Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-05-30
= CHAPTER |.
The PlaInsnan.


a. crest. shading his eyes with one
y, I'D IN thus better concentrate his
~ sion Both horse and rider plainly
Exhibited signs OF wearircss but
erv movement OF the latter showed
&easeless vigilance. his glance roam
10 the barren ridges, u brown Win
s., ester living cooked across the saddle
Y ommel his left hand taut on the
rein Yet the horse he bcstrodc
4acarcely required restraint. advancing .
'5Slowly with head hanging low. and
1nly occasionally breaking into
Ariof riot under the impetus OF the /
,Dpur
# The rider was a man approaching .
,thirty somewhat slender and lon- or .
NM but possessing broad, squared .
zthouldcrs above a deep chest. sitting
the saddle easily in plainsman fash
kn vet with AN greatness OF carriage
shich suggested military training
.4he face under the wide brim OF the
xea,her-worn SLOUGH hat was clean
ahayeu. Drowned BY sun and wind.
hnd strongly marked. the chin slight
IN prominent. the mouth firm. the gray
sves fun of character and daring. His
tress was that OF rough service. plain
Heather chaps" showing marks OF
hard usage. gray wCoicn shirt turn
Ii low AT the neck. with kerchiet
3notted loosely about the sincwy
tronzcd throat Al one hip dangled
.thc holster OF "A forty i've" on the
<othcr hung "A canvas-coyercd canteen
1iis was figure and face 10 be noted
Ianywhorc. man from whom You
Nould expect both thought and action.
snd one who seemed TO exactly III
fn,o his Wild environment
W Where he rode was the very west
srn extreme OF the prairie country
(. blllowed like the sea. and from on the
- rest OF its higher ridges. the wide
4 leyel sweep OF the plains was visible
ssS,onding like vast brown ocean 20
ID he foothills OF the far-away noun
tains We, the actual commencement,
oi that drear. barren expanse was
ffully ten miles distant. while all
{. b bout where he rode the conformation
was irregular comprising narrow val
leys and swelling mounds. with here
Hnd there a sharp ravine. riven from
T-f he rock and invisible until one drew
pr startled AT its very brink. The
Yfeneral trend Of depression was I'M
doubtedly southwark leading toward
H1he valley of the Arkansas. yet irregu-
Jar ridges occasionally cut across.
#addng TO the confusion The entire
surrounding landscape presented the
sane aspect. with no special object
Eupon which the eye could rest for
Fuidance-no tree. no upheaval OF
afrock. no popularity OF summit no
5 tnakelik trail all about extended
the same dull. dead monotony Of
Brown. sun. baked hills. with slightly
greener deprcssions lying between.
interspersed by patches OF sand or the
<#~hite CLEAN OF alkali II was a
dreary deserted land. parchod under
the hot summer sun. frightened by no
vegetation. excepting sparse lunches
#of buffalo grass or an occasional
&s'unted sage bush. and disclosing no
M where the slightest sign OF human
b, habitatlnn
t Tho rising sun Redeemed the crest
seof the hills. and the rider hating Lis
willing horse. sat motionlcss. gazing
e steadily into the southwest Appar
eh'ly he perceived nothing there IN
usual. for he slowly turned his bod,
about in the saddle sweeping his
I# eyes inch by inch. along the limo oil
S. me horizon, until the entire circuit
< had been completed Then his com
pressed lips smiled slightly. his hant
1881 un'orsclously .patting the horse,
&k neck
M reckon we're stlll alone. old girl
ne said quietly. a bit OF Southern
crawl in the voice Wen try fol
4. 'he trail. and take II easy
Tie swung stinly out OF the saddle
T"nd with reins dangling over hi.
snoulder, began the slower advanc,
II vn loot. the exhausted horse trailini
s'x nenind His was not situation II
w"lch one could feel certain OF safety
Ez ,or any ridge might conceal the war,
;.z oe'nen he sought to avoid. yet he pro
Rf teeued now with renewed confidence
E was the summer OF 1868. and tn,
|< pace the very heart of the lndiar
e< country with every separate tribe
e @"slhg between the Yellowstone an'
3<<# '''o' tllhtI rcStltSb OF Optnll
&7ou 'ne war path. Rumors OF atrocities
1ere being retold the length an,
D.e"u.h or the border. and every re
.3 III urliting In to either fort or set
cement only added to the alarm 20
any" at least the Plains Indians ha,
discovered common cause. tribal diff
2z 'ehces had been adjusted in wa
Mi sa'nst the white invaders. and Kio
~ 80 Vomanches. Arapahoes. Chey
mes and Sioux had become weldei
Sse'ner In savage brotherhood T,
k nppose them were the scattered ant
Es aas' ' sanized settlers lining the NOR
"0,crh streams. guarded by small dc
@0n'hents of regular troops poste'
de and there amid that broad vii
other
Nerywhere beyond these lines @
'"'lol Wandered roaming war parties