Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-04-26

bors, the intruders might have gone on un-
molested especially as the Dacotahs wished
to conciliate the United States government
into a profitable treaty, but when pick-axes
were welded in search of lead ore, the de-
struction of the pale-faces was resolved upon
in council
The first object Of savage vengeance was
the oldest son, Frank Bates, who had built
him cabin about five hundred yards from
headquarters despite the warning of old
Joe. Frank, however, had no fear of Indi-
ans, and lived with his wife and babe in great
happiness, until one summer night, when he
was awakened by the loud barking of his
dogs Springing from his bed he looked
through an opening in the logs, and saw to
his horror at least fifty Dacatahs in full war
costume, evidently seeking the easiest way to
force an entrance into the cabin. Arousing
his wife, he raised cellar trap door, and was
about to send her down, when the child she
had left in bed began to cry aloud
cannot leave my sweet babe she ex-
claimed
Nay he said, L will take care Of the
boy and almost forcing her down into the
small cellar he closed the unhinged door,
ofei WHICH Hc ultW jdIgc CHcSt lHtu
seizing his rife and hatchet, he took the in
fant and ascended to the loft of the cabin
pulling the ladder up after him. The Daco-
tabs entered, eager for their prey But Bates
did not remain to watch their movements, for
lashing his boy to his shoulders, he cautious
ly opened shutter in the gable end of the
house, and seeing that no Indians were be-
meath, he jumped to the ground, rifle in hand,
and fed
Ere he had traversed his little garden, the
air resounded with the blood-chilling tones of
the Tar-hoop, and volley of arrows rained
around the fugitive. Happily only one struck
him, and that in the flesh of his arm, so that
he kept on straining every nerve to reach the
stockade around bis fathers cabin. But ere
he had gone many PAGES gigantic Indian
overlook him. Turning like stag at bay,
he faced his antagonist, knocked him down
with the butt of his rifle, and then sped on
his way. But now, to his horror, he saw
large body Of Dacotahs around his fathers
dwellings, as he approached, firing over on to
the roofs of the cabins with arrows to which
burning tow was attached
He paused-but the cries Of his boy arous-
ed him to sense of his danger and his wife's
perilous situation Directing his steps to-
wards the river where he found his dug-out
safely moored, he soon was padding across
the river to a settlement where there was a
large number of whites.
Day had scarcely dawned on the succeeding
morning, before twenty miners, good men
and true, were ready to accompany him across
the river. They cared no more for Dacotahs
than for prairie dogs, and acted upon the spur
Of the moment and regardless of consequence.
Crossing above his residence, young Bates led
them toward his clearing, but on arriving
there nothing remained but mouldering
pile of ashes. His beloved wife had evident
ly pershed in the flames, for among the ashes
and charred beams of the cellar they found
somt blackened bones. Just then they were
Joined by old Joe and his two younger sons,
armed to the teeth They were delighted to
see Frank alive, for they had feared that the
column of smoke that had arisen from his
cabin was his monument, but now they did
their best to condole him in their rough way
He said but little, but secretly vowed to
avenge his wife's death, and well did he keep
his word. To have seen him, no one would
have supposed that the mild looking, slender
built Frank Bates was an incarnate demon in
fight with the Decotahs, yet within year
after his cabin was burned he had twenty
scalps hanging at his side. Vengeance"
seemed his only thought-his life's desire.
For some months after this outrage the
Dacotahs kept away from the miners; but at
last party of them came prowling about,
and the miners determined to have little
brush with them. Who was so competent to
head the party as that sworn enemy Of the
redskins Frank Bates? The party en-
gagged two Winnebagoes as guides, and then
struck into the forest, following recent trail
The third night of their journey the wary
leader insisted on standing sentry, and about
midnight the crack of his rifle awakened every
sleeper In an instant every man was on his
feet, rifle in hand, ready to repel any lurking
foe; but low whisper from Frank announc-
ed that there was no danger. Morning came
and as the party crowded around the senti-
mel to learn the cause of the alarm, he mere
ly pointed to what appeared to be huge
bear; nearer approach to the object discov-
cred to their astonishment the grim yisage of
dead Decotah, enveloped in the skin of
gigantic brun, who thus disguised had at
tempted TO reconnoitre the position Of the
frontiersmen.
Frank felt sure they were near their enemy
and followed their trail in silence, on the alert
for their foe. On reaching the summit of a
knoll they saw the village before them-a
collection of high council tents, made of dress
ed buffalo skins sewed together and orna-
mented with rude representations of the bat
tie or the chase. On the outskirts were the