The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-04-13
Srlfrt Sfurv.
CAUGHT MAPPING.
A True Story OF the Old Trail,
BY NED BUNTLINE.

lFue StOty Oh anc Oiu 1Edh,
BY NED BUNTLINE.
4 | met old Jean Rachot in st. Louis
one day in June, and we had pleasant
time, as one may well imagine who is in
formed that we were old wilderness
friends, who had trapped together around
fthe headwaters of the Yellowstone, stood
on the great northern divide between the
Paci6c-fowing waters and those that
came to the Gulf,had been once corra,ed
/ for ten days by the murderous Blackfeet,
party, for which loss we had credit OF
twenty scalps when we got back at last
to The trading post of our company.
We spent the day talking over old
ftimes, while / helped him in trading, for
he had come down to buy clothes, Indian
i trinkets, and some farm tools.
i He and his pretty squaw-wife had set.
tiled on Cache Creek, beyond all the other
settlements, and were ranching little,
raising stock good deal, and keeping
tthe goodwill OF the Indians around them
.,Eby doing some fair trading, and making
now and then big feast, when the chiefs
were conciliated and pleased with few
presents.
/ Jean was thus able to keep his herds
4 of cattle and horses free from the hands
4 OF Indian robbers-in fact the Sioux, by
4 whom he was surrounded, were a very
fair guard against any party Of Utes on
the one side, or Pawnees on the other,
THAT might try to make raid on Ra-
lchots wealth.
/ We went to Bates Theater that night,
Imet F. X Aubrey, and had jolly time,
lending in supper at my quarters, then,
land for a long time, the old Planters
Hotel. Before we parted the old trap
tper got promise that I'd visit him on
This ranch and have an elk hunt up in
Ilhe Black Hills with him. Wehad both
KILLED buffalo enough to have lost taste
lfor that fun, and an elk hunt would have
a new excitement in it.
i In pursuance of that promise, in the
Following September "went West" ami
jim just six weeks after left St. Louis,
Rachot, half.breed son of his, wilder
than Sioux brave, and myself, each
with good hunting horse under us, and
la dozen more for packs aud reserve,
were away up on the Sweet Water, hay
ling our own fun among the elks.
4 We were hunting right along the "old
ltrail," as the route first taken in Califor-
mia overland emigration was called, and
we found as much game as We wanted.
for the Sioux didn't go much on elk
when buffalo could be had in myriads on
the plains further east. Is
f5s Rissca ne Va A let ta tAs @iag range Of the
the old chiefs to look out for the Utes,
for they had been very bold of late, and
, after the summer hunt was over, they the
Sioux chiefs, meant to go in and weed
out a hundred or two to teach them stay
at home manners.
Old Rachot, as usual; laughed at all
, warnings. He always was reckless
chap, and his half son feared moth.
) ing human, inhuman or Divine. But we
got big scare, and came terribly near
Q losing our hair; and this was the way it
come about:
' One night, after lively days hunt,
we camped in a beautiful little canon,
with good water, plenty of wood, and a
). nice range for our horses. We hadn't
seen an Indian sign for three days, and
d felt as safe,aye safer than we would have
felt in Washington, within call of the
Great Fathers voice.
The horses were all turned out to-
IS gether We usually picketed our hun.
tiers close TO camp, but did not think il
necessary there, for we were yet two
}. days ride inside of the Sioux lines, land in
spot where our little camp fire was all
a shut in out of sight We made a hearty
supper from trout roasted in the ashes
h and broiled elk steak told stories for ar
hour or two, and then rolled up in oul
J. blankets and went TO sleep,
The morning star was up when the
touch of old Rachots hand woke me.
"Don't move, but get your hand on
your arms" he said, in whisper. "Oul
d horses are gone, and they'll look for oul
hair next"
il l was never wider awake in one sec
ond than I was then.
" "Creep and follow the boy-I will fol
low you," was the next whisper of Ra
chot, when he saw me draw my Colts
n rife up close 10 my sice. My two six
shooters were already in my belt
i l saw the boy creeping away from oul
sleeping-place toward ledge of sand
@ s!one.on our left. l had noticed tht
night before that it was full of ledgcs
|, and holes. crept after him, carrying
only my arms and ammunition.
Old Rachot came after us, but he made
a long delay which couldn't account
for just then. but soon did. As he
70 came away he laid brand or two to
gether on our camp-fre,an light flick
> ering blaze showed where we had beer
sleeping, and the cunning old trappel
If had. SO arranged our blankets that i
looked exactly as if men slept under
them yet
r Then he crept on and joined me in th'
hole or small cave where his son also
e lay.
"They've gone to put our horses witt
h theirs, and to secure them all. Thel
they will be back here. There aren'
lie more than dozen in the gang-but they
want our har!" he whispered.
"What are they ?" asked.
E. "Utes" was his reply, then he pu
his finger to his lips aud cooked his gun
IS He was great on muzze-loaders,a and car
ried double -barreled howitzer, uset
lie to call it, for it was smooth bore, e,whicl
he generally loaded with an ounce bal
N and handful of number one buckshot
l knew it was so loaded then
A moment after our guns were cock
ed we heard q slight noise out near Oh
e campfire. 1t was only the rolling Of
9, pebble down the bank of the little creek
, but it kept even the reds that made
j. still for at least ten minutes. And tel
If such minutes make an hour, if | know
G myself, and / believe do
VI. L