The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-02-21


do, whether to take advantage of this res
pite and move on, or wait while. Most
of us thought we had better hurry on
but Gringnon gave it as his opinion, that
the Indians were not in the neighborhood
and were waiting to attack us on the march.
He thought that we had better wait at least
another day. We all yielded to his opinion
and waited as best we could.
We did not have to wait long.
After a few hours, at about 20 o'clock,
ten or q dozen horsemen appeared over a
hillock, in the distance, riding slowly
toward us.
"They wish to have parley," said Grig-
non. "Some of you step forward and see
what they want. I wish to have a word to
say, but will wait.
One of our men was selected, and went
outside of our enclosure to meet them.
Meanwhile Grignon lifted trunk out of
the wagon which belonged to him, drew it
outside and busted himself cody in arrang-
ing and turning over the things.
We all thought that this was done for
the purpose of assuming an air of indiffer-
ence. So none of us noticed him particu-
larly.
Our representative stood outside waiting
for the Indians. Ten of them dismounted
and walked towards us in friendly man
ner, while the rest held the horses.
One of them addressed our men in broken
English.
The Indians, he said, did not want our
lives. They wanted powder. If we would
give them what we had they would let us
go in safety, and protect us from other
tribes till we got beyond the plains.
Give them our powder! A pleasant re-
quest, it scarcely needed debate. We re-
fused.
We'll, then, would we give them our bull
let's? They were very much in want of bull
lets.
One of us said in low voice that bullets
were the only thing they would get from
us, but the Indians did not hear him. Our
representative refused very mildly.
The Indians now stood talking with one
another. Grignon advanced toward them
He whispered something in low voice to
our representative, who Immediately with
drew.
Grignon then stood facing the Indians.
"Are you captain ?" said the spokesman
of the Indians, suddenly as he noticed
Grignon.
"No, I'm the medicine man you can't
shoot these men or these horses, save
them"
The Indians translated this to his com
panions who burst into roars of laughter.
Grignon advanced more closely. He
was looking steadily at the Indian, and we
saw that the latter appeared to be uncom-
Portable under his gaze.
"See," said Grignon "you can't shoot
me. Here''-and he drew pistol from
his pocket, revolver" fire at me-"
The Indian smiled.
"You don't want me to kill you %' said
he scornfully.
"You can't"
The Indians eyes flashed.
"Shoot" cried Grignon, folding his
arms.
The Indian hesitated moment. lie
looked at us suspiciously. Then he looked
at his companions, and said something in
their language They GALL responded We
hemently.
Tho Indian took aim.
"You tell me to shoot" said he.
"Shoot 4" said Grignon again.
The Indian fired.
Grignon smiled, and, walking forward
to the Indian, he handed him bullet.
The Indian looked paralysed.
Grignon showed him how to fire it again.
The Indian fired the other five shots.
Grignon caught each bullet, sometimes
seeming to catch it from his breast some
times from his face, and each time he hand
ed it to the Indians, who were now in q
state Of wild excitement.
"They may all shoot if they choose, {"
said Grignon, and, saying this, he went to
his trunk, drew out nine pistols, and, COM
ing up to them, proceeded to load each one.
He took the powder and put it in, then the
wadding and bullet, ana the Indians saw
him do it. He handed pistol to each ON
loading it. Suddenly, one of those fellows
took aim and fired. Grignon, without
seeming to have noticed him raised his hand
and seemed to catch bullet in his fore
head. He tossed this toward tho Indian,
who picked it up with an air of stupefac-
ton.