Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1880-02-05

UubdotCu UCiOlC " olNALuS LuC SO1lCuCL
face | wondered what was the story. So
asked:
Burr, why do you love that white mare p
He looked kindly at me, and, with a sad
smile, replied:
'To-night, after the men are in bed, | will
tell you the story. Eat. my boy, then clear
out and fish or hunt You will find some fool
hens in the big willow thicket about five miles
below here. | saw them the other day. Shoot
some. Tonight we will have feast, and l
will open my two last bottles of sherry, and
we will talk.
His face hardened. The cold, deadly look
returned to the gray eye, and Our breakfast
was soon finished.
Shouldering my rifle, | stepped out Of the
stockade and slowly walked down the valley.
On the distant hillsides antelope grazed /;
down the valley before me could see few
deer running for cover to the willows by the
stream. Now and then grouse rose before
me and flew rapidly away Resisting all
| temptation to shoot at anything, walked
steadily on. Climbing hill, | sat on red
rock and musingly gazed at the vast plains to
the northeast, at the foothills of the range.
and at the rugged rocky range beyond. /
love the Rocky Mountains, and never tire of
their face l wasted hours in locking and in
thinking of the many tales had heard of the
range When the sun was high above me
I started for the willows. There / nearly
shot the heads off of six grouse. Then joint
ing light trout pole, l whipped the clear
pools of the south fork of the Teton. and was
soon rewarded by string of fine half-pound
trout.
Then came the pleasant walk back through
the cool, dry air and over the crispy grass of
the North. What luxury life was in the
valley of the Teton! l turned my spoils over
to the smiling Indian woman who acted as
cook for Burr. The rest of the day l spent
on horseback, running antelope with lot of
half-blood Indians. At 8 o'clock supper was
served and eaten. The sherry was brought
out, and l scattered on the table handful,
my last, of Rosa Conchas that had never paid
duty, and as we sat smoking Burr told me
this story:
In the fall of 1868 l thought it might be
profitable to start a trading post in the
Yellowstone Valley. Learning from the
Blackfeet that the Sioux were camped on
the south side of the river, I determined to
ride over and see what arrangements | could
make with them. | crossed the Belt Noun
tains and riding down the valley, was soon
at their camp, | on the north side of the
river, they on the south. / sat on my horse
and hailed the camp.
''No answer.
81 could see plenty of Indians walking
about, and again hailed.
mo answer.
81 shouted myself hoarse and the only no.
tice taken of me was by an old buck, who
walked to the river bank, looked at me, made
an insulting gesture, and slowly walked off,
went there to trade, and, having got angry |
at the treatment, though l well knew that l
ought to leave the valley at once, /, like a
fool, resolved to cross the stream and brave |
the danger. So l forded and rode into the
camp. spoke to no one; no one spoke to
me. The sullen braves turned their backs on |
me as | rode up the street. The young girls
looked curiously at me. Riding slowly along, |
l cooled rapidly. saw that was not want
ed, and fully realized that was N danger.
| did not dare to ride to the south, out Of the
camp, nor did have courage enough to at
tempt to recross the river.
Before me stood great tent made of buf-
falo skins. 1t was the largest had seen.
halted, dismounted, and stood silently at my
horses head. No one noticed me. Indians
went past me, apparently not seeing me. AT
last q Young woman came and stood before
me. Looking right into my eyes she said:
"'What do you wantT
II looked her coldly in the face and made
reply. Smiling, she asked:
"'What brings you hereT
''Steadily gazed into her eyes and was
voiceless
''She left me and disappeared into the
great lodge.
..Soon an Indian warrior in full paint,
came to me. Speaking Blackfoot, he said:
"'Why are you in this camp"
''To him, l replied:
"I wish to trade with you.'
''More men came. They took my horse,
and seizing hold of my arms they led me in
to the great lodge. Here 1 was seated and a
council was held. sat and listened to them
talk of what it was best to do with so pre-
white man. Some were IN 1ayor
of trading. The large majority of the In
dams were in favor of killing me. 1t was
soon decided that should be tortured; and
they sat and discussed the many methods.
''After two days talk it was decided to
burn me. was in strange condition men
tally; I would listen to plan of torture as
though i. were some other man they were
talking about and would comment to N.Y.
self on that plan as giving the chap but little
chance for his life. But when the dusky
brave who talked Blackfoot told me that
was to die by fire the next day, under
stood perfectly that 1 was the man they had
been talking about, and replied:
"sI know it,
clustering around me, they asked if had
understood all the talk
"'Yes; had
".Then why not answer the maiden when
'he spoke to your
"H came not to talk 10 squaws, but to
rade with men,
mo use; >'uld gain nothing by soft
ak, and, having played my hand, finally re-
signed myself to my fate.
81 noticed that the girl who had first spok-
IN to me in front of the lodge, was watching
ne. She would quickly glance at me and !