The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-01-21

"
'T7,ey kill the COLONEL He no gor''
pressed excitement, had fastened OUT TO
join his friends of the Twelfth, his
nerves tingling again at the thought of
the possibility Of a skirmish, and now he
stood with Fenton close at hand, wait
ing eagerly for the first developments.
But little time was wasted. There
was brief parley between the lieuten-
ant with the troopers and a formidable
looking Indian who seemed to lead the
others. Then the officer turned and sent
man galloping back to the post. In
four minutes he was in the colonel's
presence, dismounted and making his
report.
''Big Roads compliments-I mean,
the lieutenants compliments, strand
Big Road sends his delegation for three
wagon loads Of meat, flour, sugar and
coffee, sir, and says as the colonel hasn't
come to see him he's going to move"
The colonel laughed-the first laugh
since Christmas, somebody remarked at
the time. care you sure there's no mis-
take, Fallon?" he asked the messenger.
'tThats what the lieutenant asked
the Indians, sir, but we have two of
T. troop with us-what's left Of 'em
one Brule and t'other Ogalalla, and
they both translate it the same way, and
Bat is with u.s. too, sir and he says it's
like Big Road when he gets liquor in
him. He thinks he's lord Of the earth.
Bat says he's drunk now, and believes
the colonel will be glad to do as he de-
mands for fear of him.
"Well, who brought the message?
Who's that big buck in the lead THEREOF
'That's One Eyed Bull, sir-him
that was nursed in the hospital here
after the fight three years ago."
Bull? He ought to know better than
to bring any such message said Fen
ton refectively. II presume he dare
not refuse, however. Mr.. Adjutant,
mount Fallon's horse, gallop out there,
and tell Bull to tell Big Road to go to
the devil That's all on that head. Cap
tain Farwell, as soon as your men have
had supper let them saddle. and be ready
for night work. Orderly, have my horse
sent up in half an hour. That's all for
the present, gentlemen. Come, Jack
LOUIS waiting dinner for us. )"
It was the first time that any one had
seen Fenton mad. as Amory put it,
when the group broke up. either Big
Road will come down off that high
horse or the old man will snatch him,
and within the next few hours too.
Ormsby brings us luck. He never comes
out here that we don't have shindy of
some kind
More than one officer was thinking of
this remark of Amory's as they scattered
to their homes. Many dinner was kept
waiting and many a 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 a 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
Continued next week.