SATANK ARRIVES 



understood his probable feelings toward me, I 

 swung my carbine into a threatening position and 

 called out, "Halt!" at the same time making the 

 sign to him to stop where he was. 



He halted at the command, as did the other In- 

 dian in the rear, and, while keeping a close watch 

 on both to see that they drew no gun on me, I 

 demanded in a defiant tone: 



"Halloo, Satank, what do you want here?" 



Satank made no reply, but motioned his com- 

 panion to his side. 



I recognized the man as a half-breed, called Mex- 

 ican Joe, who had sometimes been used as an in- 

 terpreter at Fort Wise. Joe was evidently to act 

 as interpreter now. 



In my defiant attitude and speech I was assum- 

 ing much more self-confidence than I really felt; 

 but I wished to impress them that I distrusted 

 them, understood their intentions, and was pre- 

 pared to stand them off* or fight. However, neither 

 of the savages made any threatening movement 

 the time was not ripe for declaring war they had 

 evidently come on a reconnoitring expedition. 



As soon as the interpreter had moved up to 

 him Satank spoke a few words to Mexican Joe, 

 who asked in broken English: 



"Where your pardners? Other mans? Where 

 wagon?" 



"Gone down to To hausen's camp," I said. 



"He say, 'Maybe so you lie,' " said Joe, making 

 247 



