Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-05-30

THE runners say plenty buffalo close
by" he reported. "The chief, she'll
call the people to hunt the buffalo,"
William Clark turned to his COM
panion.
"You hear that, Merne?" said he.
why should we not go alsoT
Agreed" said Meriwether Lewis.
But stay: have a thought. We will
go as they go and hunt as they do To
impress an Indian beat him at his own
game. You and l must ride this day.
Will"
Eyes, and without saddles too. Very
we'll. learned that Of my brother, who
learned it of the Indians themselves.
And I know you and both can shoot
the bow US we'll as most Indians-that
was part of our early education. ]
might better have been in school some.
times when l was learning the bow"
"Dorion," said Lewis to the inter
prefer, Ego back to the village and tell
their chief to send two bows with
plenty of arrows. Tell them that we
scorn to waste any powder on so small
a game as the buffalo. On ahead are
animals each one Of which Is as big as
twenty buffalo-we keep our great
gun for those. AS for buffalo, we kill
them as the Indians do-with the bow
and with the spear"
Swift and wide spread the word
among the Sioux that the white chiefs
would run the buffalo with their own
warriors. Explanations of amuse-
ment surprise. satisfaction. were
heard. The white men should see how
the Sioux could ride. But Weucha, the
head man, sent messenger with two
bows and plenty of arrows-short.
keen pointed arrows, suitable for the
buffalo hunt when driven by the stiff
bows Of the Sioux.
Strip, Willr' said Meriwether Lew
is. If we ride as savages it must be
in full keeping" H.
They. did strip to the waist, as the
savages always did when running the
buffalo-sternest of all savage sport or
labor and one Of the boldest games
ever played by man. red or white.
Clad only in leggings and moccasins.
their long hair tied In firm cues, when
Weucha met them he exclaimed in ad.
miration. The village turned out in
wonder to see these two men whose
skins were white, whose hair was not
black, but some strange new color.
81 see that you are chiefs" exclaim
ed Weucha. You have many colors.
and your medicine is strong. Take,
then. these two horses of mine. They
are good runners for buffalo. Per-
haps yours are not so fast" Thus
Dorion interpreted.
That the young men we're riders they
now proved. for they mounted alone.
barebacked, and managed to control
their mounts with nothing BE-. the
twisted hide rope about the lower Jaw,
the only bride. known among the tribes
Of the great plains.
The, criers now passed down the vii
lage street. marshaling all the. riders
for the chase. Weucha gave the signal
to advance. himself riding at the head
Of the cavalcade. with the two white
captains at hissside-a picture such as
any painter might have envied.
others Of the expedition followed on
as might be. They all rode quietly at
first, with no outcry. no sound save the
steady tramp Of the horses.
Their course was laid back into the
prairie for a mile OF two before halt
was called. Then the chief disposed
his forces. The herd was supposed to
be not far away, beyond low rim of
hills. On this side the men We're rang
I ed in line. "A blanket waved from a
point visible to all was to- be the sig
nal for the charge. -, IT,
A shout came from the far edge of
tie restless ranks. A half naked rider
waved blanket. With shrill shouts
the entire line1'broke at top speed for
the ridge. F"i]
Neither Of the two young Americans
had ever engaged In the sport Of run
ming the buffalo, yet now the excite.
ment Of the scene caused both to forget
all else. They urged on their horses,
mingling with the savage riders.
The buffalo had been feeding less
than a quarter Of a mile away. The
wind was favorable. and they had not
yet got scent Of the approach, but now,
as the line Of horsemen broke across
the crest, the herd streamed out and
away from them-crude, huge, form.
less creatures, with shaggy heads held
low. their vast bulk making them seem
almost like prehistoric things. The
dust of their going arose in binding
cloud, the thunder Of their boots left
inaudible even the shrill cries of the
riding warriors as they closed in.
The chase passed outward into an
open plain. which lay white in alkali.
In a few moments the swift horses
had carried the best of the riders deep
into the dust cloud which arose. Each
man followed some chosen animal, do
ing his best to keep it in sight as the
herd plowed onward in the biting dust.
Here and there the vast, solid sur.
face of sea OF rolling backs could be
glimpsed. Again an opening into 1t
might be seen close at hand. 1t was
bold work, and any who engaged in it
took his chances. :,
Lewis found his horse. the black
runner that Weucha had given him.
as swift as the best, and able to lay
him promptly alongside his quarry. At
a distance Of few feet he drew back
the sinewy string Of the tough Sioux
bow. gripping his horse with his knees,
sWaYinp his body out to the bow. as he