The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1962-03-29

-
the ram made a big leap out into
space. He landed in the river
many feet below, with a grand
splash There he is Captain Nc
Garry" said Tom. "All you have
TO do is pick him up.
The captain shouted to the
pilot house, also, to several roust-
abouts. In short order the ram
was secure aboard. That was
the best shot I have ever seen,
spoke the captain. For that won
derful exhibition of wOrksman-
ship. all aboard who wish will
eat Big Horn tonight"
Concluding a wonderful trip.
the White Cloud tied up at the
short dock at Carroll Those ar
irving there found John Forbes
veil on his way TO completion Of
the building. He had managed
90 hire several wood cutters from
along the river, so things were
going in fine shape.
AT the upper end of the clear
ING stood the cabins of Anthony
Tyler. who with several other
men, furnished wood for the river
boats during the summer. In the
fall and winter they hunted and
trapped.
BY the middle Of August, the
trading post was finished. The
main building was 100 by so feet,
with q partition on the south Is
by 20 feet. The latter was the
trade room. The main building
was mostly a store room. but at
the extreme north there were
too sleeping rooms. One Of these
was for Kiplin, the other for
Tom. Toms room was shared at
ence with Red Bird. In the trade
room. two sides were lined with
shelves. A counter was in front
% them. The shelves were load
ed with groceries and dry goods.
Also, among the trade goods were
many rifles and plenty Of ammu-
milton.
Later another building was com
pleted just west of the ware
house. This was used as a cook
house and sleeping quarters for
the help.
By this time il was the mating
season, and as the thousands of
buffalo from both north and
south would come TO the river
10 drink, the bulls could be heard
for miles on a still evening. The
grass was good and the number
o. buffalo. which ranged within
Q radius Of twenty miles Of the
post, would run into five figures,
no doubt The deep moaning
sound of the bulls was like thun-
der. very unlike the shrill below
ing OF domestic bulls. Quite often
0 herd would come in on a swift
rHn. plunge into the river, cross,
then wander into the plains on
the opposite side.
By September, Riplin and Tom
we're in readiness for all Of the
trade, which might come their
way. None of the Indians had ar
rived but Kiplin felt sure that
they would come. In the first
place. they had never lied 20 him,
and secondly, they were in the
center Of the last large herd Of
buffalo in existence. There were
Indians in all directions and their
life line was almost entirely buff
fsio meat Kiplin put IL this way
-AH hell won't be able to keep
the Indians away from this post,
once they know il is here"
The BIackfeet were the first
% arrive. They were seen about
noon, approaching with their
mile long caravan, travelling from
the plains down into the bot
toms. II was q sight never to be
forgotten. With them they car
RED everything, with the ex-
eeptiOn of lodge poles. These
were easily obtained along the
nearby river. The main column
stopped half q mile up the river
from the port, and on the oppo-
site side. From the main body
rode forth four men. They made
their gsy slowly down the river
untIi they were exactly straight
across the river from the post.
Red bird was dispatched in
skiff 10 meet the newcomers, and
carry the greeting OF Big Bull.
When he landed on their side OF
the river. the four horsemen had
dismoanted and were standing
by their horses Springing from
the light boat, Red Bird said in
a friendly tone, Il come as
messenger from Big Bull He asks
Grow Blg Feet to come smoke and
eat with him"
s.epping out from the four,
was The keenest, most intelligent
appearing Indian that he had
ever seen. Not tall. not heavy,
but OF wonderful. dignified bear
ing. Walking up to Red Bird, he
took his hand and spoke to him
you are a BIackfeet. but ] do
not seem 20 recall your name"