422 
I 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Nov. 28, 1896. 
STORIES OF AN HEROIC AGE. 
I— IN THE WAR BELT. 
Sandy was a Missourian of about forty years of age, 
red- bearded, freckled-faced, blue-eyed, and with that 
undeflnable, gentlemanly instinct and breeding tbat 
comes from courting nature and resenting guile and self- 
ifihness. 
It was a winter's day in 1875, at a little trading post nn 
the upper Missouri River, that I first saw Sandy. He 
was going about with his arm in a sling, telling whoever 
would listen the story of the night attack of the Sioux 
the time he was shot in the neck with slugs and George 
Horn was killed. It had happened as I shall relate: 
North of the Missouri River the broken plains of Mon- 
tana extend to the foot of the Little Rocknes (an isolated 
group of mountains), and beyond to the Bear's Paw. This 
region formed a sort of debatable ground between the 
Sioux and the Crows. It was a famous game country, 
the resort of buffalo, deer and antelope, and fairly 
swarmed with big gray wolves. It was dangerous terri- 
tory for white hunters — for the Sioux kept watch from 
theur mountain fastnesses against the inroads of Crow 
war parties from the camps south of the river. The 
Sioux was an enemy to be fought or avoided. The Crows 
might not kill you, but it was a part of their religion to 
set you afoot. As the tribesmen rarely trespassed upon 
this territory except by stealth or at night, the buffalo 
afld other game increased and waxed fat upon the rich 
bunch grasses of the foothills. 
Sandy had a great eye for wolf pelts. So had his part- 
ner. They knew the best places to lay out a buffalo car- 
cass to attract wolves, the proper amount of strychnine 
to salt a bait, and all the smallest details of disposing of 
the frozen wolves and thawing them out in the spring. 
In short, they were experienced wolfers. 
They decided to invade the "war belt," as they 
termed the region, and to string out a line of baits a few 
miles apart from the mouth of Cow Creek to the Bear's 
Paw, thence back by the Rockies to the river. Having 
perfected their plans, they one morning saddled their rid- 
mg and pack ponies and struck up the river for the 
mouth ot Cow Creek. Their destination reached, the 
two hunters redoubled their caution. No shot was to be 
fired except to put out a bait. Camp was to be made 
after night by leaving the direct course and going up 
some side ravine into the hills. 
As they proceeded up the creek they noticed that the 
buffalo were very numerous, also that there were many 
old war houses. These are bmlt by war parties for accom- 
modation in cold weather, and are made of poles and 
slabs in the shape of a lodge; the lower part chinked 
tightly, the top being left open for egress of smoke. 
The houses are not only comfortable to camp in, but the 
light from the fire cannot be seen more than 30yds. away. 
Hunters sometimes occupy them when assured there are 
no hostile Indians in the neighborhood. 
Soon they saw a band of cows feeding on a side hill 
close to the creek, and decided that it was a favorable 
location for "wolf medicine." Riding a little closer, they 
allowed the ponies to graze while they crawled to the edge 
of the hill to reconnoiter. Sandy thought it was close 
enough for a shot, so after waiting a moment George Horn 
raised his Sharps rifle and after a quick aim fired. The 
band stampeded at the shot, but it was noticed that one 
cow "bucked" a little and ran wild._ Getting their horses 
together, they soon found the cow (a two-year-old) 
stretched out near the main trail. Now this was not ex- 
actly what the himters wanted. It was a good location 
for wolves, which infested the main trail, but was too 
easy of discovery by traveling war parties. Nevertheless 
they concluded to poison the carcass. Taking the packs 
off the ponies, they quickly took the tongue and some 
choice pieces of meat for their own consumption, and then 
proceeaed to prepare the bait by putting into it the neces- 
sary amount of strychnine. Then the two hunters packed 
the ponies and resumed their journey. 
The bait was ready for tue wolves, which, like the 
ravens, had probably scented it from afar. In cold 
weather hunters generally flag the bait the first night, in 
order to give it a chance to freeze solid. It sometimes 
happens that a wolf receives a weak dose of medicine a,nd 
recovers from it. He is apt to be a trifle "shady" on baitS 
ever after. He will snuff" suspiciously around a bait with 
a can't-fool-me air, and then perhaps devour some miser- 
able coyote that has had the temerity to eat of food that 
was placed for his larger and more valuable kindred. If 
he touches the meat in the coyote's stomach it is his last 
meal. It was not uncommon to find twenty or more dead 
wolves around a bait, besides a few coyotes, foxes, an 
eagle or two, ravens and magpies. 
