The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-02-20

NOrthernerS is northernerS and south
erners is southerners, but Injins is
pizen.'
So these deadly enemies of the near
future went on toge ther, comrades in
danger. Every man of the three was
equipped with a 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 a 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 Tenncsseeans. 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
dians caught sight of them, and, wheel
ing their ponies about came back al
gallop straight down the trail They
spread out in a sort of fan shape as
they CAM, 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 comrade,
came forward on foot, gorgeous in a
colored blanket, white slouch hat
stuck with ravens feathers and va
ricty of brilliant paints daubed upon
his face and breast.
He was big fellow and walked
with a swinging stride.
"IIow! howl" said he, as he halted 4
few PAGES distant, and grinned hide
ously through his paints.
How do you do?' answered Mack
"What do you want?"
The Indian shook his head in token
that he did not understand English.
"Hablan usteds Espanol?" do you
speak Spanish?) asked the Indian.
Mack, who had picked up Il 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 chief or
such the Indian undoubtedly was
wanted.
The Arapahoe 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
molest them.
For reply Mack indicated, partly in
Spanish and partly by gestures, that
the Indians might have the ammuni- =
tion 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. II e
then asked if Mack and his party were
going to camp at Big Medicine Springs
that night. aud 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 Indians
horses would make.
Mack declined this courteous offer,
bup told the Indian that he and his
companions would follow. They did
not mind trayeiing in the dust at all,
especially as there was no dust on the
un-baked plain.
The Arapaho laughed again, mighty
unpleasant" as one of the Tennessee
ans put it, aud wheeling about, strobe
back to his men.
After a moments conversation with
them, he sprang into his saddle, and,
with beckoning motion to the white
men, headed his cavalcade back upon
the trail.
Mack's companions looked at him in
quiringly.
We've got to follow, boys" he told
them. There's no use buclling agin
it. If we turn tail now, we're goners.
Our only hope is to go on with 'em
fearlessly, and camp not far from en-
tonight, and trust to darkness to get
away from 'em."
Without moments hesitation, they
mounted and followed the Arapahoes,
who logged along at a dog-trot.
All that afternoon the three whites
IL al, hi T. IL
and laughing with an unconcern which
they did not feel, but which undou bit.
edly did much to render the savages
more certain of outwitting and captur-
ing 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 ba sc 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 sage brush on the side of the hill
above the spring This seemed to sat
isfy the Indian; he turned away, and
rode with the others down to their
camp.
After watering their animals and
bringing pailful from the springs, the
white men moved up the side hill some
| two hundred yards above, and pcleted
their animals in a little depression out
of sight of the Indian camp. seuti,
mel, however, whom they could see