The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-06-21
THE SHADOW IN THE VALLEY.

,
struggling horses-in the thickets and
along the ravines, a shadow turks day
and night The last scalp had hardly
been torn from the head of the cavalry
man who had crept into the tail grass
to die, when this shadow skulked into
that valley of death and began dealing
out retribution.
The chief Dull Knife had much to say
about it the other week, when he sur
rendered. He spoke in whispers when
he referred to it, and he looked sudden
ly around as if fearful that it was softly
stealing upon him to stab him in the
back
Crazy Horses men had something to
say about it when they surrendered, and
when white men asked them who or
what they thought the shadow was, they
shook their heads and said:
awe killed 'em all, but yet there is
one left! 1t is white man. There is
blood on his face and clothing. He
carries saber and two revolvers, and
the night wind blows his long yellow
curls over his shoulders. 1t is spirit
sent by the Great Manitou to watch over
the graves of the white soldiers!''
White men have seen the shadow.
Hunters, trappers, and scouts who have
built their camp fires near that valley,
through which the big mountain wolf
skulks and prowls all night long, have
felt the presence of the mysterious
shadow, or have seen it. They have
fled from their blankets at it's soft step,
and they have fired at it when only ten
feet away, and yet seen it glide off I'M
harmed.
1t is not shadow of sentiment, but a
being which demands vengeance for the
awful butchery of that little band of he
roes-for the brave brothers who group
ed themselves around the noble Custer
and fought to the death, each one lying
within arms length of him who fought
fiercest and longest. When the soldiers
moved out of the valley, leaving near
three hundred graves behind them, the
wolves rushed out from canyon and ra-
vine and den to dig up the fresh earth
shadow was there before them, a solita-
ry, mysterious, and vigilant sentinel to
guard those sacred mounds. 1t scream
ed and gestured at the fierce beasts
it fired upon them with rifle and re-
volver and struck at them withIa bright,
keen saber. The wolves ran here and
there, from grave to grave, crashing
their teeth in anger, but the shadow
closely pursued. They formed in groups
in the midnight darkness, and waited
for the shadow to tire out and fall asleep
or go away, but it paced up and down
over the graves, vigilant and unwearied,
and daylight came to hurry the wild
beasts to their lairs till another night.
Hunters and scouts have been there and
seen the sentinel-beat over the graves
seen it in the light of MONDAY, when men
could not be mistaken 1t is we'll
beaten path, which runs from grave to
grave, curving and winding to take in
every one, and now and then it comes
close enough to the creek for the strange
sentinel to hear the babble of the wa
tiers. Scouts say it is path beaten by
human feet. The red chiefs say that a
shadow or spirit could alone remain
there in that lonely spot, having only
the company of wild beasts and the
graves of butchered men.
Once, when Dull Knife and trusty
few were scouting to learn the where
abouts of their white foes, they encamp-
ed in the valley for the night. The
shadow stole among them as they slept,
and when fierce scream aroused the
band from slumber five of the red men
had been murdered bronzed
throat slashed across with a keen knife.
The shadow stood little ways off and
jeered and Knocked at the living, who
I-huddled together like frightened chill
dren. When they fled for their lives it
pursued them with drawn saber, and the
chief has scar on the shoulder to prove
that he was struck by the blade. Next
day, when full band of Indians
marched into the valley to solve the mys-
terry and secure revenge, they saw no
living thing. The bodies of the dead
warriors were cut and hacked and CASH
ed. Five of the poor cavalrymen whose
brains had been beaten out and limbs
dismembered had been avenged.
Before the crown Of single grave had
sunk down, Crazy Horse started to cross
the valley at midnight with his lodges
The shadow confronted his band and
Knocked them, and as the red men hur-
ried along in the darkness, wildly re-
calling the mad charge of the cavalry
and the fierce desperation of the sur
prised villagers, the strange shadow
skulked along with the column and fired
shot after shot into the band. They
fired at it, and rushed out to capture it,
but the shadow disappeared as shadows
do. Two squaws, a child or two, an old
man and two warriors fell by the bullets
which the shadow fired. From that time
the red men avoided the valley as white
men avoid pest-houses. They would not
cross it nor skirt it, even at high noon,