The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-02
By w. THOMSON.

Nc Early next lnOIuiHS, do ~ NSiS
preparing to resume our journey,
big, awkward looking fellow, apparent
~ about 20 years Of age, strolled up TO
the wagons and cody proposed to join
us.
Why, young man, we're not in par
ticular need of a tenderfoot just now,
said our captain, Jim Saunders. Be
sides. we can't afford TO take dead
head along. gnis outfit and four
months supply OF grub cost pie OF
money, anu, Judging from your SIZE
you've lkei- got an able bodied ap-
petite. What's your name and Wnere
do lou come from, anyhow!
The stranger raised pair Of honest
loLing eyes and slowly answered;
Wal they call me Jake Trueman.'
I've bin sort OF farmin down on the
Missouri bottoms, but hearin I TINS
Californy rush, l made up my mind 10
jine the first overland party that come
along; so l sold my mewels and other
truck, and here l DE. l amt no dead
head. I've got money enough to pay
my wav and mebbe have some LETT 10
start me in Californy.
It's all right then, Jake" said the
captain, but what in thunder DO you
tote that hollow bar of iron around Tor,
and what do these notches mean?'
This cid rifles some bcster'n it
looks; il amt no SLOUGH, reJoined
Jake 'Gran'ther Trueman fit with it
into The revolutionary war and 1
reckon it hasn't got no record TO be
ashamed on. / thought it might come
in handy some time. for [ guess it kin
outshoot any of them purity purcus-
sion guns of yourn.
Perhaps so, if it ever. goes off.
laughed one of US, but the notches,
Jake, the nOtches?"
Gran dad-he lived TO be 90-never
told me what this short row meant, out
this long one means deer, the next
longest buffaloes, the next bears, the
next wolves, the next wildcats, foxes
and other varmints, and these four
notches Oft by themselves means
painters. Gran'dad was great
banter in his daY and alters made
notch for every worthwhile crltter ne
killed; so : reckon the old piece did
go Off now and then. But l hope L
won't ever have to try it on lnJuns, Tor
they're the only humans / m scared or
and besides Qefecting) I've an ldea
that If l ever git back to Missouri, my
cal might like me to bring my scalp
along. Her names Sairy Ann Martin,
and she's purity as a picture, but sort
of particular bout some things
Don't bother yourself about that,
consolingly said Saunders, If your
scalp goes the young lady won't have
q chance to twit you with its loss.
L dunno if that's so very comtortln
after all meditatively replied Jake
THE NIGHT WATCH.
our outfit consisted of eight wagons
and A little army of horses and mules,
while the party, with its latest addl-
ton, numbered % men, three young
married women and Jessie Clayton
lovely 12-year-old girl and the llSht
and Joy of the party, any one OF whose
original members would have rlsked ms
life 10 save her from harm. As for
The Young Missourian he had not been
with rs A week before becoming ire
z-sriest slave of the winsome child.
whose pretty ways, joyful spirits ana
merry chatter had completely won ms
heart. .,-n -
IF there's any thing on airth, he
said one morning. as Jessie danced up
70 his side that could make me face
a wild Injun, it's this young IN. She
nurtv as-as-ny Sairy Ann, and good
er. | reckon. than she's purity.
We had passed through Kansas, Colo
RADIO and the southeastern corner OF
Utah without more serious annoyance
from Indians than slight alteration
with a wandering band of Pah Utes.
one SATURDAY dIttlllODAl- ~ w
encamped rather early near an af1luent
of the Rio de Shelby and almost IN the
shadow of Squash mountain, design
ing to rest over Sunday
Although we had not seen an Indian
sign" for days and had no apprehen-
sion of an attack. the eight covered
wagons were. as usual, arranged in
hollow square. into which. after filling
themselves with grass, the horses and
mules would he driven for the night.
For some unexplained reason the
three women and little Jessie had lately
got in the habit of sleeping by them
selves in one Of the wagons and tAlS
was always placed next TO the one oc-
cupied by the husbands so that the
latter would be within easy call. Owing
to this arrangement, there was no
wagon berth left for Jake Trueman.
who generally rolled himself in blan-
lzet and sLeDt anyWhere-Often outside
the corral. on the ground
Before il grew dark that evening our
guide. as mere matter of routine.
made a careful scout to the bottom OF
the foothills and, on coming back, re-
norted thar not q hoOf print nor moe
casin track was anywhere to be seen.
The reds won't find US for dav
or two" ne said. Wen have a quiet
night and a good sound sleep; but still
the guard squad better take turns at
duty. as usual
We did have quiet night, but just
before DAY hreak IL the morning de-
nlorsl lie thing happened. Whether the
sentry then on duty had slept on his
u0st we never knew. for the r"or fell
low was found dead. With a lSni> in his
heart. He had been so quietly and sure
" struck that, whether asleep or
awake, he had had no time to give an
alarm. nor had any Of US heard the
slightest sound until a series of fright
fui wells. short distance away sud
denly aroused rs 10 the fact that
large body of Indians had stolen upon
us unawares. But they seemed to be
retreatingi How was that? 4 question
quickly answered. for on spvinging Up.
rifles and revolvers in hand. we found
10 our dismay. that one of the wagons,
the one containing the women, had
been been rolled out 80 wards on the
plain, and that every last horse and
mule was gone.
An had been so deftlv and silently
done that not a soul in camp had awak- I
ened: and now, having gained a good
start. the savages had remounted their
ponies. and. with waving blankets and
hideous cries. were stamDeding the
captured stock mountainward.
suspicious.
Greatly wondering why we did not
hear an outcry from the women. a
dozen of rs rushed toward their wagon, /
drew its canvas door aside and found Ii /
empty. The late inmates must have /
lain down fully dressed, for save four
nairs Of shoes. no Part Of their every .
1av apparel was to he seen.
on realizing their loss. the bereaved /
husbands raved Ike madmen. and one (
If them would have ended his misery /
hx- a r;istol shot had not Ingram caught /