The Portland daily press., 1892-01-23

gether through this here Indian ccun
try, and after we get home we'll hghe
each other"
"A1l right" said Mack; ''it's a,Sreeo.
| Northerners is northerners and south
arners is southerners, but InJlns Is
pizen.'
So these deadly enemies of tho near
future went on together, comrades IN
danger. Every man of the three was
equipped with stout muzzle loading
rife 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 mountain spring be-
side the trail. They were several hun
bred yards in advance when they were
discovered, and were just riding out 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 a 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
gallon straight down the trail. They
spread out in a sort of fan shape as they
came, and Mack counted twenty-six.
ssGit ready for business. boys" said
he quietly. behind your horses, re-
volvers handy, and rifles across saddles!"
The Indians came ON at a reckless pace
until within about a 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 col
ored blanket, white SLOUGH hat stuck
with ravens feathers, and variety Of
brilliant paints daubed upon his face
and breast.
He was 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 dor 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 smattering
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
The Arapaho told him if the white
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 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 Indians horses
would make.
Mack declined this courteous offer, but
told the Indian that he and his compan-
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
unpleasant" as one of the Tennesseeans
pu. 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.
Mack's companions looked at him in
quiringly.
"We've got to follow, boys" he told
them. There's no use bucking 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
then trust to darkness to get away from
em"
Without q moments hesitation they
mounted and followed. the Arapahoes,
who logged along at dog trot.
All that afternoon the three whites
rode close behind the Indians, talking
and laughing with an unconcern which
they did not feel, but which undoubtedly
did much to render the savages 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 wero
twelve or fifteen lodges near the springs
on the lower slope of the hill near the
base of which the water came to the