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Show FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. 137 something in his hand and looking rather confused. The soldiers were getting a rope ready to hang him ; all was excitement and I am satisfied that if I had not happened along the poor Indian would have been swinging by the neck in less than five minutes. I could see from the Indian's manner that he realized something was wrong but could not understand why he was surrounded by soldiers. I asked them what they were doing. They said that the Indian had brought one of their horses that he had stolen into camp and sold it for thirty dollars ; that the owner of the horse was there and they were intending to hang the " d d thief." I told them to hold on a minute, that I did not think an Indian would steal a horse and bring it into the camp where it belonged to sell. Some one answered, " Yes, he has; there is the money now in his hand that he got for the horse." The Indian was still standing there, holding the money in his open hand and looking about as foolish as ever I saw one of his race look. I asked him what was up. He said he did not know what was the matter. " What about the horse and money?" He answered, " I found a horse down at our camp. I knew it belonged to the soldiers so I brought it up, thinking they would give me something for bringing it. This man," pointing to one, " came and took hold of the horse and put some money in my hand. It was yellow money and I did not want it. He then put some silver in my hand. There it all ' s. I don't understand what they are mad about." I soon got the trouble explained. The man thought he was buying the horse, the Indian thought he was re-warding him for bringing the animal to camp ; the owner happened along just as the trade was being made. Here |