Cow Creek ruue between rugged, cedar-clad ridges, 
covered with scant grasses. Where the valley opens a 
glimpse may be had of the gloomy mountains, the source 
of the stream. As they proceeded on their way a fresh 
moccasin track was discovered on the trail which had not 
been wholly obliterated by the herds of buffalo passing 
along. In winter the Sioux usually go to war afoot. It 
is not only saving of horseflesh, but economical as well, 
as they ride home on horses belonging to the enemy. 
Along toward evening they halted near an old war 
house which showed signs of having been occupied re- 
cently. The doorway was contrived to overlap the main 
structure, affording m this way protection while leaving 
between the walls a tortuous passageway, through which 
the Indian effected an entrance. Peering in through the 
aperture, Sandy discovered some strips of fat buffalo 
meal stretched over some poles to dry, and pretty conclu- 
sive evidence that four Indians had occupied the place the 
night before. 
They noted the fact of the meat as proof that the party 
intended to return. Not a sign of a track could be found 
lOft. away from the house, bo thoroughly had the passing 
buffalo wiped out all sign. 
The two hunters unsaddled, built a fire and made 
preparation for a quick meal. In addition to his skill as 
an all-round hunter and fidherman, Sandy prided himself 
as a breadmaker, and he always had the bread ready be- 
fore the coffee was boiled. Aa soon as the lire was under 
way Sandy had flour in pan with baking powder and salt, 
imd mixed to as soft consistency with water as could be 
easily handled. The long-handled frying-pan was then 
placed on the coals for a moment, a pinch of flour sifted 
in it and a cake of dough ^in. thick placed therein. The 
pan was then propped up at an angle in front of the fire 
with coals behind it, and as soon as the dough had "set" 
it was whisked out of the pan and propped up by itself in 
the heat, while another Installment was being prepared. 
"Hurry up with that coffee!" he would cry, and then turn 
his attention to the cooking of a steak. 
After d^rk the hunters saddled up again and, going a 
short distance, turned abruptly to the left into the hills, 
and, selecting a retired spot in a little valley, made 
preparations for an all-night camp. The ponies were 
turned out to shift for themselves, and after cutting an 
armful of cedar boughs and dried grass the tired travel- 
ers spread their blanjkets, piled saddles and packs at the 
head, were soon wrapped in slumber undisturbed by the 
yelping of coyotes and deep-mouthed chorus of wolves 
that at intervals gave voice to the night. 
At dawn they were on their way again, and early killed 
and poisoned two more buffalo. The Bear's Paw was now 
close at hand, and later in the afternoon they stopped 
near the head of the creek, unpacked and turned the 
horses loose, and started for the foot of the mountain with 
the intention of putting one bait on high land, an experi- 
ment they had not yet tried north of the river. Moun- 
tain lions were numerous, and they calculated that if 
they did not catch any wolves there was a chance of lions 
and cross foxes. 
A light snow was falling as they started up the ridge. 
Arrived at the foot of the mountain, they did not have 
to skirmish long to find a desirable cow for bait, near a 
a point where several game trails crossed each other from 
various water holes. The shot was fired, the sound echo- 
ing with a sullen boom along the damp cliffs and rocky 
canons. 
It was dark before the hunters finished their work and 
turned their footsteps toward camp. They did not sus- 
pect that a war party of Yanktonnai, returning from an 
unsuccessful foray against the Crows, had noted the run- 
ning buffalo, and later the shot, and were waiting for 
complete darkness in order to follow the plain footprints 
in the snow. 
Sandy and his partner made their way in a bee line 
for the little hollow where they had left ponies and 
packs. They reached the place himgry and tired, and 
ill disposed to make their usual move to a secure camp. 
They found that the ponies had strayed away in search 
of grass, and the hunters proceeded at once to light a 
fire and make themselves comfortable for the evening 
meal. 
