The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-06-15

Cy Gordon was their captain. He
had been a hay and wood contractor
for many years in the Sioux country,
and his word was law to this little
band.
There was no need to argue that no
man could have even guessed at the
daring and disaster they had looked
upon. The performance had been
too appallingly simple and easy. 1t
had come as unexpectedly as the flood
of a cloudburst or the bursting of a
gun.
While his men stood vengefully
watching the flying Sioux, Gordon
stripped himself of superduous wrap
pings, stocked his pockets with frozen
bread and cartridges, slipped on a pair
of snowshoes kept for emergency.
frightened his belt, and launched HIM
self in pursuit.
Horse and rider were again no moro
than a speck upon the vast snow
field. Gordon, with an "express" rifle
under his arm, took the long, swing
ing stride of the accomplished snow
sheer. In an hour the speck upon the
snow had not grown smaller.
At high noon, by the sun, upon q
broad fat where tall grass held the
snow, Gordon came almost within bull
let range of the Sioux. An hour later,
among a tangle of drifted ravines.
there was an exchange of shots, and
the Sioux's pony dropped in its tracks.
The Indian lodged out of sight, and
Gordon pushed warily on with a grin
of hate under his icicles.
He took up the Sioux tracks, and
noted with satisfaction that the In
dams moccasined feet punched
through the light crust at every other
step. In just little while!
But he followed for an hour or mere
among seemingly interminable tan
gle of gullies without catching a
glimpse of the wary dodger. Then he
emerged into a wider valley, to find
that the artful rascal had escaped out
of range and out of sight upon wind
| swept stretch of river ice.
Gordon ground his teeth and swept
over the smooth surface, sweating,
despite the sharp cold, from fierce ex-
ertion. At turn Of the river he saw
the Sioux; but there were others, more
than "a score of them, mounted and ap-
preaching the runner. The mule-kill-
er's camp or town was close at hand.
Exhausted from his long run, Cor.
don, in his own language, "threw up
the sponge" He hastily sought the
cover of river drifts and scooped him.
self a kind of rifle pit. Then, with a
pile of cartridges between his knees
and slapping his hands to keep his
fingers ready for action, he waited
meaning to do what execution he could
before the end.
There was considerable parley among
the Sioux, and then only single In.
dian advanced toward the white man.
This one came on afoot within gun.
shot, then stopped and shook his blan.
ket, in token that he wanted to ap.
proach and talk.
/ Gordon laughed. The situation
seemed to him grimly humorous. He
motioned to the Indian to come on, and
kept him we'll covered with his rifle
\ moment later, however, he lowered
his gun.
! Whatever fate awaited Gordon, he
knew that he stood in no danger of a
treacherous stroke from the approach.
ing Sioux. 1t was the chief, Red Cloud
Gordon arose, and the chief came
forward with hand outstretched
my young man has killed your mules,
was Red Clouds greeting in the Sioux
tongue.
Gordon understood. "Yes,'' he said
land I will not take your hand until
you have done right"
The grave old chief drew his blanket
about his shoulders with a shrug
"Now listen," he said. IF one of your
soldiers had approached party of my
soldiers and had killed all their horses
and SO crippled them and escaped, your
people would have made him big cap.
tain. 1t is so. My young man is very
brave. He did as he was told. You
cannot come here and take my country
not yet. I have watched your ad.
vance and complained to your soldiers
at White River. When I saw they die
not 60 out and catch you as our Great
Father has said they should do, sent
my young man to stop you. You will
find your soldiers at the three forks OF
White River. Now go!'
And without another word Red Cloud
turned upon his heel and stalked away
This time Gordon was glad enough
to obey the injunction to go" Three
days later his little party fled in at the
military camp ON White River, anc
when. some time afterward, their boxes
OF freight had been recovered, not sc
much as blanket or a pound of sugar
| had hoon fol NV Dol T11,,I,e