The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26

there in ths=brush until night. Across th'
stream theY could see hundreds OF the Assini'
boins riding along the hips and searching the
brush: some. too. looked along the shore &c
see II they had crossed. But they had been sc
careful to destroy all signs on che other side that
their crossing was not discovered. With the
falling OF night they began the return journey,
recrossed the river stthe place OF black rocks
the coal banks-and In due time arrived at
their homes at the foot Of the great Rockies.
For some years after No Coats raid tho
Blaokfeet and the Assinibolns continued at
war. Then-no one knows why, for It is I'm
possible to sound all tho workings OF the In-
dian mind-the Assiniboins concluded TO ask
the Blackfeet TO make peace. Between the
Blackfeet land and the Assiniboin land Is the
land OF the Gros Ventres. a tribe long at peace
with both the others. So the Assinibolns
asked these latter people to act as their mes
Tenger and bear TO the Blackfeet a message.
Accordingly. one day n small party OF bril-
llnntly dressed men were seen approaching
the encampment Of the Blackfeet, and as they
came nearer they were heard to be singing
the song OF peace. Every one rushed out to
look at the new,arrivels and admire their beau
tiful costumes OF eagle plumes and embroid-
cred and weasel tasselled shirts and leggings.
The leader OF the party. u stately, Rrayhalred
old man. asked in fair Blackfoot for. the lodge
III nl6 OH lTIbnu. NnltI v IlIt Nhll. u Whon A.
was pointed out to him rode forward with his
party and dismounted at the door. According
to Indian etiquette. White Calf did not go out
to receive his guests. but when the Gros Ven
ire chief entered the lodge he greeted him
heartily and gave him the seat OF honor at his
right hand. the others being seated to the right
orleft Of the two chiefs according tn their rank.
While the women were preparing food for the
new arrivals. the host filed a great stone pip e
which was lighted by the chief guest. and then
smoked in turn about the circle. There was
but little conversation at first. The Gros Ven
tire told how many days he had been on the
way. and of.the buffaloes he had seen. White
Calf said that he was very glad to receive a
visit from his old friend. and that he had n
swift. gentle young horse In his band for him
TO ride home on. 1t is q universal custom
among western plains Indians to give visitors
or friends from a distance one or more horses.
After the guests had partaken Of the food
set before them. White Calf.again filed the big
pipe; three times it was filed and smoked
out, and when the ashes were knocked from
the third ~pipetul. the Gros Ventre brought
forth u parcel containing q beautiful ripe and
several pounds Of tobacco. which he presented
to White Calf. saying:
This pipe and tobacco are sent you by the
Assiuiboins, and l bear this message from
llltu NllGN SuN. We L a NHul OuI JUNK
men are continually at war with your people.
For many years the prairie has been redeemed
with blood shed in battle between us. The
CRYING OF the widow and the fatherless Is con-
tinually in our ears. We are becoming less
and less numerous because OF this. Day by
day our power is vanishing. when we should
seek all means of strengthening and replen-
ishinR our race TO the end that we may not be-
come as children in the hands OF our common
enemy. Therefore. for these good reasons
we send you a pipe and some tobacco. and ask
you to smoke 1t: and If you will do 30. we ask
you to appoint a place and n time where we
may meet and make a lasting PEACE"
White Calf took the pipe and tobacco and
laid them.carofully to one side. Then. draw
Ing a deep breath. me said: This Is not for me
alone to decide. 1t Is d big question which
must be thought about and talked about
among us all before l can give you an answer.
Remain with us. my friend. until we can make
up our minds. NV lodge here is your lodge.
Everything I have is yours. I will see that
your young mon are equally cared for"
In a little while old Four Bears. the camp
crier. was going about all through the village
shouting out the new and asking people to
care for such Of the.Gros Ventres as could not
be entertained by White Calf. Every one. OF
course. wanted the honor Of caring for the
STRANGERS, anu tney were soon plhCeu mere ana
there among the mole prominent men OF the
tribe. From the minute old Foul Bears
spread the tidings nothing was talked about
but the proposal OF the .Assiniboins The
women. OF course. were bitterly opposed to it.
Thoy could not forget or forgive any more
than their white sisters can. and they had no
voice In the decision to be rendered. Each
tribe Of the Blackfeet. i. e., the Blackfeet
proper and the Bloods and Piegans. is cub
divided into bands. each one presided over by
a chief. The one among these chiefs who is
the bravest and most generous and sagacious
is by common consent the head chief. For
two days the warriors OF each band were In
council with their chief. and the third day the
grand council was called by White Calf. the
head chief. All the minor chiefs and medicine
men attended it and each one snoks the deci-
sion OF his band. which in generat-was in favor
OF peace. On the opposite side the main OBJ
jector was Running Crane. chief OF the Seldom
Laugh band. He said in brief that he could
not trust the Assiniboins. His: grandfather
had told him that lin ancient times they had
made p~eaceswith these people. and not two
moons afterward the Assiniboins had at
tackled q small hunting party Of PieRans and
butchered nearly all OF them and carried of
the women. Since that time" he concluded.
I'VE have more than held our own with them
Nht " w ~ i bdy.
send back the pipe and tobacco" Neverthe-
less. 1t was finally decided to accept the peace
Offering. and the eros Ventres were sent back
with return presents and the message that on
the second day OF the succeeding new moon
the Blackfeet would meet the Assiniboins
on the big Bear River fiat near the Medicine
Rock hill.
1t was a beautiful day In June. when
tho two tribes met at the appointed
place. The Blackfeet had been jour-
neying down from the mountain country by
easy stages. hunting as they went. and the As
siniboins had likewise been slowly drifting up
from the east. Both tribes had camped sew
eral miles above and below the fiat the day be-
fore. and in the evening the chiefs and head
men. dressed in all their hnery Of war costume
and brilliant paint. had met at the sacred
medicine rock and shaken hands. A Gros
Ventre. who Understood both languages. was
present with the Assiniboins and acted as In
terpreter. The me~ting was short and for
Yna1 and - mas Jauilal th.t latb Iii I.-,a