Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-01-30
hack On the reservation before the next

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saw what he waited for-the scouts and
advance guard showed first. They rode
abreast and were scattered to the right
and left of the trail. One silently pointed
"a the fresh pony tracks, but none halted
TO examine It, 1t meant forager or a
lookout and was only another indication
shat the first camp made by the "bron-
chos' was not far off. Prospects for hold
back fight were improving. Chen came
the black horse troop, In file of troopers
leading their leg weary horses. When each
man reached the top of the ascent, no
mounted and kept moving. The pursuit
was slow, but it was continuous. Then
came to 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
Sead Of the column was already descend.
ing another canyon beyond. He ordered
the men ahead Of him to close up at trot,
but he did not mount at once. His horse,
gaunted by lack Of feed and the 1876 miles
of hard riding, had no belly to hold
girth, SO Clayson halted to resaddle, and
by that halt became a straggler himself.
The command, moving steadily, was soon
out Of sight and sound.
Ramona 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
fired 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 the search party that dropped
back found the lieutenant, they turned
sick to man. 1t was not till Sergeant
Dowd flung saddle blanket over the grin
ming. lipless face that they had nerve
enough to touch the body.
The long, fast ride killed his best pony,
but Ramona was in the main camp the
night before the second count. He went
straight to Bonito'g lodge, scratched on the
door flap, but entered unsummoned.
where have you beeni" asked Bonito
without greeting.
Gathering my ponies. Tell me your
price"
Ramona was wild eyed, the banda was
gone from his hair, and Bohito knew that
he lied. But Bonito was an old man now.
He counseled peace and tried to hold the
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-
pored, go talk to Ramonel"
Ramona heard the whisper and strobe
outside.
Tinta rose and followed him In silence.
II give ten ponies" be said.
"Too little"
II give 15 ponies" He spoke more
fercely.
100 little" she said in the same calm
voice, her head still hid by the blanket.
"Twenty ponies-no more. No man,
40 spirit would give more" He laughed
harsh, nasty laugh.
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 cooling dove: keep the
ponies. Give me the Yellow Feather, and
vi go with YOUR
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 1t into the beaded
medicine bag worn on her bosom. Then
he seized her arm and dragged her to his
mothers lodge.
The tissue day. next morning. was d
grand roundup by order Of the agent, and
all tho Chiricahuas, including the papooses
and dogs, gathered about the agency build.
ing. There was to be recount for rations
and to fix definitely the number and names
of those In the war party.
Ramona and Tinta were there together
They stood apart from the others, and
Aeither spoke, but not for an instant did
he leave her side.
Finally Ramona 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 as cat, Tinta was by the
side of Sanchez. She whispered few hur-
ried words and pointed to her breast. Sam
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 calf.
1t was neat, sudden job for begin
ming, but how was it to end? The pulse
of the Indians was at fever heat, and the
arrest of subchief was dangerous even
when conditions were normal. Still the
agent went boldly on. He took Ramona
out Of the building, through a crowd Of
sullen, scowling bucks, past the Indian
calaboose to the commanding officer Of the
post to deliver a military prisoner
Sanchez brought Tinta to the command
ing officers Office, and there, with pas
sionate hate flaming in those marvellous
eyes, she told the Mortified officers Ra-
MONIES secret-and showed the proof.
The commanding officer held forth his
handkerchief to receive and cover the sick
ening evidence, but she shook her head,
with nervous laugh, and thrust it back
in her bosom. It belonged to her, and the
commanding officer, wise at the moment,
humored her right. He even did more
granted the request that she might go to
the guardhouse and speak to Ramona, al
though he did not understand why she
should wish to speak to him.
The officer Of the day went with her and
ordered Ramona brought outside. The
corporal Of the guard unlocked the cell
door and beckoned to the prisoner. Ra-
none had irons on his legs and wrists,
but he followed, stepping short, to the
limit of the clanking chain. His heart
was bad, and he hung his head. When
no got outside, he saw at glance why he
was called. He made one spring and quick
as fash raised his arms and brought the
iron handouts down with crushing blow
between the woman's eyes. Then he leaped
like hobbled horse on stampede, max
ing for the chaparral.
| Now No. did a sentinel's duty. He
gave three short cries of "Haltl" "Halti''
"Halt!' and shot an escaping prisoner. -