The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-17
FRANCISCO.

parched desert which stretches across
our southwestern country the Zilh LIE
JIM, Indian named, rises abruptly. For
many miles the mountain lifts barrier
across the plain. It's precipitous sides,
SCARED and broken by crevices, or
rugged with fallen powders, render pas
sage impossible to all but the naked saw
ages who have found there home.
In these solitudes fragment of the
Navajo Indian tribe, under the leader
ship of morose old Francisco, have for
a long while INDUCED their savage in
stincts. And while the arn of the law
is too strong for them to make open war
fare, little provocation is needed to in
cite them to mischief unless detection
and punishment hang imminent.
Here and there in the tortuous fast
nesses a spring bubbles from the rocks,
and along the water, before it sinks into
the sand, is found luxuriant pasturage
for the herds of Indian ponies.
Midway in its extent the mountain is
broken by narrow pass through which
meanders an Indian trail. 1t was just
here that several months ago an after
noon sun wa8 scorching party of young
surveyors. They had been riding all
day across the dusty plain and were
eagerly looking now for the water at the
pack animals, with dropping heads and
long ears tapping, were picking their
way carefully over the stony trail while
near them rode old Hamlin, the Mormon
packer, with his two Mexican assistants;
behind these followed in single file the
young men of the corps
The ringing crack of a drivers whip
now and then came echoing back from
the cliffs along with the unintelligible
jargon of a Mexican urging on the tired
mules. The tinkle-tinkle of the lead
mares bell moved slowly on; the dust
rose in clouds from fourscore feet; the
sun poured down between the narrow
walls, and as yet no sign of water had
been seen.
A youth named Jim inpatiently pushed
ahead in his eager search. He had not
gone far when he sighted an Indian boy
riding leisurely through the pass. All,
there was one who could tell of the COW
eted spring. Pricking his horse he hur-
ried to overtake the little savage. The
boy reused up at the sound of galloping
hoofs, and seeing white man following
so fast, without pausing to question his
intent, lashed the shaggy pony to the
top of its speed.
Iol TTaI n1
to him, but if his voice reached the
frightened youngster he gave it no heed,
unless to urge his pony the faster. Then
a freakish thought crossed the young
mans mind, and squirting his horse wild
ly along the trail he began to utter war
whoops and shrieks that might have
startled old Francisco himself, had he
been near.
The nimble pony was making good
speed, but the little savage, fearing to be
caught and scalped, thought the noun
tain safer than the saddle. Without
stopping his pony he sprang lightly to
the ground, ran up the hillside and dis
appeared in the powders at the foot of
the cliff.
Jim could scarcely keep his saddle
with laughter for few moments; then
he rode along the trail to where the little
fellow had disappeared and called to him
to come down, that he was good white
man and wanted water. But he might
as well have hailed wild jack rabbit.
The pony checked his speed when the
rider left him, but still eluded the young
mans efforts to turn him back in the
narrow pass The pack train came up,
and the wild animal scurried ahead of it
until the pass had widened into the val
lev. There he was turned and sent
prancing back toward the mountain.
But the perverse little animal instead
of returning insisted now upon following
the train. Again and again the boys
dashed at him, and away he would go
for moment; but presently his heels
would fly into the air and back he would
come, frisking impishIy, and through
the rest of the afternoon followed at q
distance.
A spring was found before sunset, and
camp was pitched for the night by the
side of the water. The animals were
turned loose to Craze The weary men
dropped upon the ground, while the
cook busted himself preparing supper.
Presently shadow fell across the ground
where we lay, and looking up we OBJ
served solitary Indian approaching,
blanket thrown over his shoulders and
rife on his arm 1t was SO usual an oc-
currence that little heed was given him;
for everywhere they frequent our camps,
begging necessarily for whisky, tobacco
and food. But when he drew near and
made no request, nor even acknowledged
our salutation of How" we knew that
his was another object, and that he was
i'll disposed.
Drawing his blanket round him, he
paused little way OIL and stood as silent
as a specter. he was very tall and
straight, with finely chiseled features IN
stead of the brutal face so common TO
the Indian As he posed there IN the
twilight. his picture .e garment dTaplng
about him, with rife Ia hand and the
long shadows around, T could almost
fancy the spirit Of Hiswaths had risen.
BIZ this time supper was ready. and 8
cup Of coffee was poured and offered to
the Indian BE neither accepted nor re
fused, but remained as motionless as if
he had been cast in bronze. Turning
presently and walking few steps away.
he uttered tAe long. tremulous call OF the
coyote. An answering note came from
the hills near by and soon other Indians
appeared by ones and twos and Joined
him about the fire. They continued to
straEgle in until thirty had gathered