The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-11

me. Great heavens! What should I do? had come down here from my eastern home, fresh from school, in search of adventure and here 1 had 8 full-grown one on my hands that I didn't know what to do with. could feel my hair lift itself with sufficient strength to raise my hat from my head. I had not accom- plished one-half the distance before the bullets were flying around pro- and the Indians were get ting in very close proximity. De- termining that if I was to be shot I would not be in the back, and to at least die gamely, suddenly refined in my horse, leaped to the ground, and drawing my Winchester, I knelt and taking aim with one hand at the head Indian, waved my hat over my head for them to stop. Now, if there is anything an Indian is afraid of, it is @ Winchester rife, knowing perfectly well that it can be fired sixteen times in rapid succession without reloading, and an Indian don't enjoy standing in front of one of them any more than a white man does. The Indians, when they had ridden up to within three or four hundred yards of me came to a full stop and after parleying a few minutes one of them rode short dis tance in advance of the others and clasped his hands above his head in what l readily understood to be a token of friendship. I at once arose and beckoned him forward. He rode up and without alighting took my protfered hand and skipping me on the shoulder, exclaimed:
 "Heap good little mani Heap bravel Me friend Where go?"
 Although his words were somewhat reassuring, his general appearance was enough to make shudder creep down my back; he was perfectly naked from his waist up and his shoulders and chest were literally covered with scars His face when not painted was nearly as black as an Africans and the mark of a trightful gash which had anni- Inflated one eye extended entirely across his left cheek. He must have been very old, but his form was erect and he moved with an energy and grace that would have done credit tc a man of twenty five. His remaining eye was was restless, dark and pierc. ing.
 l showed him the mail bag which was strapped to the saddle and made him understand that I was going te Reno. He then told me that his namt was Prairie Fire and that he was Cheap big chief"
 By this time the rest of the band had joined us, all shook hands and called me brave and really began tc feel quite like hero, but very badly frightened one.
 Old Prairie Fire motioned for me tc get on my horse and follow him which l did without argument and the entire party moved off across the river and when we had ridden about mile and a halt we came to the camp of Prairie Fires band, consisting of twenty five or thirty tepees romantically grouped at the base of rocky bluff, from which there bubbled large spring o1 clear, cold water, while the scattering oak trees, with their dark green foli. az, and the gently sloping ground carpeted with velvety mesquite gras, made the spot most delightful one We were greeted by the barking of { swarm of dogs and the entire popula tion of women and children, who al had to have look at me.
 The old chief told me to get dowl and come with him into his tepee.
 followed him, not knowing whethe to be afraid or not, but as had SO ia met with kind treatment l was begin ming to feel quite reassured.
 The tepee was large one, being about fourteen feet in diameter on tn ground, and twenty feet in height. Il a shallow hole, hollowed out of tn ground in the center of the tepee, small but brisk fire of dry twigs wa cracking, over which the chief squaw was preparing something fo us to eat. The rest of the ground wa covered with buffalo skins and blank cts. When his squaw had placed be fore us supper of venison and kint of bread made by simply mixing flou with water and baking it in the ho ashes, Prairie Fire bade me eat.
 cast my fears to the winds, and fell t. with vim, although I must comics that l could not help wondering a times what was to be done with m next. Alter the meal was ended, w smoked our pipes, neither one offer ing to say a word, as I could not speal Cheyenne and he had either exhauste,
 his stock of English words or else tn characteristic Indian aversion to speak
 ing English prevented him. At an,
 rate there were not half dozen word exchanged during my stay in the tepe of the Cheyenne chieftain. When W
 had finished our pipes he led me ou | tra vwTh hns,