The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-04-23

As he sat in this meditative mood,
the traveller. happening to cast his eyes
back upon the trail over which he had
come. saw two horsemen leading pack
animals, and riding toward him at a
gallop.
They proved to be young men who
were on their way home to Tennessee.
They had heard of Mack at Lavigne's
three days before, and had been trying
to overtake him.
They, too, were on their way east
ward to take part in the great strug.
gle then going forward; but they ins
tended to join the southern army.
while he was going to join the union
forces.
Partner" said one of the southern
ers, lets stick together and fight to-
gether through this Indian country,
and after we get home we'll fight each
other"
IAN right" said Mack, tits agreed.
Northerners is northernefs, and south
erners Is southerners, but Ipjins is
pizen.'
SO these deadly enemies of the near
future went on together, comrades in
danger. Every man of the three was
equipped with stout, muzzle-loading
rifle and large Colts revolver.
They set out together on the trail,
and had advanced but few miles
from the burned station when they
sighted squad of mounted indians,
who had just broken camp at a noun
tain spring beside the trail. They
were several hundred yards in advance
when they were discovered, and were
just riding out of the d epression which
gave rise to the spring.
On account of his long experience in
the country, Mack had been given the
leadership by the Tennesseeans He
came to halt and told his companions
to get off their horses, hoping they
might possibly escape notice; but even
while they were dismounting the In
dams caught sight of them. and, wheel
ing their ponies about, came back at
a gallop straight down the trail. They
spread out in sort of fan shape as
they came and Mack counted twenty.
| six.
"Git ready for business, boys" said,
quietly. behind your horses, re.
volvers handy and rifles across sad.
dles,'
The Indians came on at reckless
pace until within hundred yards
when Mack, stepping out from behind
his horse, shouted and motioned them
| back.
They pulled up suddenly. One of
them slipped from his pony. and. hand
ing the rein and his gun to a comrade,
came forward on foot, gorgeous in a
colored blanket a white SLOUGH hat
stuck with ravens feathers and a va
riety of brilliant paints daubed upon
his face and breast
He was q big fellow and walked
with a swinging stride.
"How! howl" said he, as no halted a
few PAGES distant and grinned hide
ously through his paints
"fIow do you do3" answered Mack.
"What do you want?"
The Indian shook his head in token
that he did not understand English.
"Hablan usteds Espanol9' (Do you
speak Spanish?) asked the indian.
Mack, who had picked up smatter-
ing of Spanish, answered that he did.
In this tongue the Indian asked where
they were going.
Mack answered that they were going
home to the land where the sun rose,
and asked In turn what the cnief=f or
such the Indian undoubtedly Was
wanted
The Afapahoe told him that If the
white men would sure ndcr their
horses, mules. guns and ammunition
they might keep their blankets and go
on, and he would not let his warriors
modest them.
For reply Mack indicated, partly in
Spanish and partly by gestures, that
the Indians might have the ammuni-
ton through the muzzles OF the guns,
and the weapons and animals after
their owners were dead.
At this the Indian grinned. and tried
to turn the matter off as joke. He
then asked If Mack and his party were
going to camp at Big Medicine Springs
that night, and upon being told that
they were, said that his camp was
there, and that he and his braves would
keep the white men company.
But the white men might, he said,
travel in advance, since in this way
they would escape the dust the India ans
horses would make.
Mack declined this courteous offer,
but told the Indian that he and his
companions would follow. They did
not mind travelling in the dust at all,
especially as there was no dust on the
sun.balxed plain.
The Arapaho laughed again. mighty
unpleasant" as one of the Tennessee
ans put it, and wheeling about strobe
back to his men.
After moments conversation with
them, he sprang into his saddle, and,
with reckoning motion to the white
men, headed his cavalcade back upon
the trail.