Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-04-21
CHAPTER XII

SAATAA L LN All
Steve Arnold, pulled up by his
newly acquired wealth and impor-
lance, staggered about like many
other idle rich young men, who
think themselves above common
work. They flashed in big way for
a little while, those riders of the
wild bunch. You couldn't blame a
boy who'd been held down so long.
If he didn't know Steve better he
could let it 60 at that. But Steve
talked the loudest when he was
scared. He always had.
The slow grazing pace with time
dragging let him think it out in cir
cles, which brought him back in the
end to where he had started. Steve
was rattlehead, maybe, but no
fool. 1t was hard to put two things
together, his exaggerated impor-
lance Of owning the Cross T and
this talk of being through with COWS,
without getting only one answer.
You can't make any good plan for
the future if you're scared of your
past.
He saw Steve ride with Clay much
of that afternoon and knew the
showdown wasn't settled.
Early in the evening they crossed
small creek and watered there,
trailing on mile afterward to camp
on open ground. He bedded the long
horns in close, hobbled some of the
horses so the herd wouldn't stray
and swung rope corral between
the wagons for the night-guard
mounts. Horses were like scented
bait to Indians.
There had been no Indian sign
either along the creek or over
against the black Wichita range. 1t
was as lonely country as he had
ever seen.
With Moonlight Bailey and Jim
Hope riding guard until the first
watch went out, all the other men
were in camp, washing up at Owl
Heads water key. 1t was not quite
dark, that moment of shadow like a
thick layer across the land with the
sky still blue He finished at the
key himself, picked up four-sack
towel and turned to look south. Ten
or fifteen vague mounted figures
were coming from the creek.
He swung back and spoke quickly
to Joy near the campfire. Get in
SIDE" he said. Pull down the
flaps"
What's the matter?"
He nodded south. She saw then.
Her face went white.
Around the water keg the men
were hurriedly drying their hands.
Someone joked, Guess the party
opens. Boys, watch your hair!"
They pulled their Springfield-Allin
from saddle scabbards propped
against their bedrolls.
But then, watching the riders take
shape, he knew it was not war
party. Indians out for trouble would
not come on like this, punched and
at slow walk. They'd spread and
make running charge and haul up
short just before hitting camp. That
would be to show their strength and
see how the white men took it.
He could count them now, four
teen, and the men around him had
started to grin at the way these In
dams were dressed. Some wore
pants but were naked from the waist
up. Others wore brown reservation
shirts with only a loincloth under
the long tails. A few had on old
felt hats with the tops of the crowns
cut out. But mostly they were bare
headed, their black hair hanging in
double braids.
He had missed one of the group
who wore both shirt and pants.
When the little party halted off fifty
yards from camp a blaCk-and-Whit
patched pinto came on, carrying this
broad, heavy shape of a man, old
and fat. Halfway in, he reached
the firelight's brighter circle,
stopped and lifted his left hand. He
was unarmed.
Lew gave his rifle to Rebel John,
saying, "Tll CO." He walked slowly
forward, halved the distance that
remained and halted. He said brief
ly, "Friend!" and stretched both
arms in front of him, palms up.
For his age and weight the Indian
came to the ground with surprising
ease. He, too, exactly halved the
little distance still left, waiting then
for the white man TO finish the ap-
proach.
1t was ritual that Lew under
stood. He might stand rooted and
make the Indian come to him. 1t
showed in way ones supremacy
over the other. That didn't matter
now. He closed the gap and saw the
black eyes family indicate that
knowledge.
He waited, saying nothing, while
the black eyes, deep in their folds
of dark skin, gave him a long ap-
praisal. Then in perfect school Eng
ish the old man said, II am look
ing for Lew Burnet. Tell him Spot
ted Horse is here"
"I'm Burnett" he said and had a