Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-10-07
Hroncho BerSie.


a Philadelphia correspondent, The
scattered remnants of Chief VictOrio' S
band We're lurking about that section
of country then, awaiting an Opportu.
nlty to cross the Death plain to more
secure hiding place in the Sierra Dia-
bOlO. And we were continually finding
fresh signs as we slowly trailed the COW
thieves TO the mountain camp One
morning we entered a little canon.
through which ran a stream of water.
About midway down the canon, on the
bank of the run, the scout in advance
made horrible discovery, and We rode
quickly TO his side, The three Taylor
boys whom we were in search of, and a
Mexican vaquero had been ambushcd
and killed by the Indians, and their
stiffened bodies, bloody and scalpless,
lay across the trail. They mad been
killed during the previous night, and
the coyotes had not yet scented them
out. All their arms and their ponies
had been carried away by their murder
ers.
We hastily dug a shallow grave with
our hunting knives on the bank of The
creek and buried them side by side.
Then continuing on we crossed the next
divide and reached their camp in ca
non similar to the one We had Just left.
The Indians had taken nearly Oppo-
site direction, climbing the other wall
of the canon.
The camp of the outlaws was rude
affair consisting of small tent, a camp
fire, a brush corral and heavy wagon,
Several head of ponies and cows were
grazing in tie canon, and the sergeant
commanding our party ordered several
of the boys to round up the stock while
he dismOunted and inspected the camp
Just as he was about to lift the fly of
the tent shrill treble voice, which
came from the direction of the brush
corral, cried:
''Say, thar, mister man, thet's my
tent. Keep Out'n hit"
We all turned at sound of the voice,
and the queerest little girl, in dress of
faded calico. bareheaded and barefoot
ed, crept from under the corral gate
and walked toward us. She was not
above seven years of age and she had
the shrewdeSt face and brightest ewes
imaginable.
keep Out'n that tent, she repeated,
walking toward the sergeant. Hits
mine, tell yes
"And who might you be?" asked the
,ergeant, smiling and dropping the tent
flap.
''I'm BronchO Bertie." WAS the quick
answer, and she tossed her head saucily.
'LeaStways, thet's what the boys call
me.''
''And who are the bOys?''
"My buddys. Jim, Bill and Dan. Ye
all know 'em well enuff, an | know
you; your rangers, an if yon think
out yOrIucr in the tnoun.ings, an they'll
shoot quicker'n wink" "
We crowded about the little maiden.
and one of the boys, in as tender and
simple words as he could command, tod
her of her bereavement. She didn't
sled many tears, but a great lump that
rose IN her throat was SwalIO we'd with
difficulty and her shrill voice sOftened
and tremLled when she spoke.
Il knowsd they'd glt lade out some
lay" she said, shaking her head mourn
fully "but hits better that ~ way than
to be drapped by you'ns."
She peered into the face of every
man, and finally, stepping to the side of
reckless Jeff, laId her brown hand in
his.
81 like yer looks" she said, "sn' I'll
90 with you"
We took ner back TO camp, and on
the load she taught us several lessons
that set the men to thinking We were
q pretty tough lot, and when one man,
for some tritiIng cause, began to curse.
she raised her small hand warnipgly
and said.
"Ye mustn't cuss. 'Tain't per,ite
when ladies is about, an hits wicked,
too"
When we made camp that night |
BronchO Berthe ate her supper in silence, |
and when one of the boys spread some |
and told her 1t was to be her |
bed for the nic hit she thanked him grave
ly. and folding her hands knelt down |
and prayed. | noticed that several of |
the eyes of the boys were moist when |
she finished, and, when she walked |
around the circle and lifted up her dim
pied mouth TO each bearded face to be
kissed, she receive d a succession of con-
Tulslve hugs that must have bruised her |
rail body. The entire company held a
over the matter the night |
We reached our permanent camp, and it
vas formally decided 10 adopt the
brown waif as ''the child of Company
e. When BERTHE was informed of our
lctiOn by committee delegated for the
she nodded her head and made
answer in her quaint fashion.
81 like ye boys, an hits a goi''
The best tent was fitted up for her
special use, and if a man had gone to
he post and not brought back a present
or "BronchO' his life would have beei
'laced in jeopardy. She exerted a Won
lerful influence over these rough men,
md there was not one in the company
Who would not have laid down his life
or her. Reckless JEFF in particular was
er devoted slave, and "The BrOnchn"
vas always in his company. She loved
i'm, and would sit for hours in his
trong arms listening to the stories that
ell from his lips, occasionally comment
lg In her Old-fashiOned way. Never
Gas princess draped out more gorgeous
? with ribbons and fine dresses than
'roncho BERTHE. Once when she was
lex man killed his horse riding for
be post surgeon, and the men tip-toed
heir way about camp lest THE Bron-
ho" should be disturbed. Mad Milton
aught her to read and spell. and the
'aptain bought her the gentlest pony
hat could be had for money.
One day-no member of Company E
Till ever forget it-Reckless JEFF and
fad Milton went to the post and came
ack to camp under the influence of liq-
OF. We had just finished a shooting
latch when they rode in, and both men
sughed at our Workmanship.
''See here, boys" cried JEFF, pulling
ut his six-shOoter. "I'n show yOa :
that shooting is. Bronchol''
The little maiden stepped forward, ,
nd whispering something in her ear,
eff handed her an ordinary bottle cork. I
be ran to tree about twenty PAGES
lstant and facing US, set the cork on
,p of her curly head and folded her
rms. JEFF cooked his six-shooter and
owly raised it.
s.Don,k JeffiI, wa cried in choruq for I