Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-11-10

Sees~S VIVA S~AAS0
con and hard tack, coffee and sugar that
would have satisfied the stomachs Of
many hungry white man. Meantime
the sun was sinking toward the hori-
Eon, and old Stannard, with Atherton' g
permission, came squirting up from the
southeast to inquire, as he did in terse
language, what the devil was t-, mat
ter and why in the DEVILS abiding
place they were wasting SO much valu-
able time. Being informed that Yellow
Wolf had declared himself poor and
hungry and had begged for food as pre-
liminary to the council, Stannard ripped
out an explosive protest. 1.-The old
scoundrel is only playing you" said he
to the colonel. "He's sparring for wind
and time, don't you see? He knows
we're right in on top Of him now, by
dint Of two days. siege work, and that
we could attack now with every pros
pect of giving them thrashing. He's
just standing you off until sunset, colo
mel. For Gods sake send him to the
right about. Tell him the talk is over
and that we mean to attack at once. If
you don't, he'll slip out somewhere to-
night sure. -
But the colonel felt his honor involv-
ed. He couldn't in good faith send them
back now. He'd hear what the chief
had to propose, and if it wasn't salts
factory send him lack to his sand holes
and pitch in.
"You can't" said Stannard again.
He had had years of dealings with the
red men and knew their tricks and their
manners. "Next thing you know he'll
stipulate for peace smoke. Can't talk
until after smoke, and he'll smoke half
an hour before he'll say word" Stan
nard glared disgustedly around at the
silent officers, as much as to say: "You
know this as we'll as do, gentlemen.
Why don't you warn the colonel? Why
didn t you do it?" But they were silent
or turned away in visible embarrass-
ment. Some Of them had warned the
colonel and even argued with him. The
old fellow looked vexed and badgered
in good earnest now. He seemed to have
known Stannard many year, as was
indeed the case, and SO would listen to
far more from him than he would from
his own people.
All the time this excited talk was 60
ing on some little distance to one side
the bakers dozen of Indians were SQUAT
ted on the ground busily plying fingers
and spoons, only occasionally casting
furtive glances at the group. Around
themS in bigger, broader semicircle,
nearly 800 troops-infantry and caval-
ry-stood resting on their arms, watch
Ing the scene and occasionally indulg-
ing in rough frontier chat and chaff.
But the interpreter knew Stannard Of
old, marked every word that he said,
and in low tone warned his chief, who
glanced at Stannard s sturdy figure and
swapping eyes with no little concern in
his face, then helped himself to more
Of the bacon.
Just as Stannard prophesied, more
than an hour was taken up by the feast.
By that time every scrap was eaten, and
Yellow Wolf babe his interpreter petit
ton for more, and again he began, "We
are poor and hungry" and pleaded for
renewed supplies, but this time the
colonel babe the infantry captain speak
for him, and speak he did in no uncer-
tain tone. Not another mouthful until
the talk was over. then they'd see about
it. Another conference followed between
Wolf and his interpreter, conducted
with vast gestioulation. for, like the
Arapahoe. the Cheyenne language is one
SO cultural and uncouth that it is said
two Indians Of the same tribe cannot
understand each other in the dark.
They must have recourse to gestures
And then. just as Stannard said, the
willy old ferter for time came up with
proposition for smoke. No confer
ence could be held without che. But
again: 1--WE are poor and hungry We
have no tobacco.
They had their pipes, however and
these were speedily filled, lighted, and
with deep cultural "Ughs!" aud signs
Of contentment the squatting warriors
drew deep clouds of the fragrant vapor
into the lungs apparently aud exhaled
the smoke in long blue jets, Yellow
Wolf insisting Oh a far greater ceremony
and passing his beautifully ornamented
pipe from lip to lip of those nearest
him. Half an hour was consumed in
this way, and the sun was growing red
der and sinking lower, and the old colo
mel was waxing wroth and fdgeting
here and there, and then, and not till
then, when the great orb was barely
half an hour high. did Yellow Wolf
motion the throng TO fall back and give
him room, and not until the soldiers re-
turned to their places and the warriors
squatted at respectful distance from
their chief and the colonel and his Off
GERS took their stand facing the Indian
leader did that savage dignitary advance
step or two and begin. He dropped his
blanket from his shoulders with su-
perb gesture, and then, clad only i'm
breech clout, moccasins, paint and bar
baric necklace, armlets, leglets and
magnificent war bonnet of eagles feath-
ers. proudly swaying both arms in the
wild grace of his savage oratory, Yellow
Wolf began. Every 40 or 80 words he
would pause, and the interpreter would
do his best.
Long years ago." said Wolf, "this
beautiful land teemed with buffalo, elk