vapor melts it as fast as it 
 falls. Indeed it is a sight once seen never to be forgotten 
 and our hero, as he remained there so long a time, had 
 many an experience, both pleasant and otherwise, which 
 helped to develop perseverance and encourage and nerve 
 him for the arduous work of life yet before him. 
 
 Cold stormy weather had realy set in, in earnest and the 
 snow got very deep and Mathew had many experiences 
 that few young men of his age have ever dreamed of. He 
 never lacked for plenty to eat as there was still an abund 
 ance of game surrounding him. Often bands of deer, elk 
 and bison came trailing down the side of the mountains to 
 the springs for water, there being beautiful springs of pure 
 water only a short distance from his camp. 
 
 The time oftened seemed long to our hero and he was 
 sometimes at a loss to know what to do. 
 
 One day, while he was standing just in the edge of the 
 timber in which he was camped and looking over at the 
 bubbling waters at the springs and the beautiful terraces on 
 the mountain side, his eye was attracted to a lone Indian 
 who emerged from a thick patch of willows, slowly hob 
 bling along until he reached one of the hot pools of water. 
 Mathew was indeed very much surprised, as he stepped be 
 hind a tree and watched him, for he did not suppose there 
 was a human being within many, many miles of where he 
 was camping, and in fact he did not have the least idea 
 that he was within about seventy or eighty miles of his old 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 49 
 
 home, for the maps at this early *date were too inadequate 
 to give one much idea of distance from one point to another 
 in the Rocky Mountains. 
 
 He watched the Indian, who sat down close by the pool, 
 took off his moccasins and put his foot down in the water. 
 He sat in that position for twenty or thirty minutes perhaps 
 and then put his leggings and moccasins on and hobbled 
 back into the brush again. This was quite a mystery to 
 Mathew and he was very cautious for a few days until he 
 had fully satisfied himself that the Indian was alone. Now 
 he determined to seek his abode, and perhaps might be able 
 to learn something or get some clue to Lillian s whereabouts. 
 The next dav he watched for him as he seemed to always 
 igo to the pool of water at a certain time in the day, and 
 went over to where he was, and spoke to him. But the 
 poor old man only nodded his head and looked at Mathew 
 in amazement, scrutinizing him from head to foot, and then 
 took out his pipe which looked to have been used for many, 
 many years, filled and lighted it, took one puff at it and 
 handed it to Mathew who knew what it meant and took one 
 puff and handed it back to him. (This was the only time 
 that Mathew was ever known to smoke.) He then began 
 to ask the old Indian questions but to his dismay found the 
 poor fellow to be both deaf and dumb. He had got his foot 
 hurt in some way and seemed to think there were medical 
 properties in that water which would heal him. He was 
 quite an old looking man with long gray hair which was 
 twisted and knotted in a horrible manner. His face was 
 wrinkled and some of the war paint still showed on his bony 
 cheeks. 
 
 Mathew looked at him with pity as he came to the con 
 clusion that he was a castaway from his tribe. He one day 
 followed the old man to his wigwam door and was beckoned 
 inside. The wigwam was built about the same as the one 
 
5 o THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 which Mathew was using and looked very old, in fact, the 
 whole premises seemed to have been used for a long time. 
 The wigwam was lined inside with skins and furs of differ 
 ent kinds. There were also a number of bows, arrows, 
 bead work of different kinds and a great many other things 
 hanging suspended from the poles and as Mathew glanced 
 around over the interior of the lonely wigwam, his eyes 
 were attracted to one place where there were some furs 
 hanging, and among them were two human scalps and by 
 closer observation he noticed that one of them had long curly 
 auburn hair and Mathew wondered could that have been 
 I,illian? In an instant he was on his feet, holding one of 
 the curls in his hand as he exclaimed in mad despair, "It is, 
 oh it is," and his strong right arm was raised with all the 
 force which a revengeful mind could command to strike 
 down the savage villain who had taken from him and her 
 parents the life of that poor innocent girl. 
 
 The old savage,seeing Mathew s look and movements in 
 stantly tripped him, at the same time giving him a push and 
 as he fell headlong to the ground the old savage with more 
 spryness than he looked to have, grasped Mathew by the 
 throat, at the same time reaching for his large knife with his 
 right hand; but Mathew being a little too quick for him 
 knocked it out of his hand. Hard struggling ensued, our 
 hero at length freed himself from his perilous position and 
 soon had the old savage down under him with his hand on 
 his throat, and as he looked into the fiery eyes of his savage 
 antagonist, who was considerably out of breath and almost 
 powerless, Mathew thought, "Now, shall I slay the villain, 
 the murderer of I^illian? "No, no, I can not" said he as 
 he loosed his grasp on the Indian, For it may not have 
 been him after all, but if it was God would surely bring him 
 to justice," and as he again looked at the curls he thought, 
 "Oh, the cruel wretch how can I let him live?" Yet Mathew 
 
THE U)ST SHACKLE. 51 
 
 somehow feft that he had done wrong perhaps in judging 
 the poor old Indian after all, for he may not be the guilty 
 one. Mathew would indeed have felt sorry had he known 
 that the taking of these scalps was not by the hand of this 
 poor old Indian, but for refusing to participate in a bloody 
 massacre of a lot of emigrants, he was banished from his 
 tribe with all the threats of a warrior s anger resting upon 
 the poor creature s head, and in that lonely abode he was 
 doomed to die. 
 
 Mathew left the wigwam, which was almost unbearable to 
 him, and never more went back. For a few days after he 
 was almost overcome with despair, little caring to live^ yet 
 his better judgment told him to have courage that after all 
 that might not have been Lillian s scalp and finally he came to 
 the conclusion that he would not give up hope but that he 
 would keep up his search until something further would 
 perhaps more certainly reveal the truth. Sometimes when 
 the snow was frozen hard enough to bear him up he would 
 make tours of investigation, making some wonderful discov 
 eries. He was not long however in finding out that it was 
 necessary for him to be very careful in traveling about be 
 cause of the many crevices and pit falls in so many localities. 
 
 One day he was walking along looking at different ob 
 jects of interest when he chanced to glance downward. An 
 other step would have landed him in a chasm the depths of 
 which he was unable to discover. This incident served to 
 make him more cautious. 
 
 The mountains of black or obsidian glass and the petri 
 fied forest, as well as the great falls of the Yellowstone River, 
 weYe objects of great interest to him. 
 
 It chanced one day that one of the shoes came off of the 
 pack mule and not having nails to put it on again he 
 thought he would throw it in one of the basins of hot water 
 at the spring to see if the water would have any effect on 
 
5* THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 it. In a few days after he noticed a white sediment form 
 ing over it. In a week more he took it out. It was well 
 coated over with the limestone formation, solid and hard, 
 making a beautiful ornament. He also threw in some hair 
 which he cut from his horse s tail. It coated over in the 
 same way and he thought it quite wonderful. 
 
 The falls of the Gardner River, the paint pots of boiling 
 substance with all the variety of color, the mud puffs were 
 all of great interest to him, as well as the great and small 
 gysers throwing up high into the air their voluminous 
 steam or spray. The beautiful crested cones, the magnifi 
 cent forests on the mountain sides intersperced with 
 stretches of beautiful pasture land where the elk, deer and 
 buffalo can be found feeding when the snow is not too 
 deep; the rough, deep and dark canyons and the high, 
 rocky cliffs; in fact the country about is productive of great 
 admiration to the lover of nature s wonders and one seldom 
 tires of gazing upon its beauties. There were several deep 
 holes around and about the springs, crusted with the forma 
 tion, in some of which Mathew was unable to see the bot 
 tom, and he came to the conclusion that they must be ex 
 tinct gysers. L,ittle did he think when gazing on these 
 beautiful works of nature that some day, within a few hun 
 dred yards of where he was camped, there would stand a 
 hotel large enough to accommodate one thousand people 
 and a railroad running to its very border. 
 
 "But the world rolls on in endless years 
 And unfolds to man its mysteries." 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 53 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Mathew s journey resumed. The discovery of a strange cabin 
 Midnight adventure with an Indian. A clue to Lillian. -Sun 
 shine Shadowed. Travels down the Gallatin River. Across the 
 country to the headwaters of the Missouri River. A strange 
 companion. 
 
 It was late in April before the snow was gone sufficiently 
 for Mathew to resume his journey through the mountains. 
 His horse and pack animal being yet in quite bad condition 
 made it very slow traveling. The snow was nearly gone 
 off on the south side of the hills and mountains, but in the 
 gulches, where it had rolled and drifted, it was in some 
 places fifty to sixty feet deep but was hard enough so that 
 Mathew could ride over it safely. He followed up the 
 Gardner River intending to go through the Big Horn pass 
 on to the head waters of the Gallatin and thought perhaps 
 he might strike some trail that would lead^him on across 
 the mountains and down into the Snake River country in 
 Idaho; but if he had known what an undertaking this 
 would be he undoubtedly would not^have chosen this route. 
 He was several days ascending the Gardner River and into 
 the Big Horn pass. He had seen no evidence of human 
 beings except that one evening as he was turning to one 
 side of the trail to camp he noticed a rude looking old 
 cabin to the right of him, some distance off in the edge of 
 some timber. He rode up to it and, finding it unoccupied, 
 decided to stay in it for the night. The cabin or hut was 
 built of round fir logs, perhaps eight or ten inches in diam 
 eter, some of which were getting quite rotten in places. 
 The hut was probably ten by twelve feet inside and covered 
 over with heavy poles then earth and clay thrown on, the 
 roof being sloping enough so that it would turn the water. 
 
