The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-04-30

nouncement that we were not TO have fgh
was received with great marks of disfavor b,
our braves, and, "a l was young man ant
had not as yet taken my first scalp, coulc
not restrain myself, but cried like woman
Dig smoke was known to be the bravest mar
in the tribe, and no one of us dared imputt
his action to cowardce, and we therefore sud
denly acqucsced in his plans, and when night
came silently and cautiously we ran off the
whole band of Crow horses and left our enc
mics on foot We soon found our main en-
Icampment, and the horses were divided up
one particular fine black horse was given to
our head chief The next day after our return
the chief announced to us that our powder and
lead was nearly exhausted and rs there was no
way Of procuring any without going to the
Crow tradingpoSt, asked if there was any OF
his warriors brave enough to undertake the
feat.
Alexander, or Tem.keth tasme which means
NO Horse, who afterwards succeeded Joseph
as chief, and who was then a young warrior
and burning to distinguish himself imme-
diately volunteered, and, Disgusting himself
as Crow, after darkness came on, set out on
his perilous journey. Arriving at the Crow
stockade, he was Immediately admitted by the
trader, and was ~ once discovered to be q
Pend dOreillc by y Crow who was loungng
about the post. Word was sent to the Crow
camp that an enemy was IN the stockade, and
soon loud demand Vas heard at the gate for
admlttance The gate was opened, and sin.
gle Indian was admitted. He was a tall, noble
looking fellow dressed IN the full war costume
OF Crow brave. Hating Immediately in
front OF Alexander, he reached ont his hand
and cordially grasped the hand of the Pend
u Orcllie. Canoe man, you are brave You
have come among your enemies to purchase
powder and lead You are dead, but still YOU
live | am Red Owl. Your warriors stole IN.
TO my camp; they took our horses; they were
strong, but stole upon Us while we were sleep.
ing, and spared the lives of my children.
Pend d'Oreillc, on that night lost my war.
horse-a black horse, with two holes bored IN
his ears. He was my fathers gift to me. Is
there such horse in your camp" Alexan-
der replied that such horse was gwen to his
chief by Big Smoke after the capture. "Red
Owl will go back with you into his enemy's
camp" and stridlng out of the st0ckade, he
harangued, and then, picking out twenty of
his braves, desired them to accompany him
Alexander was then allowed to make his pur.
chases, and on the next morning in company
of Red Owl and twenty of his warriors, set out
for the Pend d'Oreille camp.
Upon arriving there the Indians were as.
W lutli u uSJctl UldNC .AltA8G-
der leading the Crow warriors, armed to the
teeth, up to the lodge OF their chief who was
soon surrounded by his brave Pend d'Orelles
in such overwhelming numbers that there was
no escape or even hope Of escape for the
Crows. Red Owl dlsmounted and asked AL
which was his chief That person |
person being pointed out, Red Owl addressed |
him; "Chef of the Canoe Indians, your
braves captured band Of horses from my
people Among them was my warhorse, and
love him, for he was the gift of my father.
desire the horse, and have brought you as !,
good to replace him." Our chief, who did
not like to part with the horse, and who per.
ectly knew the advantage he possessed bent
lis head in silence Red Owl repeated his
speech, hut our chief gave no reply, but stood
n stolid silence. "Chef Of the Pend d'Oreil,
es," exclaimed Red Owl, twice have spoken
o you, and You gave me no answer; repeat
I again for the third time" We were listen.
ng to the conversation, continued Big Canoe,
md, as young as was, could not but admire
he brave Crow, surrounded as he was with |
lis followers by implacable enemies, only |
awaiting signal to begin the slaughter. But
he brave bearing of the Grow and his indif. |
erent manner ", n the respect Of us all, and
We could not help hut admire him; and to
'uch an extent did this feeling prevail that
nurmur of applause went around when the
Crow concluded his last sentence. Straight I
ming himself up to mis- full height, the Crow
continued. turning to US:
Pend d'Oreiles, you have heard me address
your Chief; he gave me no answer; he buried
ais head low; he changed his color this is
he subtertuge of woman. Pend d'Oreilles,
'our chief is a woman; give him my horse!"
And, mounting, at the head of his band he
ode from our camp, and not one movement
VAS made to stay his progress. And SO over.
yhelmed was our chief with confusion that
ne gave no orders, and Red OWL with his fol.
overs, returned safe to his camp.
p. ROMAN.