The Washington herald., 1911-07-16

N3 Indian raids were frequent the saw
ages used to go on the warpath at
the most unlooked-for times, and settlers
were often treated to very unpleasant sur
priscs.
Last summer took a trip to California, the
first time | had been West for fifteen years,
and the changes that / saw astonished me.
There were thriving towns where once stood
nothing but a solitary ranch station, with ITS
ktockade and stock corral. while all around
was a great range where thousands OF cattle
fed.
there, and yet, after all, there was PIC
turesqueness about the old times winch Is
wanting in these days of trade and hustle.
At the time of which l speak, l was sta
Platte River, in Colorado. The stock corral
comprised several acres, surrounded by
high board fence, while adjoining it and en-
c'o4ed by stockade were five long, low adobe
cabins, where we ate and slept when we were
1t was midsummer, and four of the boys
had gone up the river to brand n new lot OF
cattle, leaving Sam Briggs and me alone on
the ranch.
The weather was warm, and the days pass
ed lazily with us. We had no thought of In
dians troubling us. The redskins had been
unusually quiet for some time, although that
some sudden outbreak. But there was
wc'lgarrisoned fort at no great distance from
us as distances were calculated then, and we
felt completely safe.
The boys had been gone number Of days,
and we were getting tired and lonely so we
decided that We would leave the ranch to
take care of itself for part of day, and go
on hunt
good sport among the canyons, twelve miles
away, where antelopes were plentiful. II was
late at night when we returned, and the boys
had not got back, although we were expect
ing them home at any time,
We had put our ponies in the stock corral,
where there were some twelve or more other
ponies and big "jack"-one Of the most
vicious animals, so far as outsiders were con-
cerned, thas / had ever seen. In one sense.
he was as valuable as a watchdog, and: If
any stranger had ever entered the corral, Mr..
Jack would very quickly have driven him
out on dead run.
Sam and I were both hungry, so we built a
fire, had some antelope steak and hot coffee,
rolled into our hunks. and were soon fast
asleep.
How long we had slept do not know, but
! awoke with some one striking my ribs, and,
thinking il was Sam, l opened my eyes slow
ly and looked around me.
To my surprise, there were four Indians in
the room, standing over us. They had awak-
eened Sam too, and he sat up in his bunk:
did, although neither of us showed it.
Our weapons had been taken from us While
we slept, and We were prisoners, utterly help
less.
One of the Indians, who seemed to be the
leader, motcned to us to get up, which we
did Then he pointed to the door. and we
walked out, two Indians in front of us and
two bringing up the rear.
Just as we got out we heard tremendous
noise outside the stockade. group of In
dians were standing yelling, and evidently
enjoying bonething that was going on in the
stock corral. We could not see what it was,
side and We had to go With them.
Well, in spite of the seriousness of the
situation, what we saw made us laugh, and
our captOrs seemed to be enjoying it in their
own much as we were