The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1958-04-03

that young buck made vow be-
fore Sun, with Earth Mother be-
ing his witness that he would be
my Almost Son as long as Sun
travelled from east to west. His
name is .A.NOCK-ME.PO-NO'
KIYO. Little Elk. have al
ways just called him Elk But he
likes best to be called by his full
name, Little Elk BY the time we
got back here to the Black Fork
tina, fall wouldn't trade Elk
for any man in the mountains
He is faithful and a better track
er don't live. Now he can talk
white man talk. and can ride
shoot. hunt. trap and scout with
the best regardless of color He
is now about Is years old and
there is no better at anything or
the plains. or in the mountains
than. him. That is Elk. Wal. it's
getting about shutdown. We been
here all afternoon talking" The
old man arose and started for
.he fort.
CHAPTER ~
A week later Capely and his
wagon train set out for Fort Hall.
leaving Tim at Fort Bridger.
Whitmorc had taken Tins place
in the train as the hunter. Two
were pleased by the change. Whit
more was glad that he was head.
ing back toward Oregon and Tim
was delighted TO stay with Bird
ger and Little Elk.
II was more or less a habit that
Bridger. Little Elk and Tim were
together, they spoke the Black.
feet language. Tim was very anx.
ious to learn i, and was making
good progress in his undertaking.
Bridger did not mind what
tongue was used as he was pro.
ticient in any number Of them
Little Elk was very pleased for
Tim and he had started already
planning to go back 10 the north.
ives, TO his people If his Almost
Brother" were going with him. he
wanted him. If possible. TO speak
the language we'll. for the Black
feet nation praises q white man
very highly. if he Regards their
people we'll enough to learn to
talk the sign and Blackfeet Ian.
guages.
One day Old Gabe called Tim
and Little Elk 10 his quarters and
10 their sad surprise had the fol.
lowing TO say. Il reckon this
will be a little hard for me to
tell you boys. but it's bound to
come sometime. As I've told you
both before. in the winter of 81
leased all Of Fort Bridger to
the Army. They used il for the 10
years the original lease called
for. ! was supposed 10 get $500
. year for il but ! never received
. penny. At the end Of the 10
years in 1867 ! moved back and
took over possession again. II l.
was Is years younger. would
rather be here than anyplace |
know Of. but I'm getting old. I
am IS and my. eyes are not as
good rs they once was. have
. wife and family on q farm in
Missouri. I've sold all my be-.
longings q, For, Bridger excep,
the 1898 acres and buildings to
Clesremont Parker. As you know
my supply train just came in
and there is q supply Of the bes,
Of blankets. q few boxes Of the
new ~ breech.ioading rifles and
Six.shooters and plenty Of ammu.
milton. ] want you both 10 have
what you want In that line and
Il won't cost you cent. I've
made arrangements for both Of
you to continue working for the
Army as scouts at three dollars
. day under Sit,ber.. who Is
Chief Scout. In . few days I'm
leaving for Missouri. probably
never 10 come again TO these
mountains that ] love. I never
had any schoo! lcarnin' In my
life but ] wouldn't trade what !
have learned In these mountains
for all the book iearnin' there
Is. I've worked with dozens OF
army officers who was supposed
10 been high learned In them
there places called colleges. But
most Of EN- never had an ounce
Of brains They thought they was
all fired smart but I wouldn't
give you two boys for oil ! ever
knowcd put together. II II wasn't
for scouts like you 10 take care