The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1907-10-10
{, THE RED {.
b G " S A We 1
. II X A IL .
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| hunter in a narrow valley.

|
loaded, tent raised, fires lighted, and
when the animals were hobbled, the trav-
elers began to make preparations for their
supper.
One of the travellers appeared to belong
to the highest class. The rest were only
servants or Indian poems. Still the dress
Of this person was most simple, but his
stiff manner, his imposing demeanor and
naughty air, evidenced the man long ac-
customed to give orders without admitting
refusal. He had passed his fftieth year;
he was tall, we'll built, and his movements
were extremely elegant. His broad fore
head, his black eyes large and flashing,
his long gray moustaches, and his short
hair, gave him military appearance,
which his harsh, quick way of speaking |
did not contradict.
Among the poems two men more espe- |
cially attracted attention. One was a
redskin, the other half-breed, with a
crafty, leering manner, who, for some
reason or another, stood on most familiar
terms with his master his comrades call
ed him No Carnero, and at times gave
him the title Of Capataz.
No Carnero was the wit of the cara
van, the funny fellow-ever ready to
laugh and joke. The redskin was a tall,
thin, dry man, with angular features and
gloomy and sad face, illumined by two
black eyes deeply set in their orbit. Like
most Indians, it was impossible to form
any opinion as to his age, for his hair
was black as the ravens wing, and his
parchment skin had not a single wrinkle.
He had engaged at Santa Fe to act as
II l. A.. md unit
ton of his obstinate silence, there was
every reason to be satisfied with him.
The poems called him The Indian, or
sometimes Jose-a mocking term, employ
ed in Mexico to designate the Indios man
sos but the redskin appeared as insensi-
hle to compliments as to jokes, and con-
tinued codly to carry out the task he had
imposed on himself. When supper was
, ended the master turned to the capataz.
"Carnero," he said to him, though in
, these remote regions, we have but little
to fear, still do not fail to place SEN
tries"
e "I have warned two men, mi amo,"
! the capataz replied moreover, l intend
y to make my rounds tonight; eh, Jose"
e he added, ARE you certain you are not
|, mistaken, and that you really lifted
trail? Do you know to what nation the
i sign you discovered belongs?"
: Grow" the redskin answered hoarse-
y ly.
y "Carai - the master exclaimed, "if
they are Crows we shall do well to be
!. on our guard"
n "Nonsense I" Carncro remarked with q
grin of derision. Indians tell as many
e. lies as old women"
is The Indians eyes flashed without
y deigning to reply he drew moccasin from
re his breast, and threw it so adroitly al
the capataz as to strike him across the
n face. Furious at the insult so suddenly
If offered by man whom he always consd
e, cred inoffensive, the half-breed uttered {
s, yell of rage, and rushed knife in hand OF
the Indian.
to But the latter had not taken his eye of
,r him, and by slight movement he avoided
lie the desperate attack of the capataz then
s. drawing himself up, he caught him rount
the waist, raised him from the ground a
W easily as he would have done a child
:" and hurled him into the fire, where h
to writhed for a moment with cries Of pail
ID and impotent passion. When he at lengtl
ID got out of the fire, half scorched, he di,
not think of renewing the attack, but sa
ly1 down, directing savage glances at hi
l adversary, like a turnspit punished by
IN mastiff.
,g '4The Indian is right" said the maste
he coldly, "this moccasin bears the mark o
ly the Crow nation. My poor Carnero yo
g. must put up with it, for though the pun
e. ishment you received was severe ar
forced to allow that it was deserved"
IN "The dog will pay me for it with hi
Sc traitor face" the capitaz growled. ''
id am no man IL do not leave his body "a
g. food for the crows he discovers 30 ciey
v. erly."
tn my poor lad" his master continued
with a jeer, 'you had better forget thi
n affair, which allow might be disagreeabl
{; to your self-esteem for fancy you woul
ur not be the gamer by recommending tn
u, quarrel"
nd The capataz did not answer, but locke
he round to select one on whom he coul
ID vent his spite, without incurring risk
re but the poems were on their guard, an
an offered him no chance. He then mad
to signal to two men to follow him, an
left the circle grumbling.
he The head of the caravan remained fc
Ily a few moments plunged in seriou
ag thought; he then withdrew beneath h
UT tent, the curtain of which fell benin
him; and the poems lay down ON ii
1T ground, one after the other, with the
feet to the fire, carefully wrapped up
TO their sarapes and fell asleep.
The Indian then looked searching
ed around him, and, rising negiigently, wer
.p- slowly to crouch at the foot of tire
ay though. not before he had taken the pr
lr, caution of wrapping himself in his buffa
robe.
Ere long, with the exception Of the sci