The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-02-03
AN ADVENTURE ON THE PLAINS.


1t was a pleasant event in my life
when | was thrown into the company oil
Grignon. | was on nay way to Califor-
MIA, and had taken the overland route
in preference TO any other. 1t was on
my journey across the plains that
made his acquaintance. Our party over
took single wagon. 1t contained /,
solitary man. The horses were dead.
and the man nearly so. This man was
Grignon. paid the utmost attention
to his wants. Being medical man, [
gave him all the benefit of my skill and
care. As he recovered, he naturally en-
tertained strong friendship for me.
His wagon had fallen behind the train
to which he belonged, and they had
been compelled by their own necessities
TO desert him.
The conjurer, however, was destined
for far more glorious fate than to die
miserably in the desolate American des-
ert. He was to become an astonisher to
the natives (Indians), savior to civil
lied lives, and a lion in California.
We resumed our journey. We had
started however like many others in those
days, with insufficient preparations. As
soon as we found out our mistake we had
to be very economical in our provisions.
We killed butfaloes whenever we found
them, and always replenished our water
casks at every stream. AT length, how
ever, we came to a dry and parched
waste, where there was scarcely a drop
of water, scarcely a blade of grass, and
not single living animal of amy descrip-
ton.
And now began the troubles of our
journey. We had come into the coun-
try of the warlike Indians, and they
were not slow to acquaint us of the fact
Every day they prowled around us in
great numbers, threatening and insult
ing Us. Occasionally they used to
snatch up something and dart away on
their horses. We did all that we could
to be friendly, and determined to avoid
an open rupture as far as possible, for
there were only twelve on our side, and
on their side apparently twelve hun
dred.
Every day, however, only made mat
ters worse. In spite of our precautions,
the Indians grew more and more abu
sive and insulting. We became watch
full, and tried to be more forbearing
but our forbearance was taken for COW.
ardice,, and the savages began to think
that they could do anything with us.
We held council of war, and de-
termined to bring matters to crisis at
once.
The crisis soon came.
One day big Indian came riding
along by us. He began talking in a
contemptuous way, and gesticulating
furiously. At last he asked one of our
men for his gun. The man refused.
The Indian repeated his question, and
attempted to take the gun from his hand.
The man drew back. The Indian sprang
forward, furnishing his knife and threat
ening. At this the man calmly leveled
his piece and shot the Indian through
the heart.
As the wretch fell shrieking from his
horse, the plain seemed to be alive with
other Indians. From behind every clump
of trees, every hillock, every rock, and
every rising ground, they poured forth
in countless numbers. We had never
before seen so many assembled together
as now.
hllb INV Oui Viii IiiiOii, VIC NclJu-
ror, came out conspicuously. He had
been once in the French army, he said,
and understood al its admirable discip.
line. 4 few words of warning and a
short explanation sufficed to make US
form circle of the wagons, and draw up
behind them, with baggage heaped up
for breastworks. There we waited for
the savages.
But they did not come just then.
With loud whoops and screams they
gathered uson the plain at distance
from us. The wretchcd towards, as soon
as they saw our slight preparations, were
actually afraid TO attack.
They waited till night.
Night came. Our defenses were made.
Our wagons were arranged more closely,
and the barricade of baggage was made
higher, deep, and more effective. In
the center were our cattle. Behind
this little fertilization we awaited our
foes.
Shortly after dusk the tramp of thou
sands of hoofs shook the plain. Down