The Holly chieftain., 1924-04-24

Now the trap northeast of Estes Park Village
OF today was n narrowing passage formed by a
conVergence of the mountains between Devils
Gulch" and Long GuIch." Ku-ni-tha. with the
hlde and head of great black buffalo skillfully
fastened about him, mingled with the herd, and,
assuming leadership. slowly enticed them into the
death-trap defle.
1t was from this escapade Ku-ni-tha was re-
turning. The makebelieve buffalo rolled over on
Its back, that the buckskin aces might be undone,
and out crawled Kuni-tha. glad once again to
stand erect after having Travelled many miles on
hands and feet. He quietly exchanged n few
words with Oechene. who started for the council
tepee where he had assembled the warriors In an
ticipation OF Kuni-tha's return
While the squaws led by Mia nn- WI, sang
praises of kuni-thas successful buffalo slaughter
us they prepared the feast, the WARRIORS among
them Na-kos, considered the menacing encroach-
ment of the Utes. For Ku-ntha Ind devoted
himself eagerly to the hunt while Na-kos. think
Ing more of the safety of the tribe and of the be-
loved Ne-o-ta. had abandoned the chase to spy
on the skulkng figures of Utes on Wind River
Trail. He had then hurried back to camp and
reported to Chief Oe-chene that the valley was
full of the enemy.
The old warriors sat long in meditation after
Oe-che-ne called the council gathering, but the
younger men, absorbed by thoughts of tha dance
ring disregarded the real significance Of the alarm
Within the stone-marked rings they expected to
dance In the open during the afternoon and night,
in celebration Of the buffalo hunt A small fire
In the center Of this ring would hold them
thralled in strange worship of Its power.
Just as the squaws had the meat pots rendy for
the fires. wounded Arapahoe bringing buffalo
meat on his pony. staggered Into camp. This de-
velopment emphasized the Imminent danger. Or
dnarlly another day would have passed while
Utes assembled, only to be delantly repulsed In
battle by the waiting Arapahoes. But the wound
ed brave brought word of many smoke signals to
guide the assembling Utes. His people would be
greatly outnumbered. Even Ute runners were
spying on the camp.
In the discussion Na-kos was called for to tell
the council the position and number of the band
OF Utes on Wind River Trail. But Nakos had
quietly slipped away. Nevertheless Oechene was
sustained in his proposal that the Arapahoes re-
turn to the winter camp across the Continental
Divide for the Utes had evidently come to kill
mountain sheep and to escape the heat of the
plains in summer The Arapahoe braves could
not dream peacefully in their tepees with their
deadly enemies the Utes, 50 close at hand.
SO the plans for feasting turned into hur-
ried departure. Smoderng camp fires. buffalo
meat and tepee rings OF stone for weighng the
ends OF the skin tents, told the story Of flight. 1t
would require all-night march. over the pine
fringed reaches of the Snowy Range, to gain the
retreat of the Arapahoes in sheltered vale near
Grand Lake.
The three hundred warriors, divided into an ad-
vance and escort for the women and children.
started over the old Ute Trail, which We call
the Trail Ridge. very sharp incline. 70 reach
the ridge proper, called "Where.the Women
Walk" because up this stretch the ponies could
not carry any burden in addition to their heavy
trappings
One hundred and fifty braves, mounted on swift
ponies. led the party sending scouts in advance
us fur as the head Of Forest Canyon, where the
FaIl River Road crosses the old Ute Trail. The
remaining braves brought up the rear, with the