54 THE U>ST SHACKLE. 
 
 There WM a door in one end of the cabin which, was made 
 of large willows, each piece being tied and interwoven with 
 strong willow wisps but was now quite rotten, in fact so 
 much so that the door would hardly hold together. The 
 weeds had grown up around the cab n and grass and weeds 
 almost covered the roof. The only place to let the light in 
 was where a part of two logs were cut out on one side, 
 leaving a hole eight by twelve or fourteen inches. The in 
 side of the building was daubed with a kind of clay. The 
 outside had also been daubed but the storms had beaten it 
 nearly all out. In one corner was a rude fire place and, 
 from all appearances, it did not draw any too well, as the 
 room was smoked up a great deal. In another corner was 
 a roughly made bedstead or bunk with forked sticks, which 
 had been driven in the ground but was now rotted off, and 
 poles laid on. There were also some deer horns fixed up 
 to the logs overhead which they probably used to hold their 
 guns. After Mathew had taken care of his horses; and 
 cooked his supper by the old fire-place, and as he sat down 
 alone in the light of the fire, his mind drifted back to his 
 home and friends, and then he thought of his present loca 
 tion and condition, and then he looked away into the 
 apparently gloomy future. But as he was quite tired he at 
 last propped up the old bunk and made his bed down, and 
 soon went to sleep. He did not know how long he had 
 been sleeping, when he was suddenly awakened by curious 
 noises in the cabin, overhead, under the bed, and apparent 
 ly in every corner. "What in the world is it?" he thought 
 to himself, as he listened. As he awoke, however, he 
 turned himself a little, and the noise ceased, except a rap 
 ping noise, apparently overhead, for awhile, and then all 
 was quiet again. "Could it be ghosts," he first thought, 
 "in this strange oabin?" "No," he said, as he did not 
 Selieve in such things, and he lay quietly listening, but at 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 55 
 
 last fell asleep. Again he was awakened by the noise the 
 same as before. He was now determined to find out what 
 it was. As he moved, the noise again ceased, except the 
 rapping overhead. It took some nerve, but Mathew sprang 
 to his feet and lit the lantern, and, with his revolver in one 
 hand and the lantern in the other, he went cautiously 
 about the room, looking in every corner and under the 
 bunt, but could see nothing. At last his eyes were di 
 rected to the logs overhead, and there was the rascal who 
 was making all the noise. A large mountain rat sat 
 perched upon the ridge pole, holding one of Mathew s socks 
 in its mouth. He at once shot it and heard the squabbling 
 of two or three more, but for the rest of the night every 
 thing was quiet, except the distant howling of a band of 
 wolves. 
 
 The next morning when he arose he found his boots had 
 been taken off to one corner of the room, his other sock had 
 been carried to the nest up over head, his knife, fork and 
 spoon were piled in another corner of the cabin with some 
 old bones and sticks, and the tin plates were under the bed. 
 In searching around for the various articles which the rats 
 had carried off, Mithew found a rather flat, oblong bottle, 
 with the letters "R. I. 111." on one side of it. On one of 
 the logs close to the window place, where the bark had 
 been shaved off, were the names, plainly cut: "Jack Mil 
 ler" and Bill Kelley," dated October, 1849. 
 
 Around the cabin on the outside were many bones of an 
 imals of different kinds and some elk and deer horns, also a 
 buffalo and bear skull. Matthew came to the conclusion 
 that these two men had been prospecting for gold. The 
 winter had set in so early that they were probably compelled 
 to build the cabin and winter there. The next day 
 Mathew saw a track crossing the trail, but could not tell 
 whether it was a bear s or that of an Indian. He still had 
 
56 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 spells of discouragement and sometimes almost wished him 
 self at home again, helping with the ranch work, and yet 
 what would his life be, he thought, without L,illian, when 
 he felt in his heart that she was still living, and with that 
 encouraging thought he pressed on. He had been decend. 
 ing the Gallatin river slope for two days, and the next 
 m orning when he went to put the pack on the mule he no 
 ticed that the pack saddle had slipped forward too far and 
 had made the mule s back quite sore. Matthew thought to 
 ride the mule for a few days and let the horse carry the 
 pack would be better. The mule kicked up a little at 
 first when Mathew got on, as he had never been ridden be 
 fore, but started off very easily after awhile, and Mathew 
 began to think he had made a good change, when down the 
 mountain a little farther it became more steep and the cinch 
 working a little loose the saddle slipped forward on the sore. 
 In an instant and without warning the mule s heels went 
 up in the air, and Mathew went on over the long ears onto 
 the ground, and before he could catch himself he rolled 
 about twenty feet down the steep bank into the gulch be 
 low. When he got up unhurt but a little wet and muddy 
 he could not help laughing, for the mule was standing with 
 his front feet braced and his long ears pointing forward at 
 an angle of about forty-five degrees, looking at him. Al- 
 thongh a good rider, Mathew did not care to be taken un 
 awares again so he changed his saddle. 
 
 At last he came to the rocky banks of the Gallatin river. 
 It was nearly dark when he turned his horses on the grass. 
 They were yet in poor condition and finding the feed so 
 , good he decided ao remain a few days and let them recruit 
 up. Here he found a small, beautiful, basin with large fir 
 trees scattered through it, a small branch, threaded with 
 alder brush along its banks, wended its way through it and 
 into the Gallatin river. There were also many large rocks 
 
THE LOST SHACKLB. 57 
 
 scattered here and there, as they had rolled from the rocky 
 cliffs beyond the bench-like hills. 
 
 Mathew had just kindled a fire beside a large pine stump, 
 when he heard a low groaning. His horse also heard it 
 and raised his head and snorted. Our hero looked and 
 listened but all was quiet, except the horses biting off the 
 tender bunch-grass around the campfire, and he went to 
 work cooking his supper of dried venison, buffalo meat, 
 and some berries which he had dried the fall before. As he 
 was sitting down to his repast, he heard the strange noise 
 again, but not so plainly as before, but when he was partly 
 through eating, he heard it more distinctly than ever, and 
 Mathew thought Can it be possible that it is a human be 
 ing? It sounded so much like the groaning of one and yet 
 it is hardly possible." At any rate he was determined to 
 find out. He picked up his rifle, and, seeing it was well 
 loaded he started out in the dim moonlight, as the moon 
 was partly obscured by passing clouds. 
 
 Mathew had gone but a little way when he heard the 
 groaning nearer and more plainly than before, and then he 
 thought perhaps it might be something trying to lure him 
 away from the blazing fire and he hesitated as to going 
 farther. Once more a long groaning was heard and more 
 distinctly than ever. "I am almost certain" said he to 
 himself, "that is some human being," and he stepped care 
 fully on about fifty yards further when he was much 
 startled to see only a few feet from him, a large wooly an 
 imal lying down, and hearing a low short breathing, 
 Mathew raised his gun to fire, but as the hammer of it went 
 click, click, he was greatly surprised to hear the words, in 
 broken English, "Don t shoot, me good Injun." A closer 
 inspection in the dim moonlight revealed a large bear lying 
 by his side, and the Indian continued "Me kill bear, bear 
 kill Injun, most." Mathew quickly went to his assistance 
 
58 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 and found the poor fellow quite badly hurt, and bleeding 
 badly. He set to" work dressing his wounds the best he 
 could, and soon stopped the bleeding. Indeed it seemed 
 good to Mathew to hear a human voice once more, although 
 that of a poor Indian, and he tenderly cared for him the 
 best he knew how. After he had fixed the poor fellow up 
 and made him as comfortable as possible, he moved the 
 rest of his camping outfit down to a big dry log close by, 
 and kindled a fire, made some broth from the dried venison 
 and gave it to him. The Indian ate a little of it, and soon 
 went off to sleep. Mathew sat up with the poor Indian, 
 and cared for him as though he were a brother until morn 
 ing. He not only felt it his duty, but was glad to have 
 come across him, for possibly he might give him some 
 knowledge or clue that would lead or aid him to the object 
 of his quest. Two or three times during the night our 
 hero heard him say in his sleep, "Good white man. Good 
 white man," and at times he was quite flighty, sometimes 
 apparently trying to free himself from some antagonist. 
 He did not wake until long after Mathew had had his 
 breakfast the next morning, but seemed to feel very much 
 better when he gave him his breakfast. It refreshed him 
 considerably and he got up and tried to hobble about some, 
 but it seemed to make him faint. He apparently felt very 
 grateful to Mathew for his kindness, and said: "You good 
 white man. You save poor Injun s life," and later in the 
 day, when he was feeling better and more able to talk, he 
 told him how he had trailed the old bear, with six cubs, 
 and killed them, one by one, until finally he had killed 
 all but the old bear, and being close to her he shot, but 
 only wounded her, and she turned on him and in the fight 
 almost killed him, but he finally succeeded in thrusting his 
 knife into a vital part. The next clay the Indian seemed 
 better, and improved nicely from day to day under Mathew s 
 
THE LOST SHACKEIv. 59 
 
 careful attention, and he talked more freely and from him 
 our hero received some most useful and encouraging in 
 formation. He learned that the Indian had come from 
 Idaho, but had roamed over a great deal of the mountain 
 country and had as near as Mathew could make out, for 
 some reason or other, been a wanderer from his tribe. 
 Mathew asked him if he had ever seen white people with 
 any of the tribes of Indians. He said "No," as he shook 
 his head in the negative. He seemed to be in a study for a 
 moment, and then said: Injun see white woman." "When 
 did Injun see white woman?" asked Matthew, with more 
 interest. / Many moons," at the same time holding up all 
 his fingers, and then crossing the one hand with the other. 
 Mathew reckoned the time to be twelve or fifteen months, 
 perhaps. 
 
 "Where did Injun see white woman?" asked Mathew. 
 He again studied a moment, and pointing in a northerly 
 direction, said, "Way, way." 
 
 "How far off to where Injun saw white woman? " asked 
 
 Mathew. 
 
 And he said with a wave of his hand, "Big Muddy way." 
 "Did Injun see white woman in mountains?" Mathew 
 
 asked. 
 
 He nodded his head in the affirmative, and said, "Heap 
 big mountains, way high," as he raised his hand as high 
 as he could. 
 
 "What tribe white woman with?" asked Matthew. 
 "Him with Big Nez Perces." 
 
 "Does Injun belong to Nez Perces?" asked Mathew. 
 "Me Bannock," he answered. 
 
 Again our hero asked, "Are the Bannocks and Nez Per 
 ces friends?" 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders, and then grunted as though 
 
60 THE LOST 
 
 some of his wounds were hurting him, and said, "Heap 
 big Nez Perces. Bannock him fraid," 
 
 Mathew again asked him if it was far to where he saw 
 the white woman. 
 
