The Opelousas courier., 1889-07-20

These isolated settlers lived in con.
slant danger, for the country all about
them was the common hunting-ground
of bands of Winnebagoes, Potawatomies
and Musquakies, and occasionally
Sioux. These last were far O. to be
dreaded than the others, as Black
Hawks war had given the lesser and
nearer tribes a wholesome fear of the
soldiers, stationed at various posts
throughout the region.
No Indian was trusted, unless thor
oughly known to be the white mans
friend, and of the three men living al
the Little Pinnicon, one always re
manned near the cabin. When the
trappers were away, Gleason stayed
close at home, busying himself with
the building of stables, yard and fence,
or with improvements upon the cabin.
To the latter he added in time a bed
room for himself and wife, and a gen.
eral storage-room for p%rovender of all
sorts.
Flour, coffee, sugar and other neces-
saries were got at Prairie du Chen by
Briggs and Ellery, who made the trip
in their 6atedM.
Early in autumn struggling bands OF
Indian hunters sometimes stopped at
the Pinnicon cabin to beg for "tobac''
and "sug," which, as the supplies were
limited, had to be denied them.
Winter came and passed without in
cident to the settlers, save such as
their hunfdafforded. These were often
stirring OR amusing, and their recital
served to make the evening pass pleas
antly before the cracking back-logs of
the fireplace.
Thus time passed until "planting
time" came and went, and still the
little band remained unmolested. About
the first of June Briggs and Ellery,
with the bateau we'll loaded with the
s'spring CATCH" set out for Prairie du
CHEN.
They had been gone twelve days, and
their return was momentarily and
somewhat anxiously looked for by the
Gleasons, who were out of -four and
some other necessities. 1t was on the
morning of this twelfth day that Bill,
as his wife and the others called Glea-
son, came hurrying to the cabin.
"Sallie," said he, with much excite
fiment, there's a big band of elk bout
ia mile up creek, an Tn goin' after
EN-! Won't be gone long"
go ahead, BiH," said his wife. 81
can take care O. myself a few hours. "
He snatched down his rifle from its
pegs, and hurried out.
He had been gone not much more than
an hour, when a young dog chained
near the door began to bark. Mrs.
Gleason looked out, and saw coming
down the river. half a mile away, a
string of horsemen whom she knew at
once to be Indians.
She watched them a moment.
Whether it was the manner in which
they rode, or the fact hat she was
alone, that alarmed her, she did not
know, but accustomed though she was
to the lonely Life of the frontier, she
was frightened. SShe Immediately shut
and bolted the door, and with table
and tools hastily barricaded the two
small openings which served as EiQ-
dows, leaving a corner of the d at
the frGSst open to serve as a portfolio.
Then she looked to. her gun, and
freshened the primiag.
By this time the sound of horses
hoofs had drawn lear the cabin and
halted. Sallie Gleason's face was very
pale at this moment, and her hands
trembled, yet, she did not hesitate, gun
in hand, to take her place at the open
ing in the window.
She saw enough at her first glance
to warrant aA the precaution she had
taken. Naked, Rdeously bedaubed
in paint and evilRyed, such a vii
demonstrating lotEf savages she had
never before seen. = There were sew
enteen of them draWn up in a squad a
fCw yards distant, and they were sur
veying alternately the cabin and the
growing dog.
The Indians were armed WITH bows
and arrows and lances, with but two
guns in the crowd. Mrs. Gleason saw
at once that they were Sioux. Stand
ing far enough back in the darkened
cabin to prevent them from seeing
her, she looked through her port-hole
directly into the eyes of these danger
oul5 visitors.
Fe- a few moments they sat their
poniat~ silently, giving no hostile sign.
Presently n of them with a cultural
word olcommand, turned his animals
head and with a vicious cut of his
quirt set off at a gallop, and the whole
troop followed him.
Sallie Gleason breathed more freely
as she watched the galloping squad
cross the creek and ride out of sight
beyond a point of bluff some half-mile
below. She thought of her husband,
but felt certain he was not in the di-
rection they had taken. She opened
the door and windows and resumed her
household occupations, but kept q
sharp watch in all directions.
Several hours passed with no Incl
dent to arouse her fears afresh. At
noon she made preparations for dinner,
expecting Bill soon to return. Then she
took a pail and started for the spring
for water.
She reached the top of the gully
through which the little creek ran, and
was about to descend to the spring