The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-01-12

iIg, because people would think me boast
Ing, but will tell you about some of the
times we saw there.
81 got to where | built my cabin about
the middle of July, my baggage consist
ing of supply of clothing, so that would
seem to be civilized, my rife and large
quantity of ammunition, fowling piece,
a few relics of the old home in England,
few lSnickhnacks to keep the Indians good
natured, an AK, II saw, II few traps and a
few such other utensils rs | thought could
not be parted with. | had taken horse
along to carry my luggage, but soon sold
him to the old Indian whom you heard me
mention a few minutes ago as Two Crows
Game was plenty, and only short time
each day WAS needed to keep me supplied
with food The remainder of the time
could employ myself in preparing for the
coming winter.
1.-TWO Crows acted as urbiter between his
people and me, and was made priv
ileged character who was to be allowed to
live in their country in perfect security
was not to be included in any of their
wars or depredating tours
"Well, | had my cabin nearly finished,
and was sleeping soundly on bed Of
boughs and prairie grass when, OH such u
bowling you never heard Ten seconds
was all the time needed to get my rifle
and ammunition horns and place myself
ready to sell my life dear, but | was not
even asked it's price. The night had been
one of dense clouds, which hid full moon.
Now in western America very few min
utes will change the sky from the blacklist
clouds to as pretty an azure as you ever
saw, and that was just what happened
there. A band of Ponca Indians were en-
camped on the south side of the river, and
the Yanktons had taken advantage of the
darkness to attack them unawares But
the moon came out bright on them, and |,
awakened by the warcries, saw the whole
battle. If you want to see courage watch
an Indian fight. Every man is division,
acting under the one general head, or
chief, but in the most part independent to
work as he thinks will do the most dam
age to the enemy.
This was hand to hand fight, with
spear and lances, and every man fought to
the death. The Yanktons were badly out
numbered at first by the Poncas and were
driven almost to the very waters edge
when a second band, which had crossed
little above the village, struck the Poncas
from the rear, and the result was soon de
cided. Two Crows led the advance party,
and when l saw them driven back it took
all the self control could muster to keep
from making my rifle felt, but l succeed
ed, and the next morning when / told Two
Crows that | wanted to help him out he
answered, with grunt:
'Ponca no good. Fight hard first, then
Yankton kill 'em. Ponca think he drown
Two CTows-Ponca dead nowW
"That was my initiation. Only short
time after that | saw another band of Pom
cas- attack party of Yanktons and drive
the latter from the field as completely as
ever an army was routed. soon made
peace with the Poncas, and then felt Sc
cure.
Zone day nm old fellow, I've forgotten
his name, came to my cabin with fine
looking squaw as present TO me. He x
planned that he had killed her husband
and taken her captive short time before,
but as he and his men had wives already
he had brought her to me. thanked him
kindly, gave him good meal of sailed
meat-a great luxury among the Indians
and took the woman. found that she
belonged to n tribe short distance down
the river, so when he had gone started
her home to her people. / saw her about
a year after that, and u mother was never
more elated over meeting son than that
woman was over seeing me. But the old
Indian never liked me.
"My neighbors soon stopped troubling
me, and then began to enjoy that quiet iso-
lation SO much longed for when was in
Chicago. l found plenty of amusement
hunting and fishing and hardly noticed
tho time go by, until one day trapper
came along up the river in canoe and
stopped at my cabin.
''He, too, was an Englishman, and we
had. a long visit together. He was from
London only short time before and had
lived but little distance from my fathers
store. He knew many people l had
known, and when 1 mentioned having
been at Oxford he said he said he was
there just a week before he left England.
OF course / asked after my lord and the
young lady. But tell you was surprised
by his answerl She was still mourning for
a young man in America, whom her ia
ther objected to- but the old man was dead
died repentant and had given his sane
ton to the marriage.
1.-THE trapper little knew how good his
news was. or to how interested person