The Coconino sun., 1920-12-24
A TRUE INDIAN STORY.
 BY A TRUE PIONEER

immediate vicinity of the Little Colo
 rado river has been neutral ground,
 for the mutual benefit of the tribes
 occupying opposite sides of that
 stream. Nevertheless, it is no bar to
 scraps Gas the writer knows from eXperience) going to or from the riv-
 CT itself.
 The Earth party remained some
 days at the raDcheita of the ,Coyo-
 teros. on the Carizo creek, by whom they were well treated. Subsequently,
 they were invited to visit the camp Ot
 the White Mountain Apaches some
 distance from the Carizo and east of
 Rushing Water" At this time the
 Earth party had no knowledge of the
 presence of the notorious Cochise and
 his band of picked warriors, in the
 camp of Pedro; and, to make matters
 worse, the chief Pedro was absent
 when the party reached the rancheria
 Cochise was powerfully built, deep
 chested, rather large head, fierce
 eyed, and possessed a masterful, dom- mating disposition; he would brook
 no opposition to his plans or wishes.
 One time at conference with his
 warriors in the Dragoon mountains, a
 young warrior sprang to his feet and
 interposed some objection; Cochise,
 without arising from his sitting posi-
 tion, merely picked up his rifle and
 shot the "objector" dead in his tracks;
 he then continued delivering his plans
 to the band, as though nothing out of the ordinary had taken place. The above incident gives an idea of his character.
 As the Earth party neared the rancheria, they were bounced upon by Cochise, and held up in the usual or thodox manner; disarmed, stripped of all clothing but their shoes, including all their animals and plunder. As us- ual under these circumstances, the women and children rushed hither ard thither, screaming and yelling, caus- ing pandemonium for a time, while the naked bunch of terrified captlves expected nothing else but instant death. However, Cochise decided to postpone the festivities" until the following morning, when they would have another old-fashioned roast and jubilee. In the meantime Pedro had returned, released the captives, and demanded in loud angry voice: "By whose authority is this done m my camp and in my absence!" The terrified captives stood huddled to- gether, hardly daring to breathe. hop ing against hope that Chief Pedro might save them. The angry White Mountain Chief said to Cochise: You have violated my hospitality; violated the hospitality of my camp; when l want killing done I will give the or der; what I have said, l have said He then said to the captives, "Yu-ka- shey," and they "yuked;" "yuked" without any ceremonious farewells. As they passed by some women, one of them handed Sol pair of cotton drawers. Without food, clothing, or even a match to start fire, the fugi- lives had one hundred and twenty five miles to hoof between the Apache camp and the Zuni village, the near est point where assistance could be obtained.
 Chief Pedro's position was critical, all his women and children were in that camp, and Cochise only had his band of picked men; and. in the event of trouble, all advantages were with Cochise. Having left the Dragons being war party, Co chise decided to return full-handed, and no doubt it was he that sent the invitation" at any rate, he absolutely refused to give up as much as string of the plunder; but as compromise, he allowed Pe- dro to dispose of the captives as he might choose; however, he suggested to Pedro that the proper ending of the affair would be an old-fashioned 'roast and war-dance."
 Fortunately, for the party of fugi- tives, little Apache dog had followed them, which was caught and killed, using fints for that purpose; the next thing was to make fire. Taking a small piece of the cotton drawers and and rubbing it to a fuzzy pulp. and with flints they struck sparks until one caught the cotton, and with patient blowing fire was made. Pieces of the dog were roast ed and eaten without salt, and happy they were that Fate had sent the dog, even without salt. Earth being the ,nly "aristocrat" in the bunch, being and gaily attired in a pair of cotton drawers. was unani- dubbed "El Rev"
 Before leaving their first campfire, l charred chunk of wood was taken along. and by waving it occasionally, xept it afre for the following night. The third days hike carried the party we'll up the Zuni wash, and with the of the dog, they were fairly we'll of, so to speak. However, by .his time, their feet were sore and bodies badly blistered by the sun. At he end of the fourth day they had reached the neighborhood of the Zuni village. where they concealed them selves in a ravine. At this particular it fell to the lot of the King" by right of his royal preroga- i've, to pay a visit to his Highness, IL r~l ~H u,,~.; A Isf v,no,.o