[Dan De Quille, An Indian Story of the Sierra Madre, from Cosmopolitan Magazine, June 1895]

 

Drawn by Frederic Remington.

AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.

BY DAN DE QUILLE.

I.

THE TWO RAVENS.

            "Thank the Lord! At last we're out of the desert. The country ahead is no Garden of Eden, but it's better than that eternal sand back there."                 

            The three prospectors reined in their horses on the crest of a low ridge which marked the beginning of the mesa, and surveyed the ground ahead. It was less sandy and somewhat more broken than that they had just crossed, one of those burning deserts known in that region as a "journey of death" (jornada del muerto). They had been down in the Sierra del Perro, and even across the edge of Old Mexico, and were coming northward to the Sierra de las Animas by way of the Sierra de San Luis.            

            The men were all mounted on large and handsome mustangs. By their arms they were plainly aware of the fact that they were traveling in a region teeming with dangers; each, in addition to the invariable Winchester, carried a revolver, and that heavy Mexican knife so like the cutlas in use and appearance.                

            Halted upon the crest, the red rays of the sun slanting across, they formed a striking and picturesque group—a group representative in dress, arms, equipments, and ruggedness of appearance of the class of hardy and fearless prospectors roving through the Sierra Madre and other ranges of New Mexico and Arizona.                      

            The elevated mesa stretching before the party might have been five miles in length by nearly three in width. It was covered with small stones and cut up by many dry gulches. The only vegetation to be seen was the low-growing cactus, relieved here and there by a fantastic group of yucca. To the westward was a grand ridge of castellated rocks that looked as though it might be the home of cliff dwellers, and behind it rose a high mountain.

(180)

AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.         181     

            While they were yet gazing for a break in the northern hills, a pair of hoarsely croaking ravens flew over the mesa and toward the ridge. The captain followed them with his eyes.                                                        

            "Going to roost," he remarked, sententiously. "What we ought to be doing."

            The ravens were interesting, insomuch as they were the first living things the party had seen that day. Dick Nordine shaded his eyes with his huge hand, which was, however, in excellent proportion when one considered his height and build, and looked toward the setting sun.

            "By George!" he shouted. "Did you see that, Cap?"

            "See what?"

            "Why, the ravens—how queer they acted?"

            "I see them coming back as if Old Nick were after them," said Captain Ben.  "They're putting for the east ridge."

            "I mean the back somersault they turned when they struck the rocks."

            "Back somersault!" Captain Ben queried.

            "Yes. They never lit at all. Jist as they were lightin' they begun to tumble over theirselves in their hurry to git away and take the buck track."

            "The devil they did!" cried Captain Denton. "Then we've got to look out for our scalps, that's all. We may thank those ravens for telling us what's in store for us. Nothing but a human being could have given the birds such a fright, and if there's a human up among those rocks he's an Apache."

            "That's gospel, Captain Ben," said Burt Colrick. He, too, was a strapping six-footer, and, like Nordine, a mountain man in every respect. "The only critters ravens is afeerd of is human critters, and therefore there's a human there."

            Captain Ben whipped his field-glasses out of their case and leveled them at the ridge, every detail of which was now strongly outlined by the light diffused over its crest by the sunken sun.

            "I thought so," he said, when he had examined it some minutes. "The ravens did not wheel without reason. I see two heads over the rocks, and one is a feather head, sure as I'm alive."

            "Proverbly there's a lot more," suggested Nordine.

            "Of course, they've seen us?" said Colrick.

            "Of course, Burt," said Captain Ben, "saw us the moment we rose this ridge, and dropped behind the rocks to watch us. Well, it was lucky!"

            "What was lucky?" Colrick asked.

            "Everything, so far. If we'd been ten minutes later rising this ridge, we'd have had some hot work by now, and some of our scalps might have been looser. We'd have struck them about here."

            "How so, Cap?"

            "Well, here to our right, off east about a mile, I can see the tops of some trees in line with the ridge. There is a grove there and a water-tank. The Indians were heading for that grove to camp when we turned up. Their business now is to find out what we are going to do."

            "And what are we goin' to do?" asked Nordine.

            "Roost. Strike for the grove and camp there. There is no other camping place in sight; it's the natural thing to do."

            "I don't see, Cap, why we've got to camp in the grove," said Colrick.

            "That or fight right out here now on the open mesa, and it's pretty sure they're too many for us. Do you see that big arroyo coming down from the ridge? They will follow that, and its banks will hide their ponies until they're right on us. They'll never let us pass that point, and if they have a large party they have men in the arroyo now. If we go into camp at the grove it will give us time to do some head work before the fight comes off and to find out how many they are. Then we will have the choice of the battle-ground, and the first fire."

            "I s'pose you're right, Cap, but blame if I can see through the business any further than slippin' away from 'em while they're thinkin' us asleep at the fire."

            "That will be a good move," the captain returned, "but what we come across at the grove may alter our plans. Start the pack-mule along, Dick."

            "All right, Cap, but I'm afraid he'll be temptin' bait for them Apache rascals.

182      AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.

If there's one thing an Apache will risk his life for, it's mule meat. The very sight of a 'John-day-zin'; as he calls a mule, makes his mouth water."

II.

THE FLIGHT.

            Captain Denton took the lead as they drew near the grove.

            "Here's a creek, fellows," he shouted. "I thought the grove was beside a big water-hole."

            "All the better, Cap," said Nordine.

            "Yes, but we've got to be watchful, because they will crawl along the banks above or below us. They must have water. They're already on the move," he added, as he scanned the ridge with the glasses.

