The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-10

tribe who sees It that you are under his
protection, and very likely save you
many an inoenvonience in the future. "
This Ransom fOnad indeed to be the
case.
frequently a. his farm was visited
by savages they always treated his
family With marked respect. If they @
wanted favor or drink they asked for it
modestly and civilly. The insolent de-
mands they made on other settlers
were never made on the Long Prairie
house.
Moreover on more than one occasion
the Indians showed themselves ready
to do favor for the farmer of Long
Prairie Once, when a portion of his
stock scamperod, they drove it back
instead of stealing it, as was their in
variable custom. Another time they
returned him his pony when it strayed
away. The farmer, thanks to these
acts. began to congratulate himself up
on the good luck which had nude him
q friend of the great war chief of the
Apaches.
That parsonage turned up now and
then himself, and you may be bound
always to received q cordial welcome.
His chief pleasure seemed to be with
little Dora, and he always had present
for her. Once it was crow that
turned somersaults and talked some
Indian words; another time it was q
little bow and arrow, which he taught
her how to use. She possessed quite a
collection of moccasins, necklaces of
dried red berries. and softly tanned deer
and tiger skins, and every visit added to
her store.
So three years passed.
Slowly but surely the section of Ari-
zona in which the Bishops had set up
their homes had filled up. Where they
had been the only one in miles OF coun-
try. the farms were only mile apart.
The log hut had been added until it was
quite an imposing structure, with
wings more extensive than the original
house. Herds of fine cattle grazed on
their prairie pastures, their barns were
full, and all about them abundent crops
grew on the rich soil. In short pros
perity reigned at Long Prairie. and not
a cloud darkened the pleasant future
which seemed to spread before the set
tiers there.
But unforeseen events were brewing
trouble. The Indians had been annoy
ed and in some cases treated with IN
justice by the whites, and an outbreak
was smouldering among them. 1t was
only held back by the influence of Big
Bear The war chef was friendly to
the white man, and his potent voice in
the councils of his tribe kept their an
ger in check.
One day, however, Big Bear went
hunting and met with an accident in a
terrific encounter with grizzly; he was
struck down in S lonely pass among
the hills, and, as day by day passed
without witnessing his return to his
camp, the rumor went abroad that the
whites had killed him.
Then another chief rose to rule the
councils of the tribe.
This warrior cherished fierce and
bitter hatred to the whites, and lost no
time in declaring war against them.
In a single night a descent was made
upon dozen settlements; and next
morning where prosperous farmers
and happy homes had been the rising
sun saw heaps of smoking ruins. Such
few of the farmers as escaped fled to
the larger settlements, and the call tc
arms went throughout the territory.
A. week of the outbreak passed, and
the Bishop homestead remained un-
scathed.
| All around the settlers had faller
victims to the ferocity of the savage
but the protection of Big Bear still
sheltered his friends. Immunity fron
attack made Ransom Bishop reckless
He began to think himself safe forever
and though he kept watchful ey,
about him, he still entertained littl,
dread Of serious trouble to himself.
He was doomed, however, to fine
| himself sadly mistaken.
The ferocity of the Apaches grew
with their success. and when they hac
wreaked their wrath at the expense o.
Ransom Bishops neighbors, they be
gan to cast hungry eyes upon the wei
stocked farm. He was the friend O
Big Bear, it is true; but Big Bear wa
dead, they argued. Why, then. shoule
his friendship protect them? They an
swered that question one night BY at
tacking Bishops house.
To offer any resistance would hav,
been simple madness. and Ransom
| Bishop knew it. All the hope OF safet,
he posed was in flight
But how to fly?
the people in the house. had begun
operations by plundering the outlying
storehouses. While they were thu
employed, the farmer got his wife ane
child out by the back way. only to dis
cover, to his horror, that the gate o
4 his corral had been beaten in and th,
horses removed from it.
He had hardly made this startlin,
discovery when mounted Indian rod,
around the end Of the house. in who's,
shadow the fugitives were concealed
Gaunt and thin from sickness the farm
er did not recognize Big Bear. and h
| raised his rifle to his shoulder, whel
| the Indian called out:
mo shoot'' he said. s.Me come t,
sabe little missile -
Slipping out of his saddle, he motion
ed to the farmer to mount, and hurried
away, as he had come. He returnc,
/ presently with another horse, and, sei1
ing little Dora, while Ransom Bisho1
and his wife mounted the chiefs owl
horse. the Indian led wav into the prai
rio.
The fusitisea q they departed
could hear the exulta0t shouts of th
Apaches IS they reveled in the plundel
of the store-room, but with the hous,
between them and the savages the,
sgained the open prairie unobservcd
As they rode away Big Bear gave ut
terance to cultural grunt and pointe'
| back to where a red light began to GLOW
against the sombre midnight sky.
/ The farm buildings had been fired
But the birds they had sheltered wer
we'll on their way to safety. All nigh