Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-04
CHAPTER XIII.
FORT RICE AT LAST.


r v1E were struck with the novelty OF
Iw this idea, and could have laughed at
the turn Of events, had the circum.
EGScH2t stances been less melancholy. Ii the
49, Assiniboins really had captured
Charlie and still held him prisoner,
we could now bring them to terms, for we
had one Of their own warriors, a gun and
pony N.Y., With ! which to treat for him.
this varmint up and be Of. Wen camp
down on the Missouri, in as sheltered place
as we can find. for like enough the whole
tribe'H be after us before morning. ] kinder
believe, though, that this chaps 2 good ways
chief, or he'd not be skylarking around here
SO near the fort, and right under the nose Of
all them Arickarees"
The scout took small rawhide lariat from
to his assistance, had the latter hold the
Assiniboin's hands together behind him. while
he secured them with tie end of the lariat
and both together lifted the Indian into the
saddle. He submitted to all this quietly
enough, seeming to take it as matter OF
course.
The scout now tied the other end of the
lariat to the pony's bride, and all mounting,
we set out for the Missouri. Jerry ahead,
leading lS the captive's pony, and the rest Of
should not slip away from u.s.
We soon reached the river, which has no
| valley at this point, the descent being grad.
ual for several miles back. The banks were
high and steep. and there were scrubby cot.
| tonwoods growing all along.
Passing up the river little distance, wa
| came to small grove of slender cottonwoods,
rgowing very thicNy upon little point which
| jutted out into the river.
Here's our place." said Jerry, dismount-
ing. eff all the Indians in a hundred miles
of here should get after us tonight, we can
| hustle our horses into this grove out of sight,
and lick the whole of EN-"
We made our camp at the edge Of the
grove picketing the animals in a semicircle
around it. The scout took charge of our pris
! oner, helping him off his pony, and tying the
end of the lariat to a sapling, he turned the
pony loose, to Craze among our own animals.
Now. boys" said he, "one of us has got to
stand right over this little Indian all night,
for, if he. should get loose, he would dodge
into the brush, and we would never catch
him again."
Surely, he couldn't get away from us
here, could he?" asked Jud, in surprise.
"Surel yhe would answered Jerry; "he'd
swim the Missouri like an eel"
One of us stayed right beside him. while
the. rest were gathering fuel, cooking supper,
and making preparations fol. the night. When
supper was ready, jerry tied the Indians feet
and legs together. and, freeing his hands, as,
sisted him to sit down, gave him meat and
coffee and one. of the cakes which we had
fried from the last pound of -four in our pos.
StSSlOH. liz dSS Sietuuyt DOlH OI Ine cooked
and cured venison, and drank the coffee, but
would not touch the cake.
After the meal, the scout tied the prisoners
hands again; spread his blanket before the
fire and made him lie down upon it, and that
evening he kept us from gloomy thoughts and
feelings by giving us an interesting account
of the Assiniboins and their wars with the
Sioux.
These Indians inhabit the region of the
Sauris or Mouse River way up in Dakota.
near the British possessions, and also that Of
the Asiniboin River, of which the Mouse is
tributary.
The water of both are conveyed to Lake
Winnipeg through the channel of the Red
River of the North.
The Assiniboins are very numerous tribe.
small of stature, but active and strong, and
are the deadly enemies of all Sioux. Every
summer there are skirmishes between them,
over their more bulky enemies.