[Dan De Quille, Chief Geronimo, Daily Alta California, 21 September 1885]

 

DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1885. 2

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CHIEF GERONIMO

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A Strange Adventure in the Sierra Madre Mountains.

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CAPTURED BY THE APACHES

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A Ride For Life — Humorous Characteristics of the Indian — Arrival of the Great Chief and the Captive Set Free.

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[WRITTEN FOR THE ALTA BY DAN DE QUILLE.]

            At the rooms of the Washoe Club, in Virginia City, Nevada, not long since, a member read aloud the following brief paragraph :

            Tucson, A. T., September 4th. — News comes from Guadalupe Cañon, Sonora, that Geronimo is dead, and that the remaining Apaches are anxious to surrender.

            " What !" cried John Mendez, an old prospector who had ranged the Pacific from Alaska to New Granada ; " what, Geronimo dead ?"

            " Did you ever encounter him ?" asked the man who had read the paragraph.

            " Once or twice in my life," said Mendez, " and I shall never forget him till my dying day."

            This excited the curiosity of all present, and Mendez was asked to relate the circumstances of his meeting with the renowned Apache Chief. "It is a long story," said the old prospector, " but it is a strange one, and if yon really wish to know how and where I met with old Geronimo, I will tell you all about it. It was really quite an adventure."

            All in the room expressed a desire to hear the story, which Mendez proceeded to relate, as follows:

CAPTURED BY APACHES.

            Several years ago I was engaged in mining and prospecting down in New Mexico and had with me a partner named Jacob Drake, a Texan and a true mountaineer. We had rambled down into the Sierra del Perra and Sierra de la Hatchet ranges of the Sierra Madre Mountains, almost through into the borders of Old Mexico.

            In the Sierra de la Hatchet Mountains we finally reached what had the appearance of a great mining region, but there was very little water and no grass for our animals. Across, in a range to the eastward, called the Sierra Grande, we had seen, while on our way down, a promising mineral belt, near which there was an abundance of both grass and water. Not being satisfied with what we had been able to do in the Sierra de la Hatchet, I prevailed upon Drake to take our animals and strike across the plain to the Sierra Grande, leaving me to prospect for four or five days longer, when I would join him at a certain point. As this arrangement would leave me dismounted, Drake stoutly argued against it for some time, but finally gave in when I represented that I could at any time reach him in less than a day, for he well knew the benefit our animals would derive from a few days' rest in a spot where there was plenty of feed and good water. As for Indians, we had seen no " sign" of any for several days, therefore thought very little about trouble from that source, for we well knew that one or two men might safely range about in the mountains in places where a large party would not dare venture.

            I remained in the Sierra de la Hatchet and prospected for four days, when I became satisfied that none of the many quartz veins in the range were just what I wanted to find. On the morning of the fifth day I filled my canteen with water and set out for the Sierra Grande, to join Drake.

            After getting down out of the mountains, I had to strike across a portion of the great elevated plain known as the " Plateau of the Sierra Madre." I had not traveled five miles in this comparatively level region before a party of nine mounted Apache braves swept round the point of a low range of hills and swooped down upon me. As soon as I saw the Indians coming, I made up my mind that resistance would be useless, and as they approached I halted, laid down my Winchester and held up my hands.

TAKEN PRISONER.

            When the band of braves were within about three hundred yards of me they halted, and their leader motioned me to move away from my gun. They had already learned the " unwholesome " effects of American long-range rifles. I obeyed, walking away about thirty paces. The Indians then came on. One of their number dismounted to secure my rifle, when all rode up to me. They came up laughing. This hilarity rather astonished me. One of their number, however, who spoke very fair English, for an Indian, said in effect that they were all amused at seeing how quickly I had taken in and accepted the situation. He said : " You do right. No use make trouble when no can help yourself." He then said : " Why not got pony?" Said I: "Pony gone—lost!" "I guess," said the fellow, laughing, "you let Injun steal um." I made no reply.

            The Indians then exchanged a few words among themselves, when the interpreter turned to me and asked : " You walk pretty good ?'' I answered in the affirmative. "All right," said he, "come 'long us, no hurt you."

