Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-06-28

~3G
Again and Again Lewis Shot Until His
Arrows Were Exhausted.
Lewis shot. until at last, his arrows
nearly exhausted. after two or three
miles Of mad speed, he pulled out of
the herd and waited.
In the white dust cloud, lifted now
n then. he could see naked forms
swaying, bending forward, plying their
weapons. Somewhere in the midst of
it, out in the ruck Of hoof and horn,
his friend was riding, forgetting all
else but the excitement of the chase.
What if accident had befallen either
of them? Lewis could not avoid ask
ing himself that question.
Now the riders edged through til
herd, outward. around it's 6ank-turn
ed it. were crowding it back, milling
and confused. Out Of the dust emerged
two figures, naked, leaning forward to
the leaping Of their horses. One was
an Indian, his black locks flowing. his
eyes cleaning. his hand fogging his
horse as he rode. The other was Il
white man. his tall white body splash
ed with blood, his long red hair, brok-
ell from his cue. on his shoulders.
The two were pursuing the same an
imal, a young bull which thus far had
kept his distance some fifty yards or
so ahead. But as lewis looked both
riders urged their horses to yet more
speed. The piebald of William Clark.
we'll ridden, sprang away in advance
and laid him alongside Of the quarry.
Lewis himself saw the poised spear.
saw it plunge, saw the buffalo STUN
BILE in its stride and saw his compan-
ion pass on, %whooping in exultation at
Weucha, who came up an instant lat
er, defeated. but grinning and offering
his hand.
Weucha. who came up to Lewis after
magnanimously shaking the hand of
William Clark. peered with curiosit'
into Lewis almost empty CULVER. H
smiled again, for that the white me
had ridden well was obvious enoug
He called a young man to him, showed
his the arrow mark and sent him back
to see how many Of the dead buffalo
showed arrows with similar marks.
In time the messenger came back car
rying a sheaf Of arrows. Grinning, he
held up the fingers Of two hands.
"Tell him that is nothing, Dorion,"
said Lewis. eve could have killed
many more if we had wished. We see
that the Sioux can ride. Now let us
see if they can talk at the council fire"
The two leaders fastened to their
own encampment to remove all traces
of the hunt. An hour later they emerg-
ed from their tents clad as officers of
the army, in cooked hat and full uni
form. with sword at side.
With the fall Of the sun the drums
sounded in the Indian village. The
criers passed along the street sum-
moning the people to the feast, sum-
moning also the chiefs to the council
lodge. Here the headmen Of the vii
lage gathered, sitting about the little
fire, the peace pipe resting on a forked
stick before them, waiting for the ar
rival Of the white chiefs, who could
make the thunder come and who, more
over, could ride stripped and strike the
buffalo even as the Sioux.
The white leaders were in no haste
to show themselves. They demanded
the full dignity Of their station, but
they came at last, their own drum
beating as they marched at the head
Of their men. all Of whom were in uni
form.
Meriwether Lewis took the flag from
the standard bearer as they reached
the door Of the council lodge and thrust
the staff into the soil, so that it stood
erect beside the lance and shield of
Weucha, chief Of the Yanktonnais.
Then, leaving their own men on guard
without, the two white chiefs stepped
into the lodge and, with not too much
attention to the chiefs sitting and
waiting for them, took their own places
in the seat of honor. They removed
their hats, shook free their hair, which
had been loosened from the cues. And
so, in digniied silence, not looking
about them, they sat, their long locks
spread out on their shoulders.
Exclamations Of excitement broke
even from the dignifed Sioux chiefs.
Clearly the appearance and the con-
duct of the two officers had made a
good impression. The circle eyed them
with respect.
AT length Merwether Lewis, holding
In his hand the great peace pipe that
no had brought, arose.
"Weucha," said he, Dorion interpret
Ing for him, 'you are headman OF the
Y~anktonnais. / offer you this pipe,
Let us smoke We ara Mt peace. We