The National tribune., 1898-08-11
CHAPTER V

palled TO run with the herd. They were
travelling nearly in the direction wanted
10 go; only gradually bearing a little TO the
right. By watching opportunities,
worked over TO the left, and after keeping
them company for about two miles. / sue
ceeded in finding a gap and dashed out
and across a creek up which the buffalo
were running.
Once safe, | stopped TO rest my horses
and breathe freely, for we had been nearly
Suifocated with dust. | soon discovered
what had started the herd and was driv-
ing il forward with such speed; in the
midst of the herd were a number of In
dians spearing and shooting with arrows
as If bent on the determination Of the last
buffalo before sunrise
l was not afraid of being discovered in
the midst OF such excitement as the
SaVageS were enjoying If could only keep
my horses still, and 10 keep them quiet
tickled them on the nose until the party
was well out of sight, when rode off, and
in an hour found myself at Capt. Burle-
son S camp on Otter Creek, at the foot of
one OF the Wichita mountains.
The men were delighted with their let
tiers, and extended 10 me a hearty welcome.
After had rested a little, l was furnished
With a guide, who piloted me to the
CoioneIS quarters, some miles away.
Lieut.-Col. Smith was in command and
escaped so well, congratulated me for per-
SeVeIng so long under diScouraging cir
cumstances, kindly thanked me for re-
covering his own horse, and offered me
pecunlary reward, but this refused.
The Colonel was now called away on an
official visit 10 some friendly Indians
under the command of Pete Ross a
brother OF my Captain, and | was selected
as one OF his escort, with detail of IS
others.
While sitting in the tent, deputation
OF friendly chiefs arrived to arrange the
preliminarieS of the campaign against the
kickap0os, and Judge of my surprise on
seeing among the men the identical one
who had been so anxious To convince me
that was Texan Ranger, while on the
road from the Caddoe village TO Fort Bel
KNAPP. Before me stood Placido Chief of
the TonchucS, who was now on the most
friendly terms with the people he so lately
dreaded, and he gave me a cordial greet
ing. HIS warriors, as well as himself,
recognized me instantly as the man they
had catechlSed SO severely; "but, now,
they said, we all good friends, and 60
catch 'um Comanche."
was greatly pleased with Placido His
name was given him by the Mexicans
on account of his gentle disposition and
amlabie department He was about SIS
years OF age, five feet nine inches high,
with black, keen eyes, deep chest; he was
also exceedingly muscular but not corplI-
lent When the Interpreter told him was
TO be one of the party, he scrutinized me
carefully, and, turning to one OF his men,
said, IN broken Mexican, "Stah waeno,
(esta bueno)."
Once more the whole party extended
their hands, telling me in half dozen
different languages that we would be
good friends.
THE KICKAPoo CAMPAIGN.
In a short time after this consultation
Col. Smith started On his campaipn
against the kickapoos, who had recently
been busy at all kinds of depredations on
tne settlements, but whose expeditions
had all along been conducted so secretly
that they were not even suspected until
we had nearly reached their country. We
found them well prepared, and they gave
US warm reception
On our journey we had bad grass. bad
water, bad fare, and bad luck; the measles
broke out IN camp, and large number
Oh the men became infected and HELPLESS
and IN this condition we reached the
klckapoo territory.
The tribe had mustered all ifs warriors
600 in number, and il had likewise re-
ceIved reInforcements from the Seminoles
and from lawleSs, marauding bands of
Creeks, amounting in all to about 2 GOO
men, ana this force, instead of awaiting
an attack, took the offensive at once. Not
anticipating warm and cordial a re-
ceploh at so early a moment at the
hands OF so small a tribe, we concluded TO
decline meeting; or, in other words,
after holding council Of war we resolyed
that ii would be both polite and nrudent
To skedaddle. Accordingly we mounted
our SICK men-Some Of them SO weak
they had TO be fastened on with sur
cingles-and started on our retreat We
commenced our retrograde movement AT
about o'clock at night and i'm the morn
ing We were at Camp Radzminski once
more. We had but 200 men in this ex
pedluon, but as the Kickapoos had no
nope 81 cutting US off, and fearing that we
would be reinforced they very wisely
gave over the pursuit
indeed, throughout the whole affair the
beiligefents seemed to be inspired with a
mutual iear-each party dreading to come
which rendered the campaipf, on The
whole, not little ludicrous. When ws
were IN the klckapoo country we dreaded
an attack from the enemy, and when tht
sauces came IN the vicinity of Radzi
minski they had a wholesome fear of an
limitation there. Consequently the cam
paign ended with nobody hurt
LITTLE JOKE
II was daylight, in the morning and w,
beleVed ourselves far enough in advanc,
oil the SaVageS Ia have time TO resi- a feu
minutes and eat our breakfasts Awhil.
before this had been sick Of Z: fcyer-fh,
result Oh ofer-e&ertIon while on scout
ana IL had fallen into my lower limbs
causing uIcerations, my feet being 6,
swollen that could not even wear moe
caSinS.
We had encamped near beautiful
spring, at the house of white man witt
AN Ihdian wife, and | had gone down I.
M my canteen and battle my feyere,
MINDS; which did some distance from In
FOUNTAIN itself. But some one of In
Rangers-thinking ii a good chance :
play tlck on me-sent information /,
the woman that was washing nv feet !,
the spring; but of this at the time / KNEE
nothing, nor was / informed OF il when
reached the camp
Entirely without suspicion, ] accordinpl
returned to the spring for water To MAX
coffee, and on reaching it very prett
squaw stepped out from a tree nearb'
and confronted me- She spoke in a cheer
ful tone, but there was wicked look /,
her eye, and one hand was held benin,
her. Her glistening eye and the fact tina
she concealed one Of her hands appeare,
strange, but / was considerably more sur
prlsed when she addressed me in goo,
English:
Is your name Pike7"
No, answered in an off-hand way
and pushed for the spring.
what is your name, then7 she de
manded, in suspicious voice
Tom Green; but, madam, what do 20,
wantf