The National tribune., 1891-01-01

uaihness tnaue III lhl possible 70 deltflhihc WHAT
IL was, and we could only wait till daylight
should reveal its true character. Darkness soon
shut OF our vision, and for better protection we
remained together until morning.
shall never forget the anxiety OF those few
| dark hours or how glad / was 70 behold the frst
tint Of day over the Rawhide Mountains in
the cast Not a word had been spoken above
a whisper during the night, while our ears had
i been constantly set 10 catch the least sound.
We hoped the mornings light would confirm
! my opinion and that no prowling savage would
/ be there 10 testify 10 Smiths uuerring bullet.
! But when daylight revealed half-naked Indian
| lying dead on his face, my surprise was only
equaed by the excitement. We know he had
companions who were either concealed near by
! or had gone 60 their camp with the intelli-
! Eence, and should we remain in our present po-
sition we would be attacked by their whole
! force.
Our plan was TO unite with Rochon either
where we were or at Twin Springs, and as our
place offered the better chance OF successful de-
Tense, we concluded 10 bring him TO us If pos
slble. by previous arrangement we had
agreed that in case OF danger a signal shonld be
displayed where 10 could be seen from either
place. i accordingly tore open q four-sack,
pinned my red silk handkerchief to il, and after
attaching the whole 20 a lariat, ran il up the
old flag staff where once had foated the Stars
aud Stripes at Horseshoe. IL iuttered nervously,
as thought, in the stiff morning breeze, while
IL was plainly visible from cur neig ighbor's, should
they chance TO look our way. And If such
should not be the case. we knew they would
miss us from the bayfield, and would then
come 30 our relief
We had not long 10 wait, as a cloud OF dust
appeared ia the road and soon galloping horse
men could be seen-RochOn and Martin. We
opened the gate for them 10 ride in and then
made known 10 them all that had happened.
A aNta WN
surroundings for the enemy, and as nothing
could be seen TO indicate their presence, we
ventured out TO examine the dead savage.
In his left hand be clutched his ready-strung
bow and five Arrows" those silent messengers
OF death while i'm his belt ne carried sheath
knife and Colts navy revolver. Behind him
lay bis buffalo robe, and footprints of his re-
treating companions were plainly visible in tho
sand.
Taking his arms we carefully covered him
with his robe, and left him like a warrior
taking his rest" and with his long black braids
neatly coiled over his body, for 10 scalp him we
deemed bsrbarous.
We could not get Rochon TO agroe on making
deiense of our position, and as it was abso-
lutely necessary 10 unite our forces, we decided
10 abandon Horseshoe aud 20 with him 20
Twin Springs il besiegcd there, 10 try 10 hold
out until the regular fortnight mail should
pass from Fetterman 10 Laramie, which would
be due ia four days To conceal our stores and
other articles which could not be moved we
dug hole in the middle Of the house and
deposited everything Of value, including the
arms Of the dead Indian. After covering neatly
with dirt we piled some old boxes and other in
hammable material over the place aud set fire
TO them. We remained long enough TO see it
catch the hay in the roof then mounting our
ponies we Calloped swiftly away, keeping a
sharp lookout for the enemy as we rode.
On arriving at Twin Springs we placed the
boy on prominent point TO watch, while we
sat about getting in a supply Of water and such
other articles as we might need in case Of siege.
We tied our ponies near the door for ready use,
or TO get them iuside for safety should il be
necessary. Small holes had been left in the
house for light aud use as portfolios. In these
we fitted blocks Of wood and placed them ready
10 use when necessary.
Shouts from the boy caused US all to join him
on the hill. Looking 10 the eastward we could
see, not more than three miles away, horsemen
moving rapidly in the direction Of the burning
ranch. Brght-burnished guns cleaned in the
sunshine as they swept up the valley in such a
confused mass that IL was hard 10 form an esti.
mate Of their numbers. As they neared the
abandoned stockade they moved in circle
around H. in single file, yelling as only savages
can, and firing an occasional shot. Just at this
time dense smoke, mingled with dust, went
"A a. avn hAI buAhlllS ADbF nlONAle IL uAu idllGu
In, which would eAcctually hide our stores. IL
seemed also 70 convince them that tie place
had no defenders, FOR they gradually drew
nearer and climbed over the pickets from tho
backs Of their ponies Puffs Of smoke assembled
from the place, showing they were at work in
side, and soon flames were seen 10 mount up
from the Enclosure near the gate, which would
render 10 useless as a place of defense for the
white man. Being baiiled in their attempt 20
secure punder, and losing one Of their number,
We knew would make them more determined
aud reyengeful should We meet them and il
was our purpose 10 avoid an encounter, if pos
sible. against such heavy odds.
Our having taken the precaution to lie down
when they came In sight made US hope we we're
as yet undiscovered, but subsequent events
proved We were mistaken. Gathering in the
road near the gate they seemed to be holding
consultation as 10 future movements. Then a
iancehead glistened in the sunshine as IL was
held alOit by man mounted on spotted pony
They gallOped on at high rate OF speed to-
wards our position. We were satisfied now as
70 their intentions, and quickly sliding back
out oi sight ran 10 cover aud led the ponies in
side. We closed the heavy door and barred it,
expecting 10 see the performance just enacted
at Horseshoe repeated at Twin Springs
smith stood near me, with his long hair Of
curls reaching to his shoulders, perfectly cool,
while all was excitement with me- IdistinctIy
remember that i thought could hear the loud
beating Of my heart as we awaited the onset.
Divergng from the road, they aseended "A
hill some half mile distant, aud halted 10 take
in the surroundings. Smoke asccnded from
the chimney, and other evidences Of our pres
eBce made them proceed cautiously. The chief
on the spotted pony advanced slowly alone,
bearing a white flag. which proved TO be the
four-sack left at Horseshoe. lie shook the
flag vigorously, and halted at intervals as
though he were in doubt whether il was going
10 protect him from our bullets. Finally, when
within fifty PAGES Of the house, he halted, and,
placing has two hands together shook them
and exclaimed, in deep bass voice How!
how! MAsecba, wash-ta, wash ia I" White
man good, good j Then he introduced himself
as Sitting Bull, and stated that his "tepeen
was six sleeps" 10 the north, and that they
were on their way to Fort Laramie TO talk with
the white Father"
We had heard Of Red Cloud, Spotted Tail.
Man Afraid of His. Horses, aud Others of their
like, but never before Of Sitting Bull. How
ever, ROchOn answered him ia good Sioux. and
he came up seemingly ovorjoycd and desired
10 shake hands. But the thickness Of the walls
Of the house made IL impossible 10 do 50 through
the small holes
Then he proiessei extreme hunger, as though
his stomach were not already gorged on the
flesh Of onr cattle which they had stolen.
While passing him some crackers through the
holes, others came struggling up. first singly,
then IN pairs and groups, until the house was
completely surrounded by painted warriors.
aud all, like the first extremely friendly aud