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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18352-8.txt b/18352-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..201a735 --- /dev/null +++ b/18352-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6885 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Captured by the Navajos, by Charles A. Curtis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Captured by the Navajos + +Author: Charles A. Curtis + +Release Date: May 8, 2006 [EBook #18352] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTURED BY THE NAVAJOS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: "EVERY ONE HELD HIS RIFLE IN READINESS TO SHOOT THE + ESCAPING APACHES"] + + + + + CAPTURED + BY THE NAVAJOS + + + + BY + CAPTAIN CHARLES A. CURTIS + U.S.A. + + + + ILLUSTRATED + + + NEW YORK AND LONDON + HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS + + + Copyright, 1904, by HARPER & BROTHERS. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAP. + +I. INTRODUCES THE BOYS + +II. ATTACKED BY NAVAJOS + +III. WARLIKE PUEBLOS + +IV. IN A NAVAJO TRAP + +V. A SIEGE AND AN AMBUSCADE + +VI. CROSSING THE RIVER + +VII. A SWOLLEN STREAM AND STOLEN PONY + +VIII. OVER THE DIVIDE--A CORPORAL MISSING + +IX. THE RESCUING PARTY + +X. THE CORPORALS ARE PROMOTED + +XI. BOTH PONIES ARE STOLEN + +XII. INDIANS ON THE WAR-PATH + +XIII. THE BOY SERGEANTS DO GOOD SERVICE + +XIV. ON THE DESERT WITHOUT WATER + +XV. THE PONIES ARE FOUND + +XVI. APACHES IN SKULL VALLEY + +XVII. PURSUIT OF THE APACHES + +XVIII. ON THE TRAIL OF THE APACHES + +XIX. THE ATTACK ON THE APACHE CAMP + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"EVERY ONE HELD HIS RIFLE IN READINESS TO +SHOOT THE ESCAPING APACHES" Frontispiece + +"MOUNTED, THE BOYS PRESENTED A WARLIKE +APPEARANCE" + +"CORPORAL HENRY ASKED CAPTAIN BAYARD TO +INQUIRE FOR MANUEL PEREA" + +"'GOD HAS GIVEN ME AMONG MANY FRIENDS, +TWO THAT ARE SOMETHING MORE'" + + + + +CAPTURED BY THE NAVAJOS + +I + +INTRODUCES THE BOYS + + +It was late in the fall of the second year of the civil war that I +rejoined my company at Santa Fé, New Mexico, from detached service in +the Army of the Potomac. The boom of the sunrise gun awoke me on the +morning after my arrival, and I hastened to attend reveille roll-call. +As I descended the steps of the officers' quarters the men of the four +companies composing the garrison were forming into line before their +barracks. Details from the guard, which had just fired the gun and +hoisted the national colors, were returning to the guard-house, and +the officers were hastening to their places. + +At the conclusion of the ceremony I turned again towards my quarters, +and noticed two handsome boys, evidently aged about fifteen and +thirteen, dressed in a modification of the infantry uniform of the +army, and wearing corporals' chevrons. They stood near the regimental +adjutant, and seemed to be reporting their presence to him. + +At breakfast, the adjutant chancing to sit near me, I asked him who +the youthful soldiers were. + +"They are the sons of Lieutenant-Colonel Burton, Corporals Frank and +Henry," he replied. "They hold honorary rank, and are attached to +head-quarters, acting as messengers and performing some light clerical +work." + +"How do they happen to be in Santa Fé?" + +"Mother recently died in the East, and the colonel had them sent here +in charge of a tutor who is to fit them for college, I believe." + +Later, on the same day, being desirous of looking over this ancient +Indian and Mexican town, I was making a pedestrian tour of its +streets, and chanced to be opposite San Miguel School in the eastern +section during the pupils' recess. Half a dozen boys were engaged in +throwing the lasso over the posts of the enclosing fence, when +suddenly from a side street appeared the young corporals whom I had +seen at reveille. + +The Mexican boys instantly greeted them with derisive shouts and +jeers. They called them little Gringos and other opprobrious names, +and one young Mexican threw the loop of his lasso over the smaller +corporal's head and jerked him off his feet. His companions laughed +loudly. The older corporal instantly pulled out his knife and cut the +rope. Then the two brothers stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the +crowd, quite ready to defend themselves. The young Mexicans, +gesticulating and shouting, crowded round the two brothers, and blows +appeared imminent. + +"Muchachos," suddenly cried a ringing voice from the rear, in Spanish, +"are you not ashamed? A hundred against two!" + +A handsome lad forced his way through the crowd, placed himself beside +the two corporals, and faced his young countrymen. Before the Mexicans +recovered from their surprise the bell of San Miguel summoned them to +school. They hurried away, leaving the two corporals with the young +Mexican who had come to their assistance. + +"My name is Frank Burton," said the older corporal, extending his +hand to the Mexican, "and this is my brother, Henry." + +The Mexican boy grasped the proffered hand, and said, "My name is +Manuel Perea, of Algodones." + +"We are the sons of the commanding officer at the fort. Can't you come +and see us next holiday?" + +"I should much like to; I will ask the fathers if I may." + +"Come over, and we will try to make your visit pleasant." + +"How well you speak Spanish! It will be a great pleasure to visit +American boys who can speak my language, for I know but few English +words." + +"Next Saturday, then?" + +"At ten o'clock, if the padres consent. Good-bye," and Manuel +disappeared into the school-room. + +The following Saturday I saw the two corporals and their newly +acquired companion at the post and at dinner in the mess-room, and a +friendship was then formed which was to continue for many years. + +One evening, nearly a month afterwards, I received an order to march +my company into the Jemez Mountains to co-operate with other detached +commands in a war being carried on against the Navajo Indians. Just as +I had laid aside the order after reading it, Colonel Burton entered, +and, taking a seat by my fireside, announced that he had been ordered +on detached service to northern Colorado, on a tour of inspection, +which would require him to be absent for a considerable period, and +that he had been thinking of allowing his sons to accompany me to my +camp at Los Valles Grandes. + +"The hunting and fishing are fine in those valleys, and Frank and +Henry would enjoy life there very much," he said. "They have done so +well in their studies that they deserve a well-earned recreation." + +"I should much like to have their company, sir," I replied, "but would +it not be exposing them to great danger from the Indians?" + +"The officer whom you are to relieve has been in the valleys nearly a +year, and he reports that he has not seen a Navajo in all that time. +Of course, it may be your fortune to meet them, but I do not think +so. If you do, then the boys must give a good account of themselves. +In any engagement that involves the whole command they must not forget +they are the sons of a soldier. Still, I do not want them needlessly +exposed. You are quite sure it will give you no trouble to take them?" + +"Few things could afford me greater pleasure on such isolated duty, +sir. They will be good company for me." + +"Thank you for your kindness. The lads will report to you to-morrow +morning. I will see that they are properly fitted out, and will write +you now and then during my absence, and as soon as I return to Santa +Fé they can be sent back." + +Colonel Burton then took his departure, and I turned to a local +history to learn from its pages something of the tribe with which I +might be brought in contact. + +The home of the Navajos lay between the Rio Grande del Norte on the +east, the Rio Colorado on the west, the Rio San Juan on the north, and +the Rio Colorado Chiquito on the south, but from time immemorial they +had roamed a considerable distance beyond these borders. + +They had always been known as a pastoral race, raising flocks and +herds, and tilling the soil. They owned, at the time we began war upon +them, sheep and ponies by the thousand, and raised large quantities of +corn, wheat, beans, and other products. + +They numbered between twelve and fifteen thousand, and could put three +thousand mounted warriors in the field. They were industrious, the men +doing all the hard work instead of putting it upon the women, as do +the Indians of the plains and all of the marauding tribes. They +manufactured their wearing apparel, and made their own weapons, such +as bows, arrows, and lances. They wove beautiful blankets, often very +costly, and knit woollen stockings, and dressed in greater comfort +than did most other tribes. In addition to a somewhat brilliant +costume, they wore numerous strings of fine coral, shells, and many +ornaments of silver, and usually appeared in cool weather with a +handsome blanket thrown over the shoulders. + +The Navajos and the New Mexicans were almost continually at war. +Expeditions were frequently fitted out in the border towns by the +class of New Mexicans who possessed no land or stock, for the sole +purpose of capturing the flocks and herds of the Navajos. The Indians +retaliated in kind, making raids upon the settlements and pasture +lands, and driving off sheep, horses, and cattle to the mountains. +Complaints were made by the property-holders, and war was declared +against the Indians. + +The military department of New Mexico was in fine condition to carry +on a successful war. Besides our regiment of regular infantry, it had +two regiments of California volunteer infantry and one regiment each +of California and New Mexican cavalry. + +The Navajo upon the war-path was terribly in earnest, and his methods +of waging war were like those of the redman everywhere. With the +knowledge that the American soldier was an ally of his old-time enemy, +and that the Mexican was wearing the uniform of the "Great Father," he +no longer hesitated to look upon us as his enemies also, and resolved +to combat us up to the very walls of our posts. + +No road in the Territory was safe to the traveller; no train dared +move without an