Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-28
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Al Episode Of lnvsslos.
BIT FRANKLIN W. CALK1Ns.

M CYbeU0S " uuVuBIOUs L
Br FRANKLIN ". cALKrNs.
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The new FL Dorado was in sight.
Gordon's party of twelve tired front.
iersmen had mounted the high divide
which separates the sources of the
Running Water from those Of the
Cheyenne. For five weeks the men had
shovelled drifts, buffeted billiards. and
kept constant vigil among the inter-
minable sand-hills. BY means, too, Of
stable canvas, shovels, axes, iron pick.
et-pins and modicum Of dry feed,
they had kept In good condition the
splendid eight.mule team which drew
their big freighter.
In feet "Gordon's outft' was mod.
81 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 mufiled marchers cheered 40 Gap"
Gordon halted them, and pointed to
blurred and inky uphcaval upon the
far rim Of limitless waste Of white.
The famous Black Hills, a 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 gaiq 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!
Al yet 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 NOV.
NC black speck appeared on the west.
ern horizon.
The spcck drew nearer, and resolved
itself into solitary horseman. Could
It be that single Sioux would M.
proach a party Of their strength? They
watched the rider without anxiety.
They were 30 near the goal now that
no war party Of sufficient strength to
become a menace was likely to be-
come a menace was likely to be gath.
cred. They were equipped with an ar.
senal Of modern guns. with fifty thou.
sand rounds Of ammunition, and had
boosted they were good to stand OF
three hundred Sioux"
Nearer and nearer drew the horse.
man, his pony coming on In rabbit.like
jumps to clear the drifts. Speculation
ceased. 1t was an Indian-probably a
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
40 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 plodding mules. Eleven buffalo.
coated, fur.encased men with feet clad
IN snow-packs marched ut the tail of
the freighter. In such weather their
cold "shOoting.irons" were left In the
wagon, nor did they deem 1t necessary
now to get them out.
They were prepared for a begging
Indian, but the apparitiOn which final.
" rode In upon the monOtony of their
long march seemed to them a figure
as farcial as savage. As the Sioux
horseman confronted them he lowered
his blanket, uncovering his solemn,
barbarian face, and stretching out one
long arm, pointed them back upon
their trail. .--,, ~~
go" he said, and he repeated the
command with fierce insistence.
The big freight wagon ratified on,
but the footmen halted for moment
to laugh.
The Indian stretched his lean arm
and shouted, go" still more savage.
~. 1t was immensely funny. Cor
don's men jeered the solitary autocrat
and laughed until their icicled boards
pulled. They babe him get into drift
and cool OF; asked him II his mother
knew he was out. and whether his feet
were sore, and II 1t hurt him much to
talk. and II he hadn't a brother who
could chin-chin washtadO?
His sole answer to their jeering, as
ne rode alongside, was 60! 90! go.'
repeated with savage emphasis and a
flourish of his arm to the southwark.
The fOotmen We're plOdding a dozen
yards In the rear Of the freight wagons
and still laughing frostily at this queer
specimen of "Injun" when the savage
spurred his pony forward. A few quick
leaps carried him up to the tollina
eight-mule team. His blanket dropped
around his hips, and repeating car,
bine rose to his face. Both wheelers
dropped at the first shot, killed by a
single ounce slug. A rapid fusillade
Of shots was distributed among the
struggling mules, and then the Sioux
was of, shaking his gun and yelling
defiance. his pony going II xig.zaa
u laA M nd lilo tha ~.,ioA