St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-07-07
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: 4GO!' Episode Of Invasion :
Z By anklin w. calkins. E
S&@NS ~ a'&9&@W@NeW@wS

lETOUN LuN%I43 Cutl y companion, Dy Eer-
mission.l
THE ueXw El Dorado was in sight.
Gori h's party of IL tired frcn-
tiersmeI adj mounted the high divide
which arates the sources of the
Runnipk Water from those of the Chey-
eune. pr five weeks the men had
shove drifts, buffeted billiards and
kept constant vigil among the in
term lle sand hills. By means, Too,
of s. canvas, shovels, axes, iron
pick ns and modichm of dry feed,
thek kept in good condition the
Tspl eight-mule team which drew
the g freighter.
"Gordon's outfit" was model
on Every respect, and, probably no
sir body of men ever faced our
ST ound, trackless plains, better
ed I'D for the adventure. And now
filed marchers cheered as Cap"
| G halted them, and pointed to a
b ed and inky upheayal upon the
f I'm OF IA limitless wastesof white
famous Black Hills, veritable
ierland, unseen hitherto by any
d of whites save the men of Gus
d expedition, lay before them.
80 more days and the gold, seekers
I'D gain the shelter of those pine
ered hills, where their, merry axes
lid "eat chips" until shelter, COM
ft and safety from attack were Sc
G#red. Out of the bitter cold, after
eeks of toll and danger, into warmth
I'd safety-no wonder they were glad!
AS yet they had seen no sign of the
stile Sioux, but their frosty cheers,
lin and piping, had hardly been borne
way by the cutting wind when a
moving black speck appeared on the
western horizon.
The speck drew nearer and resolved
itself into a solitary horseman. Could
it4be that a single Sioux would approach
a party of their strength? They
watched the rider without anxiety.
They were SO near the goal now that
no war party of sufficient strength to
become menace was likely to be gath
cred. They were equipped with an
arsenal of modern guns, with $4,000
rounds of ammunition. and hadboasted
they were good to stand off 300 Sioux
Nearer and nearer drew the horse
man, his pony coming on in rabbit-like 4
jumps to clear the drifts. Speculation
ceased. It was an Indian--probably
hunter strayed far from his village,
half-starVed and coming to beg for
food. Well, the poor wretch should
have frozen bread and meat, as much
as he could eat-they could not stop
to give him better fare.
1t was as, cold as Greenland. The /
bundled driver upon the great wagon |
slapped his single line, and yelled at the |
mules. Eleven buffalo-coated, |
men with, feet clad in snow
packs marched at the tail of the /
freighter. In such weather their cold I
shooting irons" were left in the wag-
on, norglid they deem it necessary now |
to get them out. /
: They. were prepared for begging t
Indian, but the apparition which final /
~ rode in upon the monotony of their
long march seemed to them figure as
farcical as savage. As the Sioux horse
uncovering his solemn, bar
oarian face, and, stretching out one
long arm, pointed them back upon Z
heir trail.
"Go!" he said, and he repeated the
with fierce insistence.
The big freight wagon ratified on,
,ut the footmen halted for moment
70 laugh.
The Indian stretched his lean arm
md shouted, "Go!'' still more savage
y. 1t was immensely funny. Gordon's
nen jeered the solitary autoerat, and
aughed until their icicled boards
pulled. They bade him get into drift
md cool off; asked him if his mother
new he was out, and whether his
eet were sore, and if it hurt him much
o talk, and If he hadn't a brother who
ould chin-chin washtado?
His sole answer to their jeering, as he
ode alongside, was go! go! gor' re-
'eated with savage emphasis and a
lourish of his arm to southwark.
The footmen were plodding dozen
ods in the rear of their freight
wagon, and still laughing frostily at
his queer specimen of sInjun," when
he savage spurred his pony forward.
! few quick leaps carried him up to
he toiling eight-mulet team. Hisblanlset
ropped around his hips, and re-
eating carbine rose to his face. Both +,
rheelers dropped at the first shot,
illed by a single ounce slug. A
apid fusillade of shots was distrib-
ted among the struggling mules,
nd then the Sioux was off, shaking
is gun and yelling defiance, his pony !
Ding in zigzag leaps and like the :
ind
Men ran tumbling over each other TO
ct into the wagon and at their guns.
he teamster and two or three 9TH !
rs who, despite the cold, carried re-
divers under their, greatcoats, jerked
heir mittens and fumbled with stiff
ngers for their weapons. They had
OF been nerved up with excitement,
ke the Sioux, and before they could
ring their guns to bear. the savage {
as well out upon the prairie. !
And when these men tried, with
fl or revolver, to shot at the swift {
moving erratic mark presented by 7
lie cunning Sioux and his rabbit-ike ]
ony, the cutting wind nuinbed their
ngers and filled their eyes with wa
#, the glistening snow obscurcd
leirs front sights, and they pelted q /
hite waste harmlessly with bull