Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-01-07
Quiver Avenged.

nearly all the Indians had left the vi
cfnity of our little trading post on the
Missouri to pass the summer back on
tae prairie and along the foothills of
the mountains. We had shipped all
our furs and robes on the last down
steamer, and now there was absolute
~ nothing for us to do but kill time
as best we could until another seasons
trade should begin. Situations whine
trade should begin. Situated as We
town, our post was not very likely
place in summer, and our only neigh
Dor was saloon man who had built
place fifty yards above us. But with
him we had little to 10. He was a
surly. unkempt fellow. and there was
generally hanging about his place a
set of men who came and went mys-
teriously. whom we more than sus-
pected were members OF gang Of
horse thieves and road agents that
used to ply their trade along the Vel
lowstone and Missouri rivers.
My partner had gone East with our
shipment of furs to dispose of them
l was alone except for the company
of good father, a broad and liberal
minded priest, whom l had persuaded
to stay with me until my partner
should return. The bishop Of Sas-
katchawan had sent him south the
preceding year to minister to a part
of his flock, the plains Crees, who were
in our vicinity.
n IN
father and l sat out in the shade of
the oyerhanging roof smoking and fan
ming ourselves, for it was hot day.
In tie saloon just above us a poker
game was going on, revealed to out
siders by the subdued hum of voices
and the ceaseless rattle Of chips. AS
on the summers hunt. but two OF
three families were still with us. ana
presently a young man named Culver
came along with his wife and sat
down by the father in the grateful
shade. During many years passed
with the Indians on the plains, l
ever saw. The woman, much lighter
colored than many Spanish woman.
had singularly graceful figure. and
Her eyes were exceptionally large and
brilliant, full of expression, and We're
shaded by long, sweeping lashes. Her
Eair, neatly braided, hung in two mas
sive strands almost to the ground.
Culver would have served an artist for
a model Of Apollo. What liked best
about him was the broad, high brow
snd square-cut chin, which even in a
90 int
united with a force Of character.
This couple. Culver and his wife,
Pai-o-tah. had been married a little
more than year. They were as yet
as deeply in love with each other as
ever. On the hunt or in the camp,
working or resting, they were insep-
arabic. Culver thought there was
nothing good enough for his beauti-
the beaver and otter he caught. We're
bright-colored dresses and for jewelry
wanted nothing for himself except
for his rifle. The couple sat with us
half an hour or more talking with the
father about affairs in their own far
northern home.
Riel, he who later created the Cana
the Indians urging them to return
home and wrest their ancestral lands
from the relocated usurpers, and
Culver was anxious to get the fathers
opinion Of the matter. The good man
airy scheme, and could not possibly
,1oSr +bo
dians not only would have to fight the
would bring thousands of soldiers
from across the salt water, ten white
men for every Indian and half-breed in
had little interest for Pai-o-tah, and
er's and coaxed him to go home.
''Happy, innocent children said the
father as we watched them go up the
trail hand in hand. mot a care or
sorrow to mar their daily lives"
AS they were passing the saloon a
big ruftian stepped out of the doorway.
aimed his revolver at them, and. call
ing out to some one within, "Bill, see
me drop that - Injun." fired With
cry of pain poor Culver fell to the
OttAN, tAi o-AuA NAOPPCu I'LL 1OUt
and knelt over him, and with a coarse
laugh the man who fired the shot turn
ed and went back into the saloon.
The father and l fastened over to
the PROSTATE Indian. He was still
conscious, but his face had assumed a
yellowish hue, and he said family, II
am shot in the back. Have pity and
carry me to my lodge" BY this time
one or two Indians had come over
from the camp near by, and together
we gently lifted the wounded man,
and. carrying him home carefully, laid
him on his couch. Sure enough, the
bullet had entered his back on the
left side and torn its way through the
kidneys. There was no hope for him.
Leaving the father to attend the poor
fellow and give him and the heart
broken Pai-O-tali such consolation as
was II his power, 1 went hack to the
post and wrote note to the command
ing officer of Il troop of United States
cavalry camped some six miles above
us. telling him of the cold-blooded
murder which had been committed,
and asking him to arrest the murderer.
Hastily sealing the message, l slipped
quietly around TO the Indian camp and