The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-12-12

"Them's Indiansr he answered, a
he stretched his head forward, an
seemed to be scenting the air, as
confirmation to himself of the asset
ton. "Them's Indians, boys-Cc
manc or Kiies, Kiowas cant tel
exactly which. Now you just stol
here a minnit, while / take a squint a
the copper cullered ratsr' And nut
tering-"Wh bas brought them Gus
sed critters here nowr'- -Simms NOV
cd off cautiously in the direction of tn
fires to make a closer reconnoitre.
He was absent about ten or tifteeI
minutes, when approaching US from
another direction, he returned anC
said
'Boys.the ranches full Of Comanch
there's more'n four hundred Of th'
thieving Yarmits, with that old hounC
Baio Sol, at the head on 'em. They'v,
come over the mountains on one o
their thieving raids as we calls 'em
But | reckon it's mighty poor steal
ing they'll get among the greaser'
nova days. Ha, Jack, we Rangers
haint left much for 'em, you know
But here they be on the war trail, anC
[ reckon we'd better let 'em be; they
are too many for Us by about ne-half
They 'aint yaller- skins, anyhow"
AT all events Bill, let us report tC
the old man." answered Hardmann
land if he says fight the Indians, Vel
be in for a jolly time of it."
80 says this individual" was the
answer; and Bill again leading the
way, we returned to where our men,
dismounted, We're prepared for rush
into the camp of the supposed gueril-
las.
well. men," said Greyson, as we
advanced. what discoveries have you
made? Is the game ready to be bag
ged?'
Il reckon that ar questions a de
batable one, as they say down in our
legislator at Austin" drawled Simms
with a knowing look. Il say. Cap,
we're barking up the wrong, tree this
time. Them greasers we've come arter,
in sich a hurry tonight, have turned
out to be our old Texan enimies, them
throat cutting Ccmanches."
"What, Indians exclaimed the
captain. rs it possible those fellows
have had the imprudence to enter the
country on one of their robbing ex-
petitions, while the American army is
in possession" 2"
80 it seems, Cap" returned Bill.
Eyer know, sir, it's haru to break off
from old tricks, specially when they're
bad Ores"
How mauy of the rascally wolves
are there, Bill?" inquired the officer.
chars four hundred ov 'em, ef
thars a bakers dozen, and that sly old
thief, Bajo Soils at thar head, for |
know his totem" answered the ranger.
Bajo Sol was the pompous title as
sumed by bold and blood thirsty
Comanche chief. It is Spanish, and
literally means-''under the sum
signifying that he claimed verything
under the sun as his own. This rob
Der. whose name struck terror into
every heart throughout northern Mex
leo, had long been in the habit Of
making annual forays upon the coun
try; driving off cattle and horses in
thousands: desolatiug the ranches and
making captives all the women and
children that haplessly fell into his
hand.
Such was the terror the name of
this fierce savage carried wherever it
went, that on one occasion of a grand
festival in the city Of Durango, where
no less than ten thousand people We're
assembled in the plaza and cathedral.
some wags, for their own amusement,
raised the cry of Los Indios, Bajo
Solm and in a few minutes not soul
was seen in the Streets the people
mad fed in the utmost alarm, seeking
to hide from the dreaded robber.
In fact. it is stated. that in conse-
quence Of the inroads of these bold
marauders, some of the northern de
partments must soon be depopulated.
Indeed, to such unmanly despair have
the Mexicans been driven, that with
in few leagues of Durango, a city
numbering between twenty and thir
tv thousand inhabitants. haciendas
that once contained over one hundred
thousand heads Of cattle each. have
now become entirely abandoned.
And this was the robber chief.
whose camp our scouts had discover
ed in the darkness of the night, and
reported as that of the guerilla band
we were so desirous TO attack.
Captain Greyson Immediately called
a council of the officers, to which was
added most of the men, to deliberate
hastily upon the course to be pursued
in this unexpected emergency. Some
were for fl yhting the Indians, no mat
ter how large their force, for it is part
of an old Texans creed, to kill Indians
whenever they're to be found and
never to let an opportunity pass, TO
pay part of the great debt Of revenge
they owed them. Some hot bloods
were for a headlong rush into the
camp Of the redskins without once re
fecting upon our vast disparity OF
numbers.
But the cooler heads. among whom
was the captain, suggested the prud
ence ofretiring, and if possible, mott,
fying General Taylor. at Monterey
OF the presence of the Comanches. be
fore attempting an attack. In THEN
opinion. it would certainly have beer
bad policy to provoke the hostility ot
these Indians at this particular crisis
This prudent council prevailed: anC
the order was Immediately issued L
remount, and by detour in the real
Of the Indian camp. TO reach the roaC
beyond. and proceed to the old head
| quarters camp near Monterey,
| But scarcely had we returned to ouI
horses. and were in the act of remount
ing, when we were startled by th'
| sounds of footsteps treading stealthil,
in every direction about us; and, il
another instant fierce warhoops rams
wildly through the green arches of th,
chaparral. while hundreds of rifles op
ened their deadly fires upon Us, ant