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Los Angeles Herald. BOYS AND GIRLS MAGAZINE SECTION Copyright by James ElTCrson. |«ir HEN- I was but three years of age, IyV my parents moved to the West, and | rnn i_ for a period of ten years we lived §Sij§jfij near the reservations of several of <sS£ftJ t ne dig t seni-civilized tribes of lndians. . ;!a-; !a- At the early age of ten, I had learned to shoot a gun with considerable skill, and being fond of outdoor sports, especially such as hunting, fishing and trapping, I spent much time in tramping through the woods and across the prunes in search of game. On these excursions I was invariably ac companied by one of my older brothers, and ' we often penetrated into the Indian reserva tion, where we were always received with kindness, aud many is the hunt we have had with the Shawnees and Osages, whose skill with the bow and arrow was something to fill my youthful mind with astonishment and admiration. Now, there is nothing that pleases an In dian so much as meeting a white person who can speak Uis language, and he is always ready and willing to teach any one who shows the slightest inclination to learn his speech. It was owing to this fact that I picked up a fair knowledge of Shawnee and Osage, and am now able to carry on an ordinary conver sation in either of these tongues. When I was about fourteen, my parents moved on to a claim in Southern Kansas, and I saw no more of my Indian acquaintances for several years. My father's claim was situated fifteen miles southwest of Independence, near the Territory line, and at the point -just where the old Abi lene Trail crosses the Salinas Chiquito (Little Salt), a small stream that now bears the im posing name of Onion Creek. This tract of land, which was 4,000,000 acres in extent, had just been purchased by the, government from a branch of the Osage tribe, and opened for settlement. There were those among the tribe who had been bitterly opposed to the treaty, and the most powerful of these was Chief Big Hill Joe who refused to be reconciled, and threatened to wage war upon the settlers unless they im mediately vacated the land. The country was thinly settled, and mostly by people from the East, who knew little of the nature of the Indian, and this -threat caused tho greatest excitement among the claim holders. Many of them fled to Inde pendence for safety, where a military com pany of 300 men was organized for mutual protection. Among the few who remained on their claims was ray father, who gave no heed to the threatened Osage outbreak. Although a youth at that time, I had little fear of the Indians, aa my acquaintance with them had always been of the most friendly character. A mile from our family lived a family by the name of Baker, which consisted of the parents and three children— Bob, Jack and Eva. Jack was about my own age. Bob two yean IN THE CLUTCHES OF BIG HILL JOE older, while Eva was still younger than Jack by two or three years. Alarmed by the threatened outbreak, the whole Baker family came to our cabin to stay until the danger should be over. On the day following their arrival three more famines who were passing, on their way to Independence, seeing that we were going to remain, decided to stop there, and all hands were soon busily engaged in building a small log fort, which was erected near our house. The new arrivals brought a dozen children with them, and you may well believe that we had a jolly time together, fishing in the stream that flowed within a stone's throw of the door, and indulging in a hundred other sports so common to the. youths when let loose in the woods. We erected a mimic fort, painted our faces with wild pokeberries and played "Indian, while a few of our number assumed the dig nity of the United States Army, and stayed within the fortification. With my face well ornamented with red ochre and pokeberry stains, and with a pro fusion of turkey feathers about my head, I was honored with the title of Big Hill Joe, and bravely led the attack on the. tort, yelling and issuing my orders in the fierce, guttural speech of the Osage, which won the admira tion of my companions and made me the hero of the hour. So absorbed were, we in our games and in the pleasures of each others' society, that we rarely bestowed a thought on the dangers with which, we might be surrounded. In fact, we all felt fully satisfied that the dozen armed men garrisoned at the little log fort were more than able to cope with any foe that might come. So the days went by. A week passed, and no outbreak among the Indians occurred. The settlers began to think that they bad been un necessarily alarmed, and the four families stopping at our place began to make prepara tions to return to their claims. The day before the one set for their de parture, Bob and Jack Baker gained permis sion to go and look after some traps they had set on the creek, near their home. I was al lowed to accompany them, and, as soon as we had eaten our breakfast, we set out down tine creek. My father and Mr. Baker had gone to Inde pendence that day to transact some business regarding their claims, while those who were stopping temporarily at the fort were busily engaged in getting things in shape to return to tneir claims on the following day. On reaching the Baker cabin, we found ev erything as it had been left. We took some corn from the pen and fed the 'hogs, which were running loose in the bottom. Then wa visited the traps, and found a mink and two 'coons had been caught. These were speedily dispatched and skinned, and their bides Bubseniiently tacked on the side of the cabin to dry in the sun. It was