Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31

White habitation. and the agent lived by
himself in a little two-roomed hut.
Il set out from the military post with
the interpreter, carrying the money, some
few hundreds of dollars, in wallet
When we arrived at the agency we found
not the twenty-five or thirty Indians
whom had appointed to meet me. and to
Wnom money was due. but several hun
dred, all expecting to receive money.
After paying those entitled TO the cash. NE
rest became very ugly indeed, muttering
among themselves and casting evil
glances at me. / entered the agents house
for little rest and refreshment. My host,
on going to the window, noticed a peculiar
rite going on among the redskins. and, at
that moment the interpreter, who had
been conVerSlng among the excited saw
ages, entered and told me that the latter
had determined to kill me. and We're
painting their faces with the OminouS
streak of pigment, extending down the
left cheek from the nostril in the direction
of the heart, denoting the determination
to STAY. l consulted with the agent and
interpreter as to what course of action I
had best pursue under the circumstances,
and we came to the conclusion that we
had better wait until night had fallen and
then trust to our chances of getting away
under cover of the darkness. There was a
strong fence inclosing the ground in the
rear of the house, and in this Enclosure
we had had the foresight or luck to put our
horses, while the agent had swift ami
NAL in the stable, from which a door led
out upon the plains. In case of an attack
we determined TO make feint of defend
ing ourselves at the front of the premises.
and then making a dash through the
Stable door in the rear. In order to de-
ceive our enemies more completely. We
rugged up three dummy figures. which We
considered would prove effectual in the
semi-darkness of the western night
"It was now getting on toward evening,
and the Indians appeared TO be getting
their dances. and looking like demons
with their painted faces and ferCcious ges
lures. l must confess that that period of
inactive waiting was somewhat trying on
my nerves, any sort of action. offensive CT
defensive, appearing preferable by con-
trast. The Indians must have gotten hold
of some whisky, too. and We could see
them drinking from TASKS and becoming
more frantic in their dance movements.
while their blood-curdling yels resounded
over the plains AS darkness fell We set
our dummy figures where they could be
seen from Eithout. armed ourselves well,
and the savages advancing en- masse from
the front, deceived apparently by the dunn
mics, and evidently bent upon making an
end of us, we determined IL was now Or
never the time to act. Accordingly We
made our way through the back door.
crept along single file and almost upon
our hands and knees in the shadow of the
rear fence mounted our horses, and were
out upon the plains at the same instant
that a wild yell and the breaking Of Win
dows and doors apprised us that we were
not a moment too soon. We rode the
thirty miles back to the military. post
without moestation. Yes that period of
waiting the reflection of the fate of my
parents was a trying ordeal and 1t was
not until afterward that l felt the full
effect of the strain upon my nerves.
To the average individual, perhaps, SCI
ence would seem to offer generally peace
full pursuit apart from the thrills incident
to the careers of the soldier and traveller.
Yet on occa sions. the government scien-
list in the field encounters adventures
replete with danger as could well be con-
ceived. AS an example of this fact the
recent experience of Dr. Walter Hough,