Delta chief., 1883-08-15
FINDING THE TRAIL.

Here in the shadow OF this grim
mountain is camp of cavalry-2o0
men in faded and ragged blue uniforms,
every face sunburned and bronzed. cv-
cry sabre and carbine showing long use.
every horse lifting its head from the
grass at short intervals for swift
glance up and down the valley.
Here. at the foot of the mountain. the
Apache trial. which has been followed
for three days, has grown cold. Aye,
IL has been lost. II is as if the white
men had followed n path which sudden
~ ended at a prccipice. From this
poinA Ia. red demons took wings, and
the oldest trailer j. at fault.
The men ON picket looked up and
down the narrow valley with anxious
faces. Down the valley, mile away.
II solitary wild horse paws and pranccs
and ui,.rs shrill ncighs of wondcrmcnt
and alarm. Up the valley Is long
stretch Of green grass. the earth as level
as iloor and no visible sign of life.
The pines and shrubs and rocks on the
mountain side nigh, hide ten thousand
Indians. but there is no, the slightest
movement 10 arouse suspicion. II is u
still. hot day. Not a bird chrps. not
branch waves. The eve of lynx could
in' move
ments of the lone wild horse adown the
valley and the circular flight of an eagle
SO high in the air that the proud bird
seemed no larger than sparrow.
For an hour every man and horse has
looked for signs but nothing has
been discovered beyond what has been
described. 1t is lost trail. There Is
something in it to arouse suspicion as
the trail was n plain as "a country high
way. and the Indians had no suspicion
of pursuit Five miles back there were
signs Of commotion. Here, in the cen
ter OF the valley. every footprint sud
denly disappears.
Look, now. A sergeant with grizzly
locks and fighting jaw rides down the
valley, followed by five troopers. They
are 10 scout for the lost trail. Every
man has unslung his carbinc, every sad
die girth has been tightened, and every
man Of the six looks over the camp as
he rides out rs II he had been told that
he was bidding last farewell 10 COM
rndcs. They ride at "a slow galiop.
Each man casts swift glances along the
mountain side to his right-along the
mountain side to his lcft-at the green
grass under his horses feet
What's that! Afar up the slope to
the right something waves to and fro
for moment. Higher up the signal is
answered. Across the valley on the
other slope II is answered again. Down
the valley. full two miles beyond
where the wild horse now stands ike
figure of stone, and where the valley
sweeps to the right. like the sudden
turn of river, the signal is caught up
and 200 Apachcs. eager. excited. and
mounted, draw back into the fringe at
the base of the mountain and wait.
The little band gallop straight down
upon the lone horse. Now they are on
ly half mile away, and his breath
comes quick and his nostrils quivcr as
he stands and stares at the strange spec
tacle. A little nearer and his muscles
twitch and culver and his sharp-point-
ed ears work faster. Only eighty rods
now. and with n fierce snort of alarm
and defiance he rears up. whirls about
like top. and is OFF down the valley
like an arrow sent by n strong hand.
The sight may thrill, but 1t does not in
crease the pace of those who follow.
The men see the wild horse fleeing be-
fore them. but the sight does not hold
their eyes more than second. To the
right-to the eft-above them-down
the valley--they are looking for u hoof-
print, for trampled spot. for brok-
en- twig--for sign however insigniti-
cant to prove that men have passed
that way They find nothing. The sig
nails up the mountain side were visible
nply for sannnls