The National tribune., 1901-03-07
ROUGH RIDING.
CONTINUED from first page.)

nearer to it This alsPg is the effect of the
Since we struck tha Arkansas River at
the Big Bend our road has been along its
north bank, sometimes iscycral miles off,
sometimes close in; ;ind,T am told it will
tainS.
We have met several Mexican mule
trains going into the Settlements for goods.
These outfits are generally owned by ex-
tensive traders in NeW Mexico, who do
their own freighting. They send their
trains in as soon in the Spring as the
grass is up sufficiently to furnish feed for
their mules. Going i'll their wagons are
usually empty, but sometimes they are
loaded with wool, as that is about the only
commodity of export that New Mexico
affords. As they go east light loaded or
empty they work six mules to the wagon,
using large wagons like those of Majors
" RusselTs bull trains, and driving along
an extra herd of mules TO fit out larger
teams coming back. On the return they
work frGm 10 to IL mules to the wagon.
Their mules are the small, pot-bellied
Spanish breed, but are said TO be very
hardy.
When these trains get into the buffalo
range they usually lie over Il day OF two TO
lay in Il supply of meat. They cut the
meat up into thin sheets of irregular size
and string it on rawhidc strips cut from
the bufalo's hide, and hang around the
outside Of their wagons to dry as they
travel along, which it does in about two
days. OF course it gets we'll coated with
dust. but is considered good enough for Il
''grcascr.' The atmosphere is 50 dry that
fresh meat even i'll large pieces, will uSu-
ally dry up before spelling.
A NIGHT ALARM.
Al camp not far west of Coon Creek
N
Cnt city of I.arncd, kan.b we had Il night
alarm and thought we were about TO be
attacked by Indians. | happened TO he on
guard, and while off post was lying in the
guard tent taking n nap when we We're
startled by the report of Sbarps rifle
1--WE were armed with Sharps rifle carbine
the first brcech-loadcrs ever used in the
army, and then Immediately two pistol
shots in rapid succession. Then came the
call, passed along by each sentinel between
the point Of The shooting and the guard
tent.
Sergeant Of the guard. Number ~
We all knew what it meant and We're IN
ranks in front of the tent awaiting fur
ther developments before the call was re
peated by No. /. The orderly buglcr was
ordered to sound the assembly, which was
quickly taken up and rapidly sounded by
the company bGglers throughout the camp.
The command was soon under arms and
in ranks awaiting further orders. The
Officer of the Guard quickly ordered the
Sergeant to take six men off the left and
SO on double time" to No. Z to see what
was the matter, adding as we started Il
happened to be one of the detaiD, Ser
geant, No. I is the post Oh the bank Of
the river just above the camp. Make no
delay, and to save time you may take q
short cut through the ground occupied by
the horses and mules, TO prevent being
halted by the other sentindls'
We were quickly off on the run, and
after falling several times over the lariats
of horses or mules that crossed our way
we reached post No. Z.
who comes therc?" sang out the sen
tiDel on post as soon as We were in hailing
distance.
Sergeant of the guard with patrol"
answered our Sergeant.
Halt, patrol! Advance, Sergeant and
give the countcrsign.' came next.
We halted while the Sergeant walked
up to the sentinel and whispered the codIl-
tcIsign to him.
"Countersign's correcti Advance. pa
troll, he sang out, and We moved up close
TO him.
Well" said the Sergeant, "wbat's the
matter No. Z? What was the shooting
about!'
Il shot at an Indian" replied the sen
try. He was creeping TIP on me through
the s,-ass. and | heard something whistle
past my head three timcs. ! saw what
took to be a wolf sknlking through the
grass a few rods off, and when the third
arrow whizzed past me | began to think
it must be an Indian, but | didn't want
to give false alarm, and so | changed
my Sharps rifle into my left hand, drew
my saber with my right and started to-
ward the thing, thinking if it was Il wolf
| could tell without firing. I'd gone but
few steps when up jumps an Indian, an
quick as wink | dropped to my knee to
dodge his arrow, which knew was comm,
an at the same time dropped my saber,
raised my rifle and fired. His arrow went
over me, but | didn't miss him, for he
dropped on one hand and knee, then
quickly jumped up and broke for the bank
of the river. ] changed my rifle into my
left hand as | raised off my knee, Jerked
out my navy and fired two shots at him
as he went over the bank. | then called
| the Sergeant of the Guard"
did yOu see or hear any sign of other
lndianS!' asked the Sergeant as the man
came to stop.
NO; nOthin' but what I've told you."
well, | must hurry back and report to
the Officer of the Guard" said the Ser
geant; but unless you can give some posi-
tive proof of having fired at an Indian and
not wolf, / expect you will get your
belts taken off and court-martial for
giving false alarm. In the mean time
keep sharp lookout. There may be In
dians about"
The sentry replied, 81 think can find
proof of what / say when daylight comes"
We then hurried back TO the guard to
report. Calling at the other sentry posts
on the line between No. and the guard
being challenged by each as we ap-
preached, the Sergeant, after giving
each the countersfgn, assured them that
all was right, but cautiOning them to keep
sharp lookout.
When we reached the guard tent we
found the Officer of the Day there await
ing us. The Sergeant reported substan-
tally what No. 7 had told him, but both
officers seemed to discredit the sentinel's
statement, asserting that in their opinion
he had shot at a wolf, and then told the
story of an Indian to avoid punishment
The Officer of the Day ordered the Officer
of the Guard to send to the mans COM
pany and order a "supernumerary" to
take his place on guard, and have the
man who had given the false alarm re-
lieved off post, his belts taken off and he
put under guard as a prisoner, and if the