 Again the Indian answered, with a wave of the hand and 
 pointing in a northerly direction, "Way over Big Muddy, 
 heap high." 
 
 Mathew now felt pretty well satisfied that the Indian 
 meant what he said. 
 
 The Indian then asked, "White woman yo squaw?" 
 
 "No. She may be my friend," answered Mathew. He 
 continued "Wont Injun go with white man and help get 
 white woman?" 
 
 "Yes, Injun him go, show white man heap gold, too. 
 White man him heap good, him save poor Injun s life," 
 and he patted Mathew on the shoulder. 
 
 Mathew s heart beat high with hope. Could it be possi 
 ble that this was Lillian, he thought; and yet, what about 
 the auburn curls in that lonely wigwam? He pondered 
 over the matter until the next day, when he thought of a 
 question which might, perhaps, give him a better idea and 
 he asked: "White woman have black hair, like Injun?" 
 
 He laughed and shook his head in the negative, then 
 rubbed his fingers down over his cheeks, saying, "White 
 woman him color hair long." 
 
 Mathew now felt quite certain that it was Lillian whom 
 the Indian had seen. Still, he thought, many things 
 might have happened since then, and though she yet be 
 alive, what danger and trouble he might have in trying to 
 rescue her; but Mathew cared not for the hardships and 
 dangers if it were only Lillian. He removed the hide from 
 the large bear and partially tanned it, according to the In 
 dian s instructions, making it a nice addition to his bedding. 
 He still took the best care of the Indian that he could, and 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 61 
 
 he seemed to be improving day by day, and Mathew began 
 to think that it would be only a few days until they would 
 be able to start on their journey. Mathew was getting 
 rery anxious to start on the journey again, as he now felt 
 certain that he at last had the right clue, and really felt 
 sorry for the way he had accused the poor old Indian of 
 having murdered Lillian. He now began to feel elated 
 over the idea that he would also have an ally in the Indian, 
 who perhaps would be of great advantage to him, in help 
 ing to rescue the girl if they found her; but now the sun 
 shine was shadowed, for that very night there came up & 
 heavy rain and hail storm, and Mathew- and the Indian got 
 soaking wet. From this the poor Indian caught a severe 
 cold and he suddenly began to grow worse in spite of 
 Mathew s best endeavors, and two days after he passed 
 away. His last words were, with a smile on his lips, and 
 looking up into Mathew s face as he kindly bent over him 
 in silent prayer: "Good white man. Meet poor Injun in 
 happy hu-n-t-i-n-g " and he was no more, and as Mathew 
 gazed upon the dead body of that red man, he thought to 
 himself, 
 
 "The battle is ended; the hero goes 
 
 Worn and scarred to his last repose. 
 
 He has won the day, he has conquered doom, 
 
 He has sunk unknown, to his nameless tomb." 
 
 Mathew now felt more solitary than ever before in his 
 life. He dug the grave and quietly laid the poor Indian 
 down in it to rest, and, as he slowly piled the stones over 
 tke grave, he could not help his tears mingling with them. 
 
 He, now so lonely and sad, began making preparations 
 to resume his journey on the morrow. He had buried all 
 the belongings of the Indian with the body, except the 
 knife which he used in killing the bear. It was rather a 
 large butcher knife, pointed, like a dirk, but in the tussle 
 
62 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 with the bear the point was broken off, and this he felt as 
 though he ought to keep as a reminiscence. 
 
 Twas about 8 o clock on the twenty-seventh day of May 
 when Mathew, for the last time, gazed upon the lonely 
 grave of his rude brother and started on his weary journey 
 down the Gallatin river. 
 
 His horses had recruited up so they were in very good 
 condition for traveling, but, owing to the uncertainty of the 
 route and knowing too that at any time he might encounter 
 a band of Indians (which he now wished to avoid as much 
 as possible}, he traveled very slowly and cautiously. He 
 passed through rocky and deep canyons and many curious 
 sights met his ^aze. In one deep coulee, at the head of a 
 gulch, Mathew counted about thirty buffalo carcasses jam 
 med and crowded over one another. He surmised that the 
 buffalo had been driven in there by some of the severe 
 storms during the previous winter and the snow blowing 
 and drifting in such a way that it made an impenetrable 
 barrier against them, and they were forced to stay and per 
 ish in the cold and snow. In another gulch, one day, he 
 noticed two mountain sheep heads with the big horns inter 
 locked and hanging over a large fir limb some twenty feet 
 from the ground. Part of the vertebraes were still con 
 nected with the heads. In looking at them with the field- 
 glass, Mathew noticed that the horns perfectly interlocked 
 and caught on the limb which had partially grown over 
 them. Mathew finally came to the conclusion that some 
 time, when the gulch was full of snow, two sheep had met 
 there and getting their horns interlocked and perhaps so 
 near exhausted that they could not free themselves either 
 from the limb or each other, had died in that position and 
 when the snow melted away it left them suspended in the 
 air. This of course was only his conclusion but it is more 
 than likely a correct one. In another place, on the very 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 63 
 
 top of an almost perpendicular cliff, very high in the air, he 
 noticed a rock the very shape of a lion crouched upon the 
 stone. The nose, eyes, ears and breast, in fact the whole 
 form, was almost as perfect as a living lion. 
 
 He had no little difficulty in some of the canyons, some 
 times coming to a place where the high bluffs came close 
 up to the water s edge and he would have to cross and re- 
 cross in many places and it \\ as very difficult and dangerous 
 as the breaking up of winter caused the river to be very 
 much swollen. Sometimes large cakes of ice and other 
 drift would go down the swift current dashing, and plung 
 ing, and only those who have seen the swift mountain 
 streams can fully realize that it was a perilous undertaking. 
 After traveling thus for several days he at length came out 
 into the main Gallatin valley. He had not yet met with 
 any Indians, but had crossed several of their trails and 
 passed by a few of their smouldering fires. He was de 
 lighted with the valley, its grand expase of country with 
 beautiful streams meandering through it like silvery 
 threads making it a veritable paradise for the redmen and 
 the buffalo. The streams were skirted along in places 
 with small cottonwood groves, alder brush and willows, 
 and game was plentiful everywhere. Mathew became 
 more and more watchful and wary, not knowing at what 
 time he might encounter some of the savages. 
 
 There were a few men who had married squaws (squaw 
 men commonly called) living scattered here and there along 
 some of the creeks, but he was not at that time aware of it. 
 In some way he had lost his compass, which made it more 
 difficult to travel in the right direction, and one day during 
 a very hard shower of rain he became somewhat bewil 
 dered and instead of going northward he bore off very 
 much to the westward. Thus he journeyed along until he 
 came to where three rivers united, and he felt certain that 
 was the head of the great Missouri river. 
 
64 THE LOST SHAOKBL. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A strange companion. The old man s story. Matthew s journey 
 resumed. 
 
 Mathew knew at once that he had gone entirely too far 
 to the westward, for his chart showed that these three rir- 
 ers, the Gallatin, Madison and Jefferson, formed the Mis 
 souri river, and he was really surprised to find that he had 
 gone so far out of his way, and more surprised when he 
 came up to a log cabin before he hardly knew he was near 
 it, and was accosted by a rather pleasant spoken but dirty 
 looking man perhaps sixty years old. It was near camp 
 ing time and Mathew asked him the privilege of camping 
 in the grove by which his cabin was nearly surrounded. 
 He gave his consent, and Mathew was turning to a nice 
 place to camp, when the cabin door once more opened, and 
 quite a tall Indian squaw with two children made their ap 
 pearance. As he began unpacking his horse the old ma* 
 came up and began asking questions, where he had come 
 from and so on. He told him that he had come down the 
 Gallatin river from the mountains on his way to the north, 
 but had wandered far out of the way, but gave him no idea 
 as to the object of his trip. Mathew asked the old man 
 concerning the Indians and his safety, and was assured by 
 him that as long as he remained there, both he and hk 
 property would not be molested, and for which Mathew in 
 deed felt very thankful, for he was quite tired out from his 
 long watchfulness, and he thought now to get a good night s 
 rest. He made his bed down soon after supper and retired 
 for the night. He slept very soundly, scarcely awaking 
 until the sun was peeping over the Bridger mountains some 
 fifty miles away. While he was cooking his rude meal the 
 old man came out to his camp bringing some corn meal and 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 65 
 
 offered it to him, which was very gratfully received for 
 Mathew had used his last several days before aud had 
 missed it greatly. He did not feel rested sufficiently that 
 he wanted to travel that day and asked the old man for 
 permission to remain longer and he readily granted it, and 
 as Mathew looked at him he thought to himself, that man 
 has seen brighter days, he has a history which I would 
 like to know. He changed his horses to better pasture 
 and when he came back to camp there sat the old man and 
 two children about six and eight years old perhaps. "Are 
 these your children?" Mathew asked. The old man said 
 they were as he looked at them. 
 
