The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-01-04

"Bring tongues, then" and Bruce
,<ouched his own. Five" and he threw
forward the oNtspread right hand,
rapidly touching in succession the
ahunib and four fingers. I'VE give both
hands full-coffee. sugar. bareback"
and Bruce illustrated as he spoke.
that's ain" he finished abruptly,
with the well-known Indian sign that
plainly tells 81 have spoken--there is
nothing more to say" then calmly
turned his back and, bidding Conroy
follow. started to return to his COM
rides at the ravine.
But Indian diplomacy was unsatis-
fed. The Sioux had found big Nose"
TO be one of the soldiers i'm the field
He, Mt least. was of the hated troop
that fought and chased Burning Star
and killed Chaska. Thc trail told
them there were nearly n dozen in the
party. all or shod horses. with two In
1ead-spare mounts or pack-horses,
doubtless they had extra rations
and had come far; but why were
they going this way. so far west of
the usual road to the Big Horn posts?
WHY MtIF llfN NO ltN III lhAhpNi
Where were the rest? Why were they
hiding here m the ravine. instead OF
marching? Answer to this last ques-
ton was easy enough. 1t was to
keep out of sight Of Indian eyes, and
needed no excuse There was some
thing behind this mysterious pres
ence of ten or twelve soldiers in the
southern foothills. and Machpealota
would expect Of his scouts full In
formation, hence the instant move
ment on part Of one of the two braves
60 follow.
Impressively, Bruce turned again
and waved him back. $50, get buff
falo tongue" said he. cor no trade
Keep away from our tepees." and he
drew with his spurred boot heel a
Jagged line across the turf "Your
side" said he. indicating the slope to
the southeast of the line. "This-
ours. That's all" And this time the
Indian knew he must come no nearer.
''I've got 'em talking trade. lieu
tenant" reported Bruce. the instant he
reached Deans side. owe don't need
the tongues. but we've got more cof-
fee and sugar than we are apt to
want, and at least we can keep them
interested until dark, when we can
slip away. OF course, they've sent
word to their main body that we're
over here, but believe they can't
come in force before night"
"They knew you, sergeant, and they
knew it is probably our troop" said
he. "There must be only a small par
ty near us. Make your trade, but
while you're doing it we'll saddle.
mean to get out of this and into the
thick OF the timber before they can
surround us. Stand 'em Off now, while
wo get ready"
Promises must be kept when made
20 an Indian, even if they are otherwise
sometimes broken. In ten minutes
with coffee, sugar and bareback in their
hands, the sergeant and his comrades
were back at the front. One brave
was still there, the other had vanished
Five minutes, neither party saying q
word the troopers waited; then Bruce
turned to Conroy. 81 knew they hac
nothing TO trade. Take this sack with
you and fall back. Tell our fellow,
to keep me we'll covered till | follow
The instant the soldier started with the
sack swung over his shoulder, the In
dian. who had been squatted on the
turf, sprang up and began rapid eN
postulation in fluent Ogallala. ats
no use, young man interposed Bruce
"Vour chum there has no buffalo
tongues and hc knew it, Here's some
hardtacll for you,' and he spread ono
literally with sugar and handed it &c
the eytr-rcccptiNe paw, outstretchec
to grasp il, \ glance over the shoulder
showed THAI Couruy was nearly at the
edge. Then, quietly, Bruce, too, be
gan to retire. He had not got ter
PAGES, still facing his unwelcome Wis
flor, when the Indian gave shrill
sudden cry and tossed up his hands
Not second too soon Bruce turned
and darted for cover. The Indian flung
himself fiat on the turf and rolled away
into a depression where he could fine
partial shelter from bullets from the
ravine, whence he evidently looked fol
them and out from behind the knoll
brides held high, "quirts" flashing
at their ponies TANKS, darted half {
dozen painted savages, tearing dowr
upon the spot at the top speed of theil
agile mounts. Only two men remained
ON watch at the moment, Dean and one
trooper. Most of the others, already
in saddle, were filing away up the gam,
trail that threaded the windings of thu
ravine, the two lead horses with them
while a few yards behind the young
officer and his comrade, halfway dow
the reverse slope, two others, afcot
handled the reins of their own horses
and those of the lieutenant and mel
still held at the edge. 1t was an eXcit
ing moment Bruce had only a hun
dred yards to run before he could ge
under cover, and there was no chance
of their hitting him at that range, ye
a puff Of smoke rose from the knoll
and bullet, nearly spent, came tum
n. 81, Ia, sF Il . D..