The hollow was near the creek. Just back of the camp- 
fire stood a huge dead cottonwood, upon whose white 
THB PtOTOOEAPB. 
surface some Indian had sketehed in bold outline with a 
Eieoe of charcoal a rude pictographic story representing 
lean Wolf and Running Antelope attacking Slow Bear, 
a Crow. 
After supper Sandy said: "George, there is no use in 
moving camp; if there are any Indians in the country 
they can track us in the snow. I propose that we build a 
fire to see to shoot by, and have a pleasant night of it for 
once." 
"All right, Sandy," said George, "if you can stand it I 
can." So they rolled a pine drift log on to the fire, put 
a couple of buffalo tongues in a pot to boil and seated 
themselves on another log in front of the fire, with their 
backs to the tree. 
It will appear plain from the above disposition of the 
hunters, the camp and surroundings, that a certain war 
party of Sioux, returning home empty-handed, would not 
be slow in availing themselves of the opportimity present- , 
ed to count a coup. 
Leaving Sandy and his partner smoking their pipes and 
discussing their prospects in seeming careless ease by the 
camp-fire, yet within reach of their rifles, we will turn 
our attention to the Sioux. 
This party of seven had been on a horse-stealing raid* 
Traveling in the Crow country at night, they had stum- 
bled upon a camp and were discovered bgfore they could 
get away. Considering it the part of wisdom to retire 
from that particular territory until things had quieted 
down, they had traveled all night, and about daylight 
doubled a short distance on their trail and lay concealed 
in a gulch until late in the afternoon, when they resumed 
their journey along the timbered ridges. They saw the 
buffalo stampede, as the ' hunters, though not showing 
themselves, approached the moimtain. Later they 
watched with considerable interest the elaborate prepara- 
tion of the wolf bait. 
It was long after dark when the leader of the party 
knocked the ashes from the red stone pipe that had been 
in circulation for some time, arose and, placing the pipe 
in the beaded sack attached to his belt, said simply, 
"Won-aJi" (now), and strode sUently down the slope, fol- 
lowed in single file by the others. With their robes 
turned hair side out they looked, a short distance away, 
very much like buffalo. Following the trail of the 
hunters, they had not proceeded far before they distin- 
guished the glow of the camp-fire reflected on the trees 
in the creek bottom. Consulting together a moment, they 
turned suddenly to the right, striking the creek some 
distaiice above the. camp. Here they ran across the 
tracks of the ponies, which they followed, and finally 
secured the stock without much difficulty, as they had 
been hoppled before being turned out. 
Driving the ponies into a gulch, the Indians turned 
their attention once more to the hunters' camp. The fire 
was burning very brightly as they approached it, and 
from a little ridge the position of the hunters seated on 
the log was clearly made out. After satisfying them- 
selves that there were only two white men in the party 
they stole silently in the direction of the big cottonwood 
that stood back of the hunters, at less than 50ft. 
Sandy was relating to George some incident of the 
troublous times in Missouri during the war period, when 
a flash, followed by a report of firearms, seemed to knock 
them both over. But the two men instantly recovered 
themselves, and springing up with rifles in hand fired 
point blank at the Indians, who at once took to ignomin- 
ious flight as soon as they saw the result of their fire. 
George Horn fell back helpless after firing one shot, 
for he had received a bullet through the body ranging 
through the lungs. Sandy, although shot in the neck 
with roughened pieces of bullets, continued firing and 
advancing in the direction of the Indians until George 
Horn called to him, when he desisted, and returning to 
his companion assisted him to a place near the fire, mak- 
ing a bed of blankets and giving all the care possible, 
risking his life of course by remaining exposed near the 
fire. 
The war party had kept on going, taking the ponies 
with them. Sandy did not know this, however, and was 
in constant apprehension of being fired on again. His 
wound did not hurt him any as yet on account of the 
numbing effect of it, and the excitement prevented him 
from paying much attention to it. His partner now com- 
plained of feeling cold, and his voice grew fainter and 
fainter. Soon he was dead. Sandy covered him up with 
the rest of the bedding, cached as well as he could the 
ex,tra rifle, and prepared for a quick retreat from the 
locality. Putting a piece of bread and meat in his pocket, 
he stepped quickly away from the firelight, and stopped 
in the shadow of some brush for a moment to ponder on 
the situation. "No use to look for the ponies, he solilo- 
quized, after listening intently awhile, "the best thing I 
can do is to pike out of this while I am able to travel." " 
Suiting the action to the word, with his trusty rifle rest- 
ing on his arm he strode down the creek and disappeared 
in the gloom of the night. 