escort. Towns were raided, and women and children +carried into captivity. Frightful cases of mutilation and torture were +constantly occurring in the mountain fastnesses. Troops took the +field, and prosecuted with vigilance a war in which there was little +glory and plenty of suffering and hard service. + +Every band of Indians captured was taken to the Bosque Rodondo, on the +Rio Pecos, where a large fort had been established. It was occupied by +a strong garrison of infantry and cavalry. + +I had found social life in Santa Fé very pleasant during my brief stay +there, so I was not overjoyed when I received the order to march my +company to Los Valles Grandes, there to relieve the California company +already referred to. But the order being peremptory, we packed our +baggage during the first hours of the night, and were on the road soon +after daybreak. + +It was the 3d of October when the boy corporals and myself, mounted on +sturdy Mexican ponies, rode out of Fort Marcy for our new station, one +hundred miles due west. The regimental band escorted the company +through the plaza and for a mile on our way, playing, after +immemorial custom, "The Girl I Left Behind Me," and adding, I thought +with a vein of irony, "Ain't Ye Glad You've Got Out th' Wilderness?" + +On the morning of the 8th, after four days of gradual and constant +ascent from the valley of the Rio Grande, which we had forded at San +Ildefonso, we began the slower ascent of the most difficult portion of +our march. + +The woods were full of wild turkeys and mountain grouse, made fat on +the pine-nuts, and Frank and Henry and the soldier huntsmen secured a +generous supply for our first meal in our new military home. + +It took us from early morning until noon of the last day's march to +reach the highest point of the road. What with the frequent halts for +the men to fasten a rope to the wagon-poles and aid the severely taxed +mules up the steepest places, to fill gullies and sloughs with stones +and brush, to pry mired wheels up to firm ground, and repair broken +harnesses and wagons, we were over half a day in going a distance +which could have been accomplished in two hours by soldiers +unencumbered with a baggage and supply train. + +The downward march on the western slope of the mountain-range was +rapidly made over a smooth road through a continuous avenue of +overarching forest trees, and without a halt. From the lower limit of +the forest we caught the first glimpse of the Great Valleys. The +valley before us was fourteen miles long, and of a nearly uniform +width of eight miles. It was almost surrounded by mountains; in fact, +while there were many trails leading out of it, there was but one +practicable wagon-road--that by which we had entered. But at the +southern extremity there was a precipitous cańon, through which flowed +a considerable stream. To the west was another cańon, a dry one, +called La Puerta--the doorway--which led into the second valley, +called the Valley of San Antonio. + +The Great Valley, on the eastern edge of which I had halted the +company for a few moments' rest and observation, was lower through the +centre than at the sides. It was not unlike an oblong platter, and was +absolutely treeless, except that opposite us a bold, pine-clad point +jutted out from the western mountain-range about three miles, like a +headland into the sea. + +The whole valley was verdant with thick grass. The two boys, sitting +on their ponies a few yards in advance of the company line, were in +raptures over the prospect. + +"This is the first bit of country I've seen in New Mexico that looks +like Vermont," said Frank. + +"Yes, and what a change in the space of a few miles!" observed Henry. +"On the opposite side of this range were only bunch-grass, cactus, and +sand, and here we have fine turf and waving grass. What are those +objects in that farther corner, sir?" he continued, turning to me and +pointing to the southwest. "Look like deer or grazing cattle." + +"There is a small herd of deer there, sure enough," I replied, after +making out the objects through my glass. "We shall not want for +venison if we have good luck with our rifles." + +"Deer, antelope, turkeys, ducks, geese, sand-hill crane, and trout!" +exclaimed Frank. "We've hit a hunter's paradise." + +"And bears and catamounts, too, I suspect," said Henry, looking a +little lugubrious. + +"My, but wouldn't I like to kill a bear!" said Frank. + +"Well, I don't believe I shall hunt for one, and I hope a bear won't +hunt for me," said the younger lad. "I'll be satisfied with turkeys, +grouse, ducks, and trout." + +Six miles due west, a little south of the wooded point, detached from +it about half a mile, we perceived a line of small cabins, which we +inferred was the volunteer encampment. They stretched across a little +level space, enclosed by a gently sloping ridge of horseshoe shape. +The ridge, in fact, proved to be of that shape when we examined it +later. The row of sixteen cabins stretched across the curve, and +looked out of the opening towards the eastern side of the valley. +Fifty yards in front of the cabins, running across the horseshoe from +heel to heel, flowed a crystal stream of water twenty feet wide and +two feet deep, which rose from forty-two springs near the northern end +of the valley. The ridge enclosing the encampment was nowhere more +than twenty-five feet above the level parade. + +The cabins were built of pine logs laid up horizontally, flanked on +the north by the kitchen and stable, and on the south by a storehouse. +Behind the cabins, at the centre of the horseshoe curve, two-thirds +the way up the slope of the ridge, and overlooking the encampment from +its rear, stood the guard-house, in front of which paced a sentinel. + +Resuming our march, a brisk step soon brought us to the encampment. At +the brook before the parade I was met by the volunteer officers, who +did not disguise their joy at the prospect of leaving what they +considered a life of unbearable exile. Even before the customary +civilities were passed, the captain asked me if my animals were in a +condition to warrant his loading the wagons with his company property +as soon as I unloaded mine, as he wished to make an evening's march +towards Santa Fé. + +I told him I thought they were, provided he took the two wagons +belonging to the camp in addition, so that the loads would be light. +He approved of my suggestion, and promised to send back the wagons as +soon as he reached Fort Marcy. + +The wood-yard being well supplied with fuel, I saw no reason why the +wagons and mules could not be spared the ten days necessary to make +the round trip. + +One reason for doing all I could to facilitate the immediate departure +of the Californians was that my men were anxious to move into the +cabins at once. + +With my first glance at the encampment, it had seemed to me too open +to surprise. The adjacent forest-clad point crept up near the left +flank, offering an effectual screen to an attacking party, and the +overlooking sentinel at the guard-house did not have a range of vision +to the rear of more than fifty yards. He was not on the summit of the +ridge by at least half that distance, and walked along the side of the +guard-house next the cabins. He could see nothing of the surface of +the valley to the west of the ridge, and when passing along the front +of the building, as he paced backward and forward, he saw nothing to +the rear of his beat. + +I expressed my opinion of the situation to the volunteer captain, but +he replied, "Pshaw! you might as well take the sentinel off, for all +the good he does as a lookout for Indians." + +"Have you seen none?" + +"Not a solitary moccasin, except an occasional Pueblo, since I've been +here--eleven months." + +"I suppose you have scouted the country thoroughly?" + +"There isn't a trail within thirty miles that I do not know. These +bundles of wolf-skins and other pelts you see going into the wagons +are pretty good evidence that my men know the country." + +We walked to the kitchen, and found, hanging on the walls of the +store-room, a dozen quarters of venison, the fat carcass of a bear, +and several bunches of fowl. + +"We are not obliged to kill our cattle to supply the men with meat," +added the captain. "We butcher only when we need a change from wild +meat." + +"I saw from the edge of the valley where I entered it that you have +deer." + +"Pretty much everything but buffalo is here." + +"I hear your brook is full of fish." + +"There's where you make a mistake," he replied. "There is not a fish +in this valley. The water is spring water, and must possess some +mineral property distasteful to trout, for they never run up here. In +San Antonio Valley, six miles to the west, in a brook less clear than +this, you can catch them by the cart-load." + +"I suppose you intend to take this venison with you?" + +"Not if you will accept the gift of all but a few quarters, which we +will take for friends in the city." + +"Thank you and your men. It will be a treat to us, and keep us going +until we can put in a hunt on our own account." + +We went back to the parade, and stood looking at the surrounding +mountains in the deepening twilight. + +"What other ways are there in and out of the valley, besides the one +which we entered?" I asked. + +"Well, on the east and south sides there is a trail between the peaks, +four in all, and one good bridle-path to the Pueblo of Jemez. That +descends from the valley level to the Jemez River bottom, a drop of +nearly three thousand feet, in a distance of three miles, zigzagging +twice that distance." + +"And to the west and north?" + +"To the north there is a trail to Abiquiu, rarely used, and to the +west there is only La Puerta, into which all the other trails from the +east and south concentrate. It is to watch La Puerta that this camp +was established." + +"And you say you have seen no Navajos or signs of them since you +came?" + +"Yes, plenty of signs, but no Indians. Parties have passed here in the +night, but none were driving stock." + +I learned all I could of the captain while his men hurried their +baggage into the wagons, but he was too much excited over the prospect +of leaving the Great Valleys, as