The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-08-03


name of the older boy, and the younger
one was called Four Toes by the whites
because in some boyish adventure he
had lost the little toe from his right foot.
"When the guard came to make an
sxamihation there was the four toed
track of one of the barefooted thieves.
Afterward we heard that the boys
mother was sick from fasting.
"The agent gave prompt orders to
have the offenders brought in for pun
ishment, but the Indian police came
back with the word that they were not
to be found in the tepee of Lone Wing.
The whole village was sullen over not
getting rations, and not only refused to
give information, but threatened ven
geance if the boys were arrested.
ut was time to show a bold front
There were enough hungry warriors
waiting for rations to destroy us all if
they should go on the warpath, and
every one was armed.
agent Pierson saw trouble ahead.
He mustered all the force of Indian po-
lice and scouts he had and called for
detail Of cavalry from the post | was
ordered to take my company, and the
entire force, numbering 100, was put
under my command subject to the
agents orders.
when we rode into the village there
was not soul in sight. We made first
for Lone Wings tepee. The old chief
stalked to the entrance when the agents
messenger spoke to him. He said that
his people were still friendly, but refused
to tell where the boys were.
Then we will search every tepee,
said the agent.
81 saw from the chiefs looks and the
frowns on the glowering faces showing
now in the doors of the adjacent tepees
that there would be trouble if we tried
to do that. Finally the chief said if we
would give him an hour he would tell
where the boys were. advised the
agent to accept this. They cannot get
away on their half starved ponies in an
| hour | said, so it was decided to wait.
"When we went back Lone Wing was
ready to receive us.
"'Where are the young thievesP de-
manded the agent.
1.-The Great Father drives his chill
dren from their hunting grounds to
starve them, and then calls them thieves
for not being willing to die like rabbits
The young braves are not here. The
white chiefs will find them in the hills
waiting for them.
"'They have left the reservation ex-
claimed the agent, his blood hot Put
spurs, captain, and overtake them! Bet
| tar Of oh 10
find which way they have sneaked off,
II had pretty good idea where we
would find the boys, and | said, 4 don't
think trailers will be needed in this case
They are not far off.
why, said he, where do you think
they have gomez
81 pointed toward the hills where two
faint specks showed, and handed him
my glass. He looked, and put spurs to
| his horse,
"'No need to hurry said; they are
not running away
"And was right When we got near
enough to make them out clearly, there
stood the two little fellows in warpaint
and feathers their ponies by their sides
and their rifles in their hands.
What do the rascals meanT said the
agent.
"But understood it well enough.
"Their Indian blood wouldn't let them
suffer imprisonmen or possibly whip
ping, and rather than thus be degraded
in their own eyes and those of the war
riors of their tribe, they had resolved to
court a warriors death alone outside
| IL. Il
of the tribe from sharing in the punish
ment.
when we were within 300 yards of
them they mounted their ponies and
brandished their rifles, and / could hear
their shrill, boyish voices in defiant
tones shouting the war whoop of their
tribe. Before any of us could get our
breath they leaped to their ponies backs
and charged down toward us at furi-
GUS gallop.
81 think it was a moment or two be-
fore any of us took in the audacity Of
the thing-two Indian boys charging
right into the ranks of 100 armed whites
but when they got within rifle range
they opened our eyes by lying fiat on
their ponies and shooting straight at us.
"'Give the young imps volley, cap
tainP excitedly directed the agent.
81 hated to do it, but there they came,
riding us down and shouting like all
possessed. Aim high; fret l command
ed the men, for ! couldn't bear to
slaughter the brave little chiefs. On
they rode, unhurt of course, right into
our teeth!
"'Open ranksP
"They shot like wildfre through us
and were out of reach before we could
halt and reform.
81 supposed all we would have to do
now would be to chase the little rascals
back into the camp and deliver them
over as prisoners Of war. But bless my
stars if they didn't wheel as soon as
they could, bringing their ponies to a
dead stop, and with another whoop Of
defiance came charging back up the hill
at us.
ut was the most desperate exhibition
of courage had ever witnessed in hu-
man being, red or white-a cool and
grim determination to keep up the fight
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