nine o clock when we started on our return. We haA not gone a hundred yard* when we discovered a large body of horsemen from up the stream It only took a glance to ilr"l tnat tnev were India nß! With exclamations of terror upon their lips, Hob and Jack turned and fled toward the cab in; but they had not taken a dozen steps when a yell from the savages told us that we had been discovered. I stood for a moment irresolute. Being ac customed to meeting with Indians, their pres ence did not fill me with the terror evidently experienced by my companions, but, at the same time, my sensations were anything but pleasing. I knew it would avail nothing to attempt to escape, as the Indians were well mounted, and could easily ride me down, yet I did not tee! like remaining there after being deserted by my companions; so, after standing my ground for a moment, I turned and fled in the direction taken by Bob and Jack. On reaching the cabin, I found that the two boys had entered it and barred the door; but us I aoproached, they opened it to admit me, and in a minute I was on the inside and the door was securely fastened behind me. .Bob and Jack turned to me with white, frightened faces. ' Oh, boys, we shall be killed!" cried Jack, in an agonized tone. "What will we do?" 1 glanced hurriedly about the room. There were no weapons in the house. -But even if there had been a dozen guns about the place, I don t think we could have used them. Come on, boys," cried Bob, suddenly, "let'B get un in the loft." And he pointed above to the few rough oaken boards that lay across the joists. Acting upon this suggestion, we all three hurriedly clambered up the wall of the log shanty, soon reaching the loft, where we crept in under the low rafters. Peering out through a crack in the rough board roof. I could see the advancing Indi ans, who had now very nearly reached the house. As they drew near I saw that they had « large drove of horses and cattle with them, which had evidently been taken from the white settlers. With a series of wild yells and guttural ejaculations, they charged up to the cabin, lashing their ponies and brandishing their weapons in a manner to fill the stoutest heart with fear, boon there came a loud knocking at the door. ' Jack uttered a half-stifled sob of terror and buried his face, in his hands. Bob crept close to my side, his whole form trembling with fear. We could now hear the savages walking around the house and presently some of them stopped by the httle window in the east side of the cabin- Ihis convinced me that they were looking into the house to see if there was any one within. A brief time passed in silence, then there came a great crash, and the splintered and broken door fell from its hinges on to the floor. Then, as I peeped through a. crack in the rough boards, the hideous painted visaee of an Osage warrior was thrust through the opening. Giving vent to a grunt of satisfaction, he strode into the room, followed by a dozen of has tribe. Without a moment's hesitation, they began to help themselves to everything about the place. Blankets, clothing, knives and forks, pans, and, in fact, everything in the house that could be carried away were . quickly snatched up. Not once had they attempted to explore our retreat. They appeared to be solely intent upon plunder. The room soon became literally filled with the savages, each eager to get possession of a part of the plunder. Snatching, pulling and scuffling over the articles were freely in-> dulged in, while a continual babel of voices rose from the excited throng. Indeed, so completely absorbed did they become in their scramble over the booty, that it is extremely doubtful if our hiding place had been discovered had not an unlooked-for accident occurred. In trying to get a better view of what was going on, I drew myself cautiously for ward, and, as I did so, the wide plank on which I lay tilted up, and the next moment I was precipitated into the room below, light ing on the heads of two warriors and knocking them to the floor as I fell. In a moment all was confusion in the room. Knives and pistols were drawn, and a scene of excitement ensued, in the midst of which I managed to slip from the cabin. "Kill the paleface! Shoot him!" I heard the words uttered fiercely in the Osage language as I gained the outside. In an instant I was surrounded by a crowd of excited warriors, who brandished their weap ons about my head in the most threatening manner; but as none of them attempted to harm me, I rightly guessed that they only meant to frighten me. In spite of my unpleasant situation I did not lose my self-possession. I knew the nature of an Indian well enough to realize that any attempt to escape on my part would only subject me to harsher treatment. As I glanced about me I saw that the Indi ans haa all my father's horses and cattle in the drove with them, also the stock belong ing to the families who were staying at our place. I know my best course was to treat the threats of the Indians with as much indiffer ence as I could assume. Glancing calmly at the grim-visaged warriors before me, I said: "You are brave warriors. You make war upon a boy, and one that has always been a friend of the Osage." I spoke in the Osage language, and threw all the spirit I could command into my speech. This produced a magical effect upon them. Their weapons werp instantly lowered, and ejaculations of astonishment came from every side. Waving the others back with a sweep of his hand, a tall warrior, whom I rightly guessed to be Big Hil! Joe, came forward and held out his hand to me. "Little white Osagc," he said, with a grin. CONTINUED ON FACiK SIX