The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-01-31
WHITE AGAINST RED.

Dheetiy ioiioWlng the close of the
indian campaign in which the gallant
Custer lost his life, there was a year of
dangerous peace on the frontiers. I
mean by that that while the redskins
were supposed to have been thrashed
into submission, and while thew were
apparently at peace, they lost no oppor.
tunity to murder helpless people The
whites were bound by honor to observe
the peace and to trust them to a certain
unit, and, knowing this, the more dis
satisfied bucks took every advantage,
l was still in the employ of the Gov
eminent as scout and rider, and it was
my luck to bring about the capture Of
four bucks who were guilty of murder
ing an old man. They were awaiting
trial, when a young warrior named
Black Serpent, who was the son of
one OF the arrested men, sent me
word that he would have nv
lie in revenge. l was stationed
at Fort Hays, and he sent word in bv q
trader. Black Serpent was an Apache,
ana was described to me as being about
twenty three years of age, strong, feet,
ana as cunning as fox. l did moi
know him by sight, while he doubtless
nao the advantage of knowing me. In
two or three instances when such mes
sages have been brought in thew were
accompanied by the further information
mat the sender would be at a certain
place at certain hour. The recipient
mad his choice to show up and kill or be
Killed in fair exchange of shots, or re-
turn the message in contempt, and take
MS chances of being assasslnated. Black
serpent gave me no alternative. He
meant to catch me off my guard and kill
me. i'
While 1t wasn't very pleasant to have
such threat hanging over a man. T did
not worry much about it. Indeed, it
was the habit of every scout to take all
possible precautions anyhow. l simply
1eit that had the right, he having sent
me tne message, to shoot the young buck
on sight, and as for what he was eoino
10 40, | left that all to him,
About week later | was called upon
TO make ride of about seventy miles to
camp on the Smoky Hill stage route.
and as l was ready to set out Several of
my irienos came to me and cautioned me
70 look out for Black Serpent, who had
peen seen the day before about ten miles
from the tort and directly on the route I
should travel. According to the terms
OF surrender he should have been under
supervision at the agency, dishorsed and
oisarmed, but here he was, galloping
apout on war pony, armed with Win,
chester and navy revolver and living
IN wait to do murder. | was as ready as
l could be to encounter him. | had The
same firearms and splendid horse, and
unless ne ambushed me he would have
no odds in his favor.
20 lar as animal cunning goes the
4 Tr1Ina . Indian has no superior on
ear''-- = quick of ear and vision,
keen y sake in a situation, and he
reasona pretty well up to a certain
point. Novelists have, however, ele.
vated him too high. A white man who
mas been trained in the Indian country
can see, hear or smell just as keenly, run
lust as fast, shoot better, go without
1000 and water just as long, and when
1t comes to Figuring" he can beat the
sharpest redskin by length. don't
say this because had to figure against
Black Serpent, but because have seen
1t proved in fifty instances. When an
indian plots against white man he
plots something to be executed under
cover OF darkness. While my route lay
over lonely and broken country, small
detachments of soldiers were shifting
about, and / reasoned that Black Ser.
pent would hardly take the chances Of
an ambush. The report of his gun might
De heard, or he might miss me in shoot
ing, or he might be seen in the locality
OF The deed and suspected of it. While
ne would have an opportunity at every
mile OF the journey to shoot at me from
behind rock, or bush, or ridge, | rode
along without special vigilance, arguing
for reasons above given, that he would
not dare to do it.
1t was / o'clock in the afternoon be-
fore knew that he was on my trail. A.
rose ridge / caught sight of hin
about mile away, but my observation
was so slyly made that he could not say
l had detected him. He had been con
cealed in gully about five miles back
l learned afterward that half breed
VINO hung about the fort had told hin
that would probably be sent of in thai
direction, and that he had been en-
camped in the gully for three days and
watching for me. Black Serpent wal
doing just as ! reasoned he would
waiting for night. l intended t.
make an easy journey of it by riding
about forty miles and camping for the
night. He knew this would be the way
of it, and he had no intention of attack
ing me during daylight.
kept on at the same steady pace dur
ing the afternoon, hating twice to waite
my horse. Three times during the after
noon | got sly peeps of my pursuer. whit
kept at respectful distance, and doubt
less chuckled to himself at the though
of being on my trail and unsupported.
had to make what is called "dr.
camp" That is, with no water at hand
There was scant heritage for my horse
Init I know he rvnnld mot xuopdor for