 "I suppose you have been here a long time" said 
 Mathew. "Yes" he replied as he looked away in the dis 
 tance. Then Mathew asked all about the country, the 
 Indian tribes and many other things and for all his -quest 
 ions and answers to them, was fully satisfied that Lillian 
 was not in that part of the country. He also told Mathew 
 about other squaw men in the valley and told him a great 
 many more things of much interest to him. He also asked 
 Mathew a great many questions and he told him the story 
 of Lillian s disappearance, his travels, about the lone Indian 
 in the park, also about the poor Indian whom he had laid 
 to rest far up in the mountains and also the clue. He also 
 told him the vow which he had made several years before. 
 The old man looked at him and said "Well you are a brave 
 and noble hearted boy, I hope God will crown your efforts 
 with success and that some day you will be a prosperous 
 and happy man. "This old man said he as he cast a sad 
 look at himself "was once a hopeful and happy man, but," 
 and then paused as if waiting to be asked a question. 
 Mathew looking him in the face remarked. "I believe you 
 sir and would sincerly like to know your history. " The old 
 man seemed to feel sad as he again looked at the children 
 
66 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 who were playing in the sand at his feet and said, "Well I 
 will give it to you," and he began: 
 
 "The old man s story." "Many years ago, way back in 
 the Mississippi valley, I married a young and charming 
 wife. She was loving and kind and we lived very happy 
 together. By-and-by a little girl baby came to our house 
 a dear sweet little creature and we both thought every 
 thing of her. As time went by, wife and I were both con 
 verted to the Mormon faith, and were persuaded to immi 
 grate with a company of Mormons, who were then making 
 preparations to go to Utah. We considered the matter and 
 finally went with them. I was a poor but honest hardwork 
 ing man, and it took^ all we had to get to the promised 
 land, (Utah.) We had a long and dangerous journey across 
 the plains. Many of us sometimes were sick and nearly 
 starving, but we thought it was in a good cause and jour 
 neyed on without lamenting, except over the graves of a few 
 whom we left by the wayside. The plains were then al- 
 almost covered with Indians, and a few times we narowly 
 escaped with our lives but finally reached the promised 
 land, and were welcomed into Salt I^ake City by Brigham 
 Young and other Mormons. I worked hard and as time 
 rolled on I built a nice and comfortable house, and was 
 saving up money with which to engage in business. No 
 man was happier than I with my wife and darling little 
 girl who was now nearly nine years old. One day while I 
 was about my work I was approached by Brigham Young 
 
 who said to me; Mr I have had a revelation, and you 
 
 must give up your wife to me. I was so astonished that 
 it was impossible to utter a single word for a few minutes; 
 I burst into tears and said, I can t, I can t. The prophet 
 hesitated a few minutes and then said, a true revelation, 
 you must give her up. Then I was almost beyond con 
 trol, and with all the anger within me exclaimed, I can 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 67 
 
 not, I will not! , He stood for a moment and then slowly 
 walked away and said no more, I thought to myself, can it 
 be possible? No! No! It can not be! Two days later my 
 work called me to the mountains several miles distant, 
 when I returned about six o clock in the evening, my dear 
 wife and child were gone. I waited, thinking perhaps they 
 were out at some of the neighbors for an hour, but they did 
 not return. I then looked for the money (about sixteen 
 hundred dollars) which I always left in her charge and that 
 was gone, I then looked around thinking perhaps she 
 might have left a note or some explanation, but not even a 
 note or even a trace of them could I find. Their best cloth 
 ing was all gone too. I enquired of the neighbors and 
 hunted for them but no trace or clue could I get of their 
 whereabouts, except that one little boy told me that he saw 
 a covered vehicle drive up to the house and stop before the 
 door. I was wild as I walked along the streets from door 
 to door. For months I roamed the streets in search of them, 
 and went to the different Mormon colonies, but all of no 
 avail. I almost became distracted. For a long time I con 
 tinued to roam over the mountains alone and with the In 
 dian tribes. Then I went to the gold fields in California, 
 thinking perhaps to, partly at least alleviate my trouble; but 
 silver and gold had no charms for me, and I again went 
 back and wandered through the streets and down to that 
 desolate home, but oh! I could not bear to look at it. 
 
 At last I traveled back to the old homestead where the 
 most of my boyhood days were spent. As I neared the dear 
 old place where I went to school, the school house was gone 
 and nothing remained but the stone foundation in the cor 
 ner of the field; but my memory drifted back to my early 
 school days when I was but a jolly boy, and the old spring 
 on the hillside where Tommy and I used to go after water 
 had dried up and thistles were growing there. I went on 
 
68 THE LOST SHACKBL. 
 
 a mile farther past several of the neighbor s homesteads, but 
 there were strange faces everywhere. There was no one I 
 knew and I was a stranger in the land. I wandered on to 
 the brookside and cast a look at the dear old house on the 
 hill. Did I say house? No, it was gone and the place 
 where it once stood was all covered with thorns and weeds 
 higher than my head. Surely I thought the dear old well 
 with its mossy curbing is in there. I ascended the hill 
 step by step dividing the weeds and briars with my hands. 
 At length I stumbled over something, the old door step. 
 Yes, yes it was the old stone step which my father had once 
 put there when I was but a small boy, and Oh! how sad 
 I felt to call back to memory scenes of so long ago, and I 
 thought here is where my aged father died, my youngest 
 brother was born, my brothers departed to and returned 
 from helping to fight the great battles of the rebellion, and 
 later when they outfitted to cross the plains to the far west. 
 Indeed it was a home, a home for all. I passed on to the 
 old well, but it was now dry. The moss had decayed and 
 fallen off. and nothing was left but the the bare cold stone 
 to mark the place. I passed on through the old grove and 
 orchard with their broken and mossy trees, and on over the 
 garden wall to that dear old spot where my mother used to 
 have her flowers, and there to my great suprise found 
 amongst the weeds the morning glories blooming just the 
 same as they were in my childhood days. It seemed to me 
 that they had been growing all these years waiting for us 
 to some back, with tearful eyes. I plucked some of them 
 together with some wild flowers close by and pressed them 
 in this little cabinet (and at the same time the poor old 
 man took it from his inside pocket and handed it to Mathew, 
 who noticed that the flowers were in a perfect state of 
 preservation.) The pretty lilac bushes that were in the 
 front yard had grown up large, but seemed to be like my- 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 69 
 
 self, low down on the shady side of life. I next wandered 
 along the brooklet and through the timber where there used 
 to be so much game which I hunted when a boy. There 
 still were the old birds and squirrels nests but not a living 
 object did I see. I thought then to go to the north part of 
 the field (which was higher ground) that I could once more 
 behold the beautiful farms that I had once been so familiar 
 with, and perchance see some of my old schoolmates even 
 at a distance, but as I leaned on the old toppling gate and 
 looked, everything had changed, and there was not a living 
 object of any description which came to my view. They 
 were all gone. I felt so sad and lonely as I went 
 back to the silent spot on the hill, and once more and for 
 the last time, stood on that "dear old stone door step." 
 
 Sadder than ever I came back to the mountains and in 
 disguise wandered through the different Mormon colonies, 
 and at last once more through the streets of Salt L,ake City, 
 but all of no avail. I thought then to go to the school 
 play grounds at noon time. Yes Cora was there. I called 
 Cora? She looked up at me and went away playing 
 with the other girls. I said, I will go away, throw off my 
 disguise, and then she will know me. When school was 
 out I was there, and said as she started home Cora! don t 
 you know me? Your papa. She looked at me as one 
 frightened, (four years had changed my black hair to gray) 
 and ran on. My poor heart was broken, and I sank upon 
 the ground. Two days later I found myself in an Indian 
 camp several miles away. I gave up in despair of ever 
 seeing my dear wife and daughter again, and cared but lit 
 tle what became of me. I wandered through the moun 
 tains alone and with different tribes of Indians, and finally 
 settled down here with this Indian woman as you see." He 
 continued. "I hope God will forgive the man who so cru 
 elly wronged me." And then said. "I know of untold 
 
TO THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 wealth in the mountains, but I care not for it, it can not 
 make me happy. "Well my old friend, "said Mathew, 
 4 your history has been of great interest to me, though a 
 very sad one, I trust that in a better land all things will be 
 righted, and that some day you will be happy. 
 "Put gloom and sadness far away 
 
 And smiling bid goodbye to sorrow. 
 
 The clouds that shroud your brow today 
 
 Will let the sunshine in tomorrow." 
 
 Mathew had been in camp nearly a week now and was 
 well rested. The Indians had come around the camp sev 
 eral times, but did not molest anything belonging to him 
 and he now made preparations for resuming his journey. 
 The old man seemed to feel sorry that he was going to 
 leave him, and as he clasped his hand, he said, "Goodbye 
 my dear boy, I trust that success may crown your efforts 
 and that someday we will meet beyond the river in that 
 happy land." 
 
 Mathew now started on his way, following the foothills 
 according to the way he had been instructed to go in order 
 to strike a pass through the mountains. The old man had 
 also given him a sign that in case he came in contact with 
 Indians in the valley they would not molest him, Mathew 
 had also received a great deal of useful information in re 
 gard to the country and other things which he was very 
 glad to know, and it helped him a great deal. He also re 
 ceived a sack of cornmeal from the old man which was 
 highly appreciated. It was now the latter part of July and 
 quite warm weather, and he thought it better not to travel 
 too fast although his anxiety would hurry him on much 
 faster, and on July twentieth he reached the foot of the 
 mountains at the entrance to the pass to which he had been 
 directed. It was evening time now and he took up camp. 
 This camping place reminded him so much of familiar scen 
 ery on the Yellowstone that his mind drifted back more 
 
THE LOST SHAOKBL. 71 
 
 forcibly than for a long time before, and through the night 
 he dreamed of home and friends aud with a mind less deter 
 mined he might have been tempted to give up his quest in 
 despair, but he felt that his life would hardly be worth liv 
 ing if he were not successful in finding Lillian, for while he 
 was satisfied that the Indian had told him the truth about 
 seeing the white woman, and that the woman was Lillian, 
 so many things could happen in a year s time. 
 
 Mathew had not been feeling well for a few days or he 
 would not possibly have gotten discouraged so soon after 
 leaving the camp with the old man; but, undaunted he 
 pressed onward. The pass in the mountains was quite an 
 available one in going from the lower part of the Gallatin 
 valley to the upper Shields river and Mussleshell country; 
 therefore the trail was a well-beaten one. One place in the 
 canyon the high rocky cliffs came down to the water s edge 
 of a shallow stream, and one going through had to travel 
 up the creek bed for a considerable distance,and to leave it, 
 had to turn and go up through a crevice in the rock about 
 six feet wide and then wind around the mountain side. 
 
 Mathew had ridden perhaps one-third of the way to the 
 top of the mountain, when he heard a faint rumbling sound 
 like that of distant thunder. He looked about to see what 
 it might be. The sound seemed to be coming nearer and 
 from the top of the range ahead of him. Not being able to 
 discover what it was, he hastily turned to one side of the 
 trail into a thick patch of timber to await the outcome. 
 The sound still came nearer and nearer; soon a great cloud 
 of dust began to ascend skyward. 
 
