tement, too, that for the moment they
had forgotten the other prisoners.

Just then I met Sergeant Custis and Pat Sperry.

"Now is our time to do a kind deed," I said; "it may be at some risk,
but let us set the other prisoners free."

"Sure, won't I, thin!" cried Pat.

"I will venture on it," said the sergeant.

We hurried to the spot, and, in spite of the expostulations of a few old
squaws who had remained to watch them, we cut the ropes which bound the
unhappy captives to the stakes.

"Now run for your lives!" I exclaimed.

The released prisoners did not require a second bidding, although the
old squaws tried to stop them. They were all young and active men, too,
and before any of the braves had returned from their futile chase after
Piomingo, the fugitives had got to a considerable distance from the
camp.

As I knew that our part in the affair must at once become known, I
immediately hastened to the chief.

"I have saved you from committing a great crime, which would have made
you despised and hated by all white men," I exclaimed, with a boldness
at which I myself was surprised. "If my uncle were here he would speak
as I do, and approve of my conduct."

The chief appeared to be dumbfounded at my audacity; but, although he
himself would not have interfered, I do not think he was really sorry
that the prisoners had escaped.

"I must get you to protect us from your people when they return," I
said. "We have no wish to take the places of the prisoners, or to have
bloodshed in the matter. At the same time, we are resolved to fight for
our lives, should your people attempt to molest us."

"You indeed speak boldly," said the chief. "But I will endeavour to
prevent further mischief, and will tell my people all you have said."

Almost immediately afterwards the braves came hurrying back to the camp,
when the old squaws commenced in screeching tones to tell them what had
occurred. The warriors on this advanced towards us with threatening
looks. The chief stepped forward, and holding up his hands, they at
once stopped and prepared to listen to him. He possibly may have made a
very eloquent speech in our favour, but his braves were evidently not
satisfied. We saw them making violent gestures, and, from the words
which reached us, I made out that they insisted on our being delivered
up to suffer in the place of the prisoners we had liberated.

Lieutenant Broadstreet, who had now joined us, rifle in han