            Captain Denton's party descended the steep slope to the banks of the little stream. The grove gave no signs of having been recently visited, though the bent poles of half a dozen lodges showed it to be an old Apache hunting-ground.

            Denton gave orders for picketing the animals on a patch of meadow by the side of the creek, but some distance from the cooking. Then they began looking about for a position in the grove. They found that the ridge was of such height that it shut off the view down the creek. The captain swathed his head and body in green willow twigs and climbed the tallest cottonwood, taking with him his field-glasses, and leaving the camp-fire and supper to his two subordinates. It was fast growing dark when he descended.

            "Well, men," he said, "it's just as I expected. Those fellows have slipped down along the south side of this ridge and are now lodged in a small grove about half a mile below. It isn't such a bad box as it might be, there are only five all told."

            "Only five!" cried Nordine and Colrick, deprecatingly.

            "I saw none coming down the arroyo, and up the creek there are neither trees nor grass. They would know that."

            "What are the fellows below us about?" asked Colrick. "Have they regularly gone into camp?"

            "They are picketed on a patch of grass, but there's no smoke that I can see. If they have a fire, they have used coals chipped from burnt logs and stumps."

            And so the party sat down to supper. Afterwards Captain Denton crept away into the gloom to reconnoiter, while Nordine and Colrick set about baking enough bread for two days' rations. They had been engaged in their culinary operations but a few minutes, when Nordine's quick ear detected a low, creaking noise.

            "S-s-s-t! the captain," he said. And presently the captain appeared.

            "Quick!" he exclaimed. "We shall have a visitor here in about ten minutes. Roll up some of those blankets for a dummy. Behave yourselves well before your company."

            And with a little laugh Captain Denton again disappeared.

            It did not take them long to fix up the dummy; they placed a hat over its face and laid it down with its feet toward the fire; then they went on with their breadmaking. It was two hours before Captain Ben came back again.

            "Well, boys," he said, "it's all right. They feel pretty sure of us, and their scheme is to charge on our camp at daybreak. They were so busy spying us out that it never struck them I would follow their man back."

            "How long did he stay here?" asked Colrick.

            "Only about ten minutes. He was within twenty feet of your fire. Then he crept out to the edge of the grove and took a look at the horses; I would have knifed him if he had started to cut them loose, but that would have spoiled things. We should have had to go right down to their camp and settle up with the others."

            "That would have been easy enough," said Nordine.

            "Yes, if things had gone our way; but I can tell you they are a strapping lot of fellows—four picked braves, as far as I could see, and the head chief, whose feathers we saw."

            About ten o'clock they brought the mustangs from the meadow where they were grazing, and soon all was ready to move out of the grove. They threw a few old logs and stumps on the fire, that the smoke might be seen in the morning, and thus induce the Indians to move slowly and cautiously. Then they took

AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.         183

up their course northward across the mesa, now dimly lighted by a small moon and the bright stars of a clear sky. They traveled leisurely, the captain insisting that there was no need of haste. When they drew near to that part crossed by the arroyo, the leader dismounted and scouted carefully. Returning, he reported the arroyo dry, and quiet as a tomb, with an easy crossing ahead. In the same way two smaller arroyos were traversed, and an uneventful march of five miles brought them to the northerly extremity of the mesa.

            Here the men were surprised to find a creek coming down from the bordering hills; but Captain Ben explained that it was the same which flowed past the camp at the grove, having traced its course with his glass from the cottonwood. His reasons for leaving camp without a supply of water now became apparent.

            "Now we shall take water in more ways than one," he said.

Drawn by Frederic Remington.

THE THREE PROSPECTORS.

            The creek was only about three yards in width, and very shallow. After filling the canteens, they entered it and rode up along the bed for a few yards. Then, doubling on their tracks, they descended with the stream, and finally left it separately at points some fifty yards apart. On its shelving and sandy margin each dismounted and muffled the feet of his animal with pieces of blanket, tied on with strips torn from an empty barley sack. Then, walking backward till the bushy bank was reached, all tracks were obliterated with water sprinkled from the gold-pan. Mounting at the edge of the brush, and maintaining the distances between them, they struck out southward over the open mesa.

            They did not take their buck track, but moved several points more to the westward. Down in their hearts the men felt that the captain's dodge would not win; with Apaches it was work thrown away. After about a mile of this open order, Captain Denton gave his signal for the men to close up. In the meantime one or two foot-mufflers had been lost, and Colrick asked the captain what should be done in the event of others coming off.

            "Let them go," said the captain. "It is just what I want."

184      AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.

            "What you want—after all the trouble of lashin' them on?" queried Nordine.

            "Yes, of course. You don't suppose I had the least hope of fooling Indians with that trick, do you?"

            "Then what was the good of all that business at the creek?" asked Colrick.

            "It was to make them believe that we thought the trick a very cunning one. What I want to do is to give them the impression that they have to deal with a set of cowardly and clumsy greenhorns; that they have a good and easy thing."

            After reaching and descending the big arroyo, they turned westward and began moving up its dry bed.

            "Why, Cap," cried Nordine, "don'cher know that this 'ere gulch'll take us right square up to the big rocks whar we fust saw the devils?"

            "That is just where I wish to go," said Captain Denton.

            "Up we go, then," said Nordine; and, turning to Colrick, he added in a lower tone, "a thing with two heads is mighty little account, whether it's an expedition or a young bull-calf."

