After Julia and Becky were securely bound, they were left in the teepee to suffer in silence.
And suffer they did. Rawhide encased their wrists and ankles and hemp secured their knees and pinned their upper arms to their bodies, and their cheeks and tongues suffered excruciating pain from the leather thong gags. They looked helplessly at one another, both baffled by the fact they had been set upon by villains without knowing why. Sure, they wanted the cousins to give up the mine, but why? Had Uncle Joshua cheated a partner who now sought revenge? And why had the Indian agent turned against them? They didn't even know him.
Despite their hopeless situation, they still tried to struggle, but it seemed to have no effect. As the early June afternoon wore on, they began to sweat profusely; the salty perspiration soaked the rawhide and caused it to contract more tightly, if that were possible.
Absurd as it seemed, Becky noted a marked change in Julia. The Boston girl had issued no whimper whatsoever, only the determined grunts of a captive trying to free herself. Becky had no idea what had brought about the change in her cousin and in light of the circumstances, it seemed strange to dwell on the subject.
The light in the teepee began to dim, as night approached. There appeared to be a circle of rocks where a fire could be lit. Was it ever going to be lit? Julia was pondering that question when the flap of the teepee opened up and somebody entered. Meager light came through the flap, enough for Julia to detect the gleam of metal she shook violently and tried futilely to scream, but only produced a distorted grunt.
"Be silent," a woman's voice commanded. "I am here to help."
Within seconds, the bonds around Julia's wrists and ankles were severed and the stranger then cut through the ropes. She tried to cut off Julia's gag as well, but it was too tight. Julia pointed to the top of her head. The rescuer was puzzled until she noticed the wooden pin holding Julia's hair in place. She pulled it out, then watched Julia point to the back of her head and move it until it was over the knot. The mystery woman understood, then decided her knife would be better suited for the task. She quickly pried open the knot and Julia was at last relieved of the gag. Her mouth was sore and she refrained from speaking while Becky was released, using the same methods.
Finally, both cousins were free and embraced; a first for them, though neither made much of it. There was only one thing Julia wanted to say: "Who are you?"
"I am Clouds Opening," the woman replied. "Come with me."
The three crept noiselessly out of the teepee. Clouds Opening led the cousins behind the teepee. They crouched down and Clouds Opening spoke
"I saw when you were taken in," she began. "You had the look of fear on you. That man..." she indicated the agency building "... wants you hurt, so I decided to help."
"We are extremely grateful for your help." Julia said.
"Yes," Becky said. "Do you know where our horses are?"
"This way," Clouds Opening said. They made their way through the dark carefully, lest they trip over something. They took a circuitous route behind the building and its barn. They stopped at the edge of the woods.
"Wait here. I will get your horses."
"What if you get caught?" Becky asked.
"That evil man who is the Indian agent is getting drunk with his friends. They and he get the best food while the rest of us get bad food. When we sell what goods we can, we get crumbs. I believe your term for such a man is devil."
Becky and Julia waited for Clouds Opening to return with the horses. "Can we trust her?" Julia asked.
"We'll have to," Becky replied. "These Indian agents are a disgrace. She may be helping us just to spite him."
"I see."
After a while, Clouds Dancing returned with Lillybelle and Atalanta in tow. "Walk them down to the road, " she said, as she pointed. "Then ride away." She then handed each of the cousins a leather pouch.
"What's this?" Julia asked.
"Pemmican and biscuits, it looks like," Becky said, as she examined the contents.
"Thank you again, and God bless you," Julia said to Clouds Opening.
Clouds Opening was surprised. She had never heard the White Man's God mentioned in her favor. "Then let Him and the Great Spirit work together for you," she replied.
Julia and Becky then led their horses to the road, eating their food as they went.
"This is quite good," Julia remarked before she mounted, though she was hungry enough to eat shoe leather.
"Unfortunately, we have too much to do tomorrow," Becky said. "But there is one thing that must be done before all else."
"Which is?"
"We must telegraph the Federal Marshal in Denver. This is beginning to get out of hand."
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