Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-06-07

was only fourteen years old, and his
presence there exemplifed the ruling traits
of Apache character. Three hours before
he had discovered our party while out
hunting with a party of his own. They
dared not make an open attack, but the
young Chief had sent his people away
and then cut across the country to the
grove, planning that we would halt
there. SingIe-handed and alone he was
going to pick off the Lieutenant, and
then make his escape to boast of it. We
had splendid horses and were all old
campaigners, and the boy would not have
had one chance in ten to get away. He
must have realized it, and yet he was
willing to run the risks. He was greatly
chagrined and cast down by his capture.
We had finished our scout and were On.
our way back to Fort McKavett, and we
determined to carry him in prisoner.
When he was informed of this he earnestly
begged me to kill him, saying that he
could never hold up his head among his
people again. Had he been wounded
and rendered helpless it would not have
been so bad; but to be taken as he was
would forever disgrace him. We bound
him fast to his pony, secured the animal
against break for liberty, and set out
for the fort.
The boy was sullen and defiant for a
time, refusing to answer any questions,
but after a while, when I had told him
that he would not be harmed, and that
his capture under the circumstances re-
bounded to his credit, he thawed out
little. Three hours. after his capture we
got sight of single Indian a mile away
to our right on a knoll, and as we halted
young Black Cloud Informed me that it
was one of his tribe, who wanted to have
a talk with us. Signals were exchanged
between the two, and the stranger soon
came gallOping in. He was one of the
hunting party, and lad been lodging us
for twenty miles to find out if the boy
had been captured. He was fine look
ing fellow, and as he halted in our midst,
and saw the ignoble situation of the boy
his first thought was to fight for him. |
called his attention to the fact that any
move of his would result in the death of
them both, and then explained how the
youth was captured. Knowing the con-
ceit of the tribe Ispread it on very thick,
alleging that it required our whole force
to make the capture, and it was not &C
complished then without a hard fight.
This falsehood made the boy my friend
for life, while it put the other in better
humor. stated that young Black Cloud
would be taken to the fort and held
prisoner until exchanged for some white
captive, and gave my word that he would
be we'll treated meanwhile. He sent a
message to his father to the effect that he
was not afraid, and hoped to be at lib
erty in a few days, and two hours later
we had him safely lodged in the guard
house at the fort. His capture was looked
upon as a good thing, for we knew that
his tribe would gladly exchange two or
three white prisoners for him.
Two weeks after the capture of young
Black Cloud I was called into the
Colonel's office one evening, and asked if
l thought it possible to get through to
Fort Concho with dispatches. The
country was then in the possession of the
hostiles. The Pecos warriors had come
down out of New Mexico to make COM
mon cause against the whites, and the
Kioways, Cheyennes, Chickasaws, Semi
noles, and Shawnees were all out in the
country to the north and east. The |
Apaches had us almost in state Of siege,
being seen every day within five miles of
the post, and the chances of making a
sixty mile ride across the plains lying be-
tween the two forts without running
against party of hostiles was not one in
fifty. At such perilous times a Govern |
ment rider is not commanded to 90. He
is asked certain questions, however, in a
manner which decides him to make the
attempt. I left the post at 9 o'clock at
night of an August evening perfectly salts
fed that [ should be dead or a prisoner
before midnight. had n bronco of tire
less gait, rifle and revolver, and I car
ried only five or six pounds extra weight
Before setting out [ went in to see young
Black Cloud and say good-by. l had
spent much Of my time in his company,
and we had become pretty good friends.
When I told him of my journey he took
from his neck buckskin string, to which
was attached the tooth of grizzly bear,
and handed it to me with the remark:
''You canpot get through. You will
be captured or killed. If not shot down,
show this to my people. They will know
who it belongs to. They may trade you
for me, and shall thus get back to my
tribe"
A thunder storm was coming up as I
took my departure. Instead of holding
due north, on the direct route, [ rode to
the east for five miles and then held
away for Concho direct. The storm now