Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-11-10
THE RED SCAR.

THAT is the mark Of an Indian arrow,
Navajo arrow" said the colonel as he
applied lighted splinter of cedar to his
cigar. This was said in answer to my re-
mark, calling attention to dark red scar
on his right arm, about two inches above
the wrist, which was revealed as he
stretched out his arm toward the fire to
light the chip of wood.
The colonel and !, with our host, were
sitting around the stove one evening in
October when the nights were getting
chilly. We were living at ranch which
was situated among the foothills of
range of mountains lying in New Mexico
to the east of the Rio Grande. The colonel
had driven 80 miles that day in his two
horse buggy, and having as far again to
90 before he reached his destination he
had stopped at the ranch for the night,
availing himself of that hospitality which
is SO freely offered to travellers by all ranch
men in the wild west.
''Tell us the story, colonel, said our
host, relighting his pipe and leaning back
comfortably in the rocking chair
The colonel was an old Indian fighter
and had seen some rough work in the
winning of the west" With the prelimi-
nary WELL" which seems the usual way
for an American to begin story, the colo
mel commenced:
The Navaioes, powerful tribe to the
west of the Rio Grande, had for long been
on the warpath, robbing and numbering
white settlers, more especially at isolated
mining camps, until most of the mines
1eeA tho hov ~
either been wiped out" or obliged to flee
to the towns or more settled districts.
The government was at length reused to
take steps to end this state OF things A
strong force, composed principally of cav
airy, was sent out against the Navajoes,
marching through their country, destroy
ing their towns and killing many of the
tribe in numerous engagements and Skin
mishes.
Finally they returned, escorting about
5000 prisoners was there with the til
cavalry, and pretty busy time we had OF
it rounding up these redskins. They were
marched to Fort S. and located close to the
fort, being kept within their camp by cay
airy patrols In spite Of our utmost vigi.
lance, several small parties of Indians es.
capped. As the force at the disposal Of the
commandment was not large enough to fol-
low all the scattered bands of fugitives, ]
got orders to raise company Of scouts IN
order to patrol the range of mountains ly.
ing between the fort and the Navajo coun.
try.
After considerable time and no end ct
difficulty got together band Of as thor
ough rufflans as 1t was ever my lot to see
These were hunters, trappers, scouts, min
ers Indians, half breeds, ruined gamblers
and scalnps of every kind and nation, but
all well used to Indian fighting and In
dian ways. I may mention that this was
the band which my old friend, Mayne
Reid, calls the scalp hunters
After the expenditure Of good amount
of time and temper, not to mention phys
ical force, managed to get them into
some sort Of discipline With this band
was camping out on the east side OF the
mountains when news was brought from
| the fort that band of 600 Indians had es-
capped and were making their way west
ward. They would be obliged to cross the
mountains by one of three passes. We were
encamped at the center pass, and the pass
es on either side of lis were 80 miles apart
from each other After consulting with
my chief scout, Mexican called Santos,
we agreed that they would probably make
for the north pass and would likely send q
small party on ahead to see If the coast
was clear. So we resolved to make rec.
onnoissance in that direction.
Leaving the main body of the men with
orders to watch the south pass as well as
the center one l rode off with Santos,
taking two led mules with us. AS we ex
pected, we found the trail Of the scouting
party and soon came in sight Of them OF
rather of cloud of dust which they raised
as they made their way toward the noun
tains. Keeping well out Of sight, w
passed them and made for spring whert
l expected the Indians would camp. W.
rode hard oil day, and toward sunset ar
rived in the neighborhood Of the spring
Hating about mile from it, Santes dis
mounted and crawled forward among thu
sagebrush. On examining the ground
he saw that the Indians had not beer
there. We accordingly watered the horse'
and then retired to canyon about 2O(
yards from the spring. 1t soon became
quite dark and as there was no sign O
the Indians we went to sleep.
At daybreak next morning went VI
the side of the canyon, and crawling
through the sagebrush examined tn
neighborhood with my glass. discovered
the Indians encamped about 200 yard
from the spring, on the farther side. The!
had arrived after dark and so had not dis
covered our trail. As was watchin,
them through my glass and trying tt
make out their numbers saw suddei
movement in camp. They began to NOV
| IL. IL nd
ticulating and pointing in our direction
Looking behind me, to my dismay saw
column of smoke slowly rising in the air
1 knew at once what had happened.
had many time expostulated with San
tos about his habit of smoking at incon
venient times, and now after lighting hi
cigarette he had managed to set the gras
on fire. at once crawled back through
the sagebrlsh, and as soon as was gu
of sight of the Indians arose to my fee
and ran down to our camp, where foun'
Santos vainly endeavoring to beat out tn
fire.
mo use now" said I. "We are discov
cred and must run for it..
We mounted our horses, and leading
the mules SGT off at a gallop, the Indian
keeping on our left, to cut us off from tn
fort, where they supposed we were going
They did not actually chase us, but jus
kept along parallel to our course, and s.
we raced along over the plain, which wa
of sand and gravel, with a scanty growtl
of grainma grass, with here and there
cactus or soap plant. All day long w
kept on, sometimes stopping to chang
the saddles from the horses to the mules
or back again to the horses, and on agail