The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-01-07

|
door. Big Road had made an insolent
demand and coupled with It a defiant
message. Big Road was drunk and had
threatened to move with his village,
and then 1t would become the duty of
the Twelfth to surround aud herd him
back. Undor the stipulation Of late
treaty he was allowed for his winter
range only the south bank of the Platte,
from Frayne to:tho breaks Of tho Medi-
oine Bow. If hGSArossed the Platte and
struck out for the Big Horn. no invaded
the cattle lands and laid himself open
to attack from tho hustlers. II he
dove into the mountain range to tho
south, ho left his reservation and for
feited tho rationB and supplies which
the agent at Fettorman Bond was bound
to issue at regular intervals. Ho had
quarreled with the agent and moved his
village up stream to within ten milos Of
Frayne--which he had right to do.
He had quarroled with-and OH good
grounds-the cowboys and then boen
taken under the wing Of Uncle Sam for
safety, and now he proposed quarreling
with his bonefaotors and launching out
OH fc cbidden territory, and that meant
| business Tor all aC ETayne.
But Ono Eyed Bull was no truculent
warrior. He had delivered his message
in accordance with his chief g demands
and in far more civil tone and terms
than it'was consigned to him, then had
waited in dignified silence, confronting
the somewhat 1lippant bluecoats from
tho fort, refusing to make any response
to the POPULARITY and ridicule in which
! some Of their number indulged or to
enter into any discussion with Bat or
the two Indian goldiers as to tho prob
able inspiration Of Big Road g bombaat.
Well enough he realized when the adju-
tant arrived upon the scene that the
"blutf" had totally failed, and before
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 mon and expected
J nothing less than some sudden aot Of
hostility on the soldiers part. If there
ever was, time in Big Roads history
when a clear head and cool brain were
needed, 1t was now, just when he had
succeeded In getting drunk, and we'll
had tho cowboys reasoned. While some
| Of the number lured the chief to the
banks Of the Platte and piled him with
lies ond whisky, others were scurrying
up and down the valley, routing out the
ranchmen, settlers and "hustlers' and
gather at the given signal, for there
was no telling what would be the first
consequence Of their diplomacy. If Big
Road amply broke camp and started
with his whole village in tho dead Of
night in hopes Of leading the soldiers
stern chase to the Big Horn, they could
stumble in his way, impede his flight
and bring on row in which, with vast
ly superior numbers, they could ut least
rob tho red mon 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 tho credit Of hav-
ing brought tho chief to bay. If, on the
other hand, Big Road became 80 erhzed
with their firewater as to 60 down and
beard tho lion In his don and defy the
cavalry at the fort, then there might
be pretty scrimmago right over On the
flats when tho colonel ordered the
chiefs arrest, and when the soldiers
were tackling tho warriors in the open
and having nip and tuck fight Of it
tho frontiersmen could surround the vii
lage and help themselves. There would
be only old men and womon and children
to defend 1t. There was gloom, there
fore, in BCll's sole remaining optic as
he received in majestic silence the adtu-
tant' q indignant rendering Of the colo.
nel's message, and, motioning to his
blanketed braves to follow, ho turned
about and rode away.
"What do you think they'll dor" was
tho eager question asked the adjutant
on his return to the post. ''Is he mad
enough to mean fght?"
"Be is, if he doesn't get any drunk
or" was the answer. "Morc whisky
would be tho surost way Of settling the
question now, but it would rob US of
tho pleasure Of knocking him out---and
|
ner''
AT s o'clock that night, with one
platoon In dispersed order we'll to t.,
front and others in reserve, whilo tho
garrison Of Fort Frayne stood by their
arms within the fort, Captain Farwcll g
troop moved slowly up tho dark valley,
along the snow covered flats, 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 tho night was still as solitude It.
self, not whisper could bo hoard from
tho direction Of tho v lagc, not spark
Of fro could be seen. over against them
on tho northern shore wcrc sounds at
times as of rapid hoof beats mufflcd by
the snow. Half mile out horseman
loomed up at tho front and in moment
was merged in tho advancing line.
"What is it, sergcantf What news
have your" asked the young platoon