Year: 1868

He loves to kill. He is like the panther, he
loves to crawl upon his enemies and kill for
the sake of blood. A chief should have feel
ings of kindness to the weak, and protect
them. Black Cloud has no kindness in his
heart; even with his own people he is bad.
Did he not kill your chiefs brother, the Ra-
ven? If had not been chief I would have
killed him for that, but was chief of brave
people and would not stoop to slay him. In
battle where am l ? Do l follow behind and
take scalps from those that others kill to
make my COOS count big? No the scalps
that hang on my lodge poles were taken from
the heads of warriors that fell by this hand,
not from women and children, butafrom war
riors in battle, fighting like brave men, and
conquered by Big Antler, whom allthe Utahs
call brave man, and not SLAYER of women
and children and prisoners"


j AT this Black Cloud sprane forward, and.
taking handful of dirt, he threw it on the
chief saying: Big Antler, you are
coward You are afraid to fight the whites.
Your brother was a coward and killed him.
| Say, Utahs. shall we have coward for our
chief? have thrown dirt on him, and he
turned pale in the face like white man.
| Look at him ! there is no blood in his eyes
he trembles like squaw. You want a brave
for chief, one that will lead you to battle,
and return loaded with the scalps of the ene-
my. Big Antler, your time has come
Black Cloud always kills the man that insults
him, and you must die."


lie was just in the act of making a spring
upon Big Antler. who stood calmly waiting
for him to finish his speaking, when Kit
Carson spurred his horse between them, and
jumping down stood face to face with the
IL l.. e,
moment with rage depicted in every feature,
said, " Stand aside squaw of the pale faces,
shall punish you afterwards"


"You will," said Kit we will see to
that" at the same time bringing his rife to
his shoulder.


Black Cloud, | will let the sun shine
through you if you move another step for
ward" Boys stand close to me, let your
horses 20. | think this little knot of braves
backed by US can just clean out this crowd,
and to tell the truth owe this fellow Il set
tlement for stealing my horses once"


Black Clouds party began to move up and
the Big Antler's braves stood near us, and
the chief whose face was calm and pleasant
to look on before, stepped forward. | never
saw such a change. lie looked very demon.
His eyes were bloodshot, the sweat was pour
ing down his face, and raising both hands
above his head in one of which he had a
knife, he spoke:


Warriors, take this man away. shall
kill him if you do not. What Black Cloud,
the murderer Of his own people talk of being
chief of the Utahs Away with him my
heart is growing cold, and feel l am becom-
ing thirsty for blood. Big Antler will be
your chief until he is too old to lead his
braves to victory, then he will step aside for
one you consider worthy of filling his place
But no murderer. one who has Utah blood
on his head, can be your chief. Do speak
straight ?'


While he had been talking they had led
Black Cloud aside, and number of lis
party had come over to the chief, and declar-
ed themselves ready to obey him and him
alone.


Kit was talking to the chief and Just in
the act of shaking his hand. when crack!
went rifle and a ball whizzed past his head,
and entered the breast of young brave that
stood behind Big Antler. killing him instant
ly. Black Cloud, who fired the shot, had in
his rage snatched gun from an Indian and
fred at Kit or the chief, we never knew
which. Kit raised his rifle and took delber
ate aim and sent ball crashing through his
skull then springing to the side of the chief,
he told them to 9 come on. if they wanted to
avenge Black Cloud; that we were ready and
anxious for a fight" He called them cow
ards, squaws, and all the names he knew
were insulting to an Indian, but they did
not come, their leader was gone, and they did
not care to risk the further displeasure of
their chief Kit told them that if Black
Clouds relations wanted any satisfaction
from him to come along any time, he was go
ing to stay on that creek, and they would
always find him there. The chief sent ten
young braves down to our camp to stay with
us long as the village remained on the creek.


Every day he would send us fresh meat,
and during the time they encamped near us
we were well treated and respected. Kit was
considered by them great brave: and their
chiefs best friend Golden Era.