An Indian's Gratitude

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This is a story of early California in the 'fifties. Two prospectors, after many years of disappointment, have at last discovered gold in a river, and are washing it out and hiding it near their rough and simple camp. Iron Horn, an Indian medicine man, one day comes across them, and furtively watching, finds out their secret cache. He rides back to his tribe and tells them of the white men who are mining, but does not say that he knows where the valuable metal is secreted. The Indians ride up in the night and surprise the two unfortunate men. Binding them with stout ropes, they sling them across their horses and carry them back to their native encampment. The two prospectors refuse to disclose the hiding place of their find and one of them is severely tortured without result. Iron Horn is called to cure Lightfoot, the chief's son, who has fallen sick, but being unable to effect a cure, is placed under guard. As a last resort one of the prisoners is asked to aid, and under the white man's treatment the lad recovers. That night, while the camp is dark and the rest of the tribe are asleep, Iron Horn escapes, and runs to the prospectors' deserted camp to obtain the booty. The other Indiana soon miss him and follow on his trail. A lively chase ensues, part across wild virgin land, and part on water in canoes. Iron Horn obtains the gold and continues on his flight, but the Indians overtake him. He turns round as they approach, stumbles, and falls over a cliff 250 feet high. The Indians descend and find him dead. They take the bag of gold from his hand and return to their camp. Here they find Lightfoot entirely recovered, and in gratitude for this give the two prospectors their liberty and return to them their gold.