well as curious to know of events in +Santa Fé, to give me much information. When the guard of regulars +relieved the volunteer guard, I placed my sentinel on a beat a dozen +yards in rear of the guard-house, which enabled him to see several +hundred yards back of the ridge, and yet not show himself prominently +to an approaching foe. + +The volunteers at last marched away, and I made a casual examination +of the cabins. I noticed that the inner surface of the log walls had +been hewn smooth, and the names, company, and regiment of the former +occupants had been carved with knives or burned in with hot pokers +along the upper courses. Each had a wide, open, stone fireplace and +chimney set in one corner, after the Mexican fashion. + +No uniform design had been observed in the construction of the cabins, +the occupants having followed their own ideas of what would prove +comfortable. Height, width, and depth were variable, but their fronts +were in perfect alignment. + +The hut which had been occupied by the officers and which fell to the +boys and myself was at the right of the line, next the storehouse, a +little removed from the others. It was twenty by twenty feet, +partitioned on one side into two alcoves in which were rude bedsteads, +one of which was assigned to the boys and one to myself. A door opened +on the south side, and a window, the only glass one in camp, looked +out upon the parade. Floors in all the cabins were of earth, raised a +foot higher than the outside surface of the ground, smoothed with a +trowel and carpeted with blankets, until later, when skins of wild +animals took their place. Doors were made of puncheons, swung on +wooden hinges and fastened with wooden latches operated by +latch-strings. + +Our first day in camp was principally spent in making ourselves +comfortable. The men were busy in filling bed-sacks from the +hay-stacks, and in repairing the cabins and articles of furniture. Ten +head of beef cattle had been turned over to me with the other property +of the camp. I had placed them in charge of a soldier, with orders to +herd them in the valley immediately in front of the opening, where +they could be plainly seen from the parade as well as the guard-house. + +At noon two Mexican hunters, father and son, rode up to my door, the +former mounted on a mule and the latter on a burro, or donkey. The +elder said their names were José and Manuel Cordova, of Cańoncito, +that they were looking for deer, and would like permission to make the +camp their place of rendezvous. I gave them permission to do so, and +their animals were turned loose with our stock. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon the boy corporals and myself, +tired with our work of repairing and arranging quarters, sat down to a +lunch of broiled grouse. + +We were busily picking the last bones when we were startled by loud +shouts. Quickly running to the centre of the parade, where the men +were rapidly assembling with their arms, I saw the soldier-herdsman +coming towards camp as fast as he could run, waving his hat and +shouting. Behind him the steers were running in the opposite +direction, driven by six Indians on foot. They were waking the echoes +with their war-whoops. + + + + +II + +ATTACKED BY NAVAJOS + + +The six Navajos made no attempt to shoot the herder, although for some +time he was within easy rifle range. They contented themselves with +driving the cattle towards the southern section of the valley. + +At the first alarm Sergeant Cunningham got the men into line without a +moment's delay. He had hardly counted off when the report of the +sentinel's rifle was heard, followed by his shouting, excitedly, +"Indians! Indians! This way! This way!" + +In the direction of the guard-house I saw the sentinel and guard +getting into line with great rapidity. They were gesticulating wildly +to us. Frank Burton, who was standing near me, shouted, "Henry, get +your carbine and fall in with me on the left!" + +"Don't expose yourselves, boys," I said. "The colonel told me to keep +you out of danger." + +"We are needed, sir," answered Frank, promptly, and the two youngsters +instantly placed themselves on the left of the line. + +I broke the company to the rear through the intervals between the +cabins. The men had only the marching allowance of ten rounds of +ammunition, so I had a couple of boxes broken open with an axe, and +cartridges were distributed to them. The two Mexicans joined us, and +steadily and rapidly we advanced up the slope to unite with the guard. + +Scarcely two hundred yards distant we saw a compact body of over three +hundred Indians. They were charging down upon us, and with a general +and frightful war-whoop they began firing. + +We deployed as skirmishers. The men fired by volleys, sheltering +themselves behind bowlders, logs, and ridges. + +Instantly, at the head of the mounted column, there was an emptying of +saddles. The onset was suddenly checked, and the Indians broke into +two divisions. Part of the force swept along the outer side of the +horseshoe ridge to the south, and the other part wheeled round to the +north. + +I met the attack by dividing my men into two divisions. The men moved +along the interior slopes, firing as they ran, and kept pace with the +ponies running to the extremities. + +The Navajos had lost twenty men. A chief, who had been in the front of +the fight throughout, had the utmost difficulty in holding them in +close column. + +"That is the great chief, El Ebano," cried the elder Cordova, as he +put his gun to his shoulder. Taking careful aim at the gray-haired +leader, he fired, and one of the most famous chieftains of the Navajos +rolled from his saddle. The beautiful black horse he had been riding +ran on towards us. With El Ebano dead, the Indians were dismayed. A +moment later they were in full retreat, and joined their comrades who +had stolen our cattle. + + * * * * * + +Our casualties were few. Sergeant Cunningham's scalp had been grazed +along the left side, Private Tom Clary had the lobe of an ear cut, +Privates Hoey and Evans were wounded along the ribs, and Corporal +Frank Burton had a bullet wound in the right shoulder. + +The Indians had gathered in a compact body about three miles to the +southward, evidently holding a council of war. Reflecting that they +would not be likely to repeat their attack immediately, I walked out +with the first sergeant and a few of the men to note what casualties +had befallen the enemy, and learn if there were any wounded men in +need of assistance. + +As I neared the place where the charge had been checked, I met +Corporal Frank Burton leading a black pony, gently stroking his nose +and talking soothingly to him, while the animal seemed half divided +between fear and newly awakened confidence. + +"Oh, isn't he a beauty, sir!" exclaimed the boy--"isn't he just a +perfect beauty!" + +"He certainly is a very handsome horse," I answered, after walking +around him and taking in all his graces and points. "Take him to the +stable and we will see to what use we can put him." + +"Do you think it would be possible for me to own him, sir?" inquired +the boy, in an anxious voice. + +"As spoil of war, corporal?" + +"I suppose so, sir. I was first to capture him, you know." + +Before I could reply to this we were startled by a loud whinny, a +little to the north, which was promptly answered by the black, and, +looking in that direction, we saw a cream-colored pony, with +high-erected head, looking anxiously in the direction of our captive. + +"That seems to be a friend of your pony's," I said. + +"Another beauty, too, sir! Can't we catch it for Henry?" + +"Perhaps we can. It seems inclined to stay by this one. I see all the +other loose ponies have joined the Indians. But wait now until we look +over the field." + +We now turned our attention to the prostrate bodies of the fallen +enemy. All were dead. + +The body of El Ebano, clad in black buck-skin, ornamented with a +profusion of silver buttons, chains, and bracelets, lay face upward, +his resolute, handsome countenance still in the embrace of death. I +told the men we would give him and his comrades a warrior's burial on +the morrow, and returned to camp to make it defensible against a +possible night attack. + +The advantage of numbers was decidedly on the side of the Indians, and +I felt if they could show the firmness and dash of white men our +chances of repelling a resolute attack were small. Counting the +Mexicans and the boys, we numbered but forty-eight, to their three +hundred or more. + +We were in the centre of a large valley, with no knowledge of our +surroundings nor with any way out except the road by which we had +entered. Should we leave the protection of our ridge and cabins and +take to the open valley we should be at the mercy of our foes. + +Even supposing we could pass out of the valley unmolested, there were +the forests and defiles, filled with natural ambuscades. We could not +hope to pass them and reach the Rio Grande alive. + +Only a few hours of daylight remained. Whatever was to be done in +preparation for defence must be done at once. + +In the wood-yard there were tiers of dry pine-logs, many of them four +feet in diameter, and all about twenty feet long. With drag ropes and +by rolling we conveyed them to the points of the ridge and to each end +of the guard-house, and erected effective barricades. + +While this work was going on the two boys were busy in an attempt to +capture the cream-colored pony. Frank led the black towards it, while +Henry rattled the contents of a measure of corn and coaxed the +cream-color in a tongue foreign to that with which the animals were +familiar to approach and partake of it. Tired at last of what seemed a +vain attempt, the young corporal set the box before the black, which +at once began to munch the crackling corn, and the other pony, +attracted by the sound, trotted up and placed her nose beside her +friend's. Instantly its bridle-rein was seized, and the lads uttered a +shout of triumph and led the prizes to the stable. + +From the top of the ridge I looked occasionally through my field-glass +at the enemy. They still continued well to the south on the western +side of the brook. They had