Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-04-05

fear that your people may come To
search for those whom we have maSSa'
cree SO we will leave the prisoner AZ
his post to die Of hunger, according
to his desire"
Al the same time. he ordered his tribe
To 30 on the march.
There was an old woman in the
camp of the Blackteet that was reject
ed by the others. She had small
lodge all to herself, and when the
others stopped at any place she
pitched her tent at some distance from
the camp. She took pity on the priS.
oner, and when she saw the camp set
oCt she herself folded up her little tent
Of hide and went forth slowly be-
TO trouble themselves about her she
retraced her steps. Without being OBJ
served by any of her people she cut
the bands which bound the prisoner to
the post. She also gave him knife,
Il little food and piece of linen to
ouer saw himself free he set out, not
withStanding his scalding burns, to
regain the dwellings of his own peo-
pie. Weakened by suffering, 1t took
him three days to reach the camp OF
the Crows, where they were anNiously
awaiting the return of their warriors,
To make deep impression on his
people he did not enter their camp i'm
mediately, but remained at some dis
lance. uttering groans. Then, seating
himself on the ground, he tearfully
related the sad fate of his warriors.
brought about by the treachcry Of
his wife.
At this news Il cry Of rage escaped
the tribe, and the entire camp sworc
to take signal vengeance on the WONT
an who had thus betrayed them,
Early the following day all the men
among the Crows capable Of lighting
were cnroute to overtake the Black
feet
The latter had prudcntly pitched
camp three days distance from where
they had left their prisoner, SO 1t was
only after six days march that the
Crows reached them, They halted at
Il sufficient distance. not to be dis
covered by their enemies, and con-
cealed themselves in large, dry ra-
vine.
The Crow chief warned his people
to do their best to preserve the life of
the Indian woman who had taken pity
on him. In regard to his wife, they
were ordered to take her alive If 1t
were possible.
Before going to the assault. one of
The chiefs of the expedition desired to
visit the camp in order to discover
these two personages.
At ten o'clock at night, when the
fires were burning low and the men
had gone into their lodges for the
night, he enveloped himself in Il blan-
ket and boldly entered the camp of
the Blackfeet He had no difficulty in
recognizing the chiefs lodge. 1t was
there that he discovered her whom he
was ordered to take alive. He soon
found also the lodge of the old woman
ut the extremity of the camp. She
was seated before Il little fire, wrapped
up in her blanket. He approached her
and said: II take pity on you, you
who have had commiseration on one
of our people. You saved him; well,
intend likewise to save you. In some
minutes all my people will be here to
massacre this camp. None can es-
cape, for we are too numerous. If you
desire to avoid death, follow me, and
will place you In safety. Come
quickly, for my warriors are adyanc-
ing"
The old Indian woman did not need
him to repeat the invitation.
The Crow chief assisted her to carry
away her little lodge rs far as the
raw inc.
AS soon as she was sheltered from
danger the Crow chief gave the signal
for the attack The Blackfeet, buried
defend themselves. The Crows. rely
in- upon their numbers, had dispersed
then selves in all parts of the camp SO
as to fall upon every lodge simultan-
eously. The combat was short, but the
massacre general. Not one of the
Blackfeet saved his life. The woman
alone who had betrayed the Crows.
fell into their hands alive.
Now 1t was their turn for vengeance
This was what the chief decided.
Collect" said he, "all the poles Of
the lodges to make wood pile; tie
the hands and feet of the traitress and
burn her.
The order was carried out. They
burned her in the presence of the war
riors, reproaching her the while for
her trcachery. Then having had their
revenge, the Crows returned to their
camp.
ANOTHER MEANING FOR o. X.