The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-09-21

Oluuo WClC luI Oub
on the prairie, camping with the buff
falo and securing the thin, light sum.
mer skins with which to make new
lodges, moccasins, and various other
things. 1t was hot in the river valley;
not breath of wind stirred the foli-
age of the cotton woods. and we
wandered from one place to another
trying to find the coolest nook. There
was nothing to do to pass the time ex-
cept sleep and eat and count the days
that must pass ere the cold weather
would drive the Indians back to the
river and trade would begin again. 1
was not little pleased, then, when
one day runner from the Blood In
dian camp brought word that the chief
desired wagonload of trade goods
sent out to them, and the head trader
ordered me to go, selecting rs my as
sistant French half-breed employe
named Archie, trusty man and a
cheerful companion. Long before
noon we loaded a heavy wagon with
sugar, coffee, tobacco and cartridges,
hitched on four good horses and be-
gan to pull up the long, steep hill
which wound up through the pines to
the prairies, several miles from the
river. At last we reached the level Of
the rolling table land, and how pleas
ant it was to feel the cool prairie
breeze in our faces and to gaze upon
the endless expanse of plains and
mountains about usl Southwark the
snowy mountains loomed up as dis
tinct and clear cut as if they were but
mile or two away, yet they were
nearly fifty. Off to the east and south
east numberless Aat-topped and pine
clad buttes rose from the plain as far
as we could see, and everywhere was
the bright sunlit prairies, the clear
blue sky, and the cooling wind.
Our horses were fresh and we made
good time under Archie's skilful driv-
ing, reaching big Crooked Creek,
twenty miles or more from the river,
long before dark. While Archie cared
for the horses 1 went up the creek a
little way with my rifle and secured a
fat antelope from bunch which was
coming in to the water. We soon built
q fire of buffalo chips and had hearty
meal of liver, hard bread and tea.
The country we were in was infested
by war parties of hostile Indians,
especially the Sioux, and we knew we
were running o good chance of losing
our scalps by camping there. SO as
soon as supper was over we put out
the fire, and carrying our bedding
some distance away, lay down for the
night, not emitting to coil hair rope
around the robes to ward off any stray
rattlesnakes which might come along.
Some time in the night small herd of
buffalo came slong and got quite close
to us before they had our wind; then
they ran of, snorting and pounding
the prairie like thunder with their
heavy hoofs; but our horses were used
to them and did not stampede, as we
feared they might.
About 10 o'clock the next day we
came in sight OF the Bload camp, which
was strung up and down little stream
whose headis in the Snowy Mountains.
Almost every family had new lodge,
and very white and. neat they looked
in the clear sunlight. Game of all
kinds was evidently ryplenty in the
vicinity, for about every lodge hung
long lines Of drying meat, and the
ground was covered with the skins of
buffalo, elk, antelope and deer, pegged
cut to dry. We drove at once to the
chiefs lodge, ahd he greeted us very
kindly, ordered his wives-he had five
Ito unload our wagon and stow the
goods inside the lodge. and made us
sit with him and smoke and eat and
exchange the news. But we were not
to rest very long; the camp was short
Of cartridges and tobacco, and soon
we had the lodge surrounded with
men anxious to trade. Antelope and
deer skins were quoted at forty cents
q pound that season, or about dollar
each, and elk hides were worth as
much again. For the former we paid
eight cartridges, and for the latter
twelve, at cost of sixteen or twenty
four cents; and tobacco, tea, sugar and
other things we disposed of at like
ratio. But the Indians were well sat
isfed, and returned to their lodges
with their little purchases rejoicing.
Our host, Chief Pe-nuk-wi-im, was
one of the jolliest old Indians 1 ever
knew. He was very portly, and had
long since given up the chase, but he
could we'll afford to do so, for he
had several hundred head of horses,
which he had no difficulty in lending
to poor young men for half the spoils
of the chase, and one or two young
orphan boys lived with him and cared
for them for their board and clothes.
His five wives toiled increasingly to
tan and dry the robes and hides which
were constantly being brought in.
Yet they had a comparatively easy
time, for they did not work very long
hours, they rested when they pleased,
and they were contentod, for they
knew that the lot of women was to
toll and to serve their lord and mas
ter. While there was no open jealousy
among them, they We'd with one an-
other in their attentions to the chief,
and he in turn seemed to regard them
oil with equal favor. The head, or
oldest, wife was in q measure the
overseer of the others and directed
their work, and her place in the lodge
was always by the side of her husband