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

and get out of these diggin's. It.l take
Us three days or three nights to reach
Fort Collins, and those fellows IL fol-
low us clean through unless we can
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 show of indif-
ference.
1t had grown quite dark Mack re-
solved to trust in a not unfamiliar ruse.
He first allowed the fire to sink low. and
then gathered u quantity of sagebrusb
and wrapped it up in three of their ex-
ira blankets.
These bundles were then placed near
the fire SO that they should look at dis.
tance like the figures of men souatted
before the blaze
Then Mack and his comrades piled ON
brush until the flames leaped high; and
behind this blaze they crept away to the
horses. mounted them and leading the
repacked mules rode straight up the side
hill until out of range of the freight.
They then turned and rode several
miles parallel with the trail, guiding
their course by family seen stars. By
and by they struck into the trail and
urged their animals forward. They
had heard no sound of Indians in mr.
suit.
Before daylight they turned off and
rode about four miles to the left, where
they hid their animals in a little pocket
which had grass and water and betook
themselves to IL quaking ASP thicket near
at hand for rest. and. by turns, for
sleep. Here they proposed to remain
all day and to so on again at night. One
of them kept guard at the edge of the
thicket, overlooking the route and the
surrounding country.
Late in the afternoon a SQUAD of In
dians were discerned in the distance
looking fortheir trail Crowded behind
tufts of buffalo grass, they watched this
band closely and anxiously.
At sundown signal fire about three
miles away announced that their tracks
had been discovered. But it would vet
be an hour or more before the Indians
would overtale the little party.
As soon as it grew dark enough to
cover their retreat, Mack and his COM
panions started. They crossed the trail.
and rode until midnight on the other
side. Then they crossed back again.
rode two miles out to the left and
camped until daylight.
Rising again, they took the trail di-
rect, and rode at as rapid pace as their
animals could be expected to sustain.
Mack thought they had gained a lead
during the night which would make it
impossible for the Indians to come ur
with them; but at about 10 o'clock they
discovered a signal fire upon a hill not
more than a mile off at the left and
somewhat in advance OF them.
The building of this fire was proof
that the party ahead were scouts. and
that the maiu body of the Indians was
behind. Mack kept his men to the trail,
and they urged their animals forward.
All that day they rode, but the In.
dians who were signaling kept steadily
IN advance of them. During the day
they counted no less than seventeen fires.
all built at great distance from the
trail; but during all the time not an
Arapaho was SEEN
That night, when their horses and
mules were almost exhausted, the white
men made out the dim forms of two
mountains a few miles in advance.
Mack knew that these marked the pas
sage of the trail out upon the open
plains. within three or four hours ride
of FoTA Collins. Hidden in the mos.h
Of IA canyon they escaped observation.
They rested and fed their horses, took
food and before daylight were again in
the saddle.
IF we have any trouble it will come
IN the pass between the mountains" !"
Mack told his comrades. IF we don't
run against a party Of EN- there, we're
out OF the woods. If we do, it'll take
good bunch of 'e1n to clean us out, for
there's no cover-only open ground.
As they rode into the pass they saw
five Indians in the distance, seated upon
their horses near the trail. These were
undoubtedly the scouts, who, riding the
swiftest ponies in their band, had kept
ahead and We're now stationed in the |
pass hoping to hold the white men in
check until others of their party came
up
"Nothin to do but brush em one side. |
boys, said Mack.
Tightening their girths and looking to |
their weapons. the little party charged
forward at a stiff gallop.
The Indians slipped off their horses
and, made show of standing their
ground: but as the white men pressed
straight on and came nearly within rifle
shot they lost their courage and fed
Five hours later Mack and the Ten
nesseeans Were in Fort Collins, where
strong detachment of regular troops
was stationed
The Tennesseeans looked queerly at
Mack as they rode up to the fort They
seemed to be satisfied with his look. and
said nothing. Nor did Mack say any
thing to the officers at the post concern.
ing his companions rebellious inten-
tions.-Frank Welles Call1ins in Youths