            The band then divided into two parties, between which I was made to trot along. The brave who spoke English, and who bore, as I afterwards learned, the Spanish name of Perrillo, or Little Dog, was of the leading party, and occasionally turned to tell me, " No got far to go," and once or twice gave me fresh water from his wickerwork bottle. After traveling about fifteen miles the party turned into the mouth of a cañon, which put down from a spur that made south from the Sierra Grande range. At a spring in this cañon we found three more Indians, with five or six horses. After a short rest, I was mounted upon a pony and we skirted the mountains at a brisk gait until sunset, when we entered a deep gorge. Traveling up this a short distance, we came upon a spring and a small patch of grass land, where were two more Indians, with three horses. As near as I could judge this place was somewhere to the eastward of the Carrazilla Springs. As soon as it was dark I was bound hand and foot, and then saw, from other preparations, that we were to pass the night in the gorge.

            We were up and off next morning at break of day. We traveled eastward, skirting the north side of the Sierra Grande range, and a little after noon came to a small creek that flowed out of a deep cañon walled in by rocks of great height. Moving up this cañon about half a mile we came to a beautiful little valley, in which was an encampment of about sixty Indians, of all ages, sexes and conditions— of paint and raggedness. All in the camp set up a great shout when they saw me being brought in as a prisoner. The leader of our party spoke to those who came crowding about, and at the conclusion of his talk old and young began laughing very heartily. Although confident that the laugh was at my expense, I can assure you that I was glad to be received with a laugh and not a howl.

JOINING IN THE LAUGH.

            Encouraged by my hilarious reception, I determined to pretend to feel perfectly at home in the camp ; therefore, as a beginning, I set up a laugh with the rest. I did not consider my laugh a perfect success— was not wholly satisfied with it — bat as it started even the oldest and ugliest of the squaws off in a great guffaw, I felt that my cachinatory venture had not fallen into barren soil. Ill at ease as I was, I observed among the younger squaws a curious kind of bashfulness. Although many of them were the mothers of several papooses, yet they put their hands over their faces when they laughed, acting more like timid children than grown women.

            I ate the dirty messes cooked by the squaws with as many signs of satisfaction and relish as I could muster, and presently, when I saw boys shooting at a mark with bows and arrows, I took a bow from one of them and beat them all at their own game. The boys seemed delighted and astonished at seeing a white man shoot so well. Even the elders granted applause. They evidently thought that I did the shooting without previous practice, whereas I had myself hunted game with the bow and arrow when a boy, and afterwards had frequently won prizes at archery meetings.

            After a brief consultation among themselves, some of the men challenged me, through Little Dog, to shoot at a mark with the rifle, and my Winchester was brought me. I concluded it would be best to let the man who had been selected to shoot against me win, but soon found that even when I did my best he could beat me. I was not sorry, as I might have bungled the business of playing myself off as a poor shot. My opponent was evidently greatly pleased with his victory, though he tried to conceal the fact.

LIFE AS A PRISONER.

            All was going on so finely that I was somewhat taken aback when, as the shades of night began to fall, two or three braves made their appearance with thongs, and seizing upon me bound me hand and foot. Little Dog said to me : " All very good, have some fun daytime, but no can let you run away nighttime. No ketch um white man everyday."

            That night there was a great jabbering about the council fire. .From where I lay I could see by the motions of the speakers that they were much in earnest about something, and was very sure that the pow-wow concerned me. However, in the morning about sunrise I was released, and was allowed to walk about the camp, within certain bounds, as on the previous day. No one appeared to pay much attention to me. Meanwhile small scouting parties were going out and coming in, and the usual business of the camp, as to outside matters, went on much as though I had not been present. The people who remained in the camp, however, occasionally gathered in groups, and jabbered earnestly, frequently turning their eyes upon me. From this I concluded that they were discussing my fate. As some of the old men and women occasionally spoke in loud and angry tones, I did not feel much encouraged : indeed, I feared I was to be burned at the stake, or tortured in some other horrible way. When night came, I was again tied neck and heels and again there was a pow-wow about the council fire — one that lasted far into the night. On account of so much consultation, I began to fear some unusual torture. I had several times tried to sound Little Dog, but he was not to be caught. " Who know what head men talk 'bout?" said he ; " mabbe 'bout trade pony ; mabbe 'bout move camp."

