Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-05-28


mated this.
Had been able to keep the trail after
three o'clock. ! should have counted on
finding the party in their second camp by
sundown. as we were getting over the
ground at rapid pace, but at about that
hour came to q rough, stony district,
where the passage of the horses had left
no trail, and went ahead at random.
planning to keep my distance from the
river. Twice, in crossing small creeks,
my horse got little water, and as the
sun finally won't down he seemed to be
almost as fresh as at noon. II was to be
a starlight night, and as soon as dusk
came urged my beast to faster pace,
and bore more to the left. When be-
iieved that l had gained quarter of a
mile swerved sharp to the right, rode
for forty rods, and then dismounted, and
gave "Custer" the word to lie down.
We were both flat on the earth when the
party of pursuers swept by, and the
"thudl thud thud" of their ponies
feet came very plainly to my ears. When
they had passed ON, led my horse to-
ward the timber, and reached it without
hearing anything further from the In
dians. We pushed through the timber
TO the river, and here were both grass
and water. / had a cold bite in my
haversack, and after disposing of it
stretched out and went to sleep, hoping
! had given the red men the slip.
opened my eyes next morning in aston
ishment Seated in a circle about me
were the five Comanches, while their
ponies were feeding with my horse.
There was a fire, and the Indians had
evidently eaten breakfast They were
smoking as l awoke, and there was a
grin on each face as it was turned toward
me. lay on my back, with my hands
clasped under my head, and such was
my astonishment that could not move.
Fortunately for me the fellows took this
for nerve. ] looked from man to man,
and finally said, in Comanche:
1T is easy enough for squaw to track
horse after sunrise, and even boy
could make prisoner of a sleeping man."
ugh! ughp' grunted two or three of
them.
when your people at home hear of
your brave deed they will sing songs in
your praise" continued, speaking in
tones of contempt: Here, / have the
claws of grizzly bear which / shot a
few months ago. Take them, and you
can secure further praise by claiming to
have killed the beast yourselves
From the instant realized my situa-
tion i knew that was in for it. Cool
ness and nerve are what count in such
emergencies to throw the Indian off his
balance. / sat up, rubbed my eyes,
reached for my haversack and got some
meat and bread, and as / toasted the
meat at the fire / said, addressing nv
self to the leader:
"Had | known you We're Comanches !
should not have run away. / thought
you were Chickasaws on stolen horses.
shall be ready to go as soon as have
eaten / want to see the Comanche
country-the great plains-the Cana
dian river-the mountains full of caves
and waterfalls-your chief, Thunder
Cloud"
He asked me if belonged to the party
ahead, and told him no. He asked me
how / dared start out alone for the
Comanche country, and told him that
had trapped the mountain lion and cut
out and eaten his liver while still alive,
and therefore feared nothing living. /
could see that they were badly puzzled,
and that they had no idea of Offering me
violence, and increased their wonder by
saying, as finished my breakfast:
"Comel It is time to -. We have
long ride and am anxious to see your
country"
whistled up my horse, and had him
nearly ready before they moved They
had taken my rifle and revolver, and /
did not seem to notice the fact, but
strapped my blanket to the saddle,
lighted my pipe, and waited for them.
They came together out of earshot and
had confab, but apparently did not ar
rive at any satisfactory conclusion.
When we were ready to 60 said:
@Two of you must ride ahead and three
behind. It is an honor due me, and you
cannot show me too much respect"
They looked at me in wonder and
amazement, and continued:
@And if we should encounter any
white men, avoid them, as / do not wish
to be SEEN"
That last observation drove. the peg
home. When we set out two rode in
front and three behind, and no Indians
were ever more puzzled. In later years
met one of them, and he told me that
their plan was to torture me as soon as
awoke. Even the one who was to have
the honor Of scalping me had been desig-
mated, and the plunder had been appor-
toned. And after they had concluded
to take me prisoner to a village one hun
dred miles away they meant to tie me
on my horse. They were beat out of
this By my queer remarks, intended Just
for that purpose. We moved to the west
about five miles, then held to the north
until noon. After noon we turned to
the east, and figured that they were
fanking the camp of the white party by
this man0euvre