            As they ascended the arroyo its sides became more and more rocky until, within three hundred yards of its head, it was a veritable cañon. Here they halted, and the captain rode alone to the summit. After a considerable interval, he returned on foot and moved his men about fifty yards higher up. He and Colrick then took from the pack-mule their last whole sack of flour,—a fifty pound one,—and, lifting it high over his head, the captain threw it upon the ground with such force as to burst it open.

            "Now, come on," he said; "there is bait for our game."

            The men gazed on the flour thus sacrificed with long faces and drooping under lips, but they uttered no word of remonstrance, although they could not imagine what their leader was about. At the head of the cañon they again dismounted, and, leading their horses, they followed Captain Ben along a kind of rough trail that wound eastward among the rocks of the north wall of the cañon, until they came to a small lateral ravine. This, after a turn or two, opened out upon a little flat on which were a number of small pine and juniper trees. The captain's horse was fastened to one of them, and alongside of him the men hitched their animals, and the "John-day-zin."

            "Now," said Captain Ben, "if any of us has to retreat, we shall have our horses, here back of us. I have been up this ravine, and it leads to a big, flat-topped hill, from which there is a choice of a dozen pretty fair routes in as many directions. I hardly think we shall have to scamper out of the ravine in this way, but before going into a fight it is always best to mark out a good and safe line of retreat."

            "This is fine, Cap," said Nordine. "Couldn't have been made better to order."

            "It leaves our animals safe from flying bullets, which is allers a good thing in a bit of a scrimmage," added Colrick.

            "Nothing like manoeuvering to get the choice of ground," said Captain Ben. "It's everything in a game with these fellows. Now let us take a look at our breastworks."

            A fairly direct path was found to a point on the high and rocky wall of the cañon just opposite to the abandoned sack of flour, apparently dropped in the hurry and excitement of retreat. There, at a height of about seventy-five feet above the floor of the cañon, and not a hundred yards distant from the captain's "bait," was a sort of natural breastwork of rocks. They set to work to improve this by placing huge stones on the natural ledge, so as to form loopholes, taking care so to dispose of them that they would not attract attention.

III.

THE FIGHT.

            These arrangements completed, they made a hearty breakfast upon the food prepared the previous night, and before any signs of daylight appeared. Captain Ben was on the alert with the first streaks of dawn. Ascending a high rock near at hand he began to sweep the whole mesa with his field-glass. It was not long before he signaled his men that the five Apaches had come out of the grove and were on their trail, riding northward across the mesa on a gallop. He saw them puzzle at the creek for a short

AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.         185

time, two going up and two down the stream. As he expected, the two downstream signaled to the fifth, who had been left standing at the ford, and soon they were all examining the strange trail. Plainly it did not take them long to arrive at a conclusion, for they all moved off together on the trails left by the muffled animals. Presently one of them found a lost hoof muffler, and, after holding it aloft for a moment, tossed it high in the air in derision. Crouching low upon the rock, the captain watched the advancing Indians until they galloped down into the big arroyo. Then he clambered down and found his men stretched lazily upon their backs behind the impromptu breastworks.

            "Get up, boys," he said, "and stretch the kinks out of your arms and legs; it's time for business. They are dashing in here like a pack of fools, and won't be satisfied until they get hurt."

            Knowing the bad effects of a long suspense, the captain had purposely withheld the news until the moment for action was near. Nordine and Colrick took up their rifles and held themselves in readiness, Captain Ben placing himself at a loophole between the two. They had not long to wait. Shortly the five braves rounded a bend of the cañon and rode carelessly and slowly up its now steep bed; some of them were even talking and laughing. When they came in sight of the sack of flour they pulled up, craning their necks and pointing and jabbering. At last one of them ventured to ride ahead and investigate, and, on reaching the sack, he laughed heartily and shouted out to his companions, "Eccahn!" (flour). At this all hands took up the cry, and were soon bunched around the sack, talking rapidly, each speaker ending with a wave of the hand toward the head of the cañon; this was as much as to say that those who had thrown away their flour had fled over the mountains. Although the Indians presented fair marks, Captain Ben whispered to his men to hold back.

            It soon became evident that the Apaches could not leave the flour behind. They took a blanket off one of the horses, and two of them began to roll the bursted sack in it, another throwing them a few feet of small rope.

            "Now, Dick," said Captain Ben, "your man ties the rope; Burt, yours is beside him on the ground. Keep them covered, and when I fire, turn loose. My chance is when I get two of them in range."

            A moment later Captain Ben fired, and the reports of the guns of his companions instantly followed. The captain's shot killed one Indian and dropped the horse of another. One of the dismounted Indians was also killed, and both loose horses turned and stampeded down the cañon. The three left alive were for a moment bewildered, and looked about in every direction but the right one to discover whence had come the shots.

            "Now it is three against three," said Captain Ben. "Give them some more."

            Again the three rifles cracked, and another pony fell.

            The survivors now caught sight of the barricade, and immediately began to return fire briskly with their Winchesters. The Indian to whom a horse still remained dismounted, and all three sheltered themselves behind it.

            "Colrick," cried the captain, "knock over that pony. Dick and I will pepper the fellows behind it if they show their heads."

            Colrick accomplished this by a well-directed shot, and thus left the three Indians exposed. But almost in a twinkling they dragged two of the dead ponies, piled them across the body of the third, and were safely ensconced behind the breastworks thus formed, notwithstanding the bullets the captain and Nordine had sent whistling about them while they were at work.

