Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-08-25
his horse, and disappeared in the di-
rection of his people.

IectlOn Ol MS people.
War was now certainty. Know
ing the Blackfeet as they did the
Ninniscahs had just cause for alarm.
1t was nation of thirteen thousand
against comparatively a handful.
Action was at once begun. First
they must picket the town. To do
this they must bring timber from the
Arkansas, seventy-five miles away.
Two hundred men were all their
available force. Fifty engaged in
cutting a ditch around the town, while
the rest hurried off for timber. Mike
and Alton came to the rescue, and
with Minnesota they all returned to
the village. Here the white hunters
supervised the erection OF defenses.
AT the end of one week strong pal
isade ten feet high surrounded the
village. Port holes were left every
few feet. The stakes were all sharp
ened at the top. Strong straps and
rafters supported them within.
The river ran through the midst of
the village. Its perpendicular banks
were higher than mans head, and
its waters deep. The two wings of
the village were connected by sus-
pension bridge of ropes and cane.
How should they close this gateway
into their village? At last it was de-
cided to leave these gateways open,
and use them as a means of entry and
exit for themselves; but to keep out
the enemy they should be strongly
guarded. Canoes that could be hoist
ed to dry land were brought into use.
All this time sentinels were on the
i, lookout. One day they returned and
. reported they had seen Blackfeet
scouts. That night an attack was ex-
pected, nor were they disappointed.
The moon rose clear and large, anG
flooded the prairie with a silver light.
Far away to the West could be seen
the approaching foe. They made no
effort to conceal themselves, for the
prairie has few places of concealment
There were six hundred Blackfeet
} on ponies, each bravein hideous war
paint. They swept along at a rapid
pace, yelling savagely, and raising a
; cloud of dust. They seemed utterly
regardless of danger, probably think
2 ing the little band of Ninnescahs
3 would hardly make them break
: fast.
/ Within the village all was hurry
: and excitement. The women and
children had been placed in the "dug-
OUTS" The boys unable to bear arms
were stationed throughout the vii
: lage with pals of water, ready for
I action in case of fire. Howlathee, as
t sisted by Mike and Alton, encourag-
e ed the warriors to bravery, telling
t them not to shoot without aiming at
+ a man.
They stood at the portfolios ready,
i along the side fronting the foe.
The Blackfeet sailed to the right
: and, whopping and yelling and
e shooting swept down upon the long
e row of willow stakes as if they in
/, tended to trample them down. But
from behind these stalks protruded
n the muzzleS of one hundred and fifty
|. guns manned by skillful marksmen
g A moment later the little band gave
IS notice Of their presence by deadly
n volley which rolled many braves in
tine dust. Yet they did not stop till
l. the breasts of their horses struck the
h palisade. The fence quivered along
> its entire line, but did not yield
/. Then they began to pound the posts
= with their tomahawks, but not one
h yielded. Seeing the futility of pound
Il ing the fence, a score ofbraves sprang
from the backs of their horses, over
y the stakes, into the midst of the Min
l. nescahs. These were quickly dis
It patched by the guards from the wa
: ter-gates, who came up at this mo
ment. Others attempted to mount
d the wall, but were shot in every at
n tempt.
e Each volley from within grew
1t more alarming to those without
o Horses and men were being crossed
is and piled at the foot of hestakes. Al
l. the end of ten minutes the whole
n troop of Blackfeet fled as precipitate
e ly as they had come, leaving behind
+, fully one hundred and fifty of theil
1t number dead and wounded.
1t was now 9o'clOck at night. Mike
q Alton and Howlathee met in council
e They congratulated each other Or
e the victory, but decided they mus
be on the lookout for another attack