San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-08
sand, aIkah dust and cactus.

DttillOn W DtJ w S DtlOl6 IuCIl anu ,udNG
her cherish her flowers Well Shs did
for their own sakes. But in the folds
of her only other gown, between the
leaves of a prayer book that had seen
better days, Were the blossoms she
plucked along the Kings highway" on
the Missouri hills, and none of these
latter ones were ever put with them.
The trains had been out now many
days. More than a hundred miles back,
at Council Grove, on the NeoshO river,
they had halted for organization. That
point was the final rendezvous for west
bound trains. There they elected a
commander for the expedition and be-
yond that point the wagons never fell
out of their regular order in tie line of
march.
Fonr long, toiling teams moved con-
stantly forward side by side. Then four
more came ON abreast, and so to the
end. This arrangement was for the
purpose of better protection against hos
tile Indians, for whom constant look
out was kept, and with whom encounters
were not unknown by the traders.
though treaties had been made by the
government with every tribe through
whose territory the Santa Fe Trail ran.
by the terms of which all trains were 10
pass along its track unmolested. That
the governme nt entertained doubt of
the Indians holding to this compact was
evidenced by the fact that the great
road. 800 miles long, was made 200 feet
wide. so that the caravans might be
kept compact and ,defensible.
The delay at Council Grove had been
longer than usual, owing to the difficulty
of agreeing upon a captain. 1t developed
that there had been tacit understanding
to elect Wagon Master King to that re-
sponsib,e position, and his sudden and
complete disappearance left the company
at loss for a competent head. or at
least for one in whom they all had con-
fidence.. The place obviously required
a man of nerve and quick decision, but
above all he must be possessed of well
known fighting qualities. King had
reputation as an Indian fighter. and al
though he was not 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 kins
off, 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 ad-
dressed to the campin general, and after
moments silence and the usual puz-
zling of brows whenever. the lost wagon
masters name was mentioned, 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 he
didn't want to meet. Who knows it
wasn't that woman
The men looked at the speaker in
blank establishment, but no one contra
dicted him. 1t 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
added:
He was afeard, and watched, hey?
Likely enough" 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 captain and
go on. An old Mexican plainsman was
chosen-a man who had made many
overland journeys, had seen much haz-
ardous service and could speak broken
English and a 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 hewOuld funk" 1t
seemed to be his due that he should once
have the honor Of commanding train,
and though these overland mariners
were not men to take great risks for
honOrs sake, they ventured little this
time and elected old Jose Valdez to the
captaincy. 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 see
the thing done.
Happy old Josef he started the expe-
dition with flourish His glittering
black eyes danced, for they had not yet
lost their luster, and they could see a
moving object on the plains farther
away than many that were a 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. 1t aroused his ambition to