The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-27

| "ouiu 10 sale we could play Indian ourselvo
and travel nights. hiding In some good place dur
ing the daytime
We left tho Fort late in August Each OF III
had saddle horse and two pack horsca Our out
ut was simple: couple OF skillots and pots, a liz
Tie bedding, an Indian lodge for shelter a oo,ipl,
OF axes, three dozen traps and plenty Of ammun
uon and tobacco What would your modern
| guides and sportsmen think OF such an outft a.
| 'haU sec them going by here and they have
twenty horses loaded with provisions, with stores
| and tents with chairs and tables Hail blu,
| they're great hunters
Well having crossed the Missouri lust below
tho mouth OF the Yellowstone, VIC struck out over
tho rolling prairie. keeping far enough back from
the stream 10 hear its long concs and breaka
Mono OF us had ever been UP tho Yellowstone. but
We had obtained general idea OF the country from
the Indians who visited the Fort They were
friendly enough when at the mercy Of the cannon
In tho bastions We did not wish to keep close TO
the river all tho way preferring TO prospect some
OF its principal tributaries on the way up So we
gradually left tho stream TO our right and after
travelling leisurely eight nine days little west
Of south, wo cnmo 10 the Powder River There
VIC found great many beaver both In the stream
and Its tributaries, but there was also plenty of
fresh Indian sign. tho first we had seen: when We
saw that VIC cached in the brush and when nirht
came packed up and travelled on Tho next
stream We came TO, having laid our course south
OF west from tho Powder. was Tongue River A
very largo party OF Indians had recently canned
where We struck 1t but as their trail from there
lod oil toward the Yellowstone we thought Wa
would DO safe in travelling up II a way. Ono
night wo camped in q small timbered bottom and
az 1t looked like rain we put up the lodge gathered
store OF fuel and got everything under shelter.
Louis had killed very fat mountain sheep that
evening, yearling ram, and we made an carly
supper OF its Liver, kidneys and heart Then we
suspended the rest Of it. except the hams over the
fire where 1t would swing and turn and cook 10
perfection. whilo VIC 10y back and smoked. spin
ming yarns and watching tho white fat coated ribs
turn TO a crisp brown.
AT last the roast was done, and drawing our
knives VIC went at it, not hurriedly, you know
but with discretion. cutting q choice bit hero and
there, and enjoying its full flavor. Rib after rib
was stripped Of its sweet coating, tho tenderlon
also disappeared. and only the shoulders and bit
OF briskct remained when we at last put away our
knives, took a last smoke, and turned into our
blankets Sometime In the night an old shy
grizzly and a couple OF cubs came along attracted
no doubt by tho scent Of the meat We had We
were sound asleep and did not hear them until ono
OF the cubs having In somcway managed 10 slip
in past the curtain OF the doorway, and becoming
frightened, began TO squalL Tho curtain had
fallen back into place and IL could sec no way out
That walked us, you may DO sure, and we vcr,
about to spring out Of our beds, indeed Louis di!
get up an grasp his gun, when with a roar the
old bear struck tho lodge like whirlwind and
down IL camo on U.S. and on the cub, which then
bawled the louder than ever. That made the old
she bear frantic and sho jumped into the centre of
the wreck and pranoed around, biting and clawing
at tho lodge skin, and occasionally stepping on
one Of us, which was no Joke. she must have
weighed six or seven hundred pounds None of
us spoke q word nor moved, but we kept up a big
thinking, and wondered how things were going TO
turn out Tho cub all this time kept roofing and
plunging about, never forgetting to squall though
and finally II worked its way out where the lodge
pins had pulled out The old one met it with a
waugh! and snih Of satisfaction and in minute
or two we heard them going away through tho
brush. We glad
There were not many beaver in this stream. the
Indians having caugh! a great many by drawing
off the water in their ponds and knocking them in
the head when they came out So we started on
once more duo west now. and we left the valley
about dark wished 70 take no risks When
daylight came We found ourselves at the foot OF A |
long high pine crowned butte. We cooked our
breakfast at the side OF little stream at its base
and then climbed TO the top OF it, unpacked and
hobbled the horses. and then spreading our blank
cts laid ourselves down for good sleep not omit
ting however to first take good look over the sur
country. As far could see in all
directions tho buffalo and antelope were quietly |
feeding or resting. good sign that no enemy was
abroad. Along in tho afternoon having slept all
could, got up, opened ono OF the packs and was
busily eating piece Of cold meat, when sud |
denly heard some shots of to the East ARGUS
ouia nd Antoine ont in ha
packed up as quick as We could. and then sneaked
out to tho edge of the butte-its top was fat and
wide see what was going Well sir, be-
held the most interesting and exciting scene il was
ever my good fortune 10 sea
There, down on the plain before us, not a mile |
away, two parties OF Indians were fighting each |
other for dear lifo Tho smaller band OF per haps
a hundred men, wcro afoot; evidently a war party. |
for they all rugged out in war clothes and
plumei head dresses Circling about them here |
there, and everywhere at once. at least three
hundred horsemcn, Crow Indians for we could |
catch their war cry. We thought the
other party were Blackfeet, who on their way TO |
war against the Crows had been surprised Oh,
but they were making a good fight; II reminded |
me Of three or four cur dogs after a badger; the
dogs would keep circling about and barking max
ing the badger retreat oil right enough, but they
hadn't the courage 10 close in and have il out:
evcrytime they tried that, ono would get nipped
and then they would all draw off and circle around
some more That's the way II was with the Crows
they kept circling and circling and once in while
a bunch Of them would make dash in as II they
wero going right through the enemy's ranks: but
before they ever reached them, there would be A
lot Of shooting, two or three men and sometimes
horses would fall, and that would be the end OF
that charge Once In while. too we would SEQ
one or two Of the beeaguered party fall, but his
would close up about him, pick him
up and carry him with them on that slow and Of
IN interrupted retreat which was steadily bring
ng them nearer and nearer 10 our butte Once upon
Is timbcred summit they would be safe, and they
;new IL
I'VE had no sympathy with either pa ty; we saw
hem killing each other, and ought to have been
satishod, but We were not We wanted and ex-
Dected TO sec those horsemen make grand charge
We felt sure they would muster up
courage 10 do ere the retreat reached the foot OF
he butte, and We waited lust long as we dared 20
'ee this grand spectacle At last the foot party
VAS but couple of hundred yards from the foot OF
he butte; and We saw that We could not linger an
'ther moment so hurrying 10 our horses We
mounted and descended 10 the other side of tho