dismounted and appeared to be carrying on +an animated consultation. + +After a considerable interval of time, four of their number mounted, +and, collecting the ten beeves, mule, and burro, which had been +grazing near by, drove them up and down in front of the camp, beyond +rifle range. They made gestures for us to come and take them--an +invitation which, for obvious reasons, I declined to accept. I quite +agreed with Private Tom Clary, who, as he placed his brawny shoulder +to a big log to roll it up the slope, remarked to his "bunky," Private +George Hoey, "That's an invitation, begorra, I don't fale loike +acciptin'." + +"Ye'd niver make yer t'ilet for anither assimbly if ye did, Tom. I +don't think the lutinint will risk the comp'ny's hair in that way," +replied Hoey. + +To have attempted to recover our stock would have necessitated a +division of our force, and the main body of the Navajos stood ready to +dash in and cut off a party making such a reckless move. + +This was what they had originally attempted to accomplish, as I heard +years afterwards from a chief who took part in the raid. + +Failing to draw us out in pursuit of our lost stock, the Navajos moved +slowly away in the deepening dusk to a point close against the forest +on the eastern side of the valley and nearly opposite our camp. There +they built a row of five fires, which soon became, in the darkness, +the only evidence of their presence. + +I caused the sentinels to be increased, and, after dressing the wounds +of the men and removing a bullet from Frank's shoulder, went to bed +without undressing. After some half-hour of silence, Henry said: + +"Mr. Duncan." + +"Yes; what is it?" + +"I'm going to name my pony Chiquita." + +"And I'm going to name mine Sancho," added Frank. + +"What are you going to do with the animals you brought here?" I asked. + +"Turn them in in place of the two we captured," answered Henry. + +"All right; for general utility. Good-night." + +"Good-night. Thank you, sir." + +Half an hour before midnight the sergeant of the guard aroused me to +report that strange noises could be heard from the rear of the camp. + +I went to the top of the ridge and listened. A sound like the dragging +of branches over the ground, with occasional pauses, fell upon my +ears. I sent for the elder Cordova, and he listened long, with an ear +close to the ground. His opinion was that the Indians were creeping up +for another attack. + +Orders were sent to Sergeant Cunningham to wake the men without noise +and assemble them at the barricades. + +A little after midnight the moon rose over the mountains and bathed +the valley in a beautiful light. + +As the moon cleared herself from the summits of the range and her rays +fell upon the line of paling camp-fires of the Indians, my field-glass +revealed the fact that the raiders had departed. Ponies and riders +were gone. In the whole length and breadth of the Great Valley not a +living being was in sight outside the limit of our encampment. + +An inspection to the rear, to the scene of the late conflict, revealed +the fact that the body of El Ebano and the group of dead warriors +which lay about him at nightfall had been taken away. Their removal +had caused the rushing and creeping sounds we had heard. + +Mounting my horse, and accompanied by four men upon the four ponies, I +crossed the valley to the Indian fires, but found nothing there except +the horns, hoofs, and entrails of our captured cattle. The flesh had +probably been packed upon the Cordovas' mule and burro to ration a +raiding party into the valley of the Rio Grande. + +A well-defined trail went back through the forest, which Cordova +afterwards assured me led to the town of Pina Blanca. + +Returning to camp, I wrote a letter to the commanding general, giving +an account of the attack and its repulse, and despatched it by the +Mexicans, who, taking cut-offs with which they were acquainted, and +borrowing horses in relays at ranches on the way, delivered it next +evening at Santa Fé. + +The general sent a hundred troopers to Los Valles Grandes, where they +came galloping into camp two evenings afterwards. As Captain Wardwell +sprang from his saddle and wrung my hand, he exclaimed: + +"God bless you, Duncan! I came out expecting to bury the bones of you +and your men." + +I was glad to see the California cavalry officers, and, during the +three days of their stay in the valley for rest after a forced march, +did the honors to the best of my ability. On the day of their +departure the wagons returned loaded with supplies. Instructions were +received to send back all but one wagon and six mules. + +With the departure of cavalry and wagons, life in the valley settled +down to quiet routine. I spent some time in instructing my companions, +according to an agreement I had made with their father. Not being a +West-Pointer, but a college graduate with a fair knowledge of Greek +and Latin, and some other acquirements not considered of military +utility, I was able to carry out a desire of the colonel and assist +the boys in preparing themselves for college. + +We rarely received visits from the outside world. The nearest hamlet +was an Indian pueblo, twenty-six miles away, in the Rio Jemez Valley, +and representatives of the army seldom had occasion to visit our +outposts. The mail arrived from Santa Fé every Saturday afternoon, and +left every Monday morning in the saddle-bags of two cavalry +express-men. + +To the soldiers life in the valleys was very pleasant. Duty was light, +and there were no temptations to dissipation or to be out of quarters +at night, and there were no confinements to the guard-house for +disorder. Evenings were spent over books and papers and quiet games, +and the days in drill, repairing buildings, providing the fuel for +winter, hunting, and scouting. + +As previously referred to, we were in a region of abundant game. The +boy corporals accompanied the hunting-parties, and became skilled in +bringing down whatever they sighted. Henry, as well as Frank, shot his +bear, and soon our floor was covered with the skins of wolves, +coyotes, bears, and catamounts, skilfully dressed and tanned by the +Cordovas. + +And now I must introduce a principal character of my story, a valued +friend who took a conspicuous part in our scouting and hunting, and +who, later on, did valuable service to myself and my youthful +comrades. + +Just as I was about to leave Santa Fé for Los Valles Grandes, the +regimental adjutant--since a distinguished brigadier-general in the +war in the Philippines--gave me a beautiful young setter named +Victoriana, and called Vic for convenience. She was of canine +aristocracy, possessing a fine pedigree, white and liver-colored, with +mottled nose and paws, and a tail like the plume of Henry of Navarre. + +The boys, soon after our arrival in the valleys, carrying out a +conceit suggested by the letters "U.S." which are always branded upon +the left shoulder of all government horses and mules, marked with a +weak solution of nitrate of silver upon Vic's white shoulder the same +characters, and as long as she continued to live they were never +allowed to grow dim. + +Vic came to me with no education, but plenty of capacity, and the +corporals and I spent much time during the long evenings and on the +days when we did not accompany the scouting and hunting parties, in +training her. + +She learned to close the door if we simulated a shiver, to bring me my +slippers when she saw me begin to remove my boots, to carry messages +to the first sergeant or the cook, to return to the camp from long +distances and bring articles I sent for. + +Vic was an unerring setter and a fine retriever. She was taught not to +bark when a sound might bring an enemy upon us, and she would follow +patiently at my heels or those of either of the boys when told to do +so and never make a break to the right or left. + +Our repeated scoutings soon made us acquainted with every trail in and +out of the valley. I obtained permission from department head-quarters +to employ the elder Cordova as spy and guide, and he was of invaluable +use to us. He was able to show me a mountain-trail into the valley of +San Antonio besides the one through La Puerta, which I kept in reserve +for any desperate emergency which might make it necessary to use +another. We frequently went trout-fishing with an armed party, and +could pack a mule with fish in a few hours. + +One morning, near the close of October, Cordova left the camp before +reveille on a solitary hunting-trip in order to reach Los Vallecitos, +four miles to the south of our valley, before sunrise. + +He had gone but half an hour, and I was dressing after first +bugle-call for reveille, when I was startled by the rapid approach of +some one running towards my door. Presently the guide tumbled into the +cabin, gasping: + +"Muchos Navajos, teniente, muchos Navajos!" (Many Navajos, lieutenant, +many Navajos!) + +"Where are they, and how many?" I asked. + +"About half a league over the ridge," pointing to the south. "They +chased me from the Los Vallecitos trail. They number about a hundred." + +Without waiting for more definite information, I told the boys, who +were hastily getting into their clothes, to stay in the cabin, and, +going for Sergeant Cunningham, ordered him to parade the company under +arms without delay; then, taking my glass, I went to the top of the +ridge. Lying down before reaching the crest, I looked through the +screening grass and saw a party of eighty-three Indians, halted and +apparently in consultation. They were in full war costume, and were +painted and feathered to the height of Indian skill. + + + + +III + +WARLIKE PUEBLOS + + +The party of Indians halted for nearly ten minutes, evidently in +excited dispute, accompanying their talk with much gesticulation. I +had time to notice that the details of dress were not like those of +the Navajos with whom we had recently had a fight; but as the old +hunter Cordova had pronounced them Navajos, I gave the matter little +consideration. They did not seem to be aware of the existence of an +encampment of soldiers in the valleys, and after a brief delay moved +on towards La Puerta. + +Returning to the parade, I ordered