Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-05-14

woods now, and game was getting
comparatively scarce. Even after the
Semoval to Pine creek the Indian was
S9orely pressed by poverty and he
soon determined. though with great
reluctance. to join his tribe at the
headwaters of the river nearly forty
miles away.
1t was a sad parting Minnawaqua
with all the stoicism of her race, could
not repress her grief and tears trick
led from the beautiful but nearly
sightless orbs Of Star-Eyes now a
handsomely framed youth of Ia years.
And there were moist eyes, too in the
Quaker's family, and in the house,
holds of the other settlers.
1t was in the autumn following the
spring when Fleet-Foot Joined his
tribe. Rumors had been rife all
summer that the Indians we're in ugly
mood and that raid down the river
to sweep away the advanced settle.
ments. was imminent. The conse-
/ quence was that the settlers were
fully armed and prepared to quickly
muster all the men within q dozen
miles along the river
just at daylight one morning the
Quaker's family were awakened by a
violent pounding on tho door, On
1 opening it they were amazed at find
/ ing Star-Eyes there in most pitiable
/ plight He was weak and haggard,
his buckskin clothing was almost in
shreds, there were only remains of
his moceasins and his feet were
bleeding terribly.
He quickly told his story. The
Indians were on the warpath up the
river. After the war party started he
instantly took to the woods. made
long. detOur in the mountains run
ming at his best speed all the tune.
and then struck the river below the
advancing redskins. His imperfect
sight had caused his clothing to be
torn to tatters by underbrush and his
moccasins had worn out in that al
mos. perpetual run day and night of
forty miles. He thought the Indians
would surely reach the settlement the
following night
The alarm was quickly sounded
avis NLAI HeAAAGN ~ EOOA lUEE6 Oh
brave men hurried up to meet the
savages and to take a good defensive
position. But their services were not
needed. When the Indians found
that their approach had been heralded
and that the settlers were ready for
them they abandoned the raid and re-
treated.
Star-Eyes remained with his Quaker
friends. About two weeks after the
events Just noted he and two OF the
Quaker children were gathering nuts
in the woods. Suddenly there was a
small volley Of rifle shots and poor
Star-Eyes dropped dead in his tracks
without word or groan- The other
children were unframed
This was the awful retriOution visit
ed upon the nearly sightle5s Indian
boy for saving his white friends fro m
slaughter.
Within an hour after the dastardly
act of assassination dozen brave set
tiers were on the trail of the MURDER
ers. five in number. as indicated BY
their tracks. The long step shown
by the moccasin tracks showed that
the assassins were running and that
they were determined to make sure of
escape. But the pursuers were swift
runners, too. Nerved by their graft
tude TO poor Star-Eyes and by the
horrible atrocity Of the Indians. they
were determined to avenge the crime
at all hazards.
As evening approached the pursuers
FC,yn1 no kA
"warm"-they were nearing the Gull
prits Shutdown. twilight. and the
trail still warmer AS the tracks grew
indistlnct and when fully twenty
miles OF distance had been covered,
one Of the party suddenly saw a glim-
mer Of light in q little valley some dis
lance ahead. 1t was evident that the
Indians, believing themselves now
safe from pursuit were camping for
the night.
a careful reconnaissance. a patient
wait OF three hours under the glim-
mering stars. cautious advance. the
simultaneous crack OF dozen care
fully aimed rides at close range.
For Of the sleeping Indians never
awoke; the fifth one helplessly writhcd
In agony. As the settlers rushed up
to dispatch the wounded redskin the
light from the campfire fell FULL upon
his face, and they Suddenly stopped.
as if they had been riveted to the
ground.
It was Fleet-Foot the father Of
Star Eyes!
The muzzle OF rife was at his
head and finger on the trigger. HIS
eyes turned up sadly; he recognized
the settler raised his hand and family
said:
Yes; but listen.'' They knelt be-
side him to catch his words. for he
was evidently dying.
when the war party returned. " he
said slowly and painfully they
knew. OF course that Star Eyes had
betrayed them. They bound me.
Minnawaqua and my three young
children 10 stakes intending to burn