Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-12-17

MOr6 Jnau Ouo OluCeT WAS tAluklu8 VI
this remark Of Amory's as they scattered
to their homes Many dinner was kept
waiting and many housewife had to
be placated when the lord and master
hurried in, and tongues that were primed
with wifely reproof were stilled by the
tidings that quickly spread from door to
door. Big Road had made an insolent
demand and coupled with it defiant
message. Big Road was drunk and had
threatened to move with his village,
and then it would become the duty Of
the Twelfth to surround and herd him
back. Under the stipulation Of late
treaty he was allowed for his winter
range only the south bank of the Platte,
from Frayne to the breaks of the Medi.
cine Bow. If he crossed the Platte and
struck out for the Big Horn, he invaded
the cattle lands and laid himself open
to attack from the hustlers. If he
dove into the mountain range to the
south, he left his reservation and for
feited the rations and supplies which
the agent at Fetterman Bend was bound
to issue at regular intervals He had
quarreled with the agent and moved his
village up stream to within ten miles Of
Frayne-which he had right to do.
He had quarreled with-and on good
grounds-the cowboys and then been
taken under the wing Of Uncle Sam for
safety, and now be proposed quarreling
with his benefactors and launching out
on forbidden territory, and that meant
business for all at Frayne.
But One Eyed Bull was no truculent
warrior. He had delivered his message
in accordance with his chiefs demands,
and in far more civil tone and terms
than it was consigned to him, then had
waited in dignitied silence, confronting
the somewhat f1ippant bluecoats from
the fort, refusing to make any response
to the jocularity and ridicule in which
some of their number indulged or to
enter into any discussion with Bat or
the two Indian soldiers as to the prob
able inspiration of Big Road 8 bombast.
Well enough he realized when the adju-
tant arrived upon the scene that the
bluff" had totally failed, and before a
word was spoken read contemptuous re-
fusal in the young officers face They
were indeed cold and hungry over in
the village, and he himself and the war
riors with him would have been glad OF
feast on army rations.
Nor were the warriors at all satisfied
with the Judgment and discretion OF
their chief, but one and all the Indians
were now imbued with the warning Of
their medicine men and expected
nothing less than some sudden act OF
hostility on the soldiers part. If there
ever was a time in Big Roads history
when q clear head and cool brain were
needed, it was now, just when he had
succeeded in getting drunk, and well
had the COW boys reasoned While some
of the number lured the chief to the
banks Of the Platte and piled him with
lies and whisky, others were scurrying
up and down the valley, routing out the
ranchmen, settlers and "hustlers' and
warning them to be in readiness to
gather at the given signal, for there
was no telling what would be the first
consequence of their diplomacy. If Big
Road simply broke camp and started
with his whole village in the dead OF
night in hopes of leading the soldiers a
stern chase to the Big Horn, they could
stumble in his way, impede his flight
and bring on row in which, with vast
" superior numbers, they could at least
rob the red men Of their pony herd.
That would be part satisfaction for the
death Of Laramie Pete. Then, when the
soldiers came up, they could sail in aft
er them and claim such spoil as was
worth having and all the credit of hav-
ing brought the chief to bay. If, on the
other hand, Big Road became SO crazed
with their firewater as to 90 down and
beard the lion in his den and defy the
cavalry at the fort, then there might
be pretty sorimmage right over on the
flats when the colonel ordered the
chiefs arrest, and when the soldiers
were tackling the warriors in the open
and having nip and tuck fight Of it
the frontiersmen could surround the viii
lage and help themselves. There would
be only old men and women and children
to defend it. There was gloom, there
fore, in Bulls sole remaining optic as
he received in majestic silence the adju-
tant's indignant rendering of the colo
nel's message, and, motioning to his
blanketed braves to follow, he turned
about and rode away.
"What do you think they'll do?" was
the eager question asked the adjutant
on his return to the post. "Is he mad
enough to mean f1ght?"
"Be is, if he doesn't get any drunk
er," was the answer. more whisky
would be the surest way Of settling the
question now, but it would rob us OF
the pleasure of knocking him out-and
be id to him for spelling my din
nerl'
At 8 o'clock that night, with one
platoon in dispersed order we'll to the
front and others in reserve, while the
garrison Of Fort Frayne stood by their
arms within the fort, Captain Farwell's
troop moved slowly up the dark valley.
along the snow covered fats, out beyond
the point where the delegation was met
at dusk and held at bay, and, though
the stars were glinting in the frosty sky
and not breath Of air was stirring
and the night was still as solitude it.
self, not whisper could be heard from
the direction of the village, not spark
of fire could be seen. Over against them
on the northern shore were sounds at
times as Of rapid hoof beats muffled by