the six mules and four ponies +brought to my door, saddled and bridled, and all the men not on guard +to assemble under arms with cartridge-boxes filled. Fortunately, the +mail-riders had arrived the previous evening from Santa Fé, so I +ordered them to form a part of the expedition, and placed the party +of thirteen under command of Sergeant Cunningham, mounted upon my +horse. + +The sergeant was directed to take the "reserved trail" through the +hills into the valley of San Antonio and bring his men into the +western end of La Puerta before the Indians could pass through it. I +impressed it upon him on no account to fire unless the redmen showed +fight, to leave his mules and horses concealed in the timber at the +entrance of the cańon, and so dispose his men as to convey the +impression that thirteen was but a part of his force. + +Just before the horsemen were to start I overheard Private Tom Clary, +who was mounted on Frank's recent equine acquisition, Sancho, say to +the boy: + +"Corpril Frank, laddie, can ye give me the Naviho words for _whoa_ and +_get up_? I'm afeared the little baste 'll not understand me English, +and may attimpt to lave for his troibe." + +"You needn't speak to him, Tom. Use your reins, curb, and spurs," +replied the boy. + +"True for you, corpril; a pull to stop, and a spur to go ahead. That's +a language that nades no interpreter." + +For myself, I proposed to follow up the Navajos with the rest of the +company as soon as they were fairly within the cańon, and I expected +to capture them without blood-shed. + +We started, the mounted men turning to the north of the wooded point +and entering the forest, and the footmen marching direct for La +Puerta. I kept my men out of sight under the rolls of the valley +surface, and moved at quick time. When the redmen were well within the +walls of the cańon we deployed right and left, and closed up rapidly +behind them. + +The Indians showed perceptible astonishment when they perceived this +unexpected and warlike demonstration, but they soon recovered, and +then, feeling the superiority of the mounted man over the footman, +they broke into derisive shouts and made gestures conveying their +contempt for us. This continued for some time, when they suddenly +showed confusion. They dashed at a gallop to the north side of the +passage, and skirted it for a considerable distance, as if looking for +a place of escape. Failing to find one they dashed wildly to the other +side, where they met with no better success, and then they halted and +consulted. + +Presently one of their number rode out and waved a white cloth. Upon +this I approached alone and made signs for them to dismount and lay +down their arms. They did so, and at another sign withdrew in a body, +when my men picked up everything and collected their ponies. + +I was certainly surprised at such a bloodless result of my strategy, +and, after shaking hands with the chief, began my return march to +camp. + +We had gone but a short distance when I overheard Private Clary, one +of the mounted men, who was riding near me, say to Private Hoey beside +him. + +"D'ye moind the cut uv thim chaps' hair, Jarge?" + +"Indade I do that, Tom," replied George. + +"Thim's no Navihos!" + +"Not a bit uv it. I'd as soon expict to see one in currls!" + +I had a wholesome respect for the opinions of these old soldiers, for +they had campaigned against Indians in Texas, Utah, Colorado, and New +Mexico long before I had seen a more savage redman than the indolent, +basket-making descendants of the Passamaquoddies and Penobscots. +Accordingly, without appearing to notice their remarks, I approached +the chief, and said, interrogatively: + +"Apache?" + +A shake of the head. + +"Ute?" + +Another shake. + +"Navajo?" + +"Si, seńor!" he said, with a bow of his head, and I moved triumphantly +on, satisfied that my eighty-three prisoners were Navajos. + +But presently I heard Clary ask, "Jarge, did ye iver see Navihos with +blankets like thim?" + +"Niver!" answered Hoey, emphatically. + +Evidently the two soldiers did not believe they were Navajos, and were +"talking at me." But if not Navajos, Apaches, or Utes, who were these +warriors? + +When we were near camp we were met by Cordova, who had remained behind +to recover from the fatigue of his early morning run. As soon as he +came up to the Indians there seemed to be an immediate recognition. He +and the chief met and embraced, and conversed for a few moments in a +language that was neither English nor Spanish. Then the hunter turned +to me, looking shamefaced, and said, in Spanish, "Lieutenant, these +Indians are Pueblos, of Santo Domingo." + +Whoever knows the character of the Pueblos will appreciate the joke I +had perpetrated upon myself. Many towns in New Mexico are inhabited by +these Indians--towns which stood on their present sites when Coronado +entered the country in 1541. They form an excellent part of the +population, being temperate, frugal, and industrious. They dress in +Indian style, and when at war paint and disfigure themselves like any +other of the red peoples, so that a green soldier would see no +difference between them and the wilder tribes. + +The Pueblos explained that they were in pursuit of a band of Navajos +who had stolen some of their cattle the previous night. When they +first saw Cordova they attempted to approach him to inquire if he had +seen any Navajo "signs." + +My appearance and warlike demonstrations they could not account for, +not knowing there was a camp of soldiers in the valley. When I put +the questions, Apache? Ute? Navajo? the chief thought I was asking him +if he was in pursuit of a party of one of those tribes. Being in +pursuit of Navajos, he answered yes to that name. + +A week after my captives had returned to their homes in Santo Domingo, +at the close of a long and fruitless search for their lost stock, a +gentleman and his servant, mounted on broncos and leading a pack-mule, +rode up to my cabin late in the afternoon. He introduced himself as a +government Indian agent for the Navajos, and handed me a letter from +the department commander. It stated that the bearer was on his way to +the Indian pueblo of Jemez, to prevent the massacre of a number of +Navajo women, children, and old men who had sought asylum there, and +authorized me to furnish him with all the aid in my power. + +After dismounting and entering my quarters, the agent stated that, the +Navajo country being over-run by national troops, many of the +principal men had sent their wives and children, with a few old men, +to Jemez for safety; that the party of Dominicans which had been +recently captured by us, being bitterly disappointed at their lack of +success in retaking their missing cattle, had determined to go to +Jemez and wreak vengeance upon the enemy. + +The Santo Dominicans had informed the people of Jemez that if they +interfered to prevent the slaughter of the Navajos they would be +considered by the military authorities as allies of that tribe, and +treated accordingly. + +Convinced, from what the agent told me, that I should act without +unnecessary delay, I proposed that we should start for Jemez at once, +but he declared himself too much fatigued by a long journey to +undertake a night ride of twenty-six miles. My instructions from the +general were to conform my movements to the wishes of the agent, so I +very reluctantly and much against my convictions concluded to wait +until morning. He strongly insisted there was no reason for haste, as +the Dominicans had not planned to leave their pueblo before noon. + +We set out, therefore, at four o'clock next morning. Sergeant +Cunningham asked permission to accompany the expedition, and I allowed +him to do so, leaving Sergeant Mulligan in charge until our return. + +We were a party of thirteen, mounted on every available animal in +camp. Henry was left behind, but Frank accompanied us, mounted on the +recently captured Sancho, proud of his horse and proud to be included +in the detachment. + +We passed through an interesting country, filled with wind-carven +pillars and minarets, eroded shelves and caverns, and lunched at +noonday beside a dozen boiling sulphur springs. We also passed +Cańoncito, the little village which was the home of José Cordova. + +As we came in sight of the tinned spires of the church at Jemez, we +heard a distinct murmur, and halted at once. In a moment the murmur +swelled into an unmistakable Indian war-whoop. It was plainly evident +the Dominicans had arrived before us. + +As soon as I heard the war-whoop I told Sergeant Cunningham to bring +up the men as rapidly as possible, sticking to the travelled road, +and, accompanied by the agent and Corporal Frank, I put spurs to my +horse and dashed towards the town. + +Our route was through the cultivated land, while that of the soldiers +was on the hard ground along the foot-hills. Ours was in a direct +line, over deep, soft earth, frequently crossed by irrigating ditches, +while theirs, although nearly treble the distance, was over firm soil +without a break. We struck directly for the church spires, which I +knew rose from the central plaza. + +Often we plunged down the banks of _acequias_, carrying avalanches of +soil with us into two or three feet of water, to make a difficult +scramble up the crumbling wall of the opposite side; and as we neared +the pueblo, the louder grew the discordant yells of the Dominicans. + +As I reached the border of the plantation I found between me and the +road, which here entered the town, a cactus hedge about five feet +high, with no passage through it except at a considerable distance to +the right. The agent veered away to the opening, but Corporal Frank +kept Sancho close behind me, and I gave my good thoroughbred his head +and rode sharply at the hedge, cleared it at a bound, receiving but a +few scratches from the cactus spines. Turning my head as I came into +the road, I saw Frank come through like a trooper and join me. + +Clear of the hedge, I found myself at the foot of a narrow street +which passed between two tall adobe buildings and entered the plaza +near the centre of its western side. I took it at a run, and when +half-way through saw directly before its inner