Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-09-07
The Daily Short Story !;
The Indians Revenge.

&~rS~SNSr~~ -
In the early part OF the. summer OF
1888 party of prospectorsi from Mis-
souri, and Arkansas entered the north
eastern part of Montana Cooking for
mineral claims. Some of the party
while at Bufdrd claimed tothave infor
nation as to lpossiblc richttinds near
the Canadian border. but this was
secuted by theL plalnsmenf and half
breeds at BufordAwho knewtevery inch
OF the country totbe travereed by the
prospectors. Nevertheless the party
left Buford, following tlse east bank of
Cherry creek northward and lhaving
friendly warning to be courteous TO
any Indians they smet. They had been
gone about week from Buford when
they came upon a,small party of lndi-
ans from the Fort Peck reservations
buck, two squaws and several young
girls. They freely distributed whisky
among the Indians and later abused
them shamefully. Then they pushed
on, traversing the region through which
flows Poplar river and the Porcalpine.
They had plenty OF supplies, but found
water scarce. The season had been
dry and the creeks were low and hlled
with a muddy stuff that neither man
nor beast could endure. 1t became
quite evident in a short time that they
must either give up their quest forpgold
and push southwark to the Milk river
or die of thirst. Already they had lost
three of their 10 horses and}were be-
ginning to suffer themselves.
At this juncture they werei surprised
one mo ming 10 have ride toward them
and from outtof the wastes ahead a
young Indian, whose friendly signals
and fine appearance gave them hope
that in him they might, find a guide
who would lead them to fresh water.
They offered him whisky. but he re-
fused it. He spoke bKoken English
and quickly understood what their
trouble was. The men were gaunt
eyed, worn with heat and thirst; their
horses We're trembling in every limb.
water" said the Indian. Water
one day-two daVs-much water there"
pointing straight ahead. Plenty
water, heap goE; white man never
comes; Indian see often. Much
water" stretching his hands wide to
indicate the quantity.
In their minds the dried up southern
Crs saw a mountain stream gushing
forth pearly drops Ivy beds of gold.
They pressed the Indian to guide them
to the spot and promised him every
kind of a reward. He consented to
lead them, and they took the trail at
once They followed, a miserable
looking set of prospectors- The buck
rode hard. He took them where there
was slipping shale, White levels blister
/ ing with heat, wallows in which water
| had not run for n year. He seemed
made of iron. and they were fast be-
coming as reeds. When night came.
three more horses were gone, and of
the six men two could go no farther.
/ They died during the night, and in the
morning but four rode on, with the
client brave.
He pushed on, never touching the
4 liquor offered him. apparently needing
no refreshment. The way grew hotter
end hotter. rougher and rougher. Two
more horses went down, a third man
dropped. and still no water.
Tonight" said the Indian and kept
on. The three behind him rode with
death. 1t was almost sunset when
they collapsed. They fell from their
horses as If shot, beaten in the race for
/ water. The buck did not halt for
them. He only noticed that the horses
following him. three dust covered, red
eyed beasts. loped easily and distended
their nostrils. They knew as he knew
that water was near.
/ When he knew he was safely out OF
sight of the stricken men. the Indian
turned sharply from his westward
/ course and rode south. He came to
where the rocks rose from the plain,
| where butte faced butte and there were
shade and GOODNESS OF their kind. He
made for a narrow way that took him
| to jutting shelf of rock. where plash-
/ ed n thin stream of water. cool as from
| the ices of the northern world. He
/ flung himself from his horse and
i plunged his head into a basin formed
i In the rock and that overran with
/ water His horse showed in beside
him. and gallOplng up came the three
/ horses, survivors OF the prospecting
party, and they drank like beasts that
have fought long with each other.
/ 1t was Just sunset when HOSES and
brave lifted their heads from the pool
/ and looked far away across the plain
below. They could not see, but some
where out there were the dead who
hours before had ridden with the In
dian the blind chase for water he never
intended to lead them to. Long he
looked out to where they Eiust be. and
then he gave the wild 'halloo" and call
of triumph of his race, and the horses
repeated it.
He had ridden well to pvenge the in
suit given his people by his prospectors.
He had betrayed those who would de-
file an Indian or an Indians woman.
He could return to Poplar river now
and tell his story to those of his kind.
He shouted again, and the horses cried
out, and then all disappeared in the
night on the homeward trall.-Chieago
| Record Herald.