The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-10-11

nralri3 anu RdS LLOtJ SOiAS'O !
cornapion ia an Indian country.
The Sioux had begun to infest the MIS-
souri, valley the year previous and had al
ready left bloody trails along the river
below the mouth Of the MuscleshelI, but
had not vet ventured above that point
The party reached Cow Island in safety
bat finding no steamers they concluded to
nroceed further down the river. On the
third day out, while making noon camp
on the bank of the stream, Davis discover
Cd an old buffalo bull quietly grazing on
the ton of a neighboring knoll, and pilgrim
like desired at once to have shot at hln'
SleeDipg Thunder and Jerry knew that
thev were now in a dangerous part OF the
conntrv and that the report Of rife was
not unlikely to bring Sioux war-party
uDon them, and they accordingly caution
cd Davis not to fire his piece under penalty
If having his head broken. Of course
Davis was quite confident that there were
M Indians within hundred miles OF him,
and considered himself much injured
man by what he thought of1iclous inter
ference on the part Of his prudent COM
nanions. He changed his mind shortly
afterwards, for on reaching the top, on the
onnosite side of the river, not many yards
from the very knoll where Davis buffalo
had been grazing, the men discovered a
var.narty of Sioux, numbering at least
two hundred warriors. Had Sleeping
Thunder or Jerry been the first to discover
the Indians, it is possible that they might
have secreted themselves before the enemy
was aware of their presence; but DAVIS
having the sulks, was riding some distance
t ahead and probably in full view Of the
5 Indians long before he knew his danger
5 At all events the Sioux were mounted ana
= half way across the river before Sleeping
Thunder and Jerry Potts had time TO
come up and take in the situation
Tits remarkable how rapidly man OF
e nerve will think and act in moments OF
Y GREAT danger. Sleeping Thunder saw at a
r glance that retreat by the way they had
$ come would subject them to either death
r or CAPTURE, as their horses were already
l. tired from long mornings ride, and the
= Indians were in such numbers that they
8 cou]d circle around them for miles. lhe
r country around them, except at polh'
r about two miles ahead, was poorly adapt
O cd for defence against such odds, ard
- Sleening Thunder concluded at once tt
q keep on their course, hoping by the speed
a. Of their horses to pass the Indians before
/ tbey had crossed the river. To an mex
|. perienced person this would have seemed
e the most desperate and hopeless move tf
e make; but the point beyond, formed by
i bend in the river was thickIy wooded ant
t covered with a thick growth of underbrush
,r and the practiced eyes Of the hunters de
V tected at once the haven Of safety.
n "Make for the point, boys, yelled Sleep
It ing Thunder, putting spurs to his horse
s. and passing almost beyond the hearint
III his companions before the sentence wa
ut completed. The other men were not sio5
Q, to follow his brave example. although
"a would have been much more satisfactor
to the pilgrim to turn the other way.
. The Indians Immediately discovere
lit the design of the flying horsemen, and ha
be they attempted to head them off no dont
4 would have effected their capture; but tn
u move was so unexpected and the attemp
NJ ed feat apparently 50 impossible ofaccon
ed plishment, that they made the fatal nj
ct take Of waiting for the fugitives TO com
t. uD. intending to shoot them down as the
a passed.
al -"Keep down on your horses neck
&c bows" again shouted Sleeping Thunde
i. who saw the intention Of the Indians, an
or setting the example he suddenly slippe
er his feet from the stirrnps and disappeare
or over the left side of his horse, but pointin
IT. his cooked rife over the saddle in the d
lis rection Of the enemy.
,ct The critical point was reached IN a m
no ment, and roar Of firearms and q shoV
lly er Of bullets greeted the men as they tie
al past their foes.
he Sleeping Thunder glanced at his tv
W. companions and seeing that neither the
III nor the horses were injured, he rlghte
r. himselfin his saddle, reined up his 9"
no steed, and taking deliberate aim at I'll
or, nearest redskin sent bullet crashlr
.n- through the latter's skull. He then dasht
ed after his companions, loading and hrir
q as he went, and chuckling to himself
the evident discomforture Of his foes.
he But the danger was b 20 means pas
ed The Indians were all well mounted, VIII
ar the horses Of the white men were alreao
II. exhausted from the extraordinary e1el
s. tions they had been compelled to max
be The distance to the point of woods va