Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-03-28
By GLADYS ROBINSON)
interpreted by Washiti)
fAlf Rights Reserved

- ~ANY, MANY years ago before
III the time of steel tipped arrows,
NIM the Assinniboines and CreeS
4" were at war against the eros
Ventres nation While the Gros
Ventres had fought many battles WITH
the neighboring PieganS, Blackfeet and
Grows, the most hated Of their enemies
were the Assinniboines and the Crees.
Although this war took place before
the wooden arrows were made more
deadly with steel, it was not before
guns were known. For in the far north
the Hudson Bay Trading Co had es-
tablished posts and several eros ven
tres had seen and handled the white
mans weapons while on war parties
to the north or while visiting friends
among the BloOdS. Indeed, among the
eros Ventres, one warrior, whose name
was Weasel, owned an old flint lock
gun. True. he had no ammunition Tor
It, bat its possession had been mighty
medicine for him Weasel had become
the greatest warrior in the tribe and
this is the story of how he saved the
main encampment of eros VentreS with
the aid of the "SilVery Spotted" horse.
The Gros Ventres' village Of several
hundred lodges was located on Wolf
creek. The people had been lulled into
a false sense Of security because for
many DAYS they had seen no sign OF the
sip of q young man and woman in love
with each other and forbidden to marry
by their respective parents. The young
mans father saw no good In the girl
and her father looked with i'll favor
upon the youth, poor and untrieo In
war.
They. however, took matters into
their own hands and eloped one day
on horseback. They Travelled until late
afternoon, making camp toward eve
ming many miles from home. While the |
young woman prepared their robes for
the night and built a fire, the young
man left camp to hunt an antelope or
even a prairie chicken for their eve
ming meal.
He had ridden but a short distance
when he came upon a young buffalo.
One arrow killed 1t and he dismounted, |
skinned it, and took the choice parts |
for their meal and enough for the next |
days rations, for they had planned |
to seek refuge and make their home
among the Crows, who at that time
were on friendly terms with the GroS
Ventures The Crow country was miles
to the south.
When he had returned to his sweet
heart she noticed his face was dark
with worry and questioned him close
1y. This. buffalo," he told her, was
wounded recently. He was alone, al
b1lOuEu bUcTE dIG LIdCkS u q S1Chg /
herd and also the tracks of horses.
we must return at once to our village
and report this for surely there are
enemies about who have hunted here
this day. When the main herd was
chased south this wounded animal could
not travel with them. Perhaps he was
left to warn us Of the nearness Of our
enemies"
Feeling somewhat ashamed of this
end to their elopment and yet con-
WINGED they could not do otherwise, !
the pair returned to their tribe after |
q nights ride. The young man went at |
once to his fathers lodge and told him /
of the wounded buffalo
The father said, You have done |
right, my son. win sound the cry
throughout the village and our war
riors viii be prepared"
A stir followed the announcement of
the young mans return and his story
of war party. A meeting was called
and the council agreed that the enemy
had indeed penetrated their hunting
grounds despite the watchful eyes of
scouts.
Then an old man arose at the lower
end of the village. He had no love
for the boys family and, wishing to
discredit him, cried in a loud voice:
'sThis young man lies. Do not believe
him. He was afraid and wished to re-
turn to his fathers lodge with his