end, facing the north, +a group of old, gray-haired Navajos standing alone with their arms +folded, and holding their blankets firmly about their breasts, while +in their immediate front were some one hundred mounted Indians, +painted and ornamented in true aboriginal warrior style. + +On the terraced fronts of the houses and their flat roofs, and along +the three sides of the square, seemed to be gathered the entire +population of the town, looking passively on. + +Before I had more than taken in the situation, a rattling discharge of +rifles came from the direction of the Dominicans, and the old men fell +in a heap to the ground. Covered with dust and mud, our horses reeking +with foam, Corporal Frank and I burst through the crowd of spectators +on the west side of the plaza, and gained the open space just as the +firing-party was advancing with gleaming knives and wild yells to +complete the tragedy by scalping the slain. + +Raising my right hand I shouted, in Spanish, "Stop where you are!" + +Frank had unslung his carbine and was holding it by the small of the +stock in his right hand, the barrel resting in his left, looking +calmly and resolutely at the hesitating Indians. The blood of three +generations of soldierly ancestors was thrilling his veins with a +resolution to act well in any emergency which might arise. + +The Pueblos halted, and at the same moment a group of eighteen women +and nearly three times as many children, some of them in arms, who had +been reserved--as I afterwards learned--for later shooting, ran into +the space and clung to my feet, stirrups, and the mane and tail of my +horse, entreating with eyes and voices for protection. + +The war-cries had ceased and the Dominicans had gathered in an angry +and gesticulating group, when Sergeant Cunningham and the rest of the +men appeared on foot, running into the plaza from a side street, and +formed in line before us. + +The massacre ended with the death of the old men. Aided by the agent +and the Catholic priest of the pueblo I succeeded in impressing upon +the Jemez warriors that they must discountenance any further hostile +demonstrations of the Santo Dominicans, and told the latter that +unless they promptly withdrew and departed for their own reservation I +should punish them for their recent conduct. They at once sullenly +departed. + +That evening, by the light of a brilliant moon, the dead Navajos were +buried upon a hill-top overlooking the town, amid the wailing of their +women and much ceremonious demonstration by the Jemez people, and +Frank and I retired for the night to the house of the hospitable +priest. + +Early the following morning I held an inspection of the mules and +horses, and finding the wheel and swing spans were much exhausted by +the unaccustomed gait they had maintained in the forced march from the +valleys, I determined to give them a day's rest before making the +return trip. Finding Sergeant Cunningham's, Frank's, and my own horses +none the worse for their exertions, I concluded that we three would +return at once to camp. I placed Corporal Duffy in charge of the +party, and told him after one day had passed to return by way of the +hot springs. + +Instead of returning by the route we came, the sergeant, Frank, and I +were to take a shorter and rougher one pointed out to us by Padre +Gutierrez. This trail was almost as straight as an arrow, but led +through a section of the country over which we had not scouted. At +half-past nine o'clock the three of us started, Vic bounding and +barking at my horse's head. + + + + +IV + +IN A NAVAJO TRAP + + +Six miles from Jemez our road, which, after leaving the cultivated +valley of the Pueblos had narrowed to a path, entered the forest and +ran along the side of a small brook, which it continued to follow for +several miles, and then rose gradually to the side of a range of +hills. We were walking our animals along the side of this acclivity, +at a considerable distance above the brook on our left, their hoofs +making no noise in the soft, black earth, when I was startled by the +braying of an ass somewhere in the ravine. + +Sergeant Cunningham and Corporal Frank threw themselves quickly from +their saddles and held the horses by the bits to prevent them from +responding to the greeting, and I quickly sought a place from which I +could make an observation. + +We were in a clump of evergreen trees which commanded a view of the +ravine and obscured us from sight in all directions. Looking across +the ravine, I caught a glimpse of a party of Indians a little beyond +the brook. Through my glass I made them out to be a party of +twenty-seven Navajos, sitting about a camp-fire eating their dinner. + +As many ponies were grazing near, and a mule and burro. From certain +peculiar markings I had observed the day Cordova joined me in the +valleys, I had no difficulty in recognizing the last two animals to be +his property. Packs were lying near the fire, showing that the +captured animals were being used as beasts of burden. + +All this time I had entirely overlooked the presence of my dog Vic. +Had I thought of her in season, it would have been easy to have kept +her close at my heels; but I had left her free to wander, not thinking +of any threatening danger. + +Suddenly I heard a chorus of grunts from the Indians, and looking in +their direction I saw Vic stand for an instant with her forefeet on a +prostrate log, look questioningly at the savages, and then drop down +into the furze and disappear. + +The sight of a white man's dog, wearing a brilliant metallic collar, +produced an electrical effect. Instantly the redmen sprang to their +feet, seized their arms, and began saddling and bridling their ponies. + +"Vic has betrayed us, sergeant," I said. "We must get out of here as +quickly as possible." + +As we sprang into our saddles and regained the trail Vic came with a +bound before us, and I immediately gave her positive orders to keep +close at our heels. We rode as fast as it was possible to do without +making a noise, hoping that we might get a considerable distance away +before we were discovered. We had not proceeded far, however, when a +yell announced that we were seen. + +As we galloped on we saw that it was impossible for the Indians to +cross to our side of the ravine. Every mile we passed the path rose +higher and the sides of the stream grew more precipitous. The Indians +were pursuing a path parallel to ours and about half a mile in our +rear. What was the nature of the country ahead we did not know. The +fact that they were pursuing, and with such eagerness, seemed to +indicate they knew of some advantage to be gained farther on. + +On and on we rode, I in advance, the sergeant next, and Frank behind. +The trail wound through the trees and clumps of underbrush, with +occasional openings through which we could catch glimpses of our eager +pursuers. The prospect appeared exceedingly gloomy. + +As we galloped on I noticed at last, through a rift in the wood a +considerable distance in advance, an eminence or butte which lifted +its summit nearly three hundred feet skyward, and which presented on +the side towards us an almost perpendicular wall. When we approached +it we saw a neat log-cabin nestling under its overarching brow. We +dismounted, led our panting and utterly exhausted animals into the +cabin, closed the doors, and went to the windows with our rifles. + +The cabin was about thirty by twenty feet in area, and stood with its +northern end close against the perpendicular wall of the butte, with +an overhanging cliff a hundred feet above it. If a stone had been +dropped from the sheltering cliff it would have fallen several feet +away from the cabin's southern wall. + +At the end of the cabin farthest from the butte the ground upon which +it stood broke off perpendicularly twenty feet downward, to a +spring--the source of the brook we had been following since we left +Jemez. The only way to cross from one trail to the other, except by +going several miles down the brook or to the north end of the butte, +was, therefore, through the cabin, and for this purpose a door had +been placed in each side. The cabin could be approached only on the +east and west sides, and was unassailable at its north and south ends. + +Each wall contained a small window, except the one which rested +against the butte, and there a wide, stone fireplace had been built. +Three men with plenty of rations and ammunition could make a good +defence. Water could be had by lowering a bucket or canteen from the +southern window to the spring, twenty-four feet below its sill. + +The Indians had discovered that we had found shelter from their +pursuit and for the present were safe, and all but five, who soon +afterwards appeared in the edge of the forest to the east, had joined +the main party to the west of us. They showed great respect for our +place of refuge and rifles, and kept well out of range. The +sergeant's and my Springfield rifle could throw a bullet farther and +could be loaded more rapidly than any rifles in their possession, and +Frank with his Spencer could fire about twenty balls to our one. + +We removed the saddles and bridles from our animals, and, hitching +them in the corners each side of the fireplace, began a discussion of +our prospects. + +"If we could keep a couple of fires going before the doors during the +night, sir," said the sergeant, "we might keep them away." + +"I am afraid a fire would be of greater advantage to them than to us," +I replied; "we should have to expose ourselves every time we +replenished it. I wonder if the roof is covered with earth? It is +flat." + +"I'll tell you in half a minute, sir," said Frank, and entering the +fireplace he proceeded to ascend the wide-mouthed chimney by stepping +on projecting stones of which it was built. In a moment he called down +to me, "Yes, sir; it is covered with about two feet of earth." + +"All right then. If we can get pine enough to keep a blaze going then +we will have one. A fire on the roof will illuminate everything about +us and leave our windows and doorways in darkness. It will aid our aim +and confuse the Indians." + +We set to work at once and pulled down all the bunks, and with large +stones