Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-05-09
INDIANS" was the answer.

indians" was the answer, Fall
in"
We could all now see coming down
from little natteued coulce IL the
left Il head of a line Of mounted men.
who doubtless had been the cause OF
the hNtralo stampede which had cross
ed in front of us. The column OF the
trihcsmeu came ou toward us fearless
ly. They made a long calvacade, 100
horses or more, with many travaux
and dogs trailing ON behind. They
We're all clad in their native !inery.
sermingly hearty and we'll fed and
each as arrogant rs king They
passed us contcmptuously, With not a
sidclong glance.
In advance W the head men who
rode foremost in the column were
three or four young women, bearing
loug lance shafts decorated with feath,
erS and locks ot human hair, the steel
tips shining gray In the sun,
"Auherry," said Relknap, 1--WE must
80 talk TO these people and see what's
up"
"Thcy'rc Sioux" said Auherry
but come on They don't mean fight
right now
Bclknap and Auhcrry took With
them the sergeant and dozen troop
ers, pushed in with these and saw
Ormc at my side. and Rclkuap did not
send us back We four rode on to.
gether presently Two or three hun
drcd yards from the place where the
Indians halted Auherry told Relknap
to halt his men, We four, With one
private 10 hold our horses, rode for
ward hundred yards further, halted
and raised our hands in sign Of peace.
They rode out to us four of the head
mcu of the Sioux, each II stalwart
man,
Talk to them, Auherry," said Belk-
nap. And aS the former was the only
one Of us who understood the Sioux
/ tongue he acted as interpreter.
what are the Sioux doing so far
cnSt?" he asked of their spokesman
/ stcr,.'y.
"uunting." answered the Sioux.
THE white soldiers drive away our
/ buffalo. The white men kill too many.
/ Let them go, This is our country
/ 1t seemed to me could see the black
eyes of the Sioux boring straight
through every one Of us.
/ Go back to the north and west,
where you belong" said Auherry.
"You have no business here on the
/ wagon trails"
The Sioux hunt where they please,
was the grim answer, But you see
we have our women and children with
us the same as you have'-and he
/ pointed toward our camp.
Where are you going?" asked our
interpreter.
The Sioux waved his arm vaguely.
Heap hunt" he said. where you
/ go2" he asked.
Auberry answered that we were go
ing half sleep to the west to meet
a big war party coming down the
Platte. the white men from Laramie.
The Indian looked grave mt this.
I'VE are going on IN to meet our sol
diers," said Auberry sternly. "The
| SIOUX nave klllPu some DI our men ne
low here We shall meet our soldiers
and come and wipe the Sioux off the
land II they come into the valley where
our great road runs west"
"Thut Is good" said the Sioux. "As
for us. we harm no white man. We
hunt where we please. White men go"
Auberry now turned to us, 81 don't
think they mean trouble, lieutenant.
he said. land think the best thing
we can do IL to let them alone and &c
on up the valley"
Belknap nodded. and Auberry turn
ed again to the four Sioux. who stood
tall and motionless, looking at us with
the same fiAnd. glittering eyes.
I'VE hav . spoken" said Auberry
THAT Is all we have to say"
Both parties turned and went bach
to their companions. Belknap, Au
berry and | had nearly reached our