The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-10-23

Of the lodges Were blown down, and theil
occupants exposed to the ''peltings of the
pitiless storm We turned out of oul
beds before daylight, a soaked and surly
crowd; but good humor returned will
the rising sun, and the days ride was en-
liYened by horse and foot races, wrestling
and shooting with the bow and arrow TC
the lover OF wild sport, hardships and
annoyances are as nothing. The rough
hours so blend with the happy ones as tc
form 4 perfect whole He scarcely re-
members when, hungry, wet and numbed
to the bones. he rode over the lonely
prairie in search of camp; but how vivid
ly he recalls the glorious chase, the speed
Of His Straining horse, the hound Of the
running deer, and the dcatli shot of his
trlsty rifle.
AT the noon halt. a taWn, startled from
It's hiding place in the willow bushes. ran
through the camp closely pursued by the
dogs An arrow shot hy an Indian passed
through its neck. and cutting its way into
a lodge, @razcd the cheek Of q squaw
within. She rushed out in great haste,
but ceased scoldin9 on being presented
with the skin and intcstines The arrows
used by the Indians are about twenty
inches i'll length and are furnished with
triangular iron points, the edges Of which
arc very sharp Within certain range,
say thirty yards they are a> effective as q
bullet.
When i Sioux warrior is ready to take
a Squaw he selects from among the Indian
girls the one that suits his fancy, and if
there is nc obstacle in the way, buys her
Of tnt ~
from thirty-liye to fifty dollars, usually in
ponies. Sic is expected TO remain true
TO him, ana perform all the labor. He in
return provides the lodge with food and
contributes largely toward the support of
her numerous relatives While many Of
the Indian women are rcpulsivein appear
ance. the gi'ls and younger squaws of the
Gankton Sioux are, generally speaking
tall and finely formed, with regular fea-
lures, that seen in profile resemble chisel-
led marble Their eyes are often large
and soft as those of the fawn. though
usually sharr and bright, like beads The
teeth of both the men and women are
singularly beautiful, notwithstanding their
utter disregard Of all dental laws. They
use them to Straighten arrows, break
bones right the turned edges of their
hunting knives and after cutting bullets
into pieces to chew the pieces round for
huckshots. But few old women accom-
panN a hunting party, for if from any
cause they become disabled, they are left
upon the prairie as a thing that has out
lived its usefulness, and are devOurcd by
the wolves that in large numbers always
follow the train,
While watching the train from hillside
for the scene never lost its charm--tWo o
Indian boys, Red Cloud and Famished
Wolf, came galloping up, and jumping
from their ponies began wrestling Red
Cloud throwing his companion. held him
face downward, planting his knees upon
his shoulders, grasped his braided lock,
pretending to give Il circular cut, and
tugged As if tearing away the scalp; then
shaking an imaginary trophy he sprang to
his feet, and with yell was Oft like 4
shot Vt was not altogethcra pleasing eN-
hibilion Trumbo joined me, and to-
gether We rode into the hills for a shot at
two cranes perched ON an elevation at no
great distance. We secured one, that must
have measured full six feet from tip to tip
Of his wings, but on returning for our
horses, to our great dismay beheld them
making off into the bottom. To follow
would provoke an endless chase. so we
initiated he Whitney of colt, and the
horses tarnod and gallopcd directly to-
wards Us AS they came over the ridge,
bohind which We were concealed, we
clutched the lariats, and for an instant
turned a very fair turrow IN the sand.
With torn shirts, and chests like nutmeg
ltn al
ter1lned to ride some Of the surplus spirit
out Of them. Stumbling recklessly through
a mairic-dog village, unhceding tie re
monstrances Of its pert and hrightcyed
residents, we struck the trail of u large
gray wolf, who knucklcd down to work.
and with lolling tongue and dropping tail
made for the hill before rs. In the excite
ment we failed TO notice the deepening
green OF the grass, when suddenly, as If
the earth had opened, the ponies sank to
their bellies. and we We're off quickly, but
not gracefully. We We're III u mud hole.
To turn was impossible. fancy the volt
laughed as he turned the rising ground.
With considerable difficulty we eXhicated
ourselves and animals. and reached camp
Just as the The Fat, alarmed at our long
absence, was sending Il party in search Of
Us In Poor Bill's lodge We 'Ieasteo" on
a tough old badger, that even i'll death de
find the sottcning influence of the stew
pots, and soon after was fast asleep on
Nine Poor Bulls buffalo skin. '.Ietons
Tetonsn' and a violent shaking from
Mardi, an Indian girl, brought me to my
feet. The Tctons hal driven in the scouts,
and as they dashed through camp. pro
claiming the presence OF their hated foe,
the widest excitement prevailed. / shall
never forget their appearance, OF wonder
at the settlers tale of the 'swopping say
age" for with bodies bent low over then
ponies. with lips drawn back from THEN
glittering teeth, and shouting the fierce
war cry Of the tribe they seemed trans
formed by the passions Of the molnent i'll
to demons For several hours we followed
Oh the trail of the Tetons, but finding that
they had divided, returned to camp.
On cloudy, cheerlesS day, when to lie
wrapped in 4 buffalo Skin and smoke
seemed the only comfort, Poor Bull came
with news that his young men haC SIG
nailed a herd Of elk 4 ride of nearly two
hours brought rs to the hills where the
scouts were stationed, but they reported
that they had only repeated signs glycr
by scouts beyond. \ drizzling rain set il
but two OF the Indians, laying down 4 lit
tie apart, motioned me to lie in the middle
and. covered by their friendly blankets,
passed comfortable night Numerous
lizards shared our bed and dashed away
W i'll surprising rapiditv wlIrn shook th'
saddle cloths next morning. Trumbo an,
several Indians started before daybreak
with Instructions to shoot at elk only
Therest of as hugging the remainder OF the
last nights fire smoked in lieu OF eating
breakfast Suddenly rifle shot rang on
on the air, and looking through the gras
on the hill, our eyes We're blessed by
sight that banshed all thoughts of cold o
hunger. a herd Of elk We're making
directly for us, downward, at shutilms
kind Of trot. followed by Trumbo and hi
party. Leaving four Of the Indians t'
watch, we mounted our ponies and moye'
to the right and left, carefully keeph:
from sight, until, at Il sign from above
we rode around the hill Just as The elk
with tremendous strides, came down tn
last swell of rising ground and turned t.
avoid the steep ascent. Catching sight Q
Us. they dashed up. and at the brow re
ceived the shots of the Indians stationed
there. They hesitated for an instant
| then with heads thrown back at Il tlerc