The herald., 1894-08-05
THE RED SCAR.

cigar. This was said in answer to my re-
mark, calling attention to q 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 ono evening in
October when the nights were getting
chilly. We were living at ranch which
was situated among tho foothills of q
range Of mountains lying in New Mexico
to the east Of the Rio Grande. The colonel
had driven so miles that day In his two
horse buggy, and having as far again to
go 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 ptpo and leaning back
comfortably in the rocking chair.
The colonel was on old Indian fighter
and had seen some rough work in the
winning of the wcst.' With the prelilni-
nary ''Weil," which seems tho usual way
for an American to begin story, the colo
mel commenced:
The Navaioes, o powerful tribe TO the
west Of the Bio Grande, had for long been
on tho warpath, robbing and numbering
white settlers, more especially at isolated
mining camps, until most Of the mines
were left tenantless, the owners having
either been ''wiped out" or Obliged to flee
to the towns or more settled districts.
Tho government was at length roused to
take steps to end this state Of things. A
strong forco, composed principally of cav
airy, was sent out against the Navajoes,
marching through their country, destroy
ing their towns and killing many of the
triba in numerous engagements and skir-
mishcs.
Finally they returned, escorting about
5000 prisoners. was there with the -th
cavalry, and pretty busy time we had of
it rounding UP these redskins. They were
marched to Fort S. and located close to tho
fort, being kept within their camp by cav
airy patrols. In spite Of our utmost vigi
lance, several small parties of Indians es-
capped. AS the force at tho disposal of the
commandant 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 of
difficulty got together band Of as thor
ough ruffians as 1t was ever my lot to SEQ.
These were hunters, trappers scouts, min
ers, Indians, half breeds, ruined gamblers
and soamps Of every kind and nation, but
all we'll used to Indian fighting and In
dian ways. / may mention that this was
the band which my old friend, Mayns
Reid, calls the scalp hunters
After the expenditure Of good amount
nf ti1,a tam not 20 nh
ioal forcc, I 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 q 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. Wewere
encamped at the center pass, and the pass
es on either side Of us were 80 miles apart
from each other. After consulting with
my chief scout, a Mexican called Santos,
we agreed that they would probably make
for Che north pass and would likely send a
small party on ahead to zee il the coast
was clear. So we resolved to make rec
onnoissanne in that direction.
Leaving tho main body of tho men with
orders to watch the south pass as well as
the center one, rode off with Santos
taking two led mules with us. AS we ex-
pected, we found the trail of the scouting
party and soen came in sight of them, or
rather Of cloud Of dust which they raised
as they made their way toward the noun
tains Keeping well out of sight, we
| passed them and made for spring where
expected the Indians would camp. We
rode hard all day, and toward sunset ar
| rived IN the neighborhood of the spring.
| Halting about mile from 1t, Santos dis
mounted and crawled forward among the
sagebrush On examining the ground,
he saw that the Indians had not been
there. We accordingly watered the horses
and then retired to canyon about 900
yards from the spring. Ii soon became
quite dark, and as there was no sign Of
the Indians We went to sleep.
AT dayhreak next morning I went up
she side OF the canyon, and crawling
ahrough the sagebrush I examined tho
neighborhopd with my glass. I discovered
the Indians encamped about 200 yards
from the spring, on the Farther side. They
had arrived after dark and SO had not dis.
covered our trail AS l was watching
them through my glass and trying to
make out their numbers I saw sudden
movement in camp. They began to move
toward thoir horses at the same time ges-
ticulating and pointing in cur direction.
Looking behind me, to my dismay saw
column of smoke slowly rising in the air.
knew at once what had happened. I
had many time exppstulated with San
| tos abouD his habit OF smoking at incon-
J venient times, and now after lighting his
cigarette he had managed to sct the grass
on fire. at once cravzied back through
the sagebrnsh, and as soon as Yves out
Of sight of the Indians arose to my feet
and ran down to oIlr camp, where / found
Santos yainly endeayoring to beat out the
| fire.
No use nDyy," said I. 1.We are discov-
cred and must run for It."
| We mounted our horses, and leading
the mules set off at gnllop, the Indians
keeping Oh our left, to cut us of from the
fort, where they supposed we were going.
They did not actually chase us, but just
kept along parallel to our course, and so
we raced along over the plain, which was
of sand and gravel, with II scanty growth
of gramma grass, with here and thero q
cactus or soap plant. AL day long we
] kept on, sometimes stopping to change
the saddles from the horses TO the mules,
or back again to the horses, and on again
In that monotonous gallop, parchcd with
thirst and covered with dust.
Toward evening we were nearing tho
Nal Pals, that great lava bed which
stretches fer 70 miles along the plain. The
lava is piled up in great ridges, cracked