The Washington times., 1905-04-02
CHAPTER XIV.
Signal Fires in Medicine Bluff.

Signal Fires in Medicine Bluff
Sanford had worked the track almost
up to the bridge. and another day would
complete it. Then his responsibility In
the matter would cease for the time
being, and he could devote himself to
ether matters.
He had certainly accomplished his
task in a remarkably short time, and
although his reports of the progress Of
the road, which he sent regularly to the
general manager, must have aStonished
and pleased that gentleman. Sanford
had received from him no word of COM
mendation or encouragement beyond the
brief dispatch following the fight at the
bridge.
John Birch was the type Of men who
did his own duty at whatever risk or
discomfort, and, while he was not slow
to reward strictly dutiful conduct on
the part Of his subordinates. he did not
praise or coddle them for it.
Sanford had heard nothing of Jen-
nings for several days. but laid this to
the inaction of the band on account of
their recent defeats, SO he did not worry.
When the track was finished he would
go out and try to learn of their move
ments himself.
That evening as he was walking down
the grade toward the bridge. he OBJ
served Donan coming hastily toward
him, followed by a young Indian police
man from Anadarko.
See here, Sanford" shouted Donan,
there's a piece of news. The Indians
have gone on the war path, and the
agent has sent word by Swift Elk here
to warn us to go to the settlement, If
we don't want our scalps lifted"
Sanford stopped as if shot.
-'It is impossible he exclaimed. why
should the Indians rise?"
Better go to your camp and let the
Indian tell the story IN his own way
You'll never get it out of him other
wise"
Sanford nodded, and turned back, fol
lowed by Donan and the Indian.
He was greatly troubled, for If thi
was true it might seriously delay thu
entrance of the road into the reserva
ton, and give Hart time to plot NOR
nefarious work. Soon they arrived a
the camp, where they sat on the sod
Swift Elk was an educated Indian. hav
ing been educated at the Governmen
school at Carlisle.
ed TO tell his story.
This that I am about to relate" be
gan Swift Elk, comes to me by tn
tongue Of my brother, who is chief o
the White River band of Kiowas. It /
true, because his tongue is not crooked
Gray Fox, son of Yellow Thunder,
chief of the Apaches, is an intimate @
the son of Quanah, the big chief. TIL
I'm, no 70 in
all day, and had gone to the house c
his friends with his spoils. Bein
wearied, he went to sleep at nightfal
After the manner of his kind, Ora
Fox slept lightly, and awoke befor
dawn, to see white men creeping tc
ward the house. Before he could alarl
the sleeping Quanat. the whites spran
upon the chief, and Gray Fox ran ava.
"Out In the valley he lay fat in ii
tall grass, and watched the band (
white men carry off the chief and h
son.
When the white men were gone. Gra
Fox leaped to his feet and started o
on a run to Fort Sill. near which We
the camp of his father The squav
were kindling the early morning fir
when Gray Fox crawled through tt
opening Of his fathers tepee, and wal
ed for his recognition.
'sThe old man looked UP in a momen
and motioned his son to approach
What brings my son in such haste
he asked, for the boy was painting al
hot from his long run
While slept near the wooden tep
of the big chief Quanah before daW
this morning. answered the boy, mar
white men crept up. They caught al
bound the chief and his son. The
they then tied to horse, after whit
they rode Off to the west, UP the vall'
toward the smoking mountains. I h
In the grass until they were gone, al
came to tell you what I had seen
yellow Thunder rose from the pi
of skins on which he had been sittil
and his brow was black with rag
You did not dream this. boy?' he as
ed. How many white men were there
There were more than twenty in I
party when they travelled UP the vail
TO the west the boy replied
:" Say nothing of this. my son. Y
have done we'll Some day you will be
wise chief and with this Yellow Thu
der wrapped his blanket closer abo
him and left the tepee.
He strode among the lodges, ste
psng here and there to speak with t
head men. Young men left the villag
for all parts of the reservation. TIL
were naked save for a breech clout, a
In their long. black. shining hair We
braided strings of shells. and each c;
ried a bundle Of small arrows. the bad
of the runners sent TO summon a cot
Gil. After the runners had departed. I
head men of the villages mounted tn
ponies and rode away to the west.
Late that night the chiefs of I
allied tribes began TO gather at F
Chimneys collection of sandstC
buttes in the western part of the moi
tains. Council fires had been light
and as the chiefs rode into the ca
the pipe was passed around.