The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-01-22

broken camp III mountain spring be-
side the trail. They were several hun
drsd yards ID. advance when they were
discovered, and were just riding ont of
the depression 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 La
dams caught sight of them, and wheel
ing their ponies about came back at a
gallop straight down the trail. They
spread out in a sort of fan shape as they
came, and Mack counted twenty-six.
Git ready for business, boys" said
ne quietly. Behind your horses, re-
volvers handy, and rifles across saddles!'
Tho Indians came on ut Il reckless pace
until within about Il hundred yards,
when Mack, stepping out from behind
his horse, shouted and motionel them
back.
They pulled mp suddenly. One of
them slipped from his pony, and hand
ing the rein and his gun to a comrads
came forward on foot, gorgeous in a col
ored blanket, a white SLOUGH hat stuck
with ravens feathers, and a variety of
brilliant paints daubed upon his face
and breast.
He was a big fellow and walked with
a swinging stride.
"How howl" said he, as he halted a
few PAGES distant and grinned hideous.
ly through his paints.
''How do you doy" answered Mack.
What do you want?"'
The Indian shook his head in token
that he did not understand English.
"Hablan ustedes Espanol?" do You
speak Spanish?) asked the Indian.
Mack, who had picked up a slnattering
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 chief-for
such the Indian undoubtedly was
wanted.
Nv IAldltuO bolu lllU IL Ul10 WlllLc
men would surrender 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 ammunition
through the muzzles of the guns and
the weapons and animals after their
owners We're dead.
At this the Indian grinned, and tried
to turn the matter off as joke. He then
asked if Mack and his party We're 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 i'll advance, since in this way they
would escape the dust the Indians horses
would make.
Mack declined this courteous offer, but
told the Indian that he and his conlpan-
ions would follow. They did not mind
travelling in the dust at all, especially
as there was no dust on the sun baked
plain.
The Arapaho laughed again, mighty
onpleasant," us one Of the Tennessecans
put it. and wheeling about strobe back
to his men.
After moments conversation with
them he sprang into his saddle, and
with a reckoning motion to the white
men headed his cavalcade back upon
the trail.
Mack's companions looked ut him in.
quiringly.
We've got to follow, boys" he told
them. There's no use bucking ayin it.
If we turn tail now we're gopeepss. ON
only hope IS to 90 on with 'em fearlessly
and camp not far from EN- tonight and
then trust to darkness to get away from
EN-
Without IL moments hesitation they
mounted and followed the Arapahoes.
who logged along at Il dog trot.
All that afternoon the three whites
rode close behind the Indians. talking
and laughing with an which
they did not feel, but which undoubtedly
did much to render the savagcs more
certain Of outwitting and capturing or
killing the little party at their leisure.
Big Medicine was reached about sun
down. The chief had spoken truly with
regard to his camp. for there were
twelve or fifteen lodges near the springs
on the lower slope Of the hill near the
base of which the water came to the
surface.
AS they rode down to the springs the
chief dropped back and asked Mack
where he would camp. Mack told him
they would picket their horses among
the sagebrush on the side of the hill
above the spring. This seemed to salts
fly the Indian: he turned away and rode
with the others down to their camp.
After watering their animals and
bringing a pailful from the springs the
white mel moved up the side hill some
200 yards above and picketed their ami.
mails in Il little depression out of sight of
the Indian camp. A sentinel, however.
whom they could see posted upon Il rock
upon the opposite bluff. had them in full
view.
Nov. boys" said Mack to his CON
p%anions after they had lighted Il fire.
"git out your Dutch oven and I'll git
ont mine and my self raisin flower. and
while you take the hatcEets and est {"
big lot of sagebrush for IL bonfire II
l ri 54t4fHH4 -++4a4ske bread enough to last II:
three days.
Then after that's done we'll eat Il big
supper anl llgnt IL b1g tlre, amt bc!lE!
the blaze Of it vel. crawl to oaf nor"
and get out Of these diggin's. It'll tax
us three days or three nights to re,:.
Fort Collins. and those fellows II fol
low us clean through unless we CHI:
dodge them somewhere on the trail"
In three hours everything was in read
mess for departure. No Indians had
ventured near them. Evidently the
Indians were trying to throw the white
men off their guard by Il show of inlif-
ference.
at . l>l .,, 1-I-. .