The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-12-25
JOSEPHUS DANIELS, Ell.
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Leaving the Piute in camp with seye-
raj men, l climbed out of the canon with
the rest of the party, and, having placed
my instrument upon the bare summit of
the mountain, began the work for which
had been sent. At first no Indians
seemed to be about, but turning my tele-
| scope presently upon an open glade be-
low, large number were discovered as
| sembled and the crowd seemed continually
augmenting.
"My purpose was to finish the work
upon the peak that afternoon, and, if not
| discovered, leave early in the morning by
| another route. The sketch of hills and
drainage was soon finished, and not an
Indian had appeared.
| 81 began to hope that we might yet
complete the work and escape undiscoy-
cred, and was swinging the big telescope
around on its plate, reading the angles
with all speed, when suddenly, as | looked
into the glass, there appeared at the other
end the painted face of a Navajoe
Had volley been poured into us it
would not have unnerved me as did that
hideous countenance that had risen in my
glass like an apparition. The man was
watching us from some bush a hundred
yards away. We were on open ground in
fair range of his rifle and each moment
expected the fire.
''But he seemed to know that he was
discovered and relieved me greatly by
emerging from cover and approaching A
dozen of them appeared.
''In front walked the great, gaunt saw
age had first seen, his beastly face made
unnaturally hideous by daubs of red paint.
A gaudy blanket was around him and a
few eagle feathers in his hair. | was not
mistaken in thinking him Hostin Kar
''Striding up to where we stood, he OBJ
served us for moment with no good will
expressed on his ugly features.
81 made friendly advance by saying,
How
"'Who are you, and what are you do
ing on Indians land2' he demanded, speak
ing in Spanish.
The Great Father sent US here an
swered, TO make a map, picture, of In
dian's land
You lie!' he said. 'Yol are bad cow
boys, and you came in here to run off In
dians ponies
'''Look at my mules / rejoned, and
the animals were standing near with heavy
| burdens strapped upon them; do you think
could run off ponies with such a load9
"'Then you are diggers,' he went on,
| you find gold on Indians Ia nd and white
man make him move again. All white
men are liars and thieves, and am going
to kill you
81 looked about me in despair. We
were four boys to a dozen siyages Our
arms consisted only of revolvers, while
the Indians carried the very best rifles and
knives. My companions had understood
nothing of what was said, si"ce we spoke
in Spanish, but they were ava re of danger
''Hostin kar is mad, said to them
He means us mischief
"Pale faces and trembling hands told
me at once their weapons would be USE
less. Indeed, the Navaioes were on the
alert and movement tow ard my belt
would have called their fire There was
| no hope IN resistance, we must need rely
on our wits. But in vain protested that
we were good white men; tat the Great
Father had sent US there; th It we did not
want Indians land or horses
mo, we were thieves ard liars, and he
was going to shoot US before the sun went
down.
81 drew out my books and showed him
| the sketches of the mountains, and the
map with streams upon it. AS his eye ran
| over the familiar lines his face relaxed
| somewhat.
"'Well, what was thatg be demanded,
gruffly, cycling the instrument suspiciously.
Il turned the telescope upon the party
of horsemen, some six miles away, and as
he looked into it his face spread with as
tonishment and delight. | was gaining
on his favor and quickly increased his
wonder by shifting the glass from one
peak to another of the distant mountains.
''After the other Indians had each ta-
ken a look through the telescope they
drew back and began to converse i'll their
Navajoe tongue | felt confident that we
| ho1 do ha oil
chief and was encouraging the boys about
me when he turned to us again.
elf Bashingtano, the Great Father,
sent you here to make picture of Indian 3
land, why didn't you come first to the b &
Chiefs? he said. 'No,you have brought those
things to fooi Indian; you are thieves and
liars, and We will shoot you. For how
can you make map with no one to tell You
! the names of rivers and mountainsY
81 was on my way, insisted, to see the
Big Chief and ask him Of his rivers and
mountains; for no one in all the country
knows them SO well as he. And Bashing-
tano will be glad when he hears that the
Big Chief helped to MAKE his map, for
then it will be good.
"a show of satisfaction spread over his
face at this tribute, and forthwith | began
to ply him with questions.
out the drainage of this river and the lay
of that ridge, his face relaxed and his
bearing became less gruff. l had sat al
his feet, as it were, and he was won.
s''You should have come to the Bis
Chief first,' he said, presently. Bad In
dians steal your horses and then Bashing
tano come back on Big Chief for them. Il
you leave Indians land at once, we viii
let you CO.
'sWe would leave to- morrow, l replied
tonight we wished to sleep in the canoI
below.
''Then he would send good Indians will
US, for bad Indians would steal Bashing
tano's horses.
81 was confident now that we were safe
and turning the instrument from point tt
point, rapidly read the angles as we talked
and soon the days work was complete.
sIn a short time our baggage wa
packed ard we were following the BIZ
Chief down toward the horsemen below
: for he insisted that we should return b,
that way. When we reached the plac
} several hundred painted Indians had gath
t cred, and l shall always think they wer
, there to see US shot. But after passin,
through them the Big Chief dismissed
US with guard of Navajoes, who led u
3 by circuitous route toward the place O
t the mornings camp.
{ ''It was twilight when we reached tn
] canon, and there we found the CAM
MI ND