Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-06-25

several whoops from the woods, and
Chit-to became frantic with terror.
Indian be here in minute!" said
she.
Mother instantly helped me upon the
back of the horse and then followed
herself. She was a skillful equestrian,
! but she allowed Chit-to to retain the
bride. The horse moved off on walk,
and the whoops were heard again.
Looking back 1 saw half dozen Sioux
emerge from the wood and start on a
trot toward us, spreading out as if they
meant to surround us.
! Several shots were fired which must
have come close to us, but just then
Chit-to gave the horse rein, and he
| bounded off at a terrible rate, never
hating until he had gone two or three
miles, by which time was so jolted
that felt as if should die with pain.
Then, when we looked back, we saw
nothing of the Indians, and the horse
was brought down to walk, and finally,
when the sun went down, we drove into
dense wood, where we stayed all night.
I shall not attempt to describe those
fearful hours. Not one of us slept a
wink. Mother sat crying, moaning,
and weeping over the loss of father,
while was heart broken, too. Chit-to,
like the Indian she was, kept on the
move continually. Here and there she
stole as noiselessly through the wood as
shadow, while playing the part of
sentinel.
at daylight we all fell into feverish
When we awoke we were hungry and
miserable.
Seeing a settlers house in the dis
lance, she volunteered to go to it for
food We were afraid she would get
into trouble, but she was sure there
was none and went.
In less than an hour she was back
again with an abundance of bread. She
said the house was deserted, the occu-
pants having, no doubt, become terror
stricken but the Sioux had not visited
it as yet.
We staid where we were for three
days, during which we saw party OF
Sioux warriors ride up on horseback and
burn the house and out-buildings where
Chit. to had obtained the food for us.
1t seemed to mother that the Indians
would not remain at Lac Qui Parle long,
and that we would be likely to find
safety there. Accordingly, she induced
Chit-to to start on the return. Poor
soul! she was yearning to learn what
had become of fathers body. When we
reached the house nothing was TO be
seen of it, but she soon discovered a
newly-made grave, where she had reason
to believe he was buried AS was after
ward ascertained to be the fact, he had
been given decent burial by orders of
Little Grow himself, who doubtless
would have been glad to protect us had
we awaited his coming.
We rode carefully through the wood,
and when we emerged on the opposite
side our hearts were made glad by the
sight of the white tents of United States
soldiers. Col. Sibley was encamped at
Lac Qui Parle, and we were safe at
last.
Chit-to disappeared from this post in
the same sudden fashion as before, but l
am happy to say that have seen her
several times since. Mother and l were
afraid her people would punish her for
the part she took in befriending us, but
they never interfered with her at all.
Probably the friendship which Little
Crow evinced toward our family may
have had something to do with the
leniency which they showed her.
Youths Communion,