            The third morning, however, several of the leading braves gathered about me, and among them came Little Dog. He said to me : " You walk putty good ; how you ride? Ride um pony good?"

            My heart chilled at the words. As I looked at the braves and found all their glittering eyes fixed inquiringly upon me, I thought I saw it all. I was to be made to run the gauntlet on horseback. Composing and controlling my features as well as I could, I said I could not ride well — was not used to riding fast.

            " S'pose could ride fast few mile?" said Little Dog.

            " Yes, one or two miles," said I. " You going to give me a pony? " I asked, trying to look pleased. "Yes, give you nice pony; give you dam fine ride ! " said the fellow, grinning. How I did hunger to shoot him just then !

            After talking a short time in the Apache language with his brother braves, Little Dog turned to me and said: " S'pose might ride pooty fast few mile — five, six, ten?"

            " No, I can't ride fast two miles— not one mile," said I. " It hurts me here;" and I laid my hand over my heart.

            " Guess you make fool," said the fellow; " you no got heart-sick?''

            "Heart heap sick — mucho, mucho malo! " cried I earnestly, when I saw that the man had some notion of heart disease.

            " Guess, anyhow, will have take little ride today," said Little Dog, impatiently, and he turned and walked away with those who had come with him.

RIDING THE " GAUNTLET."

            Little Dog and my other interviewers were soon joined by other Indians, when a talk ensued, that lasted nearly an hour, being interrupted by the coming in and reporting of one or two small scouting parties. Finally the talk ended and a loud shooting of orders began, when the whole camp was soon in commotion. Ponies were caught up and mounted by both young and old — men, women and children.

            I at first thought we were about to break up camp, but as the motley crowd began to move down the cañon the "Capitan" shouted out an order, and about a dozen young men scattered and proceeded to take up positions as pickets on the hilltops that overlooked the wide range of the Sierra Madre plain or plateau. At the beginning of this movement a sorry old nag was brought to me, and when I was mounted I was requested to move on down the cañon in the direction taken by the excited rabble, a brave riding on each side of me. I was sure there was to be a great show of some kind, and was not less sure that I was to be the principal attraction. I could see that the thoughts of all were centered upon me ; for as we passed slowly down the cañon, old and young frequently turned to look back at me. I also observed, with much concern, that all the young men carried with them their spears or lances.

            Finally we reached the plain and advanced to a circular place, covered with sand, that was smooth and level for a great distance in all directions. I observed that those in advance halted on reaching this spot, and sickened when I thought of it as the place where I was to undergo some unknown torture. When I rode up to the crowd on the plain, Little Dog came to me and told me to dismount. I obeyed and a young Indian led up to us one of the finest-looking ponies belonging to the band.

            "Him you ride," said Little Dog ; "s'pose you ride good, you all right." About twenty well-mounted young braves, all armed with lances, soon advanced and took up their position in line at a distance of fifty yards in front of the mounted rabble of men, women and children.

A RACE FOR LIFE.

            I needed no longer to bother myself with trying to guess what was in store for me. It was to be a race for life ! Little Dog and three other braves, one of whom led the fine pony I have mentioned, next marched me out in front of the line of young warriors. When we were out about 100 yards, Little Dog said : " Goin' to give you good start ; this much far as yon want ?"

            " Oh, no !" cried I, " this is no start at all with so many after me— and I am no rider !"

            " Guess you ride pooty good when yon don't want to got kill !" said Little Dog. " Never think of heart-sick when boys begin hollerin ! This pony you got run more fast than all rest."

            " But yon know I can't ride," said I ; " give me a better start." I would have straddled a streak of lightning at that moment without saddle or bridle.

