The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-25

" A tains for sew
&C., eral months
and recruit my strength by hunting.
fishing and taking as much muscular
exercise as I could endure. 1t was
while on this expedition that l found
what serious matter it was to offend
an Indian, who rarely forgives an in
jury, but lays up his grievances for
some future time when he can show his
cunning by numbering you in the dark.
had always wished that could don
a cowboys paraphernalia and ride the
western plains and valleys in reckless
freedom, and now that it was ques-
ton of necessity enjoyed the prospect
immensely.
I applied to Mcpherson & Bradley,
drovers and cattle kings, for permission
to join the boys who were attending
their herds, proposing to buy me pony
and give them help enough to pay my
way. My request was kindly granted,
but I do not imagine that l was OF
much use to anyone during the first
two months, only to furnish amuse-
ment for the boys by my awkward rid
ing and extravagant efforts to throw
the lariat successfully.
There was band of savages in our
neighborhood from the Sioux reserva-
ton, who often chased stray buffaloes
near our camp and paid us occasional
visits, when they wanted to trade some
thing for tobacco or canned goods, and
l was quite interested in them.
Late one afternoon party OF five,
among which were Black Cloud, his
young son. Chain Lightning, and a
warrior named Big Thunder, went into
camp near us for the night
My chum, Charlie Douglass. was just
putting up the supper dishes after
washing them. and l asked him TO go
with me to their tent so that we could
have some fun with them.
"You can't get much fun out OF a
hornets nest, Phil" was his laconic
answer. "I've got no use for red men.
but if you're curious to see 'em I'll go
along to watch out lest they run a
sandy on you and do you up entirely"
I laughed at this and returned: do
you think am baby, Charlie? Armed
as I am it would take a cord and half
of Sioux flesh to handle me-"
"Maybe.'' said Douglass, but I
calkerlate I better go along to see fair
play. You'll have to keep a civil
tongue in your head and humor them q
little or they'll store up a grudge
against you that it will take lifetime
to rub out"
We were soon at the tent, where the
three titled Indians lay idly watching
the other two as they stretched piece
of raw meat across couple Of poles
and raked up embers below it to bring
it to roast.
The fire was suffering under the
drip. drip of the simmering juice, and
the scorched smell was greeted with a
sniff of enjoyment from Big Thunder.
We saluted Black Cloud respectfully as
the leader of the group.
big Chief heap tired when the sun
goes down." said he, pompously. Fight
UNI bear. kill um bear. So many" and
he held up ten bony fingers and thumbs.
Charlie nodded approvingly.
"Much deer! Much panther!" he con-
tinued. l chuckled and Charlie gave
me a warning pinch, while the tawny
egotist went on:
BLACK Clouds son great warrior.
great hunter. Name Chain Lightning.
Scalp Pawnees. Kill buffaloes-heap
kill urn!'
"a regular old gas-pipe," whispered
to Charlie, and was rewarded for the
iu-chosen remark by a whitening frown
from Black Cloud.
l turned in some confusion to the
boy. Chain Lightning. and began to
talk pleasantly to him. His eye fell on
splendid Spanish stilesto that was
very fond of wearing and valued highly
as a keepsake. He Immediately wanted
to look at it, and I thoughtlessly drew
it from its sheath and placed it in his
hand.
Too late I caught a cautioning ges-
ture and shake of the head from Char
lie, and was chagrined 70 see the young
buck cooliy transfer it TO his own belt
with a gruut OF satisfaction, after which
he turned his back on me and locke d
stolidlv into the fire
What could do? | asked myself the
question during an ominous silence,
and then asked him apologetically foI
M knife. He paid no attention TO me.
I explained matters 10 Black Cloud,
but he looked straight ahead of hin
and vouchsafed q rough grunt for ar
answer. / expos.ulated and lie shut
his ewes; l threatened and he scowled
Then / grew desperate, and, sprlngine
unexpectedly forward. grasped The
handle OF the dagger as il pro.rudse
irom Cnsin Lightning's belt lie
caught the blade, and when it had
finished sliding through his hand the
little finger swung loosely 10 and fro,
hanging by the skG and dripping with
oiood From that day he was 10 beaE
a crippled right hand
All of them were on their feet n an
instsn. and the tent was wild with
yells- All we could DO WAS 10 run and
we took breakneck gait toward OH
own Enclosure, with shower OF ar
rows and lead at the rear
Nothing but the dimness OF twilight
l. l. 49,