The St. Louis Republic., 1901-03-31

| stay and help make town"
| The crisis was too great to be decided of
! hand The Indians could not be forced to
leave; If they remained the white men would
have to go. Ligueste realized this. He
| smoked many a pipe full of strong tobacco
before the night had ended and he had de-
| cided to make another argument.
Ligueste's Great Speech
That Won the Day.
| Before the sun had climbed high he called
| the Indians together in the clear space
around the house that was building.
Friends" he said, 'you told me yester-
| day that you were like the ducks and buz-
yards. who Travelled until they found fine
country where there was beautiful open
| water, that they might rest there and OBJ
| tain an easy living. That you. the Mis-
souris. who were worthy Of pity, resem-
bled them because you Travelled like them to
find a place to settle yourselves; and that
You did not find any that was more suitable
than this. You say you want to form viii
lage around my house. where we shall live
together In the greatest friendship.
Il will reply to you in few words. and
will say that If you follow the example
of the ducks and the buzzards in settling
yourselves you follow bad guides. who have
no foresight. Because. IL they had any,
they would not put themselves into open
water so that the eagles and birds Of prey
could discover them easily-which would
never happen to them had they chosen
woody place. covered with brush.
You Missouris. you will not be eaten
by eagles; but these men who have waged
war against you for a long time past, who
are in great numbers against you, who are
few. will kill your warriors because they
offer resistance, and will make your squaws
slaves Behold what will happen to you
for wishing to follow. as you say. the course
OF the ducks and the buzzards, rather than
the advice of men of experience. You wom-
en- who are here and who listen to me, 20,
tenderly caress your children-give them
plenty. Also. go to your aged parents-press
them closely in your arms. kiss their
cheeks. tell them, you love them. For the
them. And that moment Is not far distant
If YOUR men persist in their intention to
settle here.
Il warn you as good father that there
are six or seven hundred warriors at Fort
Chartres. who are there to make war
against the English. This occupies them
fully for the present, for they turn all their
Chartres. from which direction they expect
the English. But if they learn you are here,
beyond all doubt they will come to destroy
you. -tsf 'f-''iH
See now. warriors. If 1t be not prudent
on your part to leave here at once, rather |
than to remain to be massacred, your wives |
and children torn to pieces and their limbs
thrown to the, dogs and birds Of prey. Rec
ollect, speak to you as good father. Re
fleet well upon what 1 have just told you. :
and give me your answer this evening. I |
cannot give you any longer time. for I |
must return to Fort Chartres.''
Indians Argue Situation
And Announce Decision.
After the speech had been finished the In
dams moved slowly away to their lodge |
among the trees upon the hill. None of the |
whites followed them. From a distance they
could be seen arguing. Finally the leader I
Of the band was seen to be making a speech. |
Now and then a word came to the white |
men. but they could tell nausht Of what |
he was saying. WaSers were laid as to
whether the advice of Ligueste would be