The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-17

/ the PawneeS were eager for the Tray
an eagerness shared in by their in
trcpid commander. Chanting their
war-songs. their keen eyes scanning the
country ahead from the summit of each
sand-hiii, they pushed onward with the
remorseIess persistence of blood
hounds up the trail of fieeting fugitives.
About three miles from the river, on
reaching the top of sand-hii. the
enemy was discovered mile anead.
moving carelessly along, oblivious OF
the fact that they were being pursued.
! Concealed by the crest of the hill, the
! Pawnees halted to view the situation
and Lieutenant Creole
COVERED THE ROSTILES
with his field glass. An imprecation
came from his lips as he studied the
scene in front. and crying out SEN
tence in the Pawnee tongue, his war
riors crowded about him. His exper-
fenced eye had shown him that they
were Yankton Sioux, then st peace
with the whites. He took in the Situa-
ton in a moment. They had learned of
the departure of the Pawnee village on
buffalo hunt, and were after them to
stampede and capture their horses, Kill
all of their hated enemy they could
and escape back to their reservation.
/ All this he told his warriors. and the
field glass in the hands of various
members of the party corrobora;ted the
fact that, as United States scouts, they
had no right to modest the Yankton
bands The impetuous warriors chafed
like Gagged lions. and demanded in
vigorous terms that the chase should
be resumed. One cool-headed old man,
a chief of some Importance to the
! tribe addressed Lieutenant Creole
substantially as follows:
Father. YOU are a white man, an
officer under the great war chief at
Washington and you would rouse his
anger by battling with Indians not at
war with him and his soldiers. We are
Pawnee Indians. and the men yonder
are our hated foes. They go to attack
our people, to kill our fathers, sons
brothers, the squaws and children, and
steal their horses. 1t is our duty to
protect our people. It is not your duty
to help us. Go back, father. to our
camp, and we. Lot as soldiers but as
Indians. will push on to the defense of
our people. Listen to the words of wis
dom and go back
THE SITUATION WAS A TRYING
ONE.
The lieutenant well knew that if he led
his scouts against the Yanktons he
would have 20 face serious trouble at
Washington and~meet with severe cen
sure from General Augur. then COM
/ handing the Department of the Platte.
] He realized that his official position
would be endangered, and that he
might even subject himself to arrest
and trial in the United States courts
for his action. For some moments he
stood with his eyes bent upon the
ground in deep reflection, the Indians
cycling him keenly and almost breath
/ lessly awaiting his reply. It was a
tableaux, thrilling, well worthy the
brush of q painter The hideouSly
| painted faces of the Indians scowling
with rage; their blazing, eager eyes
rejecting the spirit of Impotence
which swayed their souls; the hardy,
! faithful ponies cropping at the scant
/ grass which had pierced the sand; the
! lieutenant standing as immovable as
| rock, his face betraying no trace of
/ excitement. calmly. silently gazing at
the ground carefully Weighing the re-
sponsibilities resting upon him-al
went to make up picture so
INTENSELY THRILLING
that the mind can scarcely grasp its
wild features.
When the lieutenant spoke he did so
quietly and calmly. There was light
ir his eyes which boded no good ito 1.-THE
pursued, but his voice betrayed not the
least excitement. He said:
For many years L have been with
you-have been one of you. We have
often met the enemy in unequal num-
bers, but we have never been defeat
] ed. In all the battles in which 1 have
led you, you have never deserted me.
Should desert you now? I know that
I will be censured, perhaps punished,
but those Yanktons shall never harm
your people. I viii lead you against
them as 1 would against a hostile band
and on me will rest all the responsible
ity. We go now as Pawnee Indians,
not as United States scouts, and go to
fight for our people. Mountr'
Grunts of satisfaction greeted his
words. They would have been followed
by wild yells of savage delight had
there been no fear of such demon
stration disclosing their presence ITO
the Yanktons. Horses were quickly
mounted and the band again took the
trail with an impatienee which could
scarcely be curbed.
The Yanhtons Were soon again sight
ed. and the scouts adopted the Indian
tactics of stealing upon their foes
Skirting the bases of sand hills, keep
ing from sight in low grounds and fol-
lowing the beds of the 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.
Halting in low spot in the hills the
Pawnees hastily unsaddled their ponies
and stripped for the fight. Indians in
variably go into a battle on bareback
horses. as saddles 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 Pawnees discov-
cred their enemy just gaining the sum-
nit of the next, about 500 yards dis
tant The Yanktons discovered their
pursuers at the same moment, and
great connection was observed in their
ranks. They hastily formed themselves
for battle, and then one of them who
could speak English cried out:
Who are you, and what do you
want?"
I'VE are Pawnee Indians, and we
want 10 know where you are going?''
Creole shouted in reply.
You are Pawnee scouts and are SOL
diers Of the United States. We are
Yanl0ton Sioux at peace with the gov
eminent, and you cannot modest u.s.
You are moving against the Pawnee
village now on buffalo hunt" Creole
replied. 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 if you attempt to move for
ward we will fight you Decide quick. .
The leaders of the Yankton band
gathered about the interpreter in coun-
ell, while Creole Interpreted what had
been said to his warriors It was with
L.