72 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Lillian and Lewanna s discovery of a beautiful cave in the moun 
 tains. Lillian s sicknes. A dream of home. 
 
 One bright morning in June L,illian and Lew anna started 
 out for a ramble through a portion of the mountains in 
 which they had never been. They had gone many miles up 
 a gulch before they were hardly aware of it, being attracted 
 along by the numerous Wild flowers, the beautiful strange 
 scenery and the many wjld animals feeding or resting upon 
 the sides ot the mountains, the mountain sheep high upon 
 the rocky cliffs and the fleet antelope bounding up before 
 them. 
 
 And it was long alter noon before they thought to eat 
 their lunch which they had brought with them. They 
 were hardly through eating however when there came up a 
 cold rain and hail storm during which they grew bewildered 
 and lost their way and could not tell which way to go to 
 get back to the camp. They traveled on through the 
 terrible storm with the hope that they would reach camp 
 before darkness came on. At last they noticed a big hole 
 up in the side of the mountain across the gulch. They at 
 once made for it to get shelter, as the large hail stones were 
 fast falling upon them, and by the time they had reached 
 the cave they were literally drenched with the chilly rain. 
 They sat down in the mouth of the cave and waited for the 
 storm to abate. They became so cold and numb that they 
 could scarcely move and at last gathered up some dead 
 limbs and bark from the scrub trees near by and built a fire. 
 It was almost dark and still stormy, the hail then being 
 nearly a foot deep, and they well knew that it was al 
 most certain death to try to reach camp that night. After 
 they had gotten warm by the fire, they thought to fix up 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 73 
 
 some torches and go back into the cave a little way. They 
 had already satisfied themselve that it was not inhabited by 
 wild beasts, as there were no signs or indications of it. 
 
 The entrance of the cave was quite large but back a little 
 not so large but that they had to stoop a little. This 
 opened into a spacious room with cold solid rock on each 
 side and overhead, while the bottom or floor seemed to be 
 of a more soft foundation, yet not soft enough that walking 
 upon it would make an impression. But in two or three 
 places they noticed the plain prints of an Indian moccasin.. 
 The room at last narrowed down much smaller and they 
 passed on into a much smaller one but more lengthy, the 
 floor of which was very uneven, sometimes two or three 
 steps upward or downward. There were a few crystals 
 hanging to the walls scattered around here and there, also 
 a few beautiful stalactites suspended from the ceiling in 
 different places. Their curiosity led them on and on 
 through the zigzag cavern, from room to room, some larger* 
 than others with many curiosities and some of which wer* 
 much more interesting than others. At last they came to 
 a larger room than any which they had passed through, at 
 the farther end of which stood a very large grey granite 
 rock with crystalized streaks through it from top to bottom . 
 It was somewhat tapering at the top, which reached to al 
 most the ceiling. At its base, and between it and a smaller 
 room several feet away, was a small pool of dark blue water. 
 The small room beyond the pool was a few feet higher than 
 the one where the pool was and its beauty could only be 
 seen as they stepped to one side of the huge rock which 
 was directly in front of it. The room was full of the most 
 beautiful crystals and stalactites that perhaps human eyes 
 ever witness in the Rocky mountains. All the different 
 colored crystals and stalactites, most of which extended 
 from the low ceiling to the floor, some part way while 
 
74 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 others started at the floor and rose up half or a third of the 
 way to the ceiling, Water was dripping off of some of 
 them and draining off into the pool below. The room was 
 so filled up with the formation that they could not enter it 
 and could only stand and gaze at it in wonder. The girls 
 looked at it until a late hour and, tired out, they went 
 back to the smouldering fire at the entrance with a promise 
 that they would sometime visit it again. 
 
 When morning dawned it was bright and clear and they 
 soon found the way they wanted to go, but it took them 
 several hours to get back to camp as it was much farther 
 away than they anticipated . Lillian , who had not been feeling 
 well since that night, finally succumbed to a hard spell of 
 sickness. "Poor girl," Lewanna thought as she smoothed 
 back Lillian s curly hair from her forehead with her hand. 
 Lillian had now been sick for nearly a week and was yet no 
 better. Lewanna took the best care of her that she knew 
 how, and while the poor girl was sick she thought of home 
 and friends more than she had for a long time. In her de 
 lirious dreams she talked to her mother as though she were 
 by her side and frequently asked to see Mathew, Bessie or 
 her father. Lewanna in her heart pitied Lillian, for she 
 had told her all about her home and friends. Under Le 
 wanna s careful attention Lillian, by the next week, was 
 much better and in a month she was quite strong again. 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 75 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 The band of buffalo and Indians. Mathew s journey northward. 
 Evidence of Lillian s captivity. In the clutches of the robbers. A 
 strange dream. 
 
 Mathew stood anxiously waiting the outcome of the 
 strange rumbling noise. Now an unearthly bellowing be 
 gan to thrill the air with all the force imaginable. A few 
 moments more, and hundreds of buffalo came dashing, 
 charging, and madly rushing down the mountain side. It 
 was indeed a majestic sight, as they passed by him, some 
 distance away, and to Mathew s surprise, a band of several 
 Indians followed them on their cay use ponies; yelling and 
 whooping. They were no doubt driving their game from 
 an enemy s range, and were so elated over their success, 
 that they did not discover him, and after they had passed 
 on out of sight and hearing Mathew resumed his journey, 
 and finally reached the summit of the mountains at camp 
 ing time. He was always so cautious, that in camping for 
 the night he would leave the trail for a considerable dis 
 tance. During the night he was awakened by a cry or 
 scream of some wild beast, which he thought to be a pan 
 ther, and not caring to be attacked by one in the dark, he 
 quickly built up the smouldering fire, which had nearly 
 gone out, knowing that most wild animals were afraid of it. 
 He kept up a blazing fire until morning, when he noticed a 
 well-beaten path some thirty yards distance, where the 
 mountain lion, as he could tell by its track, had walked 
 round and round him many times, but was probably afraid 
 to approach nearer the blazing fire. He indeed felt thank 
 ful that he had avoided a night attack from the savage an 
 imal. 
 
 From the mountain heights, where Mathew was camping, 
 the scenery was grand almost beyond description. To the 
 
76 THE LOST SHAOKEL. 
 
 westward, several thousand feet below, lay the beautiful 
 Gallatin valley, surrounded by foothills, low mountain 
 ranges and snow capped peaks reaching skyward, while a 
 few scattering clouds, several hundred feet below him, were 
 slowly passing over the valley, some of which were sending 
 down the gentle rain drops on the nutritious bunch grass. 
 
 To the east lay the Shields river country, a magnificent 
 little valley, one or two miles wide perhaps, with foothills 
 on either side, gradually ascending back to the mountains, 
 and beyond were "the old Crazy mountains, towering high 
 in the air, and partially covered with snow. To the north, 
 at some distance, was the wild Musselshell and Judith 
 river country, with its grassy hills and barren peaks, and 
 away beyond was the old Missouri river, boiling "end foam 
 ing, winding its way through the sand and sage brush 
 country, and still beyond, the high peaks of the Bear Paw 
 mountains, covered with snow, reminding one of the north 
 ern icebergs, while to the south and southeast, many miles, 
 might be seen the famous Yellowstone river, winding its 
 way through rocky canyons, and down through beautiful 
 valleys, with adjacent foothills extending back to the 
 mountains. 
 
 In all it was indeed an interesting view to Mathew, as he 
 in fact had seen and recognized the mountain peaks only 
 a few miles from his old home, which he had left nearly a 
 year ago and it is easier to imagine his feelings than to de 
 scribe them, but he is now on his journey descending the 
 mountains on the east side, following down a beautiful 
 clear stream, which headed only a short distance from 
 where he had camped. 
 
 For several days Mathew journeyed on without much of 
 interest happening. At length he crossed the low range of 
 mountains dividing the Shields from the Smith and Mus 
 selshell river countries, and he was now descending a swift 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 77 
 
 mountain stream northward. At noontime he stopped for 
 his usual meal. There was a spring close by which 
 seemed to boil out from under a great rock, which partially 
 overhung the pool. The water cress grew in abundance all 
 about, and the young ferns and wild flowers made it very 
 picturesque. The rock was peculiar in shape, a part of it 
 rising in a shaft or column, while the base was broad and 
 the whole had the appearance of a great monument of lime 
 stone. At the top of the rock a fish hawk had its nest and 
 from the appearance, the hawks before it for many gener 
 ations had used it for this purpose, by the number of nests, 
 one on top of the other. The place also had the appear 
 ance of being used as a camping place before, as there were 
 some blackened stones piled around and some charcoal. 
 Mathew also noticed where there had been a little chopping 
 done on several small trees, years before. Therefore the 
 place had a peculiar interest for him on that account, as 
 well as for the beauty and picturesqueness. The high 
 rocky cliffs a little way back on each side of the creek made 
 it seem more wild and lonely. After he had eaten his din 
 ner, he was looking about the old rock, and happened to 
 notice some marks ot some kind scratched on it, which he 
 began to examine with great interest. Time and the 
 weather had partly obliterated a portion of the inscription, 
 but he at last found a clue or way mark that brought new 
 hope and courage, for there appeared as plain as could be, 
 the initials "L. A. M. B." He traced these letters out 
 with his knife, and he knew it could be none other than 
 Lillian s work There was a date also, but he could not 
 quite make k out. He was at least standing in the place in 
 which she had stood, and as he gazed at those letters, his 
 mind reverted back to the old spring by the "Lamb Tree," 
 and his eyes filled with tears as he thought of the cruel 
 hardships she must have gone through in all these years 
 
78 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 with the savages. Mathew was now more determined than 
 ever to search until he found her, for somehow he now felt 
 certain he would be able to do so. He now started on his 
 journey with more zeal and courage than ever, traveling 
 through the Musselshell country. There was plenty of 
 game everywhere, but only a few Indians were seen, and 
 fortunately they were off at a long distance. He had to 
 use the greatest precaution traveling through this part of 
 the country, as he had no compass by which to guide him 
 self, and he was going across the country, through deep 
 gulches and over long ridges of baren hills.instead of follow 
 ing the water courses as he had usually been doing, for the 
 reason that this part of the country sloped more to the east 
 and northeast, while he wished to go almost due north, or 
 possibly a little northwest. The weather now was not hot, 
 but dry, and under almost any other circumstances he 
 would have enjoyed the journey very much. 
 