            " Well, don't care," said Little Dog; "give yon hundred yard more. How that do? "    I said I supposed that I must be satisfied with it. "Yon think so?" said the "fellow. " Well, guess 'bout fifty yard all more you get," and moving on about thirty paces, he stopped and said : "This place you start."

            My gallant-looking pony was brought up to me, and his rope bridle was about being placed in my hands, when Little Dog waved back the hand of the young Indian who held the animal, then looking at me in a curious, quizzical way — a way I by no means liked— he said : " Mabbe you like take your gun 'long? S' pose you like, me send boy bring gun."

            Feeling that this was not honestly said, I made no reply, and with a grin, Little Dug said : " Well, s'pose you no take gun, me keep um." Then, taking the pony by the rope, he said : " Well, s'pose you ready for ride, jump on."  

            I advanced and was about to mount, when the fellow said : " Stop ; guess can't let you go that way. Got 'nother kind of rule 'bout it."

            The tone in which this was said struck upon my ear as my death knell. A few words were jabbered in Apache, when two men suddenly grasped me by the arms. A strip of cotton cloth was wound several times over my eyes and tied so tightly that it gave me pain. Not satisfied with this, a sack of some kind was drawn over my head and fastened below my arms with thongs. Finally, a thong fastened the sack about my neck, but not so as to interfere with my breathing.

            This done, I was lifted upon the back of the pony, and as soon as I was settled upon the rude Indian saddle my legs were tied under the animal's belly. I felt myself lost, and said to Little Dog: "Why not kill me right here? You give me no chance at all for my life."

            " Oh, yes, plenty chance," cried he. "No tie you hand ; got one best pony in camp — beat all rest." I said no more, feeling that talk was useless— would not save me.

            There was some talk in Apache, and Little Dog said to me, " Guess take bridle off ; no good for you. Much better you hold on pony mane."

            I grasped the mane of the pony and twisted it about my right hand, without deigning a reply.

            " Look out, now," said Little Dog, " goin' turn pony loose ! But guess let you get some more start. When you hear the boys begin hollerin' take care — then they comin' for you !" and as he concluded speaking he gave a wild yell and struck my pony on its rump with his open hand.

THE RACE BEGINS.

            The animal darted away at what appeared to me lightning speed, and it was not until I had been under way half a minute or more that the bedlam of savage yells burst forth from the troop of young lancers, telling me that the chase had begun. I then wound my left hand into the pony's mane and used my right in lieu of a whip. I felt that I was almost flying, yet wished to go still faster. I benumbed my fingers with beating the sides and flank of my pony, for the yelling troop seemed fast approaching.

            On and on I flew, and on came my pursuers. I listened intently, and not being able to perceive that my enemies were gaining upon me, I felt a faint gleam of hope. Suddenly, however, there burst forth just behind me three or four fierce yells, and I expected every moment to feel the thrust of a lance. I beat my pony, with my fists and yelled to excite him to strain every muscle of his limbs and body.     

            Presently I knew from the fainter sound of the yells of my pursuers that I was leaving them behind. My pony seemed to fly across the plain, and I would have given worlds to have been able to see in what direction I was going, but I dare not attempt to release myself from the complication of fastenings by which I was blindfolded. I could only urge my steed with fist and voice and fly on blindly, trusting to luck and the good sense of the animal, till I had so far distanced my pursuers as to venture to use my hands for the unmuffling of my head. On and on I sped for an hour or more, as it seemed, until I could only occasionally hear the yelling— far away— of the young fiends who were on my track.

A HORRIBLE FEAR.

            Presently, as I was thus rushing along, my pony made a great leap, as though in clearing a chasm several feet in width. " Where was he going?" I had hardly asked myself the question before he made several other leaps in quick succession. I thought I must be crossing ravines and gulches somewhere along the foot of the mountains. A new fear took possession of me, and I clung to the mane of my pony with both hands. At any moment I might be plunged over a precipice or tumbled into some great chasm. I could no longer hear even the faintest sound of pursuit. I concluded that my pony had passed through places so difficult and dangerous that the Indians feared to follow. Fear of precipices so possessed me that I ceased urging my pony, and I even began trying to halt him. I wished to free my eyes from their bandages, which I might do without losing much time could I have free use of both hands. While the pony was in motion I might be swung under his belly, should he make a leap when I was not on my guard.

