Arizona republican., 1920-04-18
INDIANS


 It was at the close of a hot summer ! day when an emigrant train drew up 1 beside a Nebraska stream. The urea oxen drew deep breath of relief as the drivers took the heavy yolses off their l necks.
 ..What are we stoppin' here for?'' asked Mrs. Moves, an emigrant. 1T heard Jim say we was to rest up the oxen and get ready for another lap" replied Mrs. Connoley, the wife of the leader.
 sI s'pose that means bakin' bread" said Mrs. Moves, climbing stiffly out of the wagon.
 All was hustle and confusion. Later on fires began to appear around which moved the figures of the women who were preparing the evening meal.
 After supper everybody went to bed because, although it was called a rest camp, everybody had to work on the morrow. Sentries were posted as the train was practically in the Indian country.
 Pretty busy scene. isn't it?" Jim Connoley asked one of his helpers as they passed through the camp next morning. And it was d busy scene Men were dressing the harness. Women were pulling out Dutch ovens from the wagons and carrying them to braces which they had picked out. Children were getting in firewood and hinder ing as much as they were helping.
 All went well till late in the after noon The men were putting away their tools. As one went back to get the distance coming toward the cara van.
 Running hurriedly to Jim Connoley he cried: 'There's a man conin to- wards us an he looks like he was pretty badly done up"
 ''Take another man and go help him in," directed Jim.
 They soon returned carrying a half naked, horribly mutilated figure which they laid down in the shade of a wagon. What little clothing he had on clung to him in blood stained tatters.
 When he had recovered conscious ness he asked for the leader.
 I'm the leader" said Jim.
 Hide everything you can: band of Indians is at my place and they're figurin' on comin' here in the mornin'. They caught me an you can see what they did to me. They had ct up all the food in the house an was asleep when let out
 After some questioning it was brought out that the band was too large to fight off and that the best thing to do would be to hide all they could in a nearby ravine and give the Indians the run of the camp
 Everyone was set to work carrying provisions to the hiding place. After as much had heen taken so that the Indians would not become suspicious it was almost dark, so they cooked and ate supper and went to bed to spend 1 sleepless night.
 Next morning everybody was up be- fore the sun.
 Soon the scouts brought in word ! that the Indians were coming.
 X of their hoalS Wh00n- l ing band Of Indians bent on destroying 1 the settlers who had formed a ring with the women and children in the center
 Seeing that the settlers did not in- i tend to fight. the Indians tried to force them to fight They rushed on | the oxen and killed them all and then. looking for more to kill they chased | down and speared all the dogs, even 1 to one little fellow which they flung . Into the ring of settlers.
 After destroying all of the livestock l they turned their attention to the pro- | Seeing the bread piled up 1 they bounced on it and threw it all | into the oven. Then they treated | else in the same manner
 The settlers looked on with angry l eyes, but they were powerless.
 Soon the Indians, tired of the havoc -hey were making, rode away brand ng the whites as towards and old women. When they had disappeared he settlers began to take stock of what they had left.
 They found that in addition to the stores which they had saved. one of the ,xen was only stunned instead of killed. They piled all of their goods in one ,f the lighter wagons and the next morning hitched the remaining OK to t and. commenced their slow. appre- ,ensive journey on foot. Fortunately hey had enough food left to keep them tive until they could reach the next where they could prepare or the next part of the journey.
 The End.)
 PAUL. AMBERG,
 Freshman, Prescott High School.