El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-13

has to work out his own conclusion!
and salvation. This is the way Mack
/ worth eventually tried to work out his
There came one day a runner from
| the hostiIes-a dish faced, straight lock
| ed creature of Sinews-who spoke
| through the White mountain interpre
| ter of the troops and said that his CHIEF
| was ready to go back to the reserva
ton, but that he must go upon his OWL
| terms. And the chief stipulated, more
over, that one white man-one, alone
and unguarded-should go to the hos
tile camp and discuss those terms. II
force attempted to come, he would
retreat with his braves and stay out all
winter.
Morley made answer that he had nc
fear of the chief staying out all winter
among the mountains when the agency
was so comfortable, but that if he did
the white man could stand it as long as
could he. Moreover, he said that none
of his soldiers had any intention what
ever of walking into a death trap of
the sort.
Then Mackworth spoke up. 81 have"
he said.
Get out" said the captain incredu-
lousy.
81 mean what 1 say" said Mack
worth, land l shall consider your per-
mission to go the greatest and the only
favor you can do me. Something may
be effected by it"
Your death, that's all; and a little
preliminary torture
The lieutenant shrugged his Shout
ders. 'Shall you let me goY' he in
sisted. Q.
mot by a long sight,
81 wish to go, Captain Morley"
Morley considered, and he decided
that it might not be wise to refuse.
There was no knowing just what the
set faced boy might do. So they par
leyed together for a time, then Mack
worth mounted his horse and went. He
did not expect to come back, and the
officers and men did not expect to see
him again.
After four hours they came to the
mouth Of a narrow canyon. The runner
had given no sign or sound, and the
fixed look had not gone from Mack
wOrth's face. Well within the canyon
the hostiles were in camp. They had
hobbled their lean little ponies, the
squaws were gathering wood and the
bucks were squatting upon the ground
or playing monte with cards of painted
hide, around a cowskin spread under a
cedar tree. Four of them rose and
slouched forward. There was a pro-
longed scrutiny upon both sides.
The chief waited for Mackworth to
begin, but the white mans instincts
were good. He beat the sullenly silent
redskin at his own game, and in the
end the chief spoke. The runner dis
played for the first time his under
and interpreted. Mackworth
made answer with decision, offsetting
bis own terms. The bucks scowled, and
the chief began to argue. The white
man with the unf1inching eyes would
not compromise. Tell him." Mack
worth said, that this is my will. If he
will not do this, 1 go back to the sol
diers and we follow you and kill you
all, man and woman" The face Of the !
chief grew black, a growl rose from |
the crowding bucks, and the watching |
squaws began to chatter in voices |
sweet as the tinkle of glass bells.
The chief stepped suddenly forward
Ind caught the bride above the curb
;hanks. Not so much as an eyelash
y
ID, and the heart of the red man was
illed with admiration. One move
nent of fear would have cost Mack
worth his life then, but he was not
lfraid, not though he knew that tor
ure might await him. He sat looking
DOLLY down at the lowering, cruel
aces. The chief turned and spoke to
he bucks, and there was a growl of
/
brill little chorus scream. But the
hief flung away the bride with force
which made the horse back. II
''He do same you say. He go back
o reservation today. He say you
kishee quick" said the interpreter.
turned deliberately and
kisheed, with no show of haste and
Without a backward look.
He reported his success and went to
is tent. His look of stolid w1etched-
ess was unchanged. Morley began to
e nervous. He went to the tent him
elf and found The lieutenant writing
letter by lantern light. 1t was not
Ormal opportunity to take for that, so
he captain, being filled with misgiv-
lgs, trumped up an errand and sent
i'm off on it. Then he looked at the
.tter. 1t was to Mackworth's mother
Iorley did not read it, but he guessed
ne whole thing in a flash. He took
p Mackworth's carbine and slid it IN
er the tent flags into the outer dark
ess. Also he broke the Colts, which
ad been thrown down upon the bed
ing, and put the cartridges in his
ocket. Then he replaced it in the
olster and, going out, picked up the
lrbine and hid it in the brush
After the camp was all asleep and
[orley snoring loudly across the tent