from the fireplace succeeded in breaking into fragments the +pine puncheons and posts of which they were made. Then Sergeant +Cunningham ascended the chimney and tore away one side of the part +which projected above the roof--the side looking in the direction +opposite the precipice. This would enable one of us to stand in the +top and replenish the fire, and at the same time remain concealed from +the enemy. As we could be fired upon from only two directions, the +fire tender would be safe. + +Fortunately, Padre Gutierrez's housekeeper had put up a lunch +sufficient to last us, including Vic, for three days, and water could +be drawn easily through the southern window with a canteen and lariat. + +"I'm afraid those chaps 'll get us in the end, sir," observed the +sergeant. "Of course we can eat horse-meat for a while after our +victuals are gone, but we are three and they are twenty-seven--we are +prisoners and they are free." + +"Very true, sergeant," I replied, "but something may turn up in our +favor. The Jemez party will reach camp day after to-morrow, and when +it learns we are not there we shall be looked up." + +"If another party of Navajos don't jump them, sir." + +"Of course, the chances are against us, sergeant, but let us keep up +our spirits and make a good fight." + +"I'll do my best, sir, as I always have done, but this is a beastly +hole to be caught in." + +"But why don't you send Vic for help, Mr. Duncan?" asked Frank. + +"Laddie, I believe you have saved us! Thank you for the suggestion. +We'll put the little girl's education to a practical test." + +"What! Going to send her to Jemez for the men?" asked Sergeant +Cunningham. + +"No; I hardly think I could make her understand our wishes in that +direction, but there is no doubt she can be sent to camp. She has done +that many times." + +"Yes, sir, she'll go to the valley," said Frank. "You know I sent her +with a message to you from San Antonio Valley, six miles. I wonder how +far camp is from here?" + +"'Bout nine miles," replied the sergeant; "but she'll do it, I think. +Look at her!" + +Vic had come forward, and sat looking intelligently from one to the +other of us while this discussion ran on. + +"All right, little girl," I said, patting and smoothing her silky +coat, "you shall have a chance to help us after dusk. Go and lie down +now." + +The dog went to a corner and, lying down on Frank's saddle-blanket, +appeared to sleep; and while Corporal Frank took my place at a window +I wrote a message to Sergeant Mulligan at the camp, describing our +desperate situation and requesting him to send a detachment to our +rescue. I also prepared a flat, pine stick, and wrote upon it, in +plain letters, "Examine her collar." I intended she should carry the +stick in her mouth, as she had hitherto carried articles and messages, +fearing she would not understand she was to go on an errand unless all +the conditions of her education were observed. + +During that day the Navajos simply showed their presence occasionally +among the trees, far away on either flank. We once heard the rapid +strokes of an axe, as of chopping, and wondered what it could mean. +Nothing further happened till dusk. Then I called Vic and attached the +note to her collar, wrapped in a piece of my handkerchief. + +"I think, sergeant," I said, "we had better send our message before it +gets darker and the Navajos close up nearer or the corporal lights his +fire." + +"Yes, she can't leave any too soon, sir, I think. It's going to be +pokerish work for us before morning, and I shall be mighty glad to see +a few of old Company F appear round that rock." + +After fastening the note securely in the dog's collar, I placed the +stick in her mouth and, opening the eastern door, said, "Now, little +Vic, take that stick to the sergeant--go!" + +She turned from the doorway, crossed the room, and dropped the stick +at Sergeant Cunningham's feet. The sergeant stooped, and placing his +hand under her chin raised her head upward and laid his bronze cheek +affectionately upon it. "Well, Vicky," he said, "there is but one +sergeant in the world to you, and he is here, isn't he?" + +"That's so, sir," exclaimed Corporal Frank, addressing me. "We never +sent her to anybody but you, the sergeant, and the cook." + +"True enough. I'll have to send her to the cook--the only one now in +camp to whom she has borne messages. As he is the dispenser of fine +bones and dainties, and she has had nothing to eat since morning, +perhaps it is as well he is to receive this message. Here, Vic," +placing the chip once more in her mouth, "take this stick to the +cook--go!" + +The setter looked at me an instant, then at the sergeant and corporal, +walked to the door, looked out, and then glanced questioningly at me. + +"Yes, little one; the cook--go!" + +She bounded through the doorway and turned the corner of the butte at +a run, bearing our summons to our comrades at Los Valles Grandes. + +For some time after the departure of Vic the sergeant and I stood at +our windows and gloomily watched the darkness deepen in the woods. +Frank looked out of the window above the spring and was also silent. +I was disposed to put off the lighting of our fire upon the roof as +long as it appeared safe to do so, in order to husband our fuel. The +animals, disappointed of the forage usually furnished them at this +hour, stamped impatiently and nosed disdainfully the stale straw and +pine plumes which we had emptied from the bunks and which were now +scattered over the floor. + +It was during a momentary lull of this continuous noise that I heard a +crushing sound as of a heavy wheel rolling over twigs and gravel, but +was unable to guess its meaning. + +Fearing that further delay to light our fire might bring disaster upon +us, I told Corporal Frank to kindle it. He ascended the chimney, +lighted a few splinters of pitch-pine and placed them upon the roof, +and as soon as they were well lighted added to them half a dozen +billets of wood which Sergeant Cunningham passed up to him. Soon a +brilliant blaze was leaping upward, and, being reflected strongly by +the white sandstone of the overhanging cliff, lighted the whole space +about the cabin. + +As soon as Frank descended to the floor we gazed long and anxiously +out of the windows. Everything about us was now plainly visible to our +eyes, and we felt sure our movements could not be seen by the Navajos. +To the east all was silent, and for a long while we saw nothing in +that direction to suggest a lurking foe. To the west we could see no +enemy, but the same mysterious sound of crushing and grinding came to +our ears. What could it be, and what did it threaten? Adjusting my +field-glass I looked from my window in the direction of the puzzling +sound, and on the farther edge of the opening, near the wood, saw a +log about three feet in diameter and twenty-five or more in length +slowly rolling towards us, propelled by some unseen force. + +Passing the glass to the sergeant, I said: "The Indians seem to be +rolling a log in our direction. What do you think of it?" + +"I think it's easy to understand, sir," replied the sergeant, after a +long look. "That log is a movable breastwork, which can be rolled to +our door." + +"True, sergeant. Probably a dozen or more warriors are lying behind it +and rolling it forward. Rather a black prospect for us if we cannot +stop it!" + +We all three gathered at the western window, and for some moments +watched the slow approach of the moving breastwork. + + + + +V + +A SIEGE AND AN AMBUSCADE + + +We continued to watch long and anxiously the slowly rolling log. Not a +glimpse of the motive power could be obtained, but it ground and +crushed its way along with ominous certainty, straight in our +direction. + +Just as I had come to the conclusion that assistance could not arrive +in time, the log stopped. I looked through my glass and saw the cause. + +"Sergeant," I exclaimed, "the log has struck a rock! Open the door and +draw a bead on it! Don't let a man leap over it to remove the stone! +Corporal, guard the east window!" + +The sergeant stood ready at the open door. All the efforts of the +prostrate men behind the log had no effect, except to swing the end +farthest from the obstacle slightly ahead. + +"There seems to be nothing for them to do but to remove the stone. +Keep a sharp eye on the log, sergeant!" + +I had hardly spoken when a sudden discharge of rifles ran irregularly +along the length of the log, and under cover of the fire and smoke a +stalwart warrior leaped over, raised the stone, and had borne it +nearly to the top, when Sergeant Cunningham's rifle spoke sharply. + +The stone dropped on our side; the Indian fell forward, with his arms +extended towards his friends, who pulled him over the log, and he was +screened from our sight. The volley of the Navajos did us no harm. + +Corporal Frank replenished the fire on our roof from time to time, and +our vigilant watch went on. At last the sergeant, who still stood at +the open door, exclaimed, "Lieutenant, the stone is moving! It's +dropping into the ground!" + +"It's gone, and here comes our fate," I said. "They must have dug +under the log with their knives and sunk the stone." + +"Yes, sir, and they're safe to reach the cabin door and roast us out." + +"If there were two or three more stones in the way, sergeant, the +delay they would cause might serve us until help comes." + +"I'll run out there with one, Mr. Duncan," said Frank. + +"No, laddie," replied the sergeant, "that's a duty for me. I'll drop a +couple there in a minute." + +"And when you return, sergeant, I will drop two more," said I. + +We went quickly to work to carry out our plan. The corporal once more +mended the fire, and then we selected from the loose rubbish which had +been torn from the top of the chimney several large-sized stones. + +Removing his shoes, the sergeant, with my assistance, raised two big +stones to his breast, and stood in the doorway with them clasped +firmly in his arms. I took the revolvers in my hands, whispered the +word, and he started out at a rapid walk, setting his feet down +carefully and without noise. He dropped the stones, one before the +other, without attracting attention, and regained