            The Apaches now being almost as well sheltered as the whites, the firing on both sides became more cautious and less rapid. It was very soon seen that under proper shelter the Indians were cool, keen-sighted, and very dangerous riflemen. They seemed able to see into the very port-holes of the stone breastworks: a proof of this was the fact that Colrick had soon lost a piece of an ear, and Captain Denton a bunch of hair with a little bit of scalp attached.

            "This is all foolishness," said the captain. "This sort of duel just suits those fellows, but we can't afford to gratify them in it. We must put a stop to their fun before one of us gets hurt."

186      AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.

            "How can we do it, Cap?" asked Colrick.

            "Easily enough," answered Captain Ben; "and we may as well end the business at once. Nordine, slip out of this, circle round the head of the cañon and take shelter among the rocks on the south side, while Colrick and I keep up the fire in front. Make your first shot from the rear count, Nordine, for the crack of your rifle on that side of the cañon will bring the fight to a focus."

            In a moment Nordine was worming his way among the rocks on his errand. The firing on neither side was rapid nor regular; it was more of a game of close watching for opportunities than of shooting. Captain Ben recognized this fact, and in a moment or two after Nordine had left the breastwork, he said:

            "Colrick, I can keep up appearances and do all the firing here, so you may make your way among the rocks and get into the cañon below. When Nordine shoots, those left alive will make a break down the cañon. After your first shot drop your rifle and use your revolver. I will only use my Winchester once, and then dash down after those fellows with my six-shooter; so you'll not have all the fun to yourself."

            "But, Cap, suppose the fellers run up the cañon when Nordine opens fire to the rear?" questioned Colrick.

            "They'll not do it. They'll break down the cañon; there are two loose ponies down there, you know."

            "You're right, Cap; here goes for it."

            "Drop in at the first bend of the cañon, and keep out of sight," whispered Captain Ben as Colrick began creeping away behind the reefs of rock. Then the captain began to fire several shots in rapid succession in order to keep the Indians amused, after which he resumed his former cautious firing, in the expectation, each moment, of hearing the crack of Nordine's rifle.

            Presently, the awaited report came, and the three Indians sprang up from behind the dead ponies, one to fall backward upon the ground almost instantly. Taken by surprise, the two remaining turned and cast their eyes up toward the rocky south wall of the cañon. They stood thus exposed for the winking of an eye, but that was sufficient for the captain. There was a puff of smoke from behind the rocky breastwork, and one of them pitched forward and fell with his face to the ground. The other at once bounded away down the cañon.

            Captain Denton gave a shrill, peculiar yelp for a signal to Colrick, and, dropping his rifle, jumped to the rocks below and made his way to the bottom. He had run but a few yards when he heard Colrick's shot, and in another minute the Indian came dashing up the cañon with his right arm dangling. Seeing the captain running toward him, his revolver in readiness, the wounded brave took to the rocks. Unfortunately for himself, however, he chose the south wall of the cañon; he scaled the rocks with the agility of a mountain-sheep, making good use of his legs, though crippled in an arm, while both Colrick and the captain peppered him.

            "Nordine!" shouted Captain Ben, in a voice to awaken the dead.

            The answer was the crack of a rifle well up on the south wall and the fleeing Indian tumbled backward. The fight was over and not a single one of the Apache band remained alive.

IV.

TO THE VICTORS BELONG THE SPOILS.

            Being now masters of the field, our prospectors had time for a critical examination of their fallen foes. They proved to be well-built and powerful men, only one above middle age. The oldest of the party appeared about fifty-five, and was, undoubtedly, a chief, as he wore a buckskin helmet beautifully beaded and surmounted with three eagle feathers. He had been killed at the first fire. Two others also wore buckskin helmets and were probably braves and "medicine-men," as the backs of their helmets were made of the tanned skins of the tails of horses, so sewed in that the long, black hair would quite cover the back and shoulders of the wearer. The chief's helmet, however, had a shorter fringe of this black hair at the back and sides, and was, apparently, the mane of a horse. All wore bracelets of buckskin hung with shells and small gold and silver coins. Their moccasins (inday-bekay), of buckskin

AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.         187

Drawn by Frederic Remington.

SEARCHING THE SLAIN.

handsomely ornamented, were the kind that, in the shape of leggings, reach to the knees, as a protection against cacti and thorns. The shirts of some were of the same material, fringed and covered with beadwork, small shells, and porcupine quills dyed in several bright colors. Everything showed the party to be men of note. Their clothing and blankets were new and clean. Inside the shirt of one of those who wore horsetail helmets was found a beautiful "medicine-wand," about two feet long, decorated with colored feathers, shells, and the skins of lizards of brilliant hue. Two of the party also wore necklaces of bears' claws, puma teeth, and shells.

            While these articles of dress and ornament were being examined, Captain Ben suddenly exclaimed:

            "I have just thought of a good dodge, boys. Here we have the means of disguising ourselves as a party of high-up Apaches—a big chief and two first-class 'medicine-men!' And I know how to work the scheme of our being out on a 'secret medicine mission' to some distant branch of the tribe. We are not yet out of the Indian country, and the beauty of a 'medicine mission' is that no Apache dare approach the party composing it when he is waved back, and the sign of the mission and that of the branch tribe to which it is going is given. Here we have the dresses, the 'medicine-stick,' and all else required, and at the sign language I am equal to any Apache in the country. I have practised it among a dozen different tribes."

            "Just the racket!" cried Nordine.

            "You take the chief's outfit, and we'll do the medicine fellows. What do you say, Burt?"

            "Oh, I'm in for it. I've always had a sorter sneakin' notion for Injun finery, and here's a chance to come out in grand style."

