River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-06-14

. "GO!" An Episode Of Invasion Z
= BY franklin W. CaIkins.
SGN&N&N&N&@&e'&e&e'&.N

IFrom the Youths Companion by Per-
mission.}
THE new Ell Dorado was in sight.
Gordon's party Of IL tired from
tiersmen had mounted the high divide
which separates the sources. of the
Running Water from those of the Chey-
enne. For five weeks the men had
shoveled drifts, buffeted billiards and
kept a constant vigil among the in
terminabIe sand hills. BY means, too,
of stable canvas, shovels, axes, iron
picket pins and q modicum of dry feed,
they had kept in good condition the
splendid eight-mule team which drew
their big freighter.
In fact "Gordon's outfit" was model
one in every respect, and probably no
similar body OF men ever faced our
snow-bound, trackless plains, better
equipped for the adventure. And now
the muffied marchers eheered as Cap.
Gordon halted them, and pointed TO
blurred and inky upheaval upon the
far rim of Il limitless waste of white.
The famous Black Hills, veritable
wonderland, unseen hitherto by any
party of whites save the men of Gus
ter's expedition, lay before them.
Two more days and the gold seekers
would gain the shelter of those pine
covered hills, where their merry axes
would "eat chips" until shelter, com
fort and safety from attack were Sc
cured. Out of the bitter cold. after
weeks of toll and danger, into warmth
and safety-no wonder they were glad.
As vet they had seen no sign of the
hostile Sioux, but their frosty cheers,
thin and piping, had hardly been borne
away 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
ii be that a single Sioux would approach
q party of their strength? They
watched the rider without anxiety.
They were 50 near the goal now that
no war party Of Sufficient strength 10
become a menace was likely TO be gath
cred. They were equipped with an
arsenal Of modern guns. with ja,640
rounds Of ammunition. and hao. boastcd
they were good to stand of SEQ sioux.
Nearer and nearer drew the horse
man, his pony coming on in rah;tit-jtko
Jumps to clear he drifts. Speculation
ceased. 1t WAS an irdiau probably 4
hunter stray,d lar from his Village,
half-starved aud coming 20 hr@ fof
food Well the poor wrctcA shoulG
have frozen bread and uiCat. as much
as he could cat they could not stop
to give him het1;i fare.
1t was as cold ~, Greenland. The
bundled driver upon the great wagon
slapped his single line. and yelled at the
plodding mules. Eleven buffalo-cOated
fur-encased men with feet clad in snow
ID clIs marched at the tail of the
freighter In such weather their cold
shooting irons were left in the wag-
on. nor did they deem il necessary now
TO get them out.
They wer, prepared for begging
Indian, but the apparition which final
ly rode in upon the mOnotony of heir
long march seemed to them figure as
farcical as savage. As the Sioux horse
man confronted them he lowered his
blanket. uncovering his solemn. bar
barian face, and, stretching out ono
long arm, pointed them back upon
their trail.
Co" he said. and he repeated the
command with fierce insistence.
The big freight wagon ratified on
but the footmen halted for a moment
TO laugh.
The Indian stretched his lean arm
and shouted, "Go!" still more savage.
". 1t was immensely funny. Gordon's
men ieered the solitary auto crat, ant
laughed until their icicled boards
pulled. They bade him get into a drift
and cool off; asked him if his mother
knew he was out. and whether hi;
feet were sore. and if it hurt him much
to talk, and if he hadn't a brother who
could chin-chin washtado?
His sole answer TO their ieering, as h,
rode alongside, was go. go! go!" re
peated with savage emphasis and ;
flourish of his arm to southwark.
The footmen were plodding a dozer
rods in the rear of their freight
wagon. and still laughing frostily al
this queer specimen of 'Injun, wher
the savage spurred his pony forward
\ few quick leaps carried him up tC
the toilng eight-mule team. His blanket
dropped around his hips. and a re
peating carbine rose TO his face. Both
wheelers dropped at the first shot
killed by a single ounce slug.
rapid fusillade of shots was distrib
uted among the struggling mules
and then the Sioux was off. shaking
his gun and yelling defiance, his pony
going in zigzag leaps and like the
wind
Men ran tumbling over each other &c
get into the wagon and at their guns
The teamster and two or three 9th.
crs who, despite the cold. carried re
volvers under their greatcoats. ierked
their mittens and fumbled with stiff
fingers for their weapons. They had
not been nerved up with excitement
like the Sioux. and before they could
bring their guns to bear. the savage
was well out upon the prairie.
And when these men tried with
rife or revolver. to shot at the swift
" moving erratic mark presented by
the cunning Sioux and his rabbit-like
pony, the cutting wind numbed their
fingers and filed their eyes with wa
ter, the gIistening snow obscured
their front sights. and they pelted q
white waste haralessly with bull
let's
The anger which ragged in then
when they knew the Sioux had es
capped scot-free was something fright
full Six mules of the splendid eight
lay welting in blood; another was dis
ahlcd. and Only one had come of
without hurt. Halt the counties O
northwestern Iowa had been secured
TO get together "Gordon's Pride" a.
this fine freight team had been named
before the party left Sioux City.
The blight of their hopeful eNpedi
ton. the frightful peril of their sit
nation. were lost sight OF in the ab
sorbing desire for revenge which
burned in every man of them as they
eazed upon the stricken. stiffenins
heap of animals Al were for giving
chase Immediately. They believed they
could easily overtake the Sioux among
the drifts. of the lower lands. wher,
creeks and snow-fIled ravines mus
eause him TO shift his course contin
ually.
Bows" said Gordon, when some o
~ hod b,Stilv l,pgup IN Str.n fO,