Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03

sued, but his voice betrayed not the least
excitement. He said:
"For many years | have been with YOU
have been one of you. We have often met
the enemy in unequal numbers, but we have
never been defeated. In all the battles In
which l have led you, you have never de-
serted me. Should l desert you now? /
know that | will be censured, perhaps pun
ished, but those Yanktons shall never harm
your people. / will lead you against them as
/ would against a hostile band, and on me
will rest all the responsibility. We go now
as Pawnee Indians, net Az United States
scouts, and go to fight for our people.
Mount!'
Grunts OF satisfaction greeted his words.
They would have been followed by wild yells
of savage delight had there been no fear of
/ such a demonstration disclosing their pres
ence to the Yanktons. Horses were quickly
mounted, and the band again took the trail
with an impatience which could scarcely be
curbed.
The Yanktons were soon again sighted,
and the scouts adopted the Indian tactics of
stealing upon their foes. Skirting the bases
of sand hills, keeping from sight in low
grounds and following the bed of gulches,
they pressed on, until the enemy was dis
covered less than three-fourths of a mile
ahead, and yet unconscious of the presence
of a foe.
Hating in a low spot in the hills, the
Pawnees hastily unsaddled their ponies and
stripped for the fight. Indians Invariably
go into a battle on bareback horses, as sad
dies impede the speed of the animals in
quick movements. When again mounted,
the Lieutenant gave the command to advance.
On reaching the crest OF a sand hill, the Paw
nees discovered their enemy just gaining the
summit of the next, about 500 yards dis
tant. The Yanktons discovered their pur-
suers at the anne moment, and great com
motion was observed in their ranks. They
hastily formed thpmSalVpA for hattie and
then one of them who could speak English,
cried out:
"Who are you, and what do you want? ?"
I'VE are Pawneei Indians, and we want TO
know where you are going Creede shouted
in reply.
"You are Pawnee scouts, and are soldiers
of the United States. We are Yankton Sioux
at peace with the government, and you can
not modest U.S."
you are moving against the Pawnee viii
lage, now on a buffalo hunt" Creole re-
piled. "YOu want TO kill our people and steal
their horses. We are Pawnee Indians, and
are here to fight for our people. If you take
the trail back across the Platte, we will not
disturb you, but II you attempt to move for
ward we will fight you. Decide quick"
The leaders of the Yankton band gathered
about the interpreter in council, while
Creole interpreted what he had said to
his warriors. 1t was with difficulty he could
restrain them from dashing forward to the
attack. In a few moments the Yankton in
terpreter shouted:
'Tf you attack US the government will
punish you and reward us for our loss.
We do not fear you as Pawnees. but we
are at peace and do not want TO fight you
because you are soldiers Of the great father
at Washington. We are many and you are
few, and we could soon kill you all, or drive
you back to your camp. Go away and let
us alone"
"You are the enemy OF our people. and
you go TO kill them" the lieutenant re-
piled. I'VE will hght for them. not as
soldiers, but as Pawnees. You must make a
move now, instantly. We will wait but q