The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-01-26
The PIainsman.

The Plainsman.
 The man was riding just below the summit of the ridge, occasionally up lifting his head so as to gaze across the crest, shading his eyes with one hand, to thus better concentrate his vision. Both horse and rider plainly exhibited signs of weariness, but every movement of the latter showed ceaseless vigilance, his glance roam Ing the barren ridges, brown Win chester lying cooked across the saddle pommel, his left hand taut on the rein Yet the horse he bestrode scarcely required restraint, advancing slowly, with head hanging low, and only occasionally breaking into brief trot under the impetus of the spur. -''
 The rider was a man approaching thirty, somewhat slender and long of limb, but possessing broad, squared shoulders above a deep chest, sitting the saddle easily in plainsman fash hon, yet with an erectness of carriage which suggested military training. The face under the wide brim of the weather-worn s1ouch hat was clean shaven, Drowned by sun and wind, and strongly marked, the chin slight ay prominent, the mouth firm, the gray eyes full of character and daring. His dress was that of rough service, plain leather chaps" showing marks of hard usage, a gray woolen shirt turn ed low at the neck, with a kerchtef Anotted loosely about the sinewy bronzed throat At one hip dangled tho holster of 'forty-five," on the other hung a canvas-covered canteen. His was figure and face to be noted anywhere, a man from whom you would expect both thought and action. and one who seemed to exactly fit into his wild environment.
 Where he rode was the very west ern extreme of the prairie country, billowed like the sea. and from of the crest of its higher ridges, the wide level sweep of the plains was visible. extending like vast brown ocean to the foothills of the far-away noun tains. Yet the actual commencement of that drear, barren expanse was fully ten miles distant. while all about where he rode the conformation was irregular, comprising narrow val leys and swelling mounds, with hero and there sharp ravine, riven from
  up startled at its very brink. The general trend of depression was un- doubtedly southward leading toward lar ridges occasionally cut across, adding to the confusion. The entire surrounding landscape presented the same aspect, with no special object upon which the eye could rest for rrr1f< <7 1nho vol Af rock .o peculiarity of summit. no snake-lil trail-all about extended the same dull dead monotony of brown, sun-b baked hills, with slightly Rreener dep-essions lying between, 1nterspersed by patches of sand or the white gleam of alkan. It was . dreary, deserted land. parched under the hot summer srn. frightened by no vegetation, exceNt;ng sparse punches of buffalo e- ss or an occasional stunted sage bush, and disclosing no where the slightest sign of human habitation
 Tie rising sun reddened the crest of the hills, and the rider, halting his willing horse, sat motionless, gazing steadily into the southwest. Appar- ently he perceived nothing there un-
 
 about in the saddle. sweeping his eyes, inch by inch, along the line of the horizon, until the entire circuit had been completed Then his com pressed lips smiled slightly, his hand unconsciously batting the horses neck.
 ''I reckon we're still alone, old girl" he said quietly. bit of Southern drawl in the voice. 'Well try for the trail, and take it easy''
 He swung stiffly out of the saddle, and with reins dangling over his shoulder, began the slower advance on foot, the exhausted horse trailing behind. His was not situation in which one could feel certain of safety. for any ridge might conceal the wary foemen he sought to avoid. yet he pro ceeded now with renewed confidence. It was the summer of 1863, and the place the very heart of the Indian country, with every separate tribe ranging between the Yellowstone and the Brazos, either restless or openly on the war-path. Rumors of atrocities were being retold the length and breadth of the border, and every re- port drifting in to either fort or set tlement only added to the alarm For once at least the Plains Indians had discovered a common cause, tribal diff ferences had been adjusted in war against the white invaders, and Kio- was, Comanches, Arapahoes, Chey. snnes and Sioux had become welded together in savage brotherhood, To ! oppose them were the scattered and unorganized settlers lining the more eastern streams, guarded by small de tachments of regular troops posted here and there amid that broad will darness scarceIy within touch of each