The Princeton union., 1900-09-27

the more he thought the more he
knew that no big body of Sioux would
be travelling across country at so crit
ical time Country, too, that was
conquered as this was from their enc
mics, the Crows), without vigilant
scouts afar out on front and flank.
Ihe more he thought the more he
knew that even as early as three
o'clock those keen-eyed fellows must
have sighted his little column, con-
spicuous as it was because of it's wag-
ons. Beyond question: he told him
self, the chief of the band or village
so steadily approaching from the
northeast had full information of their
presence, and was coming confidently
ahead. What had he to fear? Even
though the blood of settlers and SOL
diers might still be red upon the hands
Of his braves, even though fresh scalps
might be dangling at this moment
from their shields, what mattered it?
Did he not know that the safeguard of
the Indian bureau spread like the wing
of protecting angel over him and his
people, forbidding troops to molest or
open fire unless they themselves were
attacked? Did he not laugh in his
ragged shirt sleeve at the policy of the
white fool who would permit the red
enemy to ride boldly up to his soldiers,
count their numbers, inspect their ar
ray, satisfy himself as to their arma-
ment and readiness, then calculate the
chances, and, if he thought the force
too strong, ride on his way with only
significant gesture in parting in
suit? If. on the contrary, he found it
weak, then he could turn loose his
braves, surround, massacre and scalp,
| and swear before the commissioners
sent out to investigate next moon that
he and his people knew nothing about
the matchmaking, at least, that
they could be induced to tell.
One moment more Dean watched and
waited. Two of the Indians in the
ravine were busily reloading their
rifles. Two others were aiming over
the bank, for, with the strange stupid
ity of their kind, the other buffalo,
even when startled by the shot; had
never sought safety in flight, but were
now shifting the odor of blood on the
tainted air and slowly, wonderingly
drawing near the stricken leader as
though to ask what allied him. Obe-
dient and docile the Indian ponies stood
with dropping heads, hidden under
the shelter of the steep banks. Nearer
and nearer came the big black animals,
bulky, stupid, fatuous; the foremost
lowered a huge head to sniff at the
blood oozing from the shoulder of the
dying bull, then two more shots puffed
out from the ravine, the huge head
tossed suddenly in air, and the un-
calmly brute started and staggered,
whirled about and darted few yards
away, then plunged on it's knees, and
the next moment, startled at some
sight the soldier watchers could not
see, the black band was seized with
sudden panic and darted like mad into
the depths of the watercourse, dis
appeared one moment from sight, then,
suddenly reappearing, came laboring
up the hither side, straight for the
crest on which they lay, dozen black,
bounding, painting beasts laundering
over the ground, followed by half
dozen darting Indian ponies, each with
his 1.-the rider scurrying in pursuit.
"Out of the way, men! Don't fire!"
shouted Dean. And, scrambling back
toward their horses, the lieutenant
and his men drew away from the front
of the charging herd, invisible as yet
to the halted troop and to the occu-
pants of the ambulance, whose eager
heads could be seen poked out at the
side doors of the leading vehicle, as
though watching for the cause of the
sudden halt.
And then thing happened that at
least one man saw and fortunately
remembered later. Bryan, the trum-
peter, with jabbing heels and tapping
arms, was tearing back toward the
troop at the moment at the top speed