Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-10-08
COLORADO.
Girls Caught on the Plains by an
Approaching Tornado.
EscaPIng the Lightning and the Tempest
Experience In n Gulch-How IL
Appeared when the storm
Was Over.

Appeared When tho storm
Was Over.
We had been nearly two months at the
ranch, ard the weeks had been an al
most unvarying round Of delight for us
both. Nearly all the daylight hours we
were out of doors, watching the phases
of a life so new to us. Often at night
we went out TO little emnence where
we could sec the sheep come home to
their corral What a solid phalanx OF
wool they looked. and what twinkling
little sticks their legs were Poncho had
recovered, and was gravely at work
every day. / used to think the dog's
face wore an air of tenderness as well
rs anxiety when he was conducting a
detachment of sheep with lambs. OF
course. that was mere fancy, but Val
verde bore me out in tho notion. To
his mind Poncho was capable of ANY,
thing. Hewould not be surprised n
some day the dog had suddenly ad-
dressed him In the English of the plains.
u was quarter to three o'clock of a
mild, cloudless afternoon when my sis.
ter, Nan, and myself started to return
from a ranch six miles away. We had
ridden over there to dinner, and came
gayly cantering homeward. the sun
bright and for once but very little
wind blowing. According to my ex-
per.ence, the West with its great
plains, is the place TO become acquaint-
ed with wind. Hardly day passes but
the air sweeps over the vast stretches
in way that is annoying until one
gets accustomed TO IT, II rjars through
tie canyons, sucking hoarsely along the
gorges. Ii is one of the mighty as
peets OF the country. aud to me the
least pleasant Of anything had known
thus far. But this day, as have said
II was calm. The sage only moved
gently as we rode toward it, and we
seemed TO hear the notes Of birds borne
20 u5 from an immense distance. A
great many curlews were circling about,
and the prairie dogs sat up in front of
the houses, looking at us with pert
Gnd inquiring gaze
There's something in the cry of the
birds that / do not like" said Nan.
There's tone Of foreboding in IL. and
It Is not an appropriate tone for so
magnificent day" But she laughed
at her own words as she spoke them.
A gray wolf leaped across our path at
some distance, stopped an instant and
eyed us. then fed away rapidly Again
Nan turned uneasily in her saddle and
looked about her. As she shook the
lines on her pony's neck she exclaimed:
81 am certainly under a spell. Do you
know, girls, that | actually thought
that gray wolf had something to tell us,
II we could only underestimate
After these remarks. Nan seemed TO
/rget her fears. and we all became
Dleerful, as was fitting for horsewomen
IN Colorado. As look back upon that
afternoon. the ride, the bright sunlight.
and the experience which followed, all
seem, although painfully vivid, as If
they had happened In life OF mine in
some other world; can never associate
them with myself in this existence.
We were riding toward the northeast.
having been 10 ranch lying toward
the Vega Pass, though a number of
miles this side OF II. That feeling which
the birds had awakened had proved
very transient My sister suddenly
asked in tone Of interest. untlnged by
fear. II we had noticed the cloud in the
southwest, and was II customary for
Colorado skies 10 exhibit such
freaks? Upon that we all turned
us about. and as Nan, with
quick cry, pulled up her horse, we
also stopped our ponies and gazed.
Speaking for myself / only felt then
keen interest without alarm, AZ the
sight before me. Until l looked at NV
cousins faco did not think Of fear. A
great way OF, Il appeared 10 me, was
told aitfrward Il must have bqen about
ten miles distant when we first saw il.
was eloud absolutely black. For the
inst TINT new what the phrase ..inky
blnckness' meant Neither before nor
since have l ever seen cloud OF that
co or. Ii was roughly cone-shaped, the
point toward the earth. But even its
shape aud color were not the most ter
rib'e things abont IL The mass was
boiling No other word applies 4
the incessant rapid changes in lis text
ure which all The time preserved is
blaokness: and through It there were
constant flashes Of lightning. But we
heard no thunder then. | shall never
IQrgrt ihe Nh ieness that came TO Mans
face Without knowing that l saw
them, set remembered afterward that
her fingers were clntchcd painful, {,
shout the bride. and tnat she reeled
slightly In her saddle.
Let ne think." she said. In a low
Volce. did not speak. but Day sister.
who did not see Mans face said. IN a !
voice;
IL not that a rather belllgerent
Ipeclmon Of 4 clondP''
Na4 did not apparently hear her, she
a Silent lor perhapn hall minute.
hon sho turned 70 Us aud said quickly;
Il hope you can ride fast We can't |
|ei homei what good II we couldq There
! 4 narrow 0u|ch about a mile an
nii from herR ~ The only place