The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-02-26


from Sitting Bull. About the middle
of the forenoon he came to my camp,
apparently in the best of humor.
Some of US will go With yon,' he
said. Our horses are ready, and we
will take some robes along and seo
what you will do for Us.
This looked like business, and 1
made ready for the start in leis-
urely way, to show that | was indif-
ferent in the matter of trade.
ct was nearly noon when we got
off, Our party as made UP of Sitting
Bull, myself, some two dozen Indians
and little string of ponies packed
go was quite in order, for he would,
of course, expect me to make him
some handsome present before the
trading should begin.
1--WE started down the river valley,
Sitting Bull and riding abreast in an
amicable manner. though for the most
part in silence. We travelled fifteen
miles or so when we came plump
upon my train pushing up the valley!
Much astonished, l spurred for
ward, calling out to my men to know
what they meant by this piece of bus
mess. They halted their teams with
blank faces as | came up.
what do you mean? Why are you
here?' l cried to Louie Freychette,
the wagon boss.
'Sawpit,' he said, blankly, 'Sawpit,
he come las night an tell US to come
on.
81 stared at him in angry amaze
ment; and he then hurriedly ex-
planned that the half-breed had
reused them about midnight and told
them that had sent orders for the
wagons to move on to Sitting Bulls
village; that there were no Canad-
ians or police within ten days ride,
and that all was safe for trading.
Il was quite prepared at the end
of this recital for the coup which fol-
lowed. Sitting Bull and his men
came up, and his rascals grinned at
US. The chief looked my outfit over
with gravity. That he had bribed or
frightened Sawpit into bearing that
false message had not the slightest
doubt, and waited to hear what he
had to say.
1T came soon enough. I am sorry
he said, presently, that your young
men have broken the, big queens law.
| am one of her generals now, and |
shall have to take your goods
The old villain! He had me fairly
trapped. He could not have robbed
me on my side of the boundary line
without getting into trouble at home.
AS it was, | had no recourse that
could avail myself of without more
trouble than the goods were worth.
In fact. could make my plant to
the winds when the Canadian authori-
ties should be informed that l had
crossed their line to trade, unlicensed,
with their Indians.
Il got off my horse and sat on the
ground. victim of superior strategy.
Sitting Bull had the grace to leave
me one pony-the one l rode-and
enough provisions to grub-stake us
back to the Missouri. Then he and
his barelegged and befeathered cav
airy took charge of my wagon train
in the name of Queen Victoria!
MY Canucks chewed grass stalks,
while sat and meditated. In the end
we made a solemn compact, and
marched down the valley miles enough
to quiet the suspicion of any linger-
ing spy of Sitting Bulls band.
1--WE camped in coulee for a
week, where we shot several deer and
manufactured ropes and brides of
their skins.
''Then one evening, taking with me
Freychette and Armand Tatro, who
could speak Sioux like natives, 7 set
out on foot up Milk River. We
tramped some thirty miles, and
toward sunset took to hiding in a
thicket of willows. On the following
night we waded dozen miles up
Milk Notwithstanding work in Oc-
tober. Before daylight we crawled
out of the river over some drift stuff,
and again hid in deep thicket of
willows.
when daylight came we could see
the lower teepees of Sitting Bulls
camp, less than mile away. We
spent perilous day in hiding and
watching. Boys were out all around
us, hutng rabbits and birds. A duck
hunter passed within thirty feet of
where we lay. Yet We found inter-
walls in which to look about for the
pony herds. We knew pretty well
where they were when darkness cana
on.
I'VE left our cover about an hour
after sunset. 1t was quite dark, al
though little twilight fingered in
the north. We struggled toward the
village in Indian file. We were dressed
in the half-civilized gar which many
most in fact-of the Indians wore,
and we had stuck hawks feathers in
our SLOUGH hats.
Ill