            "Well, pick out the best and finest shirts, moccasins, ornaments, and everything else. We'll take all their ammunition, and hide their Winchesters and other weapons," said the captain.

            "What! Why, Cap!" cried Nordine, who was stripping a beautiful buckskin shirt off one of the bodies. "Why, by the Lord Harry! If this fellow hain't got

188      AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.

a regular money-belt around his waist—see!"

            "Take it off," said the captain.

            In a second the belt was off and opened, when, to the astonishment of all, it was found to be stuffed with greenbacks—and nearly all one hundred dollar bills.

            "Something worth fighting for!" cried Captain Ben.

            "Here's another belt on this one!" exclaimed Colrick.

            The other bodies were quickly examined, and on all were found either belts or Indian made pouches replete with bills of high denominations. Then Nordine went off to search the Apache he had shot up on the south wall, and soon came back with a fifth well-filled belt. "Well, this beats the devil!" cried the captain. "How do yer account for the Injuns being so loaded with money, Cap?" asked Nordine.

            "Robbery and murder," replied the captain. "These fellows were the head men of a big war party on a grand raid. They've probably killed one or two cattle kings, a government paymaster, a big mining operator, and captured a mail-coach or two. These fellows whose accounts we've just settled constituted themselves treasurers of all the money captured on the raid. They were too sharp to let the common bucks fool away that which, if spent judiciously, would buy a vast deal of ammunition and other needed supplies. We've got to clear out of this whole section now as soon as possible, because their war party can't be very far away. They're probably camped not many miles west of this range. If the five braves do not return at the time appointed, the whole party will be over here, red hot."

            "What d'ye s'pose brought the five big ones up this way, Cap?" inquired Nordine.

            "Well, I think they were on the way to cache their money in some cavern or hole known to them in these cliffs. When we turned up they decided to take us in, and cache all their plunder at one time. It is likely they were to be absent only a night, and so it won't do to settle down here alongside their dead bodies. You fellows go up the ravine and bring down our stock, and be spry about it."

            The men were soon back with the animals, and loaded the mule and all the horses with the spoils of war, not forgetting the sack of flour, which was found wrapped in a valuable Navajo blanket. The party then moved down the big arroyo on a brisk walk; it was impossible to go fast, cumbered as they were with the plunder. A hiding-place for the Winchesters and other weapons of the Indians was discovered after about half a mile, and, thus lightened, they were able to proceed at a trot. Presently Nordine ventured to ask:

            "Where are we striking for now, Cap?"

            "There are a good many reasons for going back to the creek. Not to the grove where our camp was, but to the little one where the Apaches put up—their last on this side of the 'happy hunting-grounds.' We'll find the two loose Indian ponies down there, and we want them now. What we ought to do is to start north at once; in stopping another night on the creek I am letting love of ease take the place of good judgment, but we'll risk it to-night, though we rue it to-morrow."

            "We'll go on your judgment, Cap," said Nordine.

            "Not my judgment, but my laziness."

            "Well," said Colrick, "we'll trust you, Cap, in any shape. Perhaps we ain't worth much at headwork, but when it comes to fighting—that's different."

            Captain Denton went to the small grove for better reasons than he gave. He left the larger and more attractive camping place to be occupied by any band of Indians that might happen along toward evening, taking for his camp a patch of brushwood hardly noticeable, and so situated as to be hidden from view, except to one in top of the largest tree in the upper grove.

            The two escaped horses proved to be Mexican mustangs, and equal in size and beauty to their own mounts. Evidently, they had been stolen from whites, because, after the other animals were picketed, they came up and allowed themselves to be handled.

            A hasty meal was then despatched, and the captain settled down to the task of counting the contents of the five belts. His manner, as he proceeded, first betok-

AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.         189

ened surprise, and then wonder Finally, he asked the men to guess at the amount. Colrick thought it might be three thousand dollars, and Nordine four thousand five hundred. The captain, in reply, began taking up the belts.

            "This," he said, "contains six thousand five hundred dollars; this, nine thousand dollars; this, five thousand dollars; this, four thousand dollars. That makes twenty-nine thousand dollars, boys, doesn't it?"

            This seemed to them something fabulous. The captain handed them his notebook, and they went over his figures again and again before they were convinced, and even then they feared he had made a mistake in counting the bills.

            "If I had known this before," said the captain, "I would not have come back here; I would have pushed north all night long. So much money makes a man cowardly. I have a presentiment that we are going to have trouble—we have had just a little too much good luck. Now, for fear of accidents, I shall divide this money into three equal lots."

            The men wanted to take five thousand dollars each, but Captain Ben would not hear of it, and each received equal portions, one-third of the whole. This matter settled, the other work to be done proceeded rapidly. They were all soon clean-shaven, and, having made a decoction of two or three kinds of bark, they stained their hands and faces a good and durable Apache color. When they had donned their Indian dress, they would have passed in any frontier town as genuine braves. Captain Ben made a noble-looking chief in his eagle-plumed helmet and beaded and fringed skirt, and Colrick was prouder than any Apache dandy in the Sierra Madre. He was now given instructions by the captain upon several points of his new role of chief medicine-man.

            The clothing they had discarded was made into convenient bundles, and everything put in preparation for an early start in the morning. As the saddles found on the mustangs were of Mexican make, and new, it was decided to retain them, as bundles of clothing and other light articles could be easily packed on top of them, and firmly bound in place by lashing blankets over all. All the necessary work was finished before sunset. The captain closely examined the large grove, and, finding it unoccupied, seemed again at ease in mind; nevertheless, he led his men away in the dark to an insignificant patch of willows standing alone a hundred yards down the creek, where all quietly rolled themselves in their blankets and were soon sound asleep.