            At last I could perceive that the gallant little animal was becoming exhausted. His speed was fast slackening. He seemed to be again in the plain, or at least somewhere on level ground. Again I exerted myself to bring him to a halt. By reaching far out along his mane, pulling now to the right and now to the left, and constantly calling to him, I finally brought him to a trot, to a walk, and soon to a dead stand.

            My first thought was of the pursuing savages, and I listened for their cries with such intentness that my ears seemed to erect themselves and vibrate like those of an animal. Not a shout could I hear. I tore the fastenings from the sack, pulled it off my head, and then, by hard work, succeeded in pushing the bandage up over my forehead.  

            My eyes were free, but at the first glance I cast about me I thought I had taken leave of my senses. There before me, drawn up in line on their ponies, with lances in hand, as I had last seen them, were the young warriors, and behind them was still huddled the rag-tag and bob-tail of the Indian camp. I rubbed my eyes and looked again and again to make sure that it was not all in my brain. My pony was panting at a frightful rate, and looking down I saw that he was foaming with sweat. On raising my eyes they fell upon what I had not at first observed. A mounted Indian, some twenty feet in advance of me, was holding in his hand a " riata " that was fastened to the rope bridle of my pony. His pony was also panting and reeking with sweat.

VICTIM OF A PRACTICAL JOKE.

            In an instant the whole game flashed through my mind. I had never been at liberty a single moment. The mounted Indian before me had led me round and round over a circular course about a mile in extent, the young warriors yelling behind me after I had passed them such a distance as to give me the impression that they were either gaining ground or falling behind, whereas they had never moved out of their tracks. The whole scheme entered my mind almost at a glance.

            As I gazed about, I found the eye of every Indian, old and young, was upon me, but not a word was spoken nor a movement made. They were studying and enjoying me. Indignation was my first emotion, but the next moment the ludicrousness of the part I had played took possession of me and I could not withhold a faint grin.

INDIAN HILARITY.

            The whole rapscallion pack saw in an instant that I at least comprehended the trick they had played me. Talk about Indians never laughing — about their having no appreciation of the humorous or ridiculous ! Such roars of laughter that went up from that gang I have never heard surpassed anywhere. Why, some of the old squaws actually got down off their ponies and rolled and tumbled in the sand ! I sat helpless on my panting pony under this explosion of merriment for full five minutes. When the laughter had somewhat subsided, Little Dog and another Indian came up and unfastened the thongs that bound my feet beneath the pony and I was helped to dismount. At first I could hardly stand, and anger again getting the best of me, I turned loose and cursed Little Dog and all his gang high and low. I kept this up until I saw it was affording all hands great amusement, when I gave it up. After I had somewhat cooled down, Little Dog said to me: " Pony run pooty good, eh? Young men no ketch um?" I made no answer.

            " How pony jump, eh? Jump well? " pursued the fellow.

            When he spoke of jumping my curiosity was aroused. I turned and surveyed the course around which I had just been so wildly flying and saw at once where the leaping came in. Still lying upon the ground, at the distance of from fifty to one hundred yards apart, were riatas and the blankets that had been suspended upon them. It was over these that my pony had bounded. The Indians watched the direction of my eyes and saw what was passing in my mind.

            " Pony jump many big cañon!" said Little Dog, and his little black eyes twinkled.      I thought of my fears, when in my Mazeppa ride I supposed that I was leaping ravines and gulches, and the ludicrousness of the affair again came uppermost. It was of no use to suppress the feeling, and I burst into a hearty laugh. Again all the Indians roared.

            I then frankly told Little Dog that the trick that had been put upon me was far ahead of anything I had thought them capable of planning. This was told to the crowd by Little Dog, as all seemed anxious to know what I said, and was received by every one with evident signs of satisfaction.

