Adventure Magazine Cover — page 127: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

\ Gentlemen of the North or two.” After a pause she asked, “When do you think Le Borgne will come?”’ “Not till after we have gone. You have heard of him?” “My father spoke of him when we were on the Assiniboin. The Indians had much to tell of him. But go and finish your busi- ness so we can be getting away.” The undercurrent of her thoughts was Le Borgne, that sinister master of the Minnetarees, who ruled as an autocrat, an unusual condition of affairs among the Indians. I did not care to ask her what she had heard about the chief; it was sure to be something disquieting. I picked up my club and, followed by Flat Mouth, passed from the hut. We had a brisk battle with the dogs but finally put them to rout. Young bucks swaggered close, glaring murderously at our success over their pets. One was so bold as to step before the Pillager to block his path, or to make him step aside. Flat Mouth slapped him in the face with his string of Sioux scalps, called him a “child,” and asked how long before he could grow up and kill a Sioux. The buck, maddened beyond self-control — and knowing the warriors were watching his shame, grabbed for his ax. Flat Mouth smiled evilly and dangled the string before his face. The hand on the ax relaxed. I was using the medicine bag taken from the war-chief killed in the Red Lake River country, as a tobacco pouch. Now I pro- duced it, filled my pipe and through the Pillager advised the young man and his friend not to bother mighty warriors who never bothered to slay any but chiefs ’ carrying the pipe. The display of scalps and the sight of the medicine pouch brought the elders to sharp attention. Several approached, their bearing very decorous, and questioned the Pillager. He proudly proclaimed | himself a hero and gave his new name of Sioux Killer. He declared I came next to him and said the white woman with the medi- cine hair was more powerful than both of us. The lowering glances continued, yet your exhibit of trophies had made a deep im- pression and forced their respect. Their great chief, Le Borgne, would have been proud to recite the coups the Pillager had recounted. Harsh commands were given, and the band of children drew back, the 8 113 young men ceased their insolence, and women clubbed the dogs to the outskirts of the village. Then Le Borgne’s brother, Caltahcota, or Choke-cherry, as the traders knew him, deigned to mile himself known and in- quired minutely into the purpose of our visit. He was pleased with the story I told through the Pillager, and said his brother would be very glad to welcome us, but that we had done wrong in not bringing guns, powder and ball with us, as the Sioux were very thick and troublesome around the village. The Pillager sneered and loudly declared he would drive the Sioux away and double the length of his string. Choke-cherry seemed to accept him at his own estimation, and his respect took on a touch of awe. He insisted we go into his hut and eat. We followed him and were presented with bowls of meat that only one word can describe—putrid. Even for politeness’ sake I could not endure the stench of it, let alone tasting it. Choke-cherry gobbled at it voraciously and gave us some dried beans and corn, bruised in a mortar, cooked with- out salt, and very tasteless. Still it could be swallowed. Flat Mouth was not par- ticular as to what he ate, yet there were limits to even his Indian appetite and stomach. He partook only of the corn and beans. While we were bolting our portions he assured me that the Minnetarees would kill a buffalo in Winter, leave it in the snow and wait until decomposition had set in before using it for food. I could well believe it. () yW Choke-cherry when his mighty brother would be back. He be- lieved in a few days. He was very vague, indicating he knew no more about it than we did. The six Cheyenne envoys had withdrawn a mile north of the village to await the coming of more of their people. Upon their arrival the treaty between them and the Minnetarees would be duly ce- mented. The Minnetarees would adopt a Cheyenne youth and many presents would be “placed under the stem.” While Le Borgne was too big a man to abandon a hunting trip for any purpose except to follow his own will, it was probable he would return very soon. With the Pillager interpreting I said: ESCAPING to the free air, I asked Gomichooks: Go mm