V.

IN THE HANDS OF MEXICAN SOLDIERS.

            With the first gray streaks of dawn of the coming day Captain Denton and his companions were astir. After making a hearty breakfast, they packed the mules and the newly acquired mustangs, mounted their horses and set out, just as the sun was peeping over the top of the eastern range. They moved directly up the creek, past the upper grove, and thence struck northward across the mesa toward the ford from which they had turned back two nights before. It was a bright and beautiful morning, and they moved gaily forward, discussing their luck in the capture of so great a sum of money—an amount that would give to each a small fortune.

            "But," said Captain Ben, "when we reach the settlement we must make some inquiry to find out the names of those from whom it was taken."

            "I s'pose that would be the right thing to do," said Nordine. "Still, after sich a big fight as we've had, it'll be kinder hard to give it up."

            "I reckon we'll be allowed decent wages for recoverin' a stack of that size, if them as proves property don't happen to be a set of miserable skinflints," remarked Colrick.

            "In regard to that," said Captain Ben, "we must again trust to luck; besides, we are not yet out of the Indian country, and there is many a slip between cup and lip in the Sierra Madre."

            The captain turned on his saddle and glanced back toward his companions, who were following in Indian file, and as he sat thus they could see his expression suddenly change.

            "By Jove, look yonder!" and he pointed back toward the low ridge on the

190      AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.

south border of the mesa, and at that identical ridge on the crest of which they had stood a few days before, watching the ravens.

            "Them fellers looks like soldiers of some kind," said Colrick. "They ain't no Injuns, that's sure."

            "No, but about as bad," said the captain, who had his field-glass upon the party. "They're a squad of infernal greaser soldiers!"

            "They've spotted us, and are a-comin' for us like mad," cried Nordine. "They take us for Injuns."

            "Sure enough," exlaimed the captain, "I had almost forgotten our disguise. In this case it is a bad one for us. We'll have to let them know we are Americans, or they will soon be firing at us. Nothing could possibly be worse for us than this rig—it will place us in their power almost completely, and give them a chance to accuse us of being out on a robbing expedition. They have us in a bad box, that's sure."

            "Twelve of 'em," said Nordine, ruefully.

            "A hundred would be no worse," said the captain. "We must mail them a letter, and then fall back out of range to await developments."

            "Mail them a letter!" exclaimed Colrick, in surprise.

            In reply, Captain Ben tore a blank leaf from his note-book and wrote: "Nos tres buenos Americanos. Todo mascarada identico Indiano."

            This note was pinned to a white handkerchief, and, riding to a bunch of yuccas, Captain Ben fastened it to a branch that extended out like an arm. Then, waving his feathered helmet to the advancing troop of Mexicans, he rejoined his companions, and they all rode on some distance, where they halted and faced about.

            "Now," said the captain, "remember that not a man of us understands more than a few very common Spanish words. The note is written in such mongrel jumble that they will never guess I understand their language. Literally it reads: 'We three good Americans, all masquerade same Indians.'

            "They're goin' for the letter," said Nordine.

            "I hope there's a man among them with a sense enough to know what it means," Captain Ben replied.

            The troopers appeared to puzzle over the note for a time, and then advanced a few yards. They placed the handkerchief on a musket and held it aloft as a flag of truce. Captain Denton and his companions instantly and fearlessly went forward. The captain shook hands with the lieutenant in charge, crying heartily over and over again, "Buenos dias, señor!" slapping himself on the chest, and saying impressively, "Un Amigo."

            It seemed, indeed, quite superfluous to ask the captain if he spoke Spanish, but out of politeness the lieutenant did ask, "Habla Español, senor?"

            "Un poco bueno no mas sabe," said the captain, smiling serenely.

            "De donde viene usted?" inquired the lieutenant.

            "Como, senor?" said Captain Ben, looking puzzled, "Que es esto?" "Clearly he understands nothing," said the lieutenant to a man near him. "We must have an interpreter. Manuel Otero!"

            A soldier stepped forward: he spoke English fairly well, and Captain Ben was asked to give an account of himself and his companions. With the exception of the greenbacks, he told the truth, and explained fully their object in disguising themselves.

            The lieutenant was very polite, and lauded their courage in attacking and killing so strong a party of Apache braves. Then he asked the captain to guide him to the spot where the Indians had been killed. The captain replied that he could direct them so that they could not miss the bodies. But the Mexican pointed out that to find a party thus masquerading was a somewhat suspicious circumstance; that it seemed almost incredible that three men should be able to overcome five leading Apache braves, and, therefore, they must excuse him for asking them to go with him.

            "You will understand," said he, "that I am obliged to trouble you, because you are strangers to me. I do not doubt your ability to substantiate your story, but I have to perform my duty faithfully toward my government, and, therefore, must make no mistakes. Besides, it will be only a little out of your direct route."

AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.         191

Drawn by Frederic Remington.

THE APPROACHING SQUADRON.

192      AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.

            Seeing there was no help for it, Captain Ben said to the interpreter: "Tell him I will guide him to where the bodies lie, with the greatest of pleasure."

            On hearing this, the lieutenant smiled pleasantly, and, turning to one near him, said in Spanish, and in a low tone:

            "They really have killed the Indians. Would that we knew whether they had found any of the American money."

