Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-08-29
SETH BALDUR'S YARN.

1t was the night before we were to
break up camp. 1 think we were all
sorry for it. When We thought OF
the loss of forest and mountain, riv-f
err and prairie, and that we were not
likely to see old Seth again, we felt
as though we were losing our friends.
We sat silently smoking for some
time. After while Pete addressed
the old trapper, who lay, half doz-
ing, in comfortable corner, thus:
"Rouse up, Seth we are all 60
ing separate ways tomorrow, and
maybe we shall never meet again.
Let US have last yarn tonight"
Seth rubs his eyes with the back
of his knucklts s, and prepares to COM
ply.
"Did | tell you about the time |
had with the Pawnees, when-no, /
remember now, / haven't told you
tbati
at was while ! was living with
my squaw's tribe. We had been
having lot of trouble with the Paw
nees-the worst horse thieves in the
world, barring the Apaches. They
had raided our tepees while we were
away on a hunting expedition, and
another time they sneaked up to our
camp and stampeded all the horses,
and rode them off. They were
nasty, mean, thieving lot, who could
do US lot of harm that way, but
they knew better than to attack us
openly. Things got so bad at last
that my squaw's eldest brother, Big
Bear, asked me to go to them. Their
camp was about fifty miles from US
Taking presents for their chief, and
palavering around as though We
wanted to be friendly, but with the
real intention of spying about to see
for certain if it was their lot that
had got our horses. Big Bear was
very just in his general ways, and
straight-for an Indian, and he want
ed TO be sure before he attacked
them. Well, l agreed, and loaded
up pack-horse, which / led, got on
my own, and started off.
"When rode into the Pawnees'
camp l didn't take any notice of the
common braves, but I went straight
on to the lodge OF the chief,
which was bigger and better-looking
than the rest. The chief-his name
was Spotted Elk-stood leaning on
his rifle at the tepee door to receive
me, and ret looking best pleased
either.
"We sat down there and smoked
for some time in perfect silence.
Evidently he wanted me to begin
the palavering. / soon started in,
and said my tribe and his had not
been as brothers these many moons,
and that this was wrong, and not as
it ought TO be. That our lot had
never interiered with him, and that
we were willing to bury the Ratchet;
and that, in token of our friendly
feelings, l had brought some gifts
for them, halt of my pack for their
tribe, and half for another tribe of
them about twenty miles farther on.
"Spotted Elk did not move a
muscle of his face, and l think he
was anxious to hear if l would men
ton the stolen horses. His eyes
twinkled when / spoke of the pres.
ents, but he didn't seem so pleased
at the idea of only bait of them be-
ing for him.
presently be sent one of his
squaws out to bring in my pack-sad-
die. 1t was put beside me, but ]
didn't open it. / said I was tired
and would sleep now, and give him
show of the presents next day. I
could see that he didn't like this,
but it would not have been dignifed
if he had said so, so he sent one of
his braves to show me to tepee not
far from his own, and very kindly
offered to take ctarge of the pack
for me. On my part I thanked him
for the offer, but said that if it was
all the same to him, would attend
to that job myself. Arrived at the
lodge, I made pillow of my pack
saddle for safety's sake, and soon
coiled up and went to sleep.
Sat the first streak of dawn took
leave to crawl round the place where
some of the horses were grazing.
The very first one noticed was Big
Bears favorite mustang. That was
enough for me, and back / went to
the tepee.
| II to k few of the presents
Brummagem-made knives, tobacco
and other things, and gave them te
the chief. Then / said that / mus,
| be going on to the next tribe.