The Portland daily press., 1894-11-30

single track would not be followed al,
though it was fresh, and hid the pony anu
himself safe in the rocks above a polh'
where the trail led up from side canyon
Looking from this rock balcony, na SOON
saw what he waited for-the SCOUTS anu
advance guard showed first. They roue
ABREAST and were scattered to the rlghe
and left of the trail. One silently polnteo
to the fresh pony tracks, but none halted
to examine it. 1t meant a forager or
lookout and was only another indication
that the first camp made by the 'bron-
chos" was not far off. Prospects for hold
back fight were improving. Then came
the black horse troop, in file of troopers,
leading their leg weary horses. When each
man reached the top of the ascent ne
mounted and kept moving. The pursuit
was slow, but it was continuous. Then
came the grays, and last of all, ''Yellow
Feather"
Clayson, as junior lieutenant, rode in
rear of the column to prevent Struggling
When he got to the top of the canyon, the
head of the column was already descend
ing another canyon beyond. He ordered
the men ahead of him to close up at a trot,
but he did nos mount at once. His horse,
gaunted by lack of feed and the 1873 miles
of hard riding, had no belly to hold
girth, so Clayson halted to resaddle, and
by that halt became straggler himself
The command, moving steadily, was soon
out of sight and sound.
Ramone crawled down from rock to
rock, silent as death itself, to within sure
range. Just below the left shoulder blade
was the spot He aimed from rest and
fred and made two killings, but the horse
fell first, on his off side. Then the man
pitched across the horse. A few seconds
later Ramone's knife had made rapid
piece of artistic carving. Then he was on
his pony, lashing with his quirt for wild
dash for the reservation again.
When tho search party that dropped
back found the lieutenant, they turned
sick to a man. 1t was not till Sergeant
Dowd flung saddle blanket over the grin
ming lipiess face that they had nerve
enough to touch the body.
The long, fast ride killed his best pony,
but Ramone was in the main camp the
night before the second count. He went
straight to Bonitos lodge, scratched on the
door flap, but entered unsummoned.
ssWhere have you been?" asked Bonito
without greeting.
gathering my ponies Tell me your
price,"
Ramone was wild eyed, the banda was
gone from his hair, and Bonito knew that
he lied. But Bonito was an old man now.
He counseled peace and tried to hold che
young men in check, lest they forced the
whole tribe to war. So he turned to Tinta,
crouched by the fire, with the corner of
her blanket held before her face, and whis-
pered, ''Go talk to Ramone!'
Ramone heard the whisper and strobe
outside. ss
Tinta rose and followed him in silence
II give ten ponies,'' he said.
"Too little. "ast9
81 give Is ponies" He spoke more
fercely. 95frszs s-r
.sToo little" she said in the same calm
voice. her head stiR hid by the blanket.
"Twenty ponies-no more. No man,
no spirit would give more" He laughed
harsh, nasty laugh. EascrfG
She peeped from the blanket. The moon
shone full in his face and on the Yellow
Feather that he held on his upper lip.
She caught her breath with gasp; then
said, softly as a cooling dove: Keep the
ponies. Give me the Yellow Feather, and
I'll go with you!'
He lost his cunning in his avaricious,
vengeful joy and gave her what she asked.
She doubled the stiff, dry lip with the
silky hair and showed it into the beaded
medicine bag worn on her bosom. Then
he seized her arm and dragged her to his
mothers lodge.
The "issue day." next morning, was a
grand roundup by order of the agent, and
all the Chiricahuas, including the papooses
and dogs, gathered about the agency build
ing. There was to be recount for rations
and 60 fix definitely the number and names
of those in the war party
Rasnone and Tinta were there together.
IiLs; stood aps1s fltnL Gf,e o1herA, and
neither spoke but not for an instant did
he leave her side.
Finally Ramone was called. He was
head of family and had to speak for him
self and those under him. He entered the
building to wait his turn to answer the
questions of the issue clerk.
Then, quick ais cat Tinta was by the
side of Sanchez. She whispered few hur-
ried words and pointed to her breast. San
chez stepped into the agents office and
gave the information rapidly. Then the
agent, with TWO Indian police, passed
from the office into the issue room, and
before Ramona had time to think of his
knife he was on the floor, tied like a cali.
1t was a neat, sudden job for begin
ming, but how was 1T to end? The pulse
of the Indians was at fever heat, and the
arrest of a subchief was dangerous even
when conditions were normal. Still the
agent went boldly on. He took Ramone