            The man said, in reply:

            "We were on the track; if the money cannot be found on the bodies, then these men have it. Why not ask them at once if they have the money? Manuel can explain how it was lost."

            "It would be of little use," replied the lieutenant, "they would deny it. However, Manuel may tell them why we are out in pursuit of the Indians, and meantime we can watch their faces."

            Not a word of this was lost to Captain Ben, who was seemingly absorbed in telling Manuel the particulars of the fight of the previous day.

            In giving his instructions to Manuel, the lieutenant cautioned him to be careful to use the word "traders" instead of "smugglers." The latter then turned to the captain and said:

            "We are searching for a war party of Apaches who have murdered and robbed several traders, on Mexican soil, who were returning from a trip over the border. Besides much valuable property, over thirty thousand dollars of United States money was taken from them."

            "Money!" cried Captain Ben. "Who would think of the Apaches having money?"

            "I told you they would deny finding it," said the officer to the man to whom he had been talking.

            Still, the readiness of Captain Ben to show them the bodies puzzled the lieutenant. He once more became very polite, and assured the captain repeatedly that he need not fear being placed under any restraint, and thanked him again for his kindness in consenting to guide them to the scene of the fight. To each of these protestations the captain answered:

            "Gracias, gracias, señor comandante!"

            The united parties were soon on their way across the mesa. They moved in no order. Manuel Otero, the interpreter, rode with Captain Ben, and just in front of them the Mexican lieutenant and one or two of his chums; Nordine and Colrick brought up the rear, the latter leading the pack-animals, which he had tied together in a string. The captain, while he was drawing from the interpreter the details of the robbery, kept his ears open to catch the conversation of the lieutenant and his two companions. It appeared from what the interpreter said that a party of ten traders had been murdered; but he dwelt particularly on the theft of the money. When the captain bluntly said that such a rich and successful body of traders must have been smugglers, the soldier smiled knowingly and remarked:

            "Our pay is very little from the government, and we should fare but badly if we did not pick up something from friends along the border. If we could recover this American money it would be so much clear gain to us."

            This information, and much more that was similar, was not without its significance to the captain, and would have brought the interpreter a slap from the sword of his lieutenant, had that officer known of his indiscretion. In the meantime, the plottings of the officer and his two companions had not escaped the captain. These worthies had decided between them to put him and his two men out of the way, if no money were found upon the dead Apaches.

            "They are in Indian dress, and will count as Indians," they said.

            The plan was to accuse them of being concerned in the robbery, disguised as Indians, and to tell them that they must submit to be taken back to Mexico as prisoners for trial; then to shoot them down as soon as they were bound, and to leave their bodies with those of the Apaches. All this was so coolly designed that Captain Denton could hardly believe his ears as he looked upon the smiling faces that were turned back to him from time to time.

            When the arroyo was reached the captain told Manuel Otero to ask the lieutenant to halt for a moment. He told the officer, through the interpreter, that he had reason to believe that there were still other Apaches in the neighborhood, and that therefore it would be well to proceed

AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.         193

cautiously up the arroyo, and to put the greater number of his men ahead of the pack-animals. The lieutenant smilingly assented, but at the same time his face wore a perplexed look, as though he were trying to fathom any trick that might be in the captain's mind. However, upon entering the arroyo, he took the lead with eight of his men, and Manuel and another soldier were left to ride beside the captain and Nordine. The soldier in charge of the pack-animals of the detachment remained in the rear with Colrick. Although he pretended to comply with Captain Denton's advice, it was evident that the lieutenant intended to keep the three Americans pretty well under guard. He genially asked the captain if the order of march was satisfactory to him; to this Captain Denton replied:

            "Perfectly so."

            While the men were being shifted to their places, the captain found an opportunity to whisper to Nordine: "When I shoot the man next me and give the Apache war-whoop, follow suit with your man, and then go for the rocks and make for the ravine where we had our horses concealed."

            Nordine replied by a slight nod. In a few minutes the captain told Manuel that, as he was thirsty, he would go back to the pack-animals for a canteen of water. The unsuspecting soldier said that he, too, was thirsty. Thus, in getting the canteen, the captain was enabled to give Colrick the same order he had passed to Nordine.

            Then Captain Denton assumed a careless air and began to joke with Manuel concerning the profit in watching smugglers, and said he had a notion to join the army and go into the business on the American side. The soldier thought him more than half in earnest and assured him that no little money would fall into his hands.

VI.

AN AMBUSCADE—THE MEXICANS IN A HORNET'S NEST.

            Nordine and Colrick, though ignorant of the treacherous plot of the Mexicans, were far from being at ease. They had more fear of the loss of the wealth they carried than of their lives, and both determined to obey the captain's orders to

Drawn by Frederic Remington.

THE MEETING WITH THE UNITED STATES CAVALRY.

194      AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.

the letter. And when the captain, with a meaning look, carelessly drew his finger across his throat, they needed no more to assure them of the fate in store for them, and as they passed from the arroyo of the mesa to the cañon of the mountains and drew near to the scene of their battle with the Apaches, each managed to loosen his revolver in its scabbard.

            Presently they rounded a bend in the cañon. Captain Ben saw that the lieutenant and his men were nearing the spot where the dead Indians and ponies lay; glancing at Nordine and Colrick, he noted that they were both close to their men. Then he turned to Manuel, whose attention he called to an object on a high rock on the north side of the cañon, and asked him if it were not the head of an "Indiano." Manuel looked, as also did Nordine's guard, when he heard the word "Indiano." An instant later, while both were still gazing up at the rock, two revolvers cracked almost simultaneously, and Manuel and his Mexican comrade fell to the ground with bullets through their hearts. At the same moment Colrick fired upon his man, breaking his right arm, but not bringing him down. All three raised the Apache war-cry, and, to their astonishment, it was echoed by more than a score of wild voices up the cañon, accompanied by the sharp crack of as many rifles. The yells of the Mexican soldiers could also be heard mingling with the reports of their muskets.