            The fun being over, I was mounted upon the same old " crow-bait '' that had brought me down the cañon, and was then — with a loud acclaim — conducted back to the camp. There, again, the Indians had a merry time. All who had remained behind had to be told of the fun I had afforded them when I supposed I was running away. One old hag was particularly happy in taking me off. She gave such a vivid representation of the frantic way in which I had pummeled the pony with my fists that I was several times on the point of hurling a rock at her head. Another would show the stupid manner in which I had stared about after I had succeeded in pulling the bandages off my eyes, and so they kept it up till long after I was bound neck and heels and laid away to try to rest my aching bones.

A BIG CHIEF EXPECTED.

            Night after night I was thus tied up, though during the hours of daylight I was allowed to move about in the camp as usual. What they were all waiting for in that spot I could not make out. One day when Little Dog was in an unusually good humor, I ventured to question him. He said : " We wait for one big Capitan."

            " For Geronimo?" said I.

            " Who tell you 'bout Geronimo?" said the brave eyeing me sharply; "what you know 'bout Geronimo?"

            " I have heard of him as a great captain," said I, " that is all. I never saw him."         

            " Well, guess not Geronimo ; mabbe one other big captain. We see few day."             

            " Will he tie me to a tree and burn me?" said I.

            " O, guess not burn," said Little Dog. He then relapsed into head-shaking, would answer no more questions and soon walked away.

            It appeared to me that I was being played with as a cat plays with a mouse and I determined if possible, to effect my escape before the arrival of the expected "big captain." Every day I looked to see the mood of the whole band change. I knew that a single word might make all in the camp a crowd of howling demons. Any mishap to one of their scouting parties that might come into collision with a party of prospectors might bring me to the stake or to torture of some kind.

            All along I had been watching for a chance to get away from my captors, but no opportunity offered. I was confident that Drake had, days before, ascertained my situation and was at work for my rescue. From what I knew of him, I did not doubt that he had looked down into the very camp in which I was held captive.  I knew that I would have had from him a sign of some kind had he not discovered that it would be useless to make an attempt while I was so strongly guarded.

PLANNING AN ESCAPE.

            I searched the faces of both old and young for some glance of sympathy, but all in the camp appeared equally indifferent. I had picked up not a few Apache words, and as the Indians very often mentioned places by their Spanish names, I began to keep an ear open for all that was said. I soon conjectured from what I picked up that the creek on which we were encamped was a tributary of the Rio de los Mimbres— River of the Willow— by following up which stream I knew I would presently reach Mowry City, or Camp Mimbres ; or I might strike off east of the Sierra Florida range, and (by way of Tenaja, Water Hole and Black Rock Tank) reach Fort Cummings. One evening a small scouting party arrived, the ponies of which showed signs of hard riding. There was much talk among the braves when this party reported, but I could make nothing of it. I was soon tied up and stowed away in my usual place to be guarded till morning, but was able to observe that there was an unusual commotion in the camp. A grand movement of some kind was evidently on foot. The little scouting party had undoubtedly brought orders from some head chief.

            At daybreak the next morning the bustle was resumed. All the squaws were busy at packing up the trappings of the camp. 'The ponies were caught up and a little after sunrise all the people began pouring along up the cañon into the wilds of the range, one of whom was Little Dog, who informed me that I was to remain with him.

            From what I could gather, the squaws, children, old men, and all but the few young warriors who remained with Little Dog, were to strike across the mountains and make their way into Old Mexico; were to go to. the neighborhood of Laguna de San Blas and Laguna de Guzman, or into the wilds of the mountains of Sierra de San Blas, all these places having been frequently mentioned the morning of the exodus and during the preceding evening. I was glad to see all these people leave, as I thought my chance of escape better with only a small party in the camp. I felt quite sure that Drake was at work somewhere ; that he was either hovering in the neighborhood, or had started out a band of soldiers that had frightened the Indians.

            I presently ascertained that the expected " big chief " would arrive the next day with a large party of braves, and that all would then push forward into Mexico ; those coming with the strange chief acting as a rear guard to the party that had set out in the morning. This was bad news ; as, if not shot by the expected chief, I would undoubtedly be carried off into Old Mexico. For several evenings I had watched to see where the ponies were picketed and tried to keep my eye upon the one I had ridden in my sham flight.  

DISCOVERED IN THE ACT.

            That evening I attempted to conceal a knife in one of my boots, with which to cut my thongs, for I wished if possible to get away before the expected war party arrived ; besides, there being now but ten Indians in the camp, Drake might that night make his attack. I had no sooner got the knife into my boot, however, than one of the young braves told Little Dog what I had done. After the knife had been taken from me, Little Dog strongly warned me against such tricks. I excused the act by saying that I did not wish to remain and be killed and burned by the stranger chief who would arrive the next day.

            "Don't be fool 'bout big chief," said Little Dog, " mabbe me kill you myself.. I no like for you get knife for kill Injun. Mucho malo !'' At a word from the fellow I was then seized, tied and laid upon the ground without my supper : " You no eat to-night,'' said he. That night the two men who usually slept on either side of me tied a riata tightly about my waist, then wound the ends round their own bodies, a circumstance that did not tend to bring me composure of mind. Next morning I was again tied up directly after breakfast, and was seated with my back against a brush hut, where I was left to reflect upon my situation, which seemed desperate enough. Evidently Drake was not in the mountains with a force of any kind, or he would hare attacked the camp the previous night, when there were but ten men to oppose him. It never once entered my head that the Indians might long before have found Drake and murdered him.

THE BIG CHIEF AND THE MEDICINE MAN.

            About noon the "big Capitan," so long expected, arrived. He was attended by about thirty young warriors. All, from chief down, were in war paint. There was much rapid talk between Little Dog and the new chief, and between the men of our camp and those newly arrived. All appeared to have ridden hard, and there was evidently danger behind them— a danger they did not care to face. After half an hour of general "palaver," Little Dog and the stranger chief came and squatted down before me. My story had evidently been briefly related to the chief. He eyed me very sharply as he came up. There was nothing extraordinary in his appearance. I could read nothing of my probable fate in his face, daubed as it was with paint. Little Dog acted as interpreter, the stranger chief not choosing to try to make himself understood in English. Little Dog began by saying : " The big chief think you one bad man. He say you carry gun for kill Injun. He say you like git knife for kill Injun, then run away. All time try kill Injun ; never try do Injun good. All white people same way. What you think about this ? "

            For a moment I knew not what to say, but presently it occurred to me that I had once done a poor wounded Indian a good turn — had doubtless saved his life. Thereupon I said : 'Tell the chief that I only carry a gun for game and to protect my life. Tell him I only wanted to use the knife to cut my cords, so I could run away.' " This was repeated to the chief, whose eyes were still fixed sharply upon me, but he did not seem in the least moved. He spake a few words to Little Dog, who turned to me and said, ' Got any more to say ?"

KINDNESS TO AN INDIAN.

            I then told Little Dog to say that I was not always trying to kill Indians. That about two years before, while I was prospecting in the Burro Mountains, there occurred a fight near my camp between some of Uncle Sam's men and a small party of Indians. That during the fight I saw a wounded Indian crawl into the chaparral and hide, and that when the soldiers went on after the Indians that were not hurt I went to the wounded Indian with water and food, and bound up a ballet hole in his leg. Also tell him," said I, " that I helped the wounded Indian to my camp, and took care of him for five days, when two of his own people, Apaches, came with ponies and took him away. If I had been bad I would have killed the Indian, not fed him, cared for him and dressed his wound.

            All this was told the chief, still his face was emotionless. He spoke a few words to Little Dog, who said : "Chief say all very easy for talk such good story."

            With this the stranger chief and Little Dog arose and, walking away a few paces, spoke together for a few moments. The latter then gave an order and two young men with guns came and stood guard over me. Other orders were given, and soon the whole camp was in a bustle. The young men were catching up the ponies and we were evidently about to make a start across the mountains for Mexico. Neither Little Dog nor the big chief was to be seen. Evidently I had nothing to hope for from the chief. He might take me with him, or he might order me to be shot there in the camp.

            While I was thus pondering my case, Little Dog came and untied me, saying : "Come 'long me.''

            He led the way down the creek, the two armed Indians, one of whom had my Winchester, following behind at the distance of ten paces. As they were taking me away from the horses and away from the camp, I gave myself up for lost. I was to be shot down like a dog.  

            Little Dog led the way down the creek toward a clump of trees. " Among those trees," said I to myself, " they will kill me."

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MEDICINE MAN.

            When we came to the grove, much to my surprise, I saw a strange Indian seated alone under a tree near the bank of the little stream. Little Dog squatted near the Indian and signed for me to do the same. " This," said Little Dog, " this one big medicine man. He know everything. He can tell if you lie when you say you doctor one Injun what soldier shoot in leg. What you say now? "

            I looked at the medicine man, not knowing what to say. As I gazed, at a loss how to begin, a grim smile appeared on the face of the medicine man, and with it came into my mind a whole flood of light. " Why, I say," cried I, springing to my feet, " I say that this is the very man whose leg I doctored ! He was shot through the leg just here," said I, advancing to the old Indian and placing my finger on his thigh.

            " What medicine man say to that?" said Little Dog, addressing the strange Indian in English.  

            " All true— all true!" said the medicine man. Him, Mendez, one ' good man.'' And rising, ha held out his hand to me.

            " You save me that time, Mendez— save me sure! Some Injun pooty good, too. Now me save you," and drawing a whistle from his pocket he blew a short, sharp blast.           There was a rustling in the bushes behind us, and a young Indian came forward leading the pony I had ridden in my ridiculous, blindfold race for life. He was followed by another, young brave bearing my rifle and all its belongings.

            The pony, as I was soon shown, carried a sack of jerked beef, some pinola, my canteen and a pair of blankets. After showing me all these things, Little Dog said : " Other day you ask me 'bout Geronimo ; if Geronimo come— remember? This man Geronimo."

            " Geronimo !" cried I.  

            " Yes, Geronimo, Mendez," said the pretended medicine man . " Me told you Pablo when you doctor leg.  Sometimes not safe for be Geronimo too much !''

            " Where is the big chief who came to-day ? Who was he ?" cried I. "  

            ", That Geronimo, too ; but war-paint on face. No see Geronimo like when doctor leg. No paint then ; not on war-path that time. All same now. Me know you here for last ten day.  Know you soon me see you up camp where got you tied. How you like that pony, Mendez ? Boys tell me made you nice ride," and the old chief laughed heartily.

            The next moment he said : " Well, Mendez, must go now," and again he shook hands with me. "Good-bye, Mendez, your soldiers chase me up too fast ; must get cross to Mexico now," and Geronimo turned from the grove and walked up the creek toward the camp, where his young men were mounted and waiting. I never saw him after that parting.

ONCE MORE A FREE MAN.

            In a few words Little Dog, who remained behind, told me to follow the creek to the Rio de los Mimbres, follow up that stream and the next day I would meet a company of soldiers coming in pursuit of Geronimo.

            Little Dog then reached out his hand, saying : " Me not know you when give you funny ride. When find out you name and send him Geronimo, he send word think he know you and say for keep you safe."

            With this Little Dog took his departure, only turning to say as he passed up the creek : " Go right head now. Not one Injun in way."

            I did not need urging. I mounted and set out at once. I found the pony — to which I gave the name of Geronimo— all I had imagined him to be, and that night I encamped on the Rio de los Mimbres. The following day before noon I met the soldiers, and with them, leading the way, was my partner Drake. As I had conjectured, he discovered my capture almost immediately. He mounted our best horse, and for three days and nights was in the mountains hiding and watching. With his spy-glass he had looked down into the little valley and seen me in the camp of the Indians. Having located me, he at once set out for Fort Cummings to bring a company of soldiers to my rescue. On hearing my report the soldiers gave up the chase and returned to the fort ; but the coast being now clear, Drake and myself returned to the Sierra Grande, secured the two animals left there, then prospected eastward through the Sierra del Portillo Range, and finally brought up at El Paso.

            Well, well, and so poor old Geronimo is dead!