The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-12-23

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 |
fy the Indian: he turned away and rode |
with the others down to their camp.
After watering their animals and
bringing pailful from the springs tho
white men moved up the side hill some
2OO yards above and picketed their AMI
mails in little depression out of sight Of
tho indian camp A sentinel. however,
whom they could sec posted upon rock
upon the opposite bluff. had them in full
view.
Nov. boys" said Mack to his COM
panions after they had lighted dre.
"git out your Dutch oven and Ill git
out mine and my self raisin flower. and
while you take the hatchets and cut
big lot Of sagebrush for bonfire ri
mix and bake bread enough to last N
three days.
"Then after that's done we'll eat . big
supper and light big lire, and behind
the blaze of it we'll crawl to our horses
and get out Of these diggin's. It'll take
us three days or three nights to reach
Fort Collins. and those fellows II fol-
low us clean through unless we can
dodge them somewhere On the trail"
In three hours everything was in read
iness for departure. No Indians had
ventured near them. Evidently tho
Indians were trying to throw tho white
men Of their guard by . show OF indif-
ference.
It had grown quite dark. Mack 10
Solved to trust in not unfamiliar ruse.
He tirst allowed the Dire to sink low. and
then gathered q quantity Of sagebrush
and wrapped II up in three Of their ex-
ira blankets.
These bundles were then placed near
the fire 80 that they should look at dis
lance like the figures Of men squatted
before the blaze.
Then Mack and bis comrades piled on
brush until the flames leaped high; and
behind this blaze they crept away to the
horses. mounted them. and leading tho
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 pur-
suit.
Before daylight they turned of and
rode about four miles to the left, where
they hid their animals in q little pocket
which had grass and water and betook
themselves to u quaking-asp thicket near
at hand for rest. and. by turns, for
sleep. Here they proposed to remain
all day and to 10 on again at night One
of them kept guard at the edge OF the
thicket. overlooking tho route and the
surrounding country.
Late in the afternoon q squad Of In.
dams were discerned in the distance
looking for their trail. Crowded behind
tufts Of buffalo grass. they watched thif
band closely and anxiously.
At shutdown signal fire about three
miles away announced that their tracks
had been discovered. But it would yet
be an hour or more before the Indians
} would overtake the little party.
As soon as it grew dark enough K
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 ant
camped until daylight.
Rising again, they took the trail di
! rect. and rode ut rs rapid pace as thei
D animals could be expected to sustain.
Mack thought they had gained lea.
t during the night which would make |
impossible for tho Indians to come ~
q with them: but at about 10 o'clock the,
Q discovered signal fire upon q hill no
more than mile of at the left an
!, somewhat in advance of them.
The building Of this fire was proc
. that the party ahead were scouts, an
that the main body Of the Indians wa
t behind. Mack kept his men to the trail
!. and they urged their animals forward.
d All that day they rode. but the Ir
J dams who were signaling kept steadil
q In advance of them. During the da
they counted no less than seventeen fires
= all built ut q great distance from th
. trail: but during all the time not q
z Arapaho was seen.
That night, when their horses an
b mules were almost exhausted, the whit