 One day, while he was crossing a dry creek, his horse 
 sunk down with him about six feet, the ground giving way 
 as the horse put his full weight on it. The animal did not 
 struggle much as he had been through so many snow drifts 
 at different times. Mathew sprang to the solid bank in 
 safety, and worked hard, digging it off and letting it roll 
 down into the hole to fill it up, and at last got him out all 
 right. 
 
 Mathew found that he had gone entirely too far eastward 
 and turned his course more to the northwest and crossed the 
 L/ittle Belt range of mountains, then down the Judith river. 
 At length, on the twenty-second day of August, Mathew 
 reached the "Big Muddy," or .Missouri river, or rather 
 came in sight of it, it being about one half mile away, and 
 as the sun was going down, he turned into a patch of cot- 
 tonwood timber to camp for the night, and as he did so he 
 reflected how fortunate he had been so far on his journey. 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 79 
 
 However he had gone but a few rods into the timber, whem 
 he suddenly came upon a horse, with saddle and bridle on 
 it, tied to a tree. He at first felt glad that he had done so, 
 thinking, perhaps, thst it belonged to some hunter or pros 
 pector, and he had felt lonely all day. But alas for his 
 hopes, for, in looking around^a little more, he beheld sever 
 al other horses, tied in the same way. Apprehensive fear 
 at once crept into his heart and he wished he had went on 
 to the river bank to camp, as he at first thought of doing, 
 and was about to turn to leave, when to his dismay he 
 found himself surrounded by a band of very rough looking 
 men, six in number, with as many carbines pointing di- 
 rtctly at his head. 
 
8o 
 
 THE LOST SHACK EL. 
 
THE LOST SHACKEU 81 
 
 He was ordered to dismount. He soon recovered his 
 self possession and did as he was bidden, knowing it was 
 useless to resist so many. 
 
 "We will teach you how to follow stage robbers, you in 
 fernal detective," said the leader of the gang. "You 
 thought to entrap six strong men. We have you in our 
 clutches now," and then he added, "Have you anything t* 
 say before you die? If you have you had better say it 
 quickly." 
 
 Many strange things happen in this world, for only two 
 nights before Mrs. Bently dreamed of Mathew. It was the 
 first time for a long while, although he was almost contin 
 ually in her mind and although they had never heard of 
 him since he had left home, yet they somehow felt as 
 though he was all right until the dream, which made them 
 very uneasy, still they mourned his absence a great deal 
 and sometimes almost gave up in despair of his ever re 
 turning. 
 
 "What makes you so melancholy this morning," said 
 Mr. Bently to his wife at the breakfast table? 
 
 "Well, husband, I had a dream about our dear boy last 
 night, which somehow weighs heavily on my mind all 
 morning." 
 
 "What was it wife," asked Mr. Bently, somewhat 
 agitated? 
 
 "Well, I saw him just as plainly and he looked as natural 
 
 as me day he left us, except that he was very pale and 
 trembling as he was being led away, but I could not tell 
 just where he was. He had a chain of some kind on his 
 leg and I heard him say I am innocent. His voice was so 
 natural and plain that it woke me up. I turned over in bed 
 and listened but everything was as quiet as could be. For 
 a long time I could not go to sleep, but finally dozed off 
 
82 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 again and dreamed the same thing over again and once 
 more heard those same words, "I am innocent." It woke 
 me up again but I could not tell what it meant." 
 
 "That is very strange," said Mr. Ben tly, very deeply 
 concerned. "I am afraid something very serious has hap 
 pened him." 
 
 "Oh, I wish he had never gone away," said Mrs. 
 Bently with tears in her eyes. 
 
 The more they thought and talked about it the more 
 anxious they became but Mr. Bently, although feeling very- 
 serious himself, tried to console his wife by saying, "It 
 may be he is coming home." 
 
 "No, no, I cannot think so from my dream," said Mrs. 
 Bently. "Yet it might be possible; but if we do not see or 
 hear from him in a day or two I shall believe that we will 
 never see him again. My dear Mathew; oh, where are 
 you? 
 
 Of course the dream was told to Mr. Ainsley who 
 thought it quite strange but could only hope that it meant 
 nothing serious. The days rolled slowly by and nothing 
 was heard of him. Some two weeks later Mr. Bently went 
 to the fort for his mail and some supplies and while there 
 happened to pick up a Helena paper giving a long account 
 of a bold and daring robbery of the Helena and Ft. Ben ton 
 stage coach, and that the robbers had got away with a large 
 amount of money; and later in the same paper that the 
 coach robbers had been captured by a detachment of cav 
 alry, also giving the names of the robbers and among them 
 was M. Bently. 
 
 "Can it be that my dear, my only son, has turned out to 
 be a robber, " muttered Mr. Bently as the tears trickled 
 down his cheeks. "Would to God he had died when a 
 child." 
 
 When he got home he took the paper slowly from his 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 83 
 
 pocket and ^ith a trembling hand, handed it to his wife, who 
 already noticed him looking so heart broken, and as she 
 read it over she exclaimed in deepest sorrow "Thank 
 heaven, I know from my dream that our own dear boy is 
 innocent." And then she exclaimed, "Oh, why are we so 
 tried?" In the evening they took the paper over to Mr. 
 Ainsley, who read it with a sorrowing heart. Yet the 
 consoling words from Mr. Ainsley seem to partially alle 
 viate the crushed hearts of his parents. 
 
 "Oh, it does seem as though we have all had so much 
 trouble since we came to Montana," cried Mrs. Bently. 
 "I do wish we had never came here," and then she sobbed 
 out "Our darling boy is not guilty," 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Mathew a prisoner. His escape. Helpless and alone in the moun 
 tains to die. Found and saved by Lillian and Lewanna. 
 
 Mathew, in a firm and brave tone, said "Gentlemen, you 
 are mistaken in your man, I am not a detective but am 
 searching for a poor girl who was stolen away from her 
 home nearly seven years ago by the Indians. 
 
 "What nonsense," exclaimed one of the band. 
 
 "True as I live," said Mathew, and he told them all 
 about it in such a straightforward manner that they began 
 to doubt his being a detective as they at first thought, and 
 he told them the clue which he had gotten from the Indian 
 and also the initials which he had found cut on the large 
 limestone rock. 
 
 "I remember of seeing those letters somewhere, " said 
 one of the gang. 
 
 They now began to believe him, but they had much at 
 stake, for they had robbed the stage which was running 
 from Helena to Ft. Benton and had secured a large amount 
 
84 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 of money. They held consultation as to what they should 
 do with Mathew and concluded that he would at least haye 
 to remain with them for the present. 
 
 In the meantime a detachment of cavalry had been sent 
 out from the fort in pursuit of the robbers. They tracked 
 them across the Missouri river and down the valley, them 
 off into the foothills, and then they lost their trail and prob 
 ably would have passed them by had it not been for 
 Mathew s mule, which had broken its rope during the 
 night and wondered out on the hill a little way off. They 
 rode up to it and found that it had either been ridden or 
 used for carrying a pack. Cautiously they went to investi 
 gate the vicinity and finally found the tracks where the 
 horsemen had entered the grove, and after some reconoiter- 
 ing the soldiers located them in a small opening in the 
 heart of the little grove and rode in upon them entirely un 
 awares, as they were just eating their breakfast. They 
 were at once ordered, with twelve guns pointing at their 
 heads, to throw up their hands, which they did without any 
 hesitation. They were soon all handcuffed and shackled. 
 Mathew was the last one to go through the ordeal and he 
 told his story (in short) to the soldiers. Some were will 
 ing to believe him while others were not. At last he tried 
 to prove his innocence by the robbers, who by the way had 
 decided that he was a detective and had marked the way 
 which led to their capture and would say nothing, but only 
 looked at him with a scowl. The soldiers said that he 
 would at least have to be taken to the fort and stand a trial 
 the same as the rest. They were not prepared with hand 
 cuffs for him but had a shackle with which they chained 
 him to the saddle. Mathew s heart sank, for he well knew 
 that if he was taken back he would be executed with the 
 robbers as one of them, and he thought to himself, "What 
 shall I do? God knows that I am innocent." He breathed 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 85 
 
 a silent prayer to God for deliverance, and now he deter 
 mined to make a bold break for liberty if the opportunity 
 was offered. 
 
 They were riding almost parallel with the river, and 
 Mathew was riding on the side next to the river. His 
 horse seemed a very mettlesome animal, and taking advan 
 tage of this as a ruse, he caused him to get out of line sev 
 eral times, and one time he got so far away from the gang 
 that he thought it a good chance to make a break. Sud 
 denly he put spurs to his horse and started toward the river 
 with all the power wiihin him. Two of the soldiers started 
 in pursuit and hallooing at him to halt, but he had such a 
 start of them, and being on a swifter horse, that he soon 
 reached the river bank and plunged into the water. The 
 soldiers fired at him several times, but the bullets whizzed 
 harmlessly over his head. The last firing was just as he 
 was going up the bank and into the brush on the opposite 
 side of the river. The two soldiers now abandoned the 
 chase and returned to the company, lest there might be 
 trouble with the other captives, who were taken to the fort, 
 tried l and executed, which was the end of one of the most 
 daring band of robbers who ever operated in Montana. 
 
 Mathew felt very thankful that he was now free even 
 though he should perish in the mountains, rather than be 
 taken and disgraced by being classed as one of the robbers. 
 