Break of day found him nearing the Missouri River, 
It was snowing lightly, which made travel more difficult, 
added to which his wound now pained and weakened 
him. Fortunately, about the middle of the afternoon, 
he met a couple of men with a sled .traveling on the ice, 
going after supplies. They carried him to the trading 
fort, where his wounds received attention. A party was 
formed headed by "Liver-eating" Johnson, who went 
after and brought in the body of George Horn. 
LtJTHEE Sage Kelly. 
NEGATIVE SOUP. 
The immortal Shakespeare tells us: 
"Oft expectation fails, and most there 
Where most It promises." 
Columbus set sail for the Indies and discovered a new 
world; Ben Franklui toyed with a kite and tamed the 
lightning, 
The story of our adventure has nothing in common 
with either, and yet it was as truly the unexpected. The 
consequences may or may not be as momentous, but this 
the future alone can determine, as sufficient time has not 
elapsed since the occurrence to permit of more than very 
indefinite generalizations. 
The bright, sunny days of a not distant June threw their 
enchantment around a trio of congenial spirits, who left 
the caxes of business and the perplexities of life be- 
hind and hied them to the mountain peaks and sylvan 
retreats of northwestern Maine, where grosbeak and 
Canada thrush trilled their sweetest notes, and kindly 
nature perfumed the air with the fragrance of summer 
flowers. 
Dainty trout rods of split bamboo and feathered lures 
of most seductive hue ministered to their pleasure, and 
taught many a lordly trout the folly of dallying with 
temptation. As in every well-regulated sportsman's out- 
fit, so in this, a camera occupied distinguished prominence, 
As a moral agent it is indispensable in tbis doubting age. 
It not only serves to while away many a pleasant hour, 
and secure prized remembrances for future inspection 
and pleasure, but it also authenticates the story of the 
big fish with all the force of "Sworn to, signed, sealed 
and delive^-ed in the presence of." 
All this on the supposition that you do not make nega- 
tive soup in transit. 
We had taken unusual precautions on this trip to get 
good results. We carried a large camera of high quality 
and four dozen plates, instead of the uncertain but more 
convenient films. 
We had taken the grave audits surroundings in the 
wilderness at the Chain of Ponds, near Mount Pizgah, of 
the Indian jrirl Natanis, who was brutally murdered 
there by a deserter from the Union army during the late 
war of the rebellion; we had followed Indian Stream to 
its mountain source and captured many of. its glistening 
cascades in their forest home, where they unceasingly 
break over huge boulders and send up clouds of finest 
spray as they dash themselves down the mountain side; 
the dams of beaver, the lean-to of the trapper, the camp 
of the tourist, the iron post, where none should be, which 
proclaims that different flags float over contiguous terri- 
tory; these and many other choice tidbits of mountain 
lake and sky were already ours, the plates carefully 
Sacked and jealously guarded against mishap when the 
ay of our departure dawned. 
We had planned to make the trip out to the settlements '■ 
in canoes, and a thoughtful member of the party had ob- 
tained permission from the owners to hoist the gate in 
the dam on the headwaters of the Dead River, which ma- 
terially augmented the volume of water as it went seeth- 
ing and surging onward over the rapids and boulders to 
its confluence with the Kennebec, 
Our guides, being expert canoe men, proposed to run 
over Scammous Falls rather than portage, as nearly 
everyone does, and while they were making ready for 
our departure, which would take about thirty minutes, 
having two unexposed plates left, I took the camera and 
hastened down the trail so as to have everything in read- 
iness for si snap as the three canoes shot over the falls. I 
had covered about half the distance and arrived at a 
point where the river makes a bend at nearly a right 
angle to its former course and flows directly toward the 
trail. Looking upon this beautiful panorama, I saw a 
splendid doe quietly feeding upon the lily pads about 
30yds. away. She was to windward of me and facing 
up stream, and as my moccasined feet softly touched the 
ground she was undisturbed by noise or scent, 
Qaickly setting up the camera in such protection as a 
