Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-07-15
AHunter sBluf
By M. QUAD
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1915. by no McClurA
Newspaper Syndicate.

iii Newspaper SynOoate.
In the spring of the year 1868 par
ty Of sporting hunters numbering thir
ty entered the elbow of Texas between
New Mexico and the Indian territory.
While the Comanche indians were
bitterly hostile at that time they had
been sadly reduced by smallpox anG
driven to the north, and old frontiers
. men stated their belief that the party
would not even see one.
had been invited to make one Of
the party, but was detained f,0fa COP.
pie Of days. then mounted my horFe
and picked up the trail and follower
after, having no fear that should rur
any danger in thus riding.
1t had come noon Of the second da.
and had met with no adventure.
had baited and watered my horse ar
was ready to move on, when heard
"Yyi, yi!' on my right, and turn
ed around to see five Comanches con
ing out of the timber on their ponies
They were just half mile away a
had evidently discovered me.
When man rides for his life
greatest fear Is in overriding the m
ter. l had been five years on
plains and had pretty fair stock
nerve, and rode to favor my horse.
As the sun began to sink in tn
west they sought to shorten the dis
lance between us and bring me int
rifle shot, but word to the mustanf
checkmated this.
Had been able to keep the trail at
er 8 o'clock should have counted o.
finding the party by shutdown, as We
were getting over the ground ut rap
Id pace, but at about that hour l came
to a rough, stony district, where the
passage Of the horses had left no trail,
and went ahead Mt random, planning
to keep my distance from the river. II
was to be starlight night, and az
soon as dusk came urged my beast to
faster pace and bore more to the
left. When believed I had gained 8
quarter Of mile swerved sharply t
the right, rode for forty rods and ther
dismounted and gave Custer the wor
to lie down. We were both fat on tb
earth when the party of pursuers swe'
by, and the thud, thud, thud Of the
| ponies feet came very plainly to
ears.
l had a cold bite in my haversack
and after disposing of it stretched out
and went to sleep, hoping had given
the red men the slip. opened
1 In, a.
| ment. Seated In circle about
were the five Comanches, while the
ponies were feeding with my horse.
lay on my back with my hands elias.
ed under my head, and such was M
establishment that l could not NOV
Fortunately for me they took this fc
nerve. I looked from man to NAH
and finally said in Comanche:
"Had known you were Comanchs
I should not have run away. I thong
you were Chickasaws on stolen hors
I shall be ready to go as soon as
have eaten. I want to see the &.
manclle Countrywide vast plains-tht
Canadian riyer-the mountains full O.
caves and waterfalls-your chic
Thunder Cloud
!. One Of them asked me IL helOnget.
to the party ahead, and told him no
He asked me. how l dared start Ou:
alone for the Comanche country, ar
told him that had trapped the mou
tain lion and cut out and eaten
liver while still alive. and thereto
feared nothing living. could see tn
they were badly puzzled, and \
creased their wonder by saying, as
finished my breakfast:
"Come. 1t is time to go. We have
your country" M
When we set out, two in front and
three behind, and no Indians We're evel
more puzzled. In later years l m
one Of them and he told me that tn,
plan was to torture me as soon as
awoke. They were beat out Of this
my queer remarks, intended Just 6,
that purpose. Several times during
day expressed my Impotence at
slow pace and asked them to get
| faster, and when we went into cami
saw that L had them off their qua,
After eating / sat apart from them
smoke and mediate and to give thel.
an opportunity to compare notes. jus
when: the five got their heads togeth
to discuss something they did not WIZ
me to hear arose and stepped bach
ward out Of the light of the fire, and
believer was a hundred feet ava
when they missed me. ~
l heard them scatter and beat ab0n,
1nd while they were hunting for r.
crawled along and got my gun. II!
crept away from the circle Of the fir
and then got the shelter Of a tree. III
Indians beat about for a good hal
hour, and then all came in. ehagrine
and Disguised lifted my gun an
took fair aim at the leader. He wen
down as my rifle cracked and was 70
II lowed by second and third befOI
the surviving two could .compreher
what was going on. Neither stopN
for his gun.
stood guard all night, and whe
morning came was satisfied that II
two who had escaped had no idea, :
returning. After scanty breakfast
caught up the six animals, packed
everything of value, and then heas
to the southeast for the river, and 6
o'clock rode right into the camp Of
party, which had settled down