The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-12-22

hdence. Inc place obviously required
Q man Of nerve and quick decision, but
above all he must DO possessed of well
known fighting qualities. King had a
reputation as an Indian fighter, and al.
though he was not a favorite personally,
It was conceded that he could be trusted
and that he would be brave in the face
Of danger.
"What do you suppose ever took King
of, anyhow" said one Of the men, after
they had canvassed the subject repeated
ly and, yet had not agreed upon a cap
tain. His question seemed to be i'd
dressed to the campin general, and after
q moments silence and the usual pug
cling Of brows whenever the lost wagon
masters name was mentioned, Q soldier
who was lying on the grass raised upon
his elbow and said:
Il don't know as you have asked me,
but believe this man you are talking
about went away because he saw some
body aboard the Polar Star that no
didn't want to meet Who knows Il
wasn't that woman
The men looked at the speaker In
blank astonishment, but no one contra
dicted him. It was the first probable
solution that had been offered, and nat
urally It was not long in finding lodg-
ment in every mans mind. Then one
addel:
"He was afeard. and watched, heyS
Likely enoughi" And another said:
Smart fellow; but he's no coward"
The repacking done, after the jolting
and settling of the freight between
WestpOrt and Council Grove, and the
cattle winded and refreshed, It became
necessary to decide upon 4 captain and
go on. An old Mexican plainsman was
chosen-a man who had made many
overland journeys, had seen much hRs-
ardous service and could speak broken
English and u number Of Indian Ian
guages, besides Spanish. But he had
never before commanded an expedition
across the plains. Just why. nobody
seemed to know, or to be willing to say.
Perhaps because of an underlined fear
that in a pinch he would "flunk." It
seemed to be his due that he should once
have the honor Of commanding a train,
and though these overland mariners
were not men to take great risks for
hOnOr's sake, they ventured little this
time and elected old Jose Valdez to the
captainey. With a great show of loyalty
the crown Of authority was put upon his
brow, and many Of his followers pro-
tested that they had long wished to sec
the thing done.
Happy old Jose! he started the expe-
dition with a flourish. His glittering
black eyes danced, for they had not yet
lost their luster, and they could see
moving object on the plains farther
away than many that were q score Of
years younger.
His pride would make him do his
best" they said: everything would be
safe"
And his pride did spur the old captain
constantly. It aroused his ambition to
make the quickest trip that had been
known for years, to have the most com
Portable camping grounds, and the best
time generally. Occasionally he would
bring his mind back to duty with q start
because he had discovered himself in
Santa Fe, recounting the success Of the
expedition under his leadership to his
stay-at-home comrades, into whose ears
he had hoped for ten years to be able to
pour this proud tale.
From Council Grove to the great bend
Of the Arkansas every thing had moved
along just to his liking. It was at this
point that the trail struck the river
whose course they would follow for q
hundred and fifty miles. They had
rounded the point and were bearing
more toward the south. Pawnee rock
would be the next camping place. This
rock is one Of natures ramparts. A
rugged, isolated pile Of brown sandstone
cropping out Of the prairie many miles
from the foothills Of the Rocky noun
tains, it is the first startling guideboard
to the great range. For many years-at
least half q century-it was known as
one Of the most dangerous points on the
plains Almost within its shadow the
Santa Fe Trail crosses the route Of the
Indian tribes that Travelled both north
and south after buffalo Probably for
hundreds Of years before the Santa Fe
Trail was used by white traders and
trappers this great north and south trail
was followed by the hunters Of the prai-
rie tribes
But few miles away from the rock
the Pawnee river empties into the Ar
kansas, and the banks Of both streams
afforded fine camping grounds. The
grazing was good IN the valleys and the
rock afforded protection from foes and
shelter from wind and fire. Whoever
first gained its summit was almost i'm
pregnably fortified against enemies 20
long as supplies Of food and water and
arrows or ammunition lasted. Many
men whose names are now conspicuous
in the history Of this country have spent
anxious days and nights on Pawnee
rock, and but a few years ago many
names could be read upon its SCARED
face. In eighteen hundred and hfty-Ono
hundreds Of them, cut in the soft stone
by hands that showed all degrees Of
civilization and semibarbarity, were
craven in the base Of this old landmark.
The camp site was selected just beyond
rife shot from the rock. The wagons
were formed into q corral, and after the
cattle had been watered at the river and
herded on the banks in the grass during
the long twilight, they were driven into
the inclosure for the night Captain
Jose cast his searching eyes over the
plains many times before night at lasi
shut them out, but his glance Away
came back satisfied.
81 callZilato you kin turn In and sleeT
tonight, boys" said one Of the American
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