 Yes, he was free, but with the shackle on his left foot. 
 His bedding, camping outfit and everything else were gone 
 except the old broken knife, which he had reserved as a 
 memento when he buried the poor, rude brother iu the 
 mountains. He would not have had it, but it happened to 
 be in his saddle bags on his saddle. He got very wet in 
 crossing the river, in fact if his horse had not been a splen 
 did swimmer he pobably would never have reached the op 
 posite shore of that treacherous stream. As it happened, 
 
86 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 he had three matches in his vest pocket, and they were a 
 little damp, but he managed with the last one of them to 
 get a fire started and keeping his eyes on the cavalry troop, 
 until they were well out of sight, dried his clothes. He had 
 first freed himself from the sad die, to which he was chained, 
 by cutting the leather. He did not travel any that day, as 
 he was nearly exhausted from the trouble he had just gone 
 through, neither was he able to get anything to eat, except 
 a few berries in the grove where he was camping. When 
 night came on, it found him without anything more to eat 
 and no bedding, but he made himself as comfortable as 
 possible under the circumstances. 
 
 The poor boy was indeed in a hard position, having 
 
 nothing to kill game with, neither could he free himself 
 from the chain and shackle, which so annoyed him in try 
 ing to get about. Although he had tried to saw or cut 
 it in two with the old knife many times; but he still had 
 courage, living in hopes that he might possibly see or run 
 across some one who might be able to give him something 
 to eat or help him in some way; but all he was able to get 
 was a few berries, and once in a while a rabbit, which he 
 knocked over with a stone or club. Day by day Mathew 
 grew weaker as he wandered over the foot hills and through 
 the mountains until he became so weak and exhausted that 
 he was tempted to kill his horse for food, and then he 
 would ask himself "How can I do such a thing? No." He 
 said to himself, "I may perish on these bleak hills, but I 
 will not harm my dear horse, who has carried me safely 
 over so long a journey, and carried me safely to freedom," 
 and he again thought of home and friends. Mathew s ap 
 petite at last left him and he was so weak that he little noticed 
 where he was going and the horse carrying him as he went 
 slowly on grazing up the gulch. As the horse was ascend 
 ing out of the creek that wended its way down the gulch, 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 87 
 
 poor Mathew, unable longer to keep his place in the sad 
 dle, fell to the ground, where the poor fellow lay for some 
 time unconscious. 
 
 Finally arousing himself enough to crawl to the shade of 
 a large tree, where he lay scarcely thinking, so little 
 strength and courage had he left. It happened on this 
 same day that Lewanna and Lillian were over in the gulch, 
 picking berries, wandering about from bush to bush, 
 rather following the old Indian trail down the gulch. 
 
 Lewanna noticed where something had been dragged 
 across the trail and, with the keen curiosity of the Indian, 
 followed it up until she found Mathew. She was very 
 much excited and called to Lillian, saying, * Found pale 
 face, him dead," and they went together to where he was 
 lying. 
 
 It was with strange feelings that Lillian now beheld the 
 first white face she had seen for nearly seven long years. 
 They discovered that he had a chain and shackle on one 
 foot, and were at first startled. They thought he must be 
 dead and then Lillian thought she noticed a slight quiver of 
 the eyelids, and being a brave and noble girl, went to him 
 and lifted his poor head to her lap. Seeing that he had 
 only fainted, she sent Lewanna for some water. After she 
 had bathed his temples with the cool water he partially re 
 vived and muttered out some incoherent words, among 
 them was "In-no-ce-nt. " Lillian had at first thought he 
 might be some escaped robber, by the shackle on his foot. 
 Seeing that he was very weak, from hunger and exposure, 
 she gently laid his head upon the grass, and went to pre 
 pare, as best she could, something from her own luncheon. 
 The girls had brought some dried venison. This she sliced 
 up as fine as possible and with clean stones pounded it fine 
 and moistened it with water. 
 
 This she gave him a little at a time until he had begun 
 
88 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 to revive more and more. At last he gazed earnestly and 
 surprisedly in to her face and said faintly "Lillian." 
 
 She was almost frightened, poor girl. She had not heard 
 that name spoken for so long, the Indians calling her Lee. 
 She scarcely could see, so astonished was she, and looked 
 bewildered. 
 
 "Lillian, don t you know me, Mathew Bently?" he said 
 faintly. 
 
 "Oh, can it be my dear old friend Mathew? It is, it is," 
 and she bent down her head and sobbed for joy. 
 
 After her first burst of emotion, she said, "Oh Mathew, 
 how came you here? 
 
 "I was searching for you, dear Lillian, and you have 
 saved my life," he said as he held her hand in his, and then 
 he noticed her glancing down at the chain and shackle, and 
 he said, with tears in his eyes, "Oh, my dear Lillian, I am 
 innocent and sometime I will tell you all." 
 
 "Yes dear," she said, "it worries you to talk much 
 now." 
 
 When Lillian told Lewanna of her discovery she seemed 
 almost as glad as Lillian herself. They stayed and cared 
 for Mathew until near sundown. He was too exhausted to 
 talk much but the joy at discovering Lillian was better to 
 him than medicine or food. Lillian determined if possible 
 not to let any of the Indians know of their discovery, and 
 as Lewanna had become a Christian and was a staunch 
 friend of Lillian s, it was an easy matter to get her co-oper 
 ation. 
 
 It happened at this time that all the able bodied warriors 
 were off somewhere on one of their raids, and the girls con 
 cluded to go to the camp and after the Indians were asleep 
 get some bedding and such other things as they would need 
 for him and come out and care for him through the night, 
 and then return in the morning before the Indians awoke. 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 3* 
 
 As they started to leave him the poor fellow motioned to 
 Lillian as though he was afraid to let her go, but she 
 assured him of her speedy return and he seemed satisfied. 
 She had found his faithful horse grazing a little way off, and 
 brought him near and picketed him out, after removing the 
 saddle, which she brought and laid down at Mathew s side. 
 As the nights were quite cool, Lillian built a fire for him 
 and now with a fond clasp of the hand the girls left him 
 and as soon as expedient returned with the supplies. 
 
 For nearly two weeks these two noble girls cared for 
 Mathew. He gained very slowly at first, but more rapidly 
 later on, and during the time they laid plans for escape. 
 Le wanna had within her a noble soul and helped them all 
 she could, although it nearly broke her heart to think of 
 parting with Lillian, yet she determined to be true to her 
 and the right. 
 
 These two weeks held much for Lillian and Mathew. 
 There were a great many questions to ask on both sides 
 and when Mathew was strong enough he explained to 
 Lillian how he came to be wearing the shackle. In the 
 meantime, the girls had removed it by breaking the lock in 
 some way, as they had tried several times to cut it in two. 
 Yet the all absorbing question of escape was most on their 
 minds, for they feared the warriors would soon return, and 
 if they did would undoubtedly find out their secret, and if 
 they should they knew not what might be the outcome, as 
 Lewanna heard them say more than once that if Lillian 
 tried to escape they would kill her. Their plans were care 
 fully laid and they decided to start on Wednesday night, it 
 now being Monday evening. The moon then was at its 
 full and was slowly appearing in the eastern horizon when 
 Lillian and Mathew bid Lewanna an affectionate farewell, 
 Lewanna assuring them that she would not reveal anything 
 oncerning them. 
 
$o THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 They felt that their journey would be of great hardships 
 and danger. Matthew s horse was in good condition, and 
 Lewanna was so kind as to let Lillian take her horse and 
 saddle, they being the ones which the warriors had brought 
 to their camp during the summer and given to her. This 
 horse was also in fine shape for the journey. Lillian indeed 
 felt very sad at leaving Lewanna, whom she had learned to 
 love almost as her own sister. Yet when she thought of 
 going home to her dear friends it filled her heart with joy. 
 
 "Well, Lillian," said Mathew, after they had been 
 started a little while, we must make the biggest ride of 
 our journey tonight, for we must cross the Missouri river 
 by daylight tomorrow morning." 
 
 "Well, I am sure if we can do that Mathew we will be 
 quite safe from the tribe. But I am afraid you are not 
 strong enough yet for such a trip," said Lillian. 
 
 "Oh yes I am, I think. While I am not fleshy yet I am 
 feeling quite well and strong said Mathew. 
 
 By sunrise the next morning Mathew and Lillian came to 
 the river. Of course they had slackened their speed some 
 time before, so their horses would not be too worm to go 
 into the water. 
 
 About a mile from the river they passed some wagon 
 tires and other irons in a pile where it looked as though 
 two or three wagons had been burned a day or two ago. 
 
 "The Indians must have done that." said Mathew, as 
 they passed it. Of course they were in too much of a hurry 
 to look around more or they would have seen evidence of a 
 hard fight between emigrants and the Indians. 
 
 As they rode down to the water s edge, Mathew recog 
 nized the place and exclaimed, "This is the very place, 
 Lillian, where I gained my freedom, and that grove you 
 see yonder on that creek is where the robbers were and 
 there is where the soldiers chained and shackled us." 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 91 
 
 "Oh, Mathew, I am so glad you got away, ex jlaimed 
 Lillian with tears in her eyes. 
 
 After they had crossed the river and got out of sight of it, 
 they stopped to rest their horses and let them feed, while 
 they ate some venison and berries which Lillian was 
 thoughtful enough to put up. After a good rest they re 
 sumed their journey southward but not quite so rapidly. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The warrior s discovery of Lillian s disappearance. Levranna s cruel 
 treatment. Matthew and Lillian s journey home. Their narrow 
 escape at a miner s camp. Home at last. Their greeting. 
 
 When the Indians found that Lillian was gone (the war 
 riors just returned the night after Lillian and Mathew had 
 started) they questioned Lewanna very closely but she was 
 faithful to the last, and gave them no clew to her where 
 abouts. They tied her to a tree and left her all night alone 
 in that position, but she would not tell them anything, but 
 prayed not only for Lillian s safety but for her own people. 
 Some of them went in pursuit through the mountains for 
 several days but finally gave up finding her. 
 
 They were very angry at Lewanna, as they believed she 
 had something to do with Lillian s escape, as her horse and 
 saddle were also gone, and they treated her with more 
 cruelty in consequence. f 
 
 For three days and nights Mathew and Lillian traveled 
 steadily and wearily, only stopping long enough to feed 
 their horses and eat a lunch and had met with no serious 
 accident or seen a living being except once a band of 
 Indians at quite a distance off, but they saw a great deal of 
 wild game of different kinds. 
 
