OCR Text |
Show The StormTestament ri (Continued from Friday's Express) Our biggest worry, of course, was how we would be able to follow the trail once the heavy rain had washed it away. I figured we were probably getting pretty close to the Green River. How would we know if Red Leaf and her captors followed the river upstream or downstream, or crossed to the other side? Even though they couldn't be more than a half-day ahead of us, finding their trail again would be tough. I wondered what kind of night Red Leaf was having. Was she protected from the rain? Was she still being abused by her captors? To what extent had they tortured her? Was she still alive? In the darkness of the night I removed remov-ed the medicine bag from my neck and fingered the contents. I always liked to feel the smooth weight of the gold nugget. It wasn't much good to me now. I would gladly have traded it for a good hound that could follow the trail even after the rain. I would have gladly glad-ly spent it for rifle, powder and lead. As I felt the sharp end of the beaver tooth, I remembered the numerous beaver dams and lodges scattered along the little stream we had been following. One lodge in particular seemed to stick in my mind. We had come upon it just at dark, and with the storm and wind, it was hard to remember detail, but I remembered being surprised at seeing a lodge so large. It was almost twice as big as any I had ever seen before. I wondered if a lot of beaver were living inside, or perhaps just a big beaver, a king of beavers. If Beaver George were still alive, he would delight in this stream with so many lodges and dams. As I rubbed the little bundle of horse hair between my fingers, I remembered the Comanche village on the bank of the Green River, the one at the upstream end of the big meadow surrounded by natural boundaries. The thrill of stealing so many horses had been intoxicating. It suddenly occurred to me that Red Leaf and her captors might be heading for that same village. The familiarity of the neighboring bluffs and hills indicated in-dicated that we were headed in that general direction. It made sense that the Comanches, in an effort to get their horses back, would be the ones to attack my camp, steal my horses, and carry off my wife. The next morning our worst fears were realized. The tracks we had been following had been completely wash ed away by the storm. I told Brown Wolf about the familiar surroundings and how I suspected we were heading in the direction of the Comanche village where Ike and I had stolen the horses. Brown Wolf agreed with me that we should continue towards the Green River and check out the village by the big meadow. As we mounted our horses in the early dawn, an alarmed beaver slapped his tail on the surface of a nearby pond and disappeared disap-peared below the surface as he swam towards the entrance of the huge beaver lodge. Soon Brown Wolf and I found the route Ike and I had driven the horses along after stealing them. As we hurried hur-ried along, I wondered what we could do to free Red Leaf if we found her, or what we would do if we didn't find her in the village. CHAPTER 43 At first light the next morning, we were hiding in the rocks overlooking the Comanche village. Many horses were grazing in the protected meadow. The grass was taller now, and the river calmer. The first smoke of morning cookf ires was coming from several of the tepees. Several women were stirring up an outdoor cookfire, but it appeared the men and children were all inside the tepees. Suddenly Brown Wolf's arm shot forward, pointing to a tepee at the far side of the camp. There was smoke coming from the tepee, but there was no movement. Then I saw the curled-up curled-up form, on the ground about 20 feet in front of the tepee, near a stout post. It was still, but as I looked closer, the form took human dimensions a small person, a woman or girl in a buckskin dress curled up sideways on the ground, knees almost touching the chin, long black hair covering the side of the face. I figured she was probably tied to the post with a rawhide leash, a common method of confinement for Indian slaves. We couldn't be sure it was Red Leaf, so we watched and waited. If it was her, we could probably sneak into camp under the cover of darkness and cut her free. I couldn't see any dogs near the tepee. The curled-up form still hadn't moved mov-ed when the sun began shining over the eastern hills. It seemed like we had been waiting forever, and if it turned out to be Red Leaf, I didn't know if I could wait around until dark to go to her rescue. On the other hand, maybe it wasn't Red Leaf. Perhaps just another slave child to be taken south and traded to the Mexicans for horses. Our attention was suddenly diverted from the slave woman as the flap of the tepee was thrown back and the biggest big-gest Indian I had ever seen stepped out into the morning sunshine. He looked even bigger when he flexed his well-muscled well-muscled arms above his head to stretch. At the sight of the Indian, the adrenalin began surging through my veins. I remembered the huge moccasin moc-casin tracks we had been following. If this was the Indian that had made the big tracks, then the still form on the ground had to be Red Leaf. (Continued in Friday's Express) V If If ' -. urL , ... I ' ;'-" V i mini- i ... ' . m mm Wednesdoy, Jonuory 23, 1985 Vernal ExpressAdvertiser 1 7 Ocairamce Sal Save 30, 50 & 75 On a large selection of Shoes, Boots and Handbags for Men, Women and Children. Lloyd's Shoes Across irom ine kosi unice - vem Z 789-0590 EZZZEZZ THE LADIES PETROLEUM club recently gave this quilt, donated by Mary Stringham, to Bonnie Hobbs, a donation ticket holder who contributed to their scholarship fund. Scholarship fund, project of Ladies Petroleum Club As part of their current membership member-ship drive, The Ladies Petroleum Club of Vernal has an open invitation for all female employees, or the wives of those who work in the petroleum industry and related companies, com-panies, to meet with them the first Wednesdays of each month at Dinaland Country Club. The meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. Social hour and dinner is at 7:30 p.m. Interesting programs are offered each month as well as the special Petroleum Days in May. One of the Club's major projects is to provide scholarships for senior girls entering the petroleum industry. in-dustry. Reservations for the meeting can be made by calling Dinaland Country Club at 789-0215, Lucille Lipphardt, 789-0148, Gerri Voyles, 789-0398, Lavita Hamilton, 789-1457 or Marge Collier at 789-4129. LIONS CLUB TO BRING BACK "VERNAL VARIETIES" Auditions will be held for the LION'S CLUB VERNAL VER-NAL VARIETIES on Wednesday, January 30th. The auditions will be held in the AVA room at the Uintah High School from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Please come with the act you wish to perform. The performance will be March 2nd at the Vernal Ver-nal Junior High School. We are looking for all kinds of talents. If you have any questions please call Jan King at 789-8959 or 789-1288. Hearing Tests for Senior Citizens A FREE hearing test will be given at iht Hosting Aid Specialists ONce every Tuesday and Wednesday horn 9 A M lo 5 P M If you can't got there on etref of those day. CALL 781-2439 and arrange for an appointment at another lime, m-nome letting avanaDie upon request Anyone who hai trouble heahng it welcome to have a test umg the lateei electronic equip-enl equip-enl lo determine if nt lota it one which may be heipwl Even people now wearing a hear- U mg id or iho who have been told nothing could be done for them need a periodical heai ing Hearing Aid Specialists test, 1344 Wost Highway 40 (Behind Apn Brook Realty) 711-2439 Hewn: Vernal Mon. Ttiur. 9 a.m. 5 p,m. Manila 11 & 3rd Friday Roosevelt & Duchwnt 2nd & 4th Friday! Call tor Your Appointment Todayll Golden Age Activities By Wanda Powell Last Friday the group at the Center enjoyed a real treat, they were entertained enter-tained by the songs of Lynn Rubel and the music of George Rosenberg. These talented people performed at the Junior High School Saturday night. The bingo players are an active bunch. First place was shared by Anna An-na Pierson, Venice Lambert, Ida Nielson and Lorna Holmes. For those interested in painting, the art classes are after lunch each Monday. Mon-day. Also, come and join the exercise class each Thursday at 12 noon until un-til the games start at 1 p.m. We wish those in the hospital as well as those at home who are not feeling well, a speedy recovery. The dances each Friday night are the best. Come and join in the fun. We missed the Uffords last time and hope that Dick will be well and able to return soon. To the Curfew family, our hearts go out to you and may God be with you In your time of need. Just a parting thought: Oh, God touch my heart today, and cleanse me from all sin, Put your love and Joy inside and keep it safe within Till someone comes along and needs my help To lift their loads today. Then may I reach inside my heart And give love and joy away. By Mildred H. Bell Mini Blinds Pleated Shades () Verticals Woven Woods Custom bedspreads by Normans o3i 3172 W. 440 S. 789-2097 MV4- ) Sale ends. Feb. 1, 1985 r T "V 'OS J Help give the i advantage w u iuppon wo (Q) March of Dimes' v New & Used Furniture IfCt) J .A . & f L 1 1 1 --r H i tlL A f t 6 piece Ranch Sets from Littto Dear e a?d rcccve i FREE matchTg rocVcr. r Red Heart WINTUK YARN (p)(p) Full color range r DACLTON BATTS OH All sizes Christensen's BROADCLOTH 65 poly 35 cotton o7U Wide range of colors A Table of Dan Rivers PLAIDS Ct SHIRTINGS OH r PRINTED FLANNEL 2S Off Our complete stock r Table Of JUVENILE PRINTS Good selection OH Winter Palace" INTERLOCK KNIT $2.88 Tel. Beg.,4.39-,5.99Yd. r Dan River GINGHAM CHECK $2.09 Beg. to '2.99 Yd. Tel. 60" Polar FLEECE Baby Bunting FLEECE 6r.de $2.88 Excellent for coats, snuggle tags, throws, etc. Tel. TABLE OP CALICOS 30 M ticellent elttion 1NTRERLOCK KNIT 60" wide $1.77 Plain colors. Wide fangs Complete stocts PATTERNS Simplicity. Mc Calls, Pirtlorkk, Kwih Sw, Sunrl, Caiy BOTTOM WIIGHT FABRICS FOR fAKTS, SKIRTS, !. Stretch Trtggf, $trech Gabardine, ConJuroy 25 O CHI FIAT FOLD CLEARANCE Hint 1.08,4. Cuco ft-? i SWTS M.44 ttmm i t -J-N A ! 'A-raJf'i-. P) I 1 |