Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England Golden Face A Tale of the Wild West By Bertram Mitford Published by Trischler and Company, London. This edition dated 1892. Golden Face, by Bertram Mitford. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ GOLDEN FACE, BY BERTRAM MITFORD. PREFACE. An impression prevails in this country that for many years past the Red men of the American Continent have represented a subdued and generally deteriorated race. No idea can be more erroneous. Debased, to a certain extent, they may have become, thanks to drink and other "blessings" of civilisation; but that the warrior-spirit, imbuing at any rate the more powerful tribes, is crushed, or that a semi-civilising process has availed to render them other than formidable and dangerous foes, let the stirring annals of Western frontier colonisation for the last half-century in general, and the Sioux rising of barely a year ago in particular, speak for themselves. This work is a story--not a history. Where matters historical have been handled at all the Author has striven to touch them as lightly as possible, emphatically recognising that when differences arise between a civilised Power and barbarous races dwelling within or beyond its borders, there is invariably much to be said on both sides. CHAPTER ONE. THE WINTER CABIN. "Snakes! if that ain't the war-whoop, why then old Smokestack Bill never had to keep a bright lookout after his hair." Both inmates of the log cabin exchanged a meaning glance. Other movement made they none, save that each man extended an arm and reached down his Winchester rifle, which lay all ready to his hand on the heap of skins against which they were leaning. Within, the firelight glowed luridly on the burnished barrels of the weapons, hardly penetrating the gloomy corners of the hut. Without, the wild shrieking of the wind and the swish and sough of pine branches furiously tossing to the eddying gusts. "Surely not," was the reply, after a moment of attentive listening. "None of the reds would be abroad on such a night as this, let alone a war-party. Why they are no fonder of the cold than we, and to-night we are in for something tall in the way of blizzards." "Well, it's a sight far down that I heard it," went on the scout, shaking his head. "Whatever the night is up here, it may be as mild as milk-punch down on the plain. There's scalping going forward somewhere--mind me." "If so, it's far enough away. I must own to having heard nothing at all."