Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-25
DALE, PIONEER
BY JOHN FOX, j.
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BY JOHN FOX, j
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eFH ana -prOleCI IL. he q to keep
loyal an alien race and hold his own
tribes OF Indians. bloodthirsty, treach-
erous and deeply embittered against
all Americans. He "a hundreds of
miles from any American troops; far
her still from the seat Of govern
ment. and could get no advice or help
for perhaps a year.
And those Indians poured into Ca
hckia a horde Of them from every
tribe between the Great lakes and
of every Importance; but not before
Clark had formed and drilled four
companies of volunteer Creoles.
Watch him." said Dave, and Frs.
kline did. nfarvelling at the mans
knowledge of the Indian. He did not
live in the fort, but always on guard,
always seemingly confident, stayed
openly in town while the savages, sui
len and grotesque, strutted in full
war panoply through the struggling
streets. inquisitive and insolent. their
Eyes burning with the lust Of plum.
der and murder. For days he sat in
the midst of the ringed warriors and
listened. On the second day Frs
kline saw Kahtoo in the throng and
Crooked Lightning and Black Wolf.
After dusk that day he felt the fringe
of his hunting-shirt plucked, and an
Indian. with face hidden in a blan-
ket. whispered as he passed:
Tell the big chief" he said in
Shawnee. Ito be on guard tomorrow
night" He knew it was some kind.
~ tribesman. and hen wheeled and
went to Clark. who smiled. Already
the big chief had guards concealed
in his little house. who seized the at
lacking Indians. while two minutes
later the townspeople were under
arms. The captives were out in Irons,
and Erskine saw among them the
c~restfallen faces OF Black Wolf and
Crooked Lightning. The Indians
pleaded that they were trying to test
the friendship Of the French for
Clark. but Clark. refusing all re-
quests for their release, remained
silent, naughty. Indifferent. fearless.
He still refused to take refuge IN the
fort. and called in a numoer of la
dies and gentlemen to his house.
where they danced all night amid the
council-fires of the bemildercd saw
ages. Next morning he stood in tile
center of their ringed warriors with
the tasseled shirts of his riilemen
massed behind him. released tho cap
tive chiefs inc handed them the
bloody war belt Of wampum.
Il scorn your hostility and treach-
cry. You deserve death, but you shall
leave in safety. In three days I shall
begin war ON you If you Indians do
killed-stop killing ours. We shall
see who can make that war belt the
most bloody. While you have been
in my camp you have food and fire.
water. but now that have finished,
You must depart speedily"
The captive chief spoke, and SO did
old Kahtoo. with his eyes fixed sadly
but proudly on mis- adopted son. They
had listened to bad birds and been
led astray by the British-henceforth
they would be friendly with the Amer
leans. But Clark was not satisfied.
L come as a warrior" he said
haughtily; II shall be a friend to the
friendly. If Sou choose war, 1 shall
send so many warriors from the Thir-
teenth Council-Fires that your land
shall be darkened and you shall near
no sounds but that of the birds who
live on blood And then he handed
forth two belts of peace and war,
and they eagerly took the belt of
peace. The treaty followed next day,
and Clark insisted that two of the
prisoners should be put to death; and
as the W selected came toward
Ersklne saw Black Wolf was one.
He whispered with Clark and Kahtoo.
and Crooked Lightning saw the big
chief with his hand on Erskine's
shoulder and heard him forgive the
two and tell them to depart. And
thus was won.
Straightway old Kahtoo pushed
through h warriors and, plucking
n big chief by the sleeve, pointed
to Erskine. $3.50
That is my son." he said, land I
want him to go home with me-"
He shall 60" said Clark quickly.
pleases him, to me-" '
And so Erskine went forth one
morning at dawn, and his coming
into the Shawnee camp was like the
coming of a king. Early Morn greet
ed him with glowing eyes, his foster
mother brought him food. looking
proudly upon him. and old KaEtoo
harangued his braves around the
council-pole. while the prophet, and
Crooked Lightning sulked in their
tents.
MY o spoke words of truth, lie
proclaimed generously. He warned