Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-09-06

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 iftieth year
he was tall, well 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 a 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 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.
Ha had apoa god NJ Santa Ea 70 not NJ
| guide to the caravan, and, with the excep-
tion 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 coldly 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"
II have warned two men, mi amo,"
the capataz replied; moreover, l intend
to make my rounds tonight; eh, Jose,"
he added, ''are you certain you are not
mistaken, and that you really lifted a
trail? Do you know to what nation the
sign you discovered belongs?"
Crow" the redskin answered hoarse-
ly.
"Carai" the master exclaimed, "if
they are Crows we shall do we'll to be
on our guard"
Nonsense Carnero remarked with a
grin of derision. Indians tell as many
lies as old women"
The Indians eyes flashed; without
deigning to reply he drew moccasin from
his breast, and threw it so adroitly at
the capataz as to strike him across the
face. Furious at the insult so suddenly
offered by man whom he always consid-
cred inoffensve the half-breed uttered a
yell of rage, and rushed knife in hand on
the Indian.
But the latter had not taken his eye off
him, and by slight movement he avoided
the desperate attack of the capataz; then,
drawing himself up, he caught him round
the waist, raised him from the ground as
easily as he would have done a child,
and hurled him into the FIRE, where he
|
and impotent passion. When he at length
got out of the fire, half scorched, he did
not think of renewing the attack, but sat
down, directing savage glances at his
adversary, like turnspit punished by a
mastiff.
''The Indian is right" said the master
coldly, "this moccasin bears the mark of
the Grow nation. My poor Carnero, you
must put up with it, for though the pun.
ishment you received was severe, | am
forced to allow that it was deserved"
"The dog will pay me for it with his
traitor face" the capitaz growled. "I
am no man If l do not leave his body as
food for the crows he discovers SO ciev-
erly."
"My poor lad," his master continued,
with jeer, you had better forget this
affair, which allow might be disagreeable
to your self-esteem for I fancy you would
not be the gamer by recommending the
quarrel"
The capataz did not answer, but looked
-round to select one on whom he could
vent his spite, without incurring risk
but the poems were on their guard and
offered him no chance. He then made
a signal to two men to follow him, and
left the circle grumbling.
The head of the caravan remained for
few moments plunged in serious
thought he then withdrew beneath his
tent, the curtain of which fell behind
him; and the poems lay down on the
ground, one after the other, with their
feet to the fire, carefully wrapped up in
their sarapes, and fell asleep.
The Indian then looked searchingly
around him, and, rising negligently, went
slowly to crouch at the foot of tree
though not before he had taken the pre-.
caution of wrapping himself in his buffalo
robe.
Ere long, with the exception of the sen.
tries leaning on their guns and motion.
less as statues, all the travellers were