 On the third day, as they were descending a gulch on 
 their way over the mountains, they were very much sur- 
 
9* THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 prid to run into a camp of four miners. They were so 
 engrosed in their work that they did not at first notice us. 
 They had their sluice boxes and seemed to be washing out 
 gold and were very much startled at Mathew s salutation. 
 One of them at last recognized Mathew as the young man 
 whom they had met and camped with nearly a year before, 
 and after hearing his story advised him to go back home. 
 But now finding that he had been successful in his under 
 taking warmly congratulated him. They seemed glad to 
 see them but looked with rather strange eyes at the white 
 woman dressed in the Indian garb, and were quite interested 
 in their brief story. It was nearly noon time and the 
 miners invited them up to the camp for dinner. The re 
 quest was accepted thankfully. 
 
 While they were eating their dinner they were surprised 
 by a half dozen Indians whom they espied down where 
 they had been mining. They had left their pans there 
 with considerable gold in them. The men began firing at 
 them, at the same time the Indians were returning the fire 
 which brought into view many more from over the hill. 
 
 Mathew and Lillian sprang for their horses, knowing 
 that they had nothing in which to help make a defense, and 
 away they rode over the hill in the opposite direction and 
 down the gulch as fast as they could go. The firing still 
 continued and an occasional war whoop reached their ears 
 as down the rocky gulch they rode. They did not check 
 mp until they were far from the scene. No one will 
 probably ever know the fate of these miners but the suppo 
 sition is that they were all killed and to this day their 
 sluice boxes are in that gulch, but undoubtedly have been 
 washed down a considerable distance, it is impossible to tel 
 just how far, as there have been several land slides in the 
 gulch. This identical place where they were mining will 
 probably never be known. 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 93 
 
 Mathew and Lillian indeed felt thankful that they had es 
 caped the encounter with the Indians. In their haste to 
 get away, Mathew lost the shackle which he tyad once 
 worn, from where it was tied on the saddle, which he was 
 taking home for a relic. 
 
 Much more might be said of the trip through that rough 
 mountainous country by Mathew and Lillian, but we will 
 leave a great deal for our reader to imagine; 
 suffice it to say, they had much to say to each other of both 
 past and future. As time rolled on they were coming 
 nearer and nearer their dear homes, and with much anxiety, 
 for they knew not what might have happened at home since 
 Mathew s absence. But as fortune would have it every 
 thing had [gone on all right, although their hearts were 
 nearly crushed by the report in the papers of Mathew s 
 capture with the robbers. 
 
 While it seemed as though they were not traveling fast, 
 yet they were making good headway, and while their horses 
 were almost tired out, they pressed them on with a prom 
 ise that they should have extra care when they got home. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs Bentley had about given up hopes of Math 
 ew s return, and grieved so much that they sometimes 
 almost wished themselves ^dead; the Ainsley s consoling 
 them as much as possible. 
 
 On the evening of October sixth, as the sun was going 
 down, Mr. Bentley had just eaten his supper and walked out 
 to the gate for a few moments. Some way he |had been 
 thinking of Mathew much that day>s he had^last seen him 
 on the hill where he waved his hat. Mr. Bentley was just 
 turning to go into the house when his attention was at- 
 tracred by two horsemen just making their appearance on 
 the brow of the hill. When Mathew r ancl Lillian reached 
 the top of the hill Mathew exclaimed, There s father at 
 the gate." He took off his hat and waved it in the same 
 
94 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 peculiar manner as when he departed. Tears of joy came 
 to Mr. Bently s eyes, for he well recognized that wave, and 
 called his wife to come quickly who, throwing her apron on 
 her head, came out. Mr. Bently full of joy exclaimed, 
 * Our dear son is coming, I know it is Mathew." They 
 were so near by this time that they heard what he said. 
 
 "Yes, father, your innocent boy and your long lost 
 daughter," Mathew exclaimed as he and Lillian sprang 
 from their tired horses. Mrs. Bently, almost overpowered 
 with joy, exclaimed with a happy embrace, "God bless you 
 dear children." 
 
 Lillian, of course, had on her Indian garb and was badly 
 tanned but still those beautiful eyes and curly hair were as 
 natural as when they last saw her. 
 
 After they had composed themselves and Mathew and 
 his father had taken care of the horses, they all went over 
 to Mr. Ainsley s. Lillian felt almost shy of them at first 
 but words are inadequate to express that meeting. 
 
 They were not long in dressing her in her proper garb 
 and a handsome young woman she was. Both families 
 listened with absorbing interest to Lillian s story of her 
 capture and captivity and her mode of living, and Lewanna 
 her friend and her fidelity, also their travels and the beauti 
 ful cave which they had discovered in the mountains, the 
 discovery of Mathew and caring for him, as well as their 
 narrow escape at the miner s camp on their return home. 
 
 They were all not less interested in Mathew s travels 
 and description of the Yellowstone National Park and the 
 lone Indian whom he had the combat with, and his journey 
 to the headwaters of the Gallatin river, and the poor 
 Indian whom he had buried, the. clue which led to the dis 
 covery of Lillian, the story of the poor old broken hearted 
 man whom he camped with at the head waters of the Mis- 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 95 
 
 souri river, the drove of buffalo and the band of Indians, 
 and his trip generally to the north. 
 
 "I had such a queer dream about you, Mathew," inter 
 rupted Mrs. Bently, "A few weeks ago I thought some 
 thing terrible had happened you and then we saw in the 
 paper about a man by the name of M. Bently was captured 
 with some stage robbers and we thought sure that you were 
 dead." 
 
 "Oh yes, mother, I didn t tell you about that yet," and 
 Mathew went on and told them how he had accidently ran 
 into the robber s rendezvous and was captured by the 
 soldiers, also about them putting the shackle on him and 
 his escape, also his hardships and starvation before Lillian 
 and Lewanna found him. 
 
9& THE LOST SHACKLE, 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 In conclusion. 
 
 In a few weeks there was a quiet wedding at the farm 
 house and Mathew Bently was very proud of his sweet 
 young wife. The old people each tried to vie with the 
 other in doing well by the young couple and they were 
 soon comfortably ensconced in a beautiful home by the river 
 side. Bessie had grown to be a young lady and spent 
 much of her time with Mathew and .I^llian. She still has 
 hr old friend Nero who, though very old, loves her just as 
 well as ever. 
 
 L,e wanna felt very badly over the way she was treated by 
 her people and was very lonesome since Lillian left her. 
 Still she lived the same Christian life which Lillian had 
 taught her, and always treated her people kindly and lov 
 ingly, but often wished to be away from them. 
 
 Several months after, Mathew and Lillian were settled 
 down in their pleasant home, a lone and homeless Indian 
 
THE LOST SHACKLE. 97 
 
 came oue evening at dusk to their door. Mathew heard 
 the light rapping on the door and opened it. They were 
 just at supper and Bessie was there. Mathew, in a minute, 
 recognized the poor Indian maiden as Lewanna and cor 
 dially welcomed her in. Llilian sprang to her feet and ex 
 claimed in surprise, "Oh, Lewanna, Lewanna, I am so glad 
 to see you," and then turning to Bessie Lillian said, "Bes 
 sie, this is Lewanna who for nearly seven long years was a 
 very dear friend to me and true to the end." 
 
 Lewanna told them her plain, simple story about the 
 braves returning and how she .had been mistreated by her 
 people ever since Lillian had made her escape and that she 
 could not live with them in peace and then she added, 
 "And I came to you LilHe." 
 
 "I am very glad you did Lewanna," said Lillian. 
 
 "Yes," said Mathew, "and as long as we have a home 
 you shall be as one of the family." 
 
 "Oh, tank you, tank you," exclaimed Lewanna in her 
 broken language, with tears in her eyes. 
 
 They got clothing for her and made her feel at home as 
 much as possible, and she seemed happy and contented. 
 Lillian took great interest in teaching her how to cook and 
 do other housework. For three years she was with them 
 and at last married a wealthy young rancher and they now 
 live on a beautiful ranch in the mountains some ten miles 
 from Mathew Bentley s. Lillian and Lewanna often visit 
 each other and sometimes with their devoted husbands 
 wander over to the "Old Lamb Tree." 
 
 It happened that one time when Mathew and Lillian 
 were visiting Lewanna at her mountain home, a large black 
 bear was about to carry off one of the ranchman s fine young 
 calves and Lewanna and Lillian seized the rifles and shot 
 old bruin through the heart. Mathew and the ranchman 
 were very much surprised when they returned from their 
 
98 THE LOST SHACKLE. 
 
 stroll and Mathew unjoin ted one left foot and leg at the 
 knee and took it home for his cabinet. In looking through 
 his saddle bags one day he discovered that he had brought 
 home the mule shoe, and Lewanna gave him one of her 
 bracelets which she had worn for many years and which 
 he noticed she was wearing when he came to himself in the 
 Bear Paw mountains. 
 
 Several years later, as the author was traveling through 
 the mountains, his business called him to a beautiful ranch 
 where he was invited to remain for dinner. He could not 
 help but admire the beautiful home, as everything was in 
 perfect order and the table filled with all the delicacies of 
 life, prepared in the best of manner by Lewanna s own 
 hand and she was as neat and tidy as could be. Two 
 handsome children blessed their home whom they called 
 Mathew and Lillian. 
 
 About this time a great mining excitement broke out in 
 the gulch where the miners were supposed to have been 
 killed and Mathew Bently went there to plat and lay out a 
 town site and the men, while plowing and grading the 
 streets, found the shackle and showed it to Mathew who 
 recognized it. He exclaimed, "Gentlemen, I have worn 
 this shackle but I was innocent of any crime." 
 
 THE BND. 
 

 
Photomount 
 
 Pamphlet 
 
 Binder 
 
 Gaylord Bros., Inc.^ 
 
 Makers 
 
 Stockton, Calif. 
 PAT. JAN. 21. 1908 
 
 914482 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY