Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-01-10
rney did no. transpire until some

would be impervious to the bullets OF
the White-Eye, would become the
greatest of medicine-men, and rule not
only over his own people but over al.
the Apache tribes and those of the
plains of the north. And the very
founder of that family TO which Ciego
belonged was reputed to have been the
white chief in the coat of iron.
Ciego looked the White-Eye officer
over from his scalp to his toes, and up
again, and then with no sound, save
just one grunt, went out from the quar-
tiers and from the post.
Hartpole told of it at the mess that
night, and forgot all about it after
that. But Ciego did not-as Hartpole
ought to have foreseen.
One night an Indian, his body naked
as ii was born, poisoned knife in his
hand. stole across the sandy parade
ground when the moon was under the
clouds of coming storm, and slipped,
as silently as none but savage can,
under the ramada of Hartpole's quar-
ters, and thence through the open door.
The Indian had missed nothing when
he had been in that one small room
month before. He knew where every
thing in il was, from the chrome in a
blue frame on the wal to the cot in.
the corner, across from the fireplace.
He hid himself behind the piece of
calico that curtained off the nook
where Hartpole's clothing hung, and
wal ed until the moon showed for al
moment through break in the clouds
and he could see the figure on the cot
beneath the mosquito net. When the
room was dark again he slid out; and
the blade Of the knife in his hand went
straight through the heart Of the man
asleep. Then he took the rafting ar
nor from its nails and wrapped il in
the calico curtain and fed through the
night, as silently and swiftly as only
an Apache can.
Now it happened that Hartpole had
gone to another post a good many miles
to the east that very day, and he had
left his striker to sleep in his quarters
and keep guard over his things So it
was into the luekless soldiers heart |
that the knife was driven, and the next |
day a telegram appraised Hartpole that
his striker was murdered and his suit
of mail was gone.
The day after that all the depart
ment knew that the Coyoteros were
on the warpath, and, having cut the
reservation, were killing right and
left. They were led by a medicine man
called Ciego, and the scouts reported
that he was dressed in a garment OF
white iron which no White-Eye's bull
let could pierce. They also reported
that the Chiricahuas and the Pah-Utes
and the Sierra B.ancas were joining
him. 1t promised TO be an interesting
time for the territories.
Hartpole began to have a dim idea
Of why the medicine man had wanted
his Spanish mail, now. He was ordered
put, of course. Most OF the department
was. Trouble of the sort that this
promised to be had to be checked at
once. IL at all. 1t was serious already;
put there was one thing in favor of the
troops, which was that the hostiles
showed no desire to get away. Their
faith in their medicine man
led them to seek battle rather than to
shun it. And twice, having done so.
hey beat off the troops, because there
we're, as usual, too few. But the third
time they were caught in a pocket OF
the Mogallons, and there were no less
than six troops against them. Hart
)o.e's was of the number.
The Indians fought from dawn OF the
irst day until twilight of the second.
n the open at first, then from behind
shelter, then at last they retreated to
/ shallow cave high up on a hillside,
md there was no getting them out.
mountain howitzer might have done
(, but there was none with the COM
nand. All day the troops fired volleys
INTO so much of the mouth OF the cave
Is showed between the pine trunks
ind the walls Of rock. They knew that
he Slaughter within must have been
pretty severe, but there were no signs
II surrender, nevertheless. The hos
lies might hold out until the last one
VAS dead; they certainly would until
heir medicine man should fall. The
medicine man could be seen from time
70 time, cleaning figure. moving
,lumsi.y among the trees and under
brush. And for all that IL went so
slowly and was so bright, no bullet
seemed ever 10 hit It. Even the white
men began to consider il with awe.
At sunset Of the second day. when
he sounds from the cave had all but
ceased and the Indians within IT we're
without ammunition and at bay. the
ylistsning form came clambering de-
iberately to the top OF high rock,
shooping and yelling, calling the rem
aant Of its followers on. Ii stood so
'or moment, the red sun rays striking
through the pine branches on the
Tented steel, a " sird sight in the depths
4 the mountain Businesses Of the New
World; so odd and strange that the
,oldiers hesitated with their fingers