The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1909-09-15
/" O ="
An Episode OF Invasion.
By FRANKLIN W. CALKINs.

N~~~~~A
The new Ell Dorado was in sight
Gordon's party of twelve tired front
iersmen had mounted the high divide
which separates the sources of the
Running Water from those of the
Cheyenne. For five weeks the men had
shovelled drifts, buffeted billiards. and
kept constant vigil among the inter
minable sand-hills. By means, too, of
stable canvas, shovels, axes, iron pick.
et-pins and a modicum of dry feed,
they had kept in good condition the
splendid eight-mule team which drew
their big freighter.
In fact "Gordon's outfit was a mod
ell one In every respect, and probably
no similar body of men ever faced our
snow-bound, trackless plains, better
equipped for the adventure. And now
the muffied marchers cheered as Cap
Gordon halted Them and pointed to a
blurred and inky upheaval upon the
far rim of limitless waste of white
The famous Black Hills, a veritable
wonderland, unseen hitherto by any
party of whites save the men of Gus
ter's expedition, lay before them.
Two more days and the gold-seekers
w1lld gain the shelter of those pine
covered hills, where their merry axes
would 'eat chips" until shelter, COM
fort and safety from attack were Sc
cured. Out of the bitter cold, after
weeks Of toll and danger, into warmth
and safety-no wonder they were glad!
AS yet they had seen no sign of the
hostile Sioux, but their frosty cheers,
thin and piping, had hardly been borne
away by the cutting wind when a NOV
ing black speck appeared on the west
ern horizon.
The speck drew nearer, and resolved
itself into a solitary horseman. Could
1t be that a single Sioux would ap-
proach party Of their strength? They
watched the rider without anxiety.
They were so near the goal now that
no war party of sufficient strength to
become a menace was likely to be-
come a menace was likely to be gath
cred. They were equipped with an ar
senal Of modern guns, with fifty thou
sand rounds of ammunition, and had
boosted they were good to stand off
three hundred Sioux"
Nearer and nearer drew the horse
man, his pony coming on in rabbit like
jumps to clear the drifts. Speculation
ceased. 1t was an Indian-probably q
hunter strayed far from his village,
half-starved and coming to beg for
food. Well, the poor wretch should
have frozen bread and meat, as much
as he could eat-they could not stop to
give him better fare.
1t was as cold as Greenland. The
bundled driver upon the great wagon
slapped his single line, and yelled at
the plodding mules. Eleven buffalo
coated, fur-encased men with feet clad
In snow-packs marched at the tail of
the freighter. In such weather their
cold "shooting-irons were left in the
wagon, nor did they deem it necessary
now to get them out.
They were prepared for a begging
Indian, but the apparition which final
ly rode In upon the monotony of their
long march seemed to them a figure
as farcial as savage. AS the Sioux
horseman confronted them he lowered
his blanket, uncovering his solemn,
barbarian face, and stretching out one
long arm, pointed them back upon
their trail.
Cor he said, and he repeated the
command with fierce insistencc.
The big freight wagon ratified on,
but the footmen halted for a moment
to laugh.
The Indian stretched his lean arm
and shouted, 60" still more savage
ly. 1t was immensely funny. Cor
don's men jeered the solitary autocrat,
and laughed until their icicled boards
pulled. They babe him get into a drift
and cool off; asked him IL his mother
knew he was out, and whether his feet
were sore, and II 1t hurt him much to
talk, and IL he hadn't a brother who
could chin-chin washtado?
His sole answer to their jeering. ms
he rode alongside, was go! so. go.'
repeated with savage emphasis and a
flourish of his arm to the southwark.
The footmen were plodding dozen
yards In the rear of the freight wagons
and still laughing frostily at this queer
specimen of 'Injun" when the savage
spurred his pony forward A few quick
leaps carried him up to the toiling
,eight-mule team. His blanket dropped
around bis hips. and repeating car
bine rose to his face. Both wheelers
dropped Mt the first shot, killed by a
single ounce slug. A rapid fusilladc
of shots was distributed among the
struggling mules, and theii the Sioux
was OF, shaking bis gun and teilinl
dspEHrs, biz Pony going IN xls.spp
sxRp aat llhs tka ~ia4,