            As the Mexican wounded by Colrick was trying to pass the captain and Nordine, they brought him down with their revolvers, and then, with the Apache war-cry, stampeded his horse and pack-animals up the cañon, to add to the confusion of the soldiers, into whose midst the riderless horses had already charged.

            "Keep up the yell!" cried Captain Denton. "It will encourage the Apaches, and prevent the Mexicans from falling back on us."

            The firing up the cañon was almost incessant, and, with the yells of the combatants the place was a very pandemonium. Wafted by a gentle western breeze, the smoke of the battle filled and almost darkened the cañon.

            "Now is our time, boys, to slip away and get out of this patch of country!" shouted Captain Denton. "Cut loose down the cañon, Colrick, but don't go faster than a trot, and hang on to the pack-animals. There is not such hurry that we need leave them behind."

            In a moment, all had rounded the bend and were out of sight, even though a puff of wind had cleared the cañon of smoke.

            When our party reached the level of the mesa, they left the arroyo.

            "We must keep close in against the mountains," said Captain Ben, "because the Apaches have a lookout up there somewhere on the rock, and they are sweeping every part of the mesa. They never set a trap to fall into it themselves; besides, they very naturally fear that the squad of Mexicans they are fighting are merely scouts sent out by a larger force that is after them. If we keep close in along the base of the range, we shall get away without being seen by their lookouts."

            "Was that a lookout you pointed out to Manuel, Cap?" asked Nordine.

            "No, it was nothing but a bit of rock. Poor Manuel! Poor devil! It was like murder to place my pistol against his side and blow his simple heart out. But all the chances were against us then, and it had to be done. If the Apaches had only opened fire an instant sooner, I might have seen my way to letting him live."

            "Mighty little good it would have done the feller; he would have been dropped the next minute by the Injuns. I don't feel sorry about my rascal. He wore a murderous mug," said Nordine.

            "Hark!" cried Colrick, who had fallen to the rear with his string of animals on getting out of the arroyo. "Hark, they are still banging up there on the mountain."

            "Yes, but the firing is less rapid now," said the captain. "They are beginning to get down to business. The Mexicans have enough horses and packs to build a good fort, but the Apaches will wipe them out—they have the advantage of the rocks on both sides of the cañon."

            "I'll bet thar's a lot of 'em behind our old breastworks," said Nordine.

            "Those Apaches were coming for us, too," said the captain, "and they would have got us if the Mexicans had not happened along. When they saw us leave

AN INDIAN STORY OF THE SIERRA MADRE.         195

the mesa and enter the arroyo they prepared their ambuscade."

            "Wonder what they thought when they seed us three Indians with the greasers?" queried Nordine.

            "They knew the caps and clothing we have on, and thought we were Mexicans who had been concerned in killing their friends, but after hearing us utter the Apache war-cry, and seeing us slaughter the greasers, they undoubtedly believe that we were the ghosts of their braves helping them, and no one will ever be able to make them think differently."

            "See what a cloud of smoke there is up there," cried Colrick. "They are still bangin' away."

            "Two hours hence," said the captain, "not a Mexican will be left alive." "Good riddance!" replied Nordine, heartily.

            The captain then told his companions of the plot laid by the Mexicans. He pointed out that they were at liberty to keep the money that they had captured, since it had been taken from unknown Mexican smugglers killed by the Apaches. At this the delight of Nordine and Colrick knew no bounds; never before in his life had either possessed, at one time, the fifth part of such a sum as he now had belted on his body.

            They were drawing near, for the third time, to the ford at the northern extremity of the mesa. The captain was still far from at ease, however, while Nordine and Colrick were guessing as to how they were finally to get out of this country, when they perceived, rising at full gallop over the edge of a sand hillock, the blue coats and broad hats of a detachment of United States cavalry.

            Very little remains to be told. How the same manoeuvers were gone through as with the Mexicans, and how, on drawing near, Captain Ben recognized in the captain of the troop an old friend of his scouting days. How they revisited the cañon, where nothing was left to tell the tale of the battle but dead bodies. Under the escort of the cavalry they finally crossed the creek.

            Once on the other side, they fell upon a well-worn trail and pushed northward as rapidly as possible. At their first night's camping they changed their Indian dress for their old clothes, and, in a few days, without further mishap of any kind, they arrived safe and sound in Lordsburgh, on the Southern Pacific railroad.

            Not before two or three days were Nordine and Colrick able to realize that they were secure in the possession of the money. They were thereby cured of all desire for further adventure in the wilds. It was Captain Ben Denton's opinion that they had earned a right to peace and quiet for the remainder of their days, and as soon as they had disposed of their "spoils of war," they pushed on to California. Once there, Captain Ben purchased two fine adjoining ranches, one for each.

            As for the captain, he deposited his money in a San Francisco bank, and after a few weeks of rest, struck out for Montana, and once more roamed and prospected over his old scouting trails and battle-grounds. He was in the thick of the "Indian trouble" at Pine Ridge and Wounded Knee, and did good service as a scout and bearer of despatches. But among the Indians there he was more at home than he could claim to be with those of the Sierra Madre.