The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-04-02
A Race for Eife.


whom and the more northern tribes OF
Crees there was constant war. The
Crees roaming the northwestern terri
tory, seldom if ever ventured south OF
the line since established as the boundary
Old Bow Fort on the Saskatchewan,
being usually their extreme southern
liInit.
One day toward the latter part OF
winter, however, solitary aud adven-
turous brave presented himself at the
gate of the Benton stockade. and asked
to come in. The sentry admitted him
and his gun-a curious old flint lock,
such as were sold TO the Northern In
dams by the Hudson Bay Company
half century ago-being taken from
hlm, he was told by Mr.. Wolfe,
the trader then in charge of the pest, to
state his business. It was then found
that he did not know a word OF the
Sioux language, and was, in tact-whst
Mr.. Wolfe had suspected, from his
dress and head gear-a Gree!
When questioned, both then and
afterward-by aid OF signs and such
words OF the Cree dialect as were
known at the fort-as 90 his name and
motive in thus leaving his people and
exposing himself to almost certain death,
he said that his name was Stemaw,
and that he had tired OF his tribe, and
wanted to go TO the far South, where
the traders had told him there was no
snow and no winter. Everything which
examined with The greatest uliosiiy.
In stature lie was quite tall but slen-
derly made, and was judged to be not
over twenty years of age. His eyes
were ofa lighter color than that of
most Indians otherwise he seemed not
to differ from the ordinary redskin.
Stemaw had not been at the post
many hours when prrty of Biackfeet
were seen riding to the Fort. Scarcely
day passed at tlis season without
some of the tribe coming to trade. Mr..
Wolfe hastily opened the door of a
back room in his house, and babe the
Cree go in there, advising him, with
forclble gestures, and the few words he
understood, to keep quiet, as he valued
his life, and not let so much as his top
knot be seen by the Blackteet. While
the trading was going on numbers of
the young warriors, scarcely more than
boys, were racing about inside the in-
closure, and peepiDg into the store
houses. Suddenly the traders were pro-
c;giously startled by the report OF gun,
followed by wild whoops aud horri-
bic uproar !
On running out half a dozen Black
feet were seen besieging one of the back
windows of Mr. Wolte's houses. The
foolish Stemaw had SO far allowed his
curiosity to get the better OF his pru-
dence as to peep out at the window for
a look at his enemies. One of them
had eeen him, and instantly recognizing
Cree by his head dress, fred at him
through the window with gun which,
contrary to the rules, had heeu brought
into tue fort hidden under his blanket
The small high window was broken,
and the Blackfeet, yelling like blood
hounds, were trying to get in, while the
Cree, with an ak he had picked up in
the room, was making good bis position
with vigorous blows through the ap-
erture.
a few armed men at the post were
instantly mustered at the drum, beat,
and pressed back the young Blackfeet !;
aud the Blackfoot chief, Mackamoze,
shouting like an old Stentor, called off
his braves. Having learned from them
the cause of the outbreak, the chief
turned Indignantly TO Mr.. Wolfe. The
stern face aud lofty bearing of the oil
warrior were very striking.
"Why has my brother DIahuygan
Nord-Cree hidden in his lodge 3'' was
his question. (Mahuygan,T may ex-
plain, was the Indian name which sig
nifed the same as Mr.. Wolfe's nancy
The trader hastily explained the man
was refugee, who had come to the
fort of bis own accord and that he
seemed to be merely harmless wander
er.
"Namutegis weeash r "a cursed
spy y exclaimed Mackamoze.
Mr.. Wolfe told the chief that he did
not believe the Cree was spy, but that
ne appeared to be oDly foolish boy on
rowing tour.
/ sMy bsother Mahuyan does not know
the Crees, said the old Blackfoot, with