The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-02-08

each other
..All right" said Mack: Its agreed.
Northerners is northerners and south
erners is sontherners.- but Injins is
pizen." s
So these deadly enemies of the near
future; went on together, comrades in
danger. Every man of the three was
equipped with a stout muzzle loading
I ritie and "a large Colts revolver.
They set out together on the trail and
had advanced but few miles from the
burned station when they sighted IA
squad of mounted Indians who had lust
broken camp at a mountain spring be-
side the trail. They We're several hun
dred yards III 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 disnounting the In
dlans caught. sight of them. and wheel
ing their ponies about came back at a
gallop straight down the trail. They
spread out in IA sort of fan shape as they
came. and Mack counted twenty-six.
Cit ready for business boys" said
he quietly Behind your horses. re-
volyers handy. and rifles across saddles!~
The Indians came on at a reckless pace
until within about a hundred wards.
when Mack. stepping out from behind
his horse. shouted and motioned them
back
H1nx- ll.aI n
them slipped from his pony. and hand
ing the rein and his gun to comrade
came forward on foot. gorgeous in col
ored blanket. Il white slouch hat stuck
with ravens feathers, and variety of
brilliant paints daubed upon his face
and breast.
He was a big fellow and walked with
swinging stride
How! howl" said he, as he halted a
few PAGES distant and grinned hideous-
ly through his paints
''How do you do?" answered Mack.
What do you wantY'
The Indian shook his head in token
that he did not understand English
''Hablan ustedes Espanol!' do YOU
speak SpanishD asked the Indian.
Mack. who had picked up snattering
of Spanish. answered that he did. In
this tongue the Indian asked where they
We're going.
Mack answered that they We're 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 molest 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
traveling.iu the dust at all. especially |
as there was 70 dust ON the sun baked |
plain.
The Arapaho laughed again. mighty
unpleasant. as one of the Tennesseeans
put it. and wheeling about strobe back
to his men.
Aftera moments conversation with
them he sprang into his saddle. and
with Il beckoning motion to the white
men headed his cavalcade back upon
the trail
Macks companions looked ut 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 'enl fearlessly
and camp not far from 'em 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 unconcean 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 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
Whera h. would camn Manl- +nlIl IL,