The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1895-01-08
AN INDIAN LEGEND.


A hundred years ago the immense
deserts extending from the declivity
of the Rocky mountains to Red river
were peopled by numerous barbarous
tribes, always at war with one an
other.
The following is little story relat-
! ed by an old missionary, who passed
80 years in the midst of these Indians
of the northwest:
n One day toward the end of the
month of July, 49,, while the Black
feet were at war with the Grow tribes,
and each was watching to surprise
the other, so of the latter were scat
tered over the prairie gathering wild
berries. Not suspecting the presence
of their enemies in the neighbor-
hood, they had dispersed themselves
fhere and there without any anxiety
in the places where the fruit most
abounded. Their horses were fas-
tened to trees, and the women, fur
nished with kettles, hurried with the
fruit to the carts as soon as their
vessels were filled.
They had been occupied about an
hour at this work when suddenly a
troop of armed horsemen appeared
I'm the distance. The Crows were
not long in ascertaining that they
were Blackfeet coming to surprise
and massacre them.
There was not a moment to lose.
They left everything on the prairie
which would impede their flight
fruit jars and all were left for the
enemy They thought only of saving
their lives
A young chief of this tribe, who
had been married but few months,
had brought his wife with him. At
the first cry of alarm he took her up
in his arms and placed her on horse
back behind him.
After going some miles the young
chiefs horse, tired with the weight
of his double burden, began to slack
on his pace. His rider did his best to
urge him on, but in spite of his eff
forts he realized that the Blackfeet
were perceptibly gaining ground on
him. He saw that he must fall into
their hands if he tried to save his
wife. What, then, was he to doa
Should he abandon her on the prairie
to become the prey of his enemies or
fall with her rather than basely leave
her to her fate.
Meanwhile the Blackfeet were com
ing.
II am going to place you on the
ground, said he to his wife. II am
aware that you will be made pris-
oner, but they will not kill you. 1t
would be otherwise with me. You
know the sort of death awaiting me
if they seize me. Alone with my
horse have Il better chance to escape
and reach my camp. Once restored
to my own people, | will raise party
of warriors, and we will go forth to
rescue you from the camp of the
sSlackfeet. In four or FIVE days you
1shall be set free.
- Saying this, he removed his wife
from the horse and put her down on
the grass.
The horse, relieved of half his bur-
den, resumed his course more swift
ly, and the young Crow found him
self beyond the reach of his enemies.
Meanwhile his wife, captured by a
Blackfoot, was conducted into the
enemy's camp to be given as pres
emit to the chief of the tribe.
Toward 3 o'clock in the afternoon
all who had escaped from the Black
feet arrived in the Crow camp and
related how they had avoided their
murderous tomahawk and arrow.
b The young chief in particular, who
chad only deserted his wife because he
was certain that they would not kill
her, and that he could deliver her,
ehdeavored by his recital to gain
their sympathy and urged his friends
to Join him in wreaking vengeance
upon those who had attacked them
so treacherously,
Immediately 80 young warriors.
who burned with a desire to display
their bravery by doing deed worthy
of praise from the old men of the
tribe, pressed around him. The war
whoop resounded, and that very
evening the avengers went in purs it
of the Blackfeet under cover OF le
night They encamped on the ban IS
of the So,uis river. 1t was there st