the cabin without a +shot being fired on either side. + +Now it was my turn, and I went beyond the place where he had dropped +his last stone. + +At that instant an alarm was shouted from the distant wood, and an +Indian raised his head above the log and fired. The bullet struck the +falling rock, and sent a shower of stinging splinters into my face. I +turned and fled. + +With the discharge of the Indian's rifle Sergeant Cunningham and +Corporal Frank opened a rapid fusillade with the revolvers, which +successfully covered my retreat to the cabin; but we knew that our +last chance at stone-dropping was past. + +Several terribly long hours had crept past since we saw Vic turn the +butte on her errand to the valleys. Judging by the time it had taken +the Navajos to bore a tunnel under their log and undermine the first +trigging-stone, we estimated that two more hours must pass before the +four obstructions we had placed in their way could be removed, unless +they took some more speedy method. + +It was quite nine miles to camp, and the dog could easily reach it in +about an hour. If she had arrived, help should by this time be fairly +on the way; but if she had been killed by the besiegers before she +reached the north end of the butte, or had been torn in pieces by the +wolves! + +Should the log once reach our door, we could not hope to do more than +make the price of our lives dear to the enemy. + +While the sergeant and I stood at the door and window, speculating in +no very hopeful vein over these probabilities, there came a scratch at +the eastern door. Frank was at the window on that side, and, startled +by the sound, he called to us, "I'm afraid an Indian has sneaked up on +us, sir." + +Again the scratching was heard, this time accompanied by a familiar +whine, which presently swelled into a low bark. + +"Oh, Mr. Duncan, it's Vic! It's Vic!" shouted the boy, and, springing +to the door, he flung it wide open. + +In trotted Vic, and, coming up to me, she dropped a stick at my feet +bearing the words: "In the collar, as before." + +It took some little time for Corporal Frank to secure the messenger. +She capered about the room, licked our hands and faces, jumped up to +the noses of the ponies, and behaved as if she was conscious of +having performed a great feat and was overjoyed to have returned +safely. + +But Vic surrendered to the boy at last, and, submitting her neck for +inspection, he found attached to her collar a letter which read as +follows: + + "CAMP AT LOS VALLES GRANDES. + + "_November 20, 1863_. + + "Lieutenant,--Message received, and the messenger fed. + Corporal Coffey and eight men leave here at 10.15 P.M. + + "JAMES MULLIGAN, _Sergeant_." + +"Come here, little doggie," said Sergeant Cunningham. "If we get out +of this, the company shall pay for a silver collar and a medal of +honor for the finest dog in the army." + +"If that detail marches at the regulation gait of three miles an +hour," I said, "it should be here by a quarter-past one, and it is now +a quarter to twelve." + +My anxiety over our prospects was so great I neglected to show proper +gratitude to our devoted messenger. + +"The men will do better than that, sir, if they keep on the road. The +trouble will be in finding this trail. They have never been this +way." + +"I think the junction of this and the hot-springs trail cannot be far +from here. Let's take a shot at that log every three minutes from now +on, and the noise may attract our friends." + +We began firing at once, aiming at the under side of the log where it +touched the earth. I am confident this must have sent some sand and +gravel into the eyes of the rollers, if it did no other damage. + +Two of the trigging-stones we had dropped were soon undermined and +sunk, and the log had stopped at the third, less than a hundred yards +away. As it came on, the sergeant climbed to the top of the chimney, +and shortly afterwards returned with the report that he had seen the +prostrate body of a warrior revealed beyond--good evidence that his +first shot had been fatal. If the next two stones should be as rapidly +removed as the others, we feared the Indians would reach us, unless +the rescuing party prevented, at about half-past twelve. + +Marked by our periodical shots at the log, the time hurried all too +rapidly on, the Indians slowly and surely approaching the cabin. + +The third stone disappeared, and the log moved with a louder grating +over the gravelly soil to the fourth and last obstacle, about thirty +yards away, and paused. + +"I believe, lieutenant," said Cunningham, "I could hit those fellows' +legs now from the chimney." + +"All right, sergeant. Close your door and go up and try it," I +replied. "A redskin with a broken leg can do us as little injury as +one with a broken head." + +The words were hardly spoken and the sergeant had barely reached the +fireplace, when, as if in anticipation of this movement, two figures +leaped over the end of the log nearest the perpendicular rock, ran to +the corner formed by the cabin and the wall, and by the aid of the +dovetailed ends of the logs clambered quickly to the roof. I sent a +shot at them, but it had no effect. + +No sooner had they reached the roof than they threw the flaming brands +and coal of our bonfire down the chimney, where they broke into +fragments and rolled over the floor, setting fire to the scattered +straw and plumes. + +Busy putting stops into the windows, and fastening them and the doors, +we could do nothing to extinguish the fire before it got well under +way. + +A blanket was thrown over the top of the chimney to prevent a draught, +and soon the whole interior was thick with stifling smoke. + +The horses plunged frantically, sending the fire in every direction. +Our eyes began to smart painfully, and we felt ourselves suffocating +and choking in the thick and poisonous atmosphere. + +To remain in the house was to be burned alive; to leave it was to +perish, perhaps, in a still more horrible way. Just as I was on the +brink of despair, the sergeant gasped rather than spoke: + +"They are here, lieutenant. Hark! Hark!" + +Ping! Ping! We heard the sound of rifle-shots, accompanied by a good, +honest, Anglo-Saxon cheer. Was there ever sweeter music? + +The war-whoops ceased, the blanket was quickly withdrawn from the +chimney-top, and two thuds on the east side of the cabin showed the +Indians had left the roof. A general scurrying of feet and other thuds +down the perpendicular wall back of the spring were evidence that the +besiegers were in full and demoralized flight. + +We threw the doors open, and our friends rushed in, and before a +greeting was uttered feet and butts of rifles were sweeping brands and +straw into the fireplace, and the roaring draught was fast clearing +the air. + +Before I had fairly recovered my sight, and while still engaged in +wiping away the tears the smoke had excited to copious flow, I heard a +sobbing voice near me say: + +"Oh, Franky, brother, if it had not been for dear little Vicky what +would have happened to you?" + +Blinking my eyes open, I saw the boy corporals with their right arms +about each other's neck, holding their Spencers by the muzzles in +their left hands. + +"Why, Henry," I said, "you did not make that march with the men?" + +"Couldn't keep him back, sir," answered Corporal Coffey. "Said his +place was with his brother. Made the march like a man, and fired the +first shot when we turned the bluff." + +We shook hands all round, and then went out to see whether the volleys +of the rescuing party had inflicted any punishment upon the Navajos. +Two dead Indians lay near the cabin, and farther away the one that +had fallen when attempting to remove the obstacle before the log. +There were traces of others having been wounded. + +A fire was promptly kindled outside the cabin, and we sat about it for +a time to rest and enjoy a lunch. The horses had been somewhat singed +about the legs, but were not disabled. An hour afterwards Sergeant +Cunningham placed Corporal Henry on his pony, Chiquita, and we started +for the valleys. + +At daybreak the day after we left Jemez we reached camp, and on the +evening of the same day the detachment we had left behind for a rest +also arrived, without adventure on the march. Cordova and his son at +once set out on the trail of the Navajos, whom we reported to be in +possession of their animals, to ascertain why they were in our +vicinity. + +After four days' scouting the Mexicans returned with the information +that they found the Indians had left their camp on the Jemez road +after their defeat. They had struck straight through the hills for the +Rio Grande, where they joined the main body, the same which had +attacked us the day after our arrival in the valleys, and which had +recently made several successful raids on the flocks and herds near +Peńa Blanca and Galisteo. + +It was the guide's opinion that the party which had besieged me in the +cabin had been to the valleys to see what chance there was of running +captured stock through there. Their report must have been favorable, +for Cordova said a detachment of forty-seven Navajos was now encamped +in Los Vallecitos, apparently intending to pass us the following night +with a large number of cattle, horses, mules, and sheep. + +I began at once to make preparations to retake the stolen stock and to +capture the Navajos. + +That the Navajos, if they were watching our movements, might not +surmise we knew of their presence near us, I ordered the scouting +party and huntsmen not to go out next morning, and all the men to keep +within the limits of the parade. + +The next evening I marched all the company, except the guard, +including the boy corporals, by way of the reserved trail into the +valley of St. Anthony, and entered La Puerta from the western end. +This was done for fear some advance-guard of the redmen might witness +our movement if we went by the usual way, and because so large a party +might leave a trail visible to the keenly observant enemy even by +starlight, and there would be moonlight before we could cross the +valley. + +It was my intention to make an ambush in La Puerta. In the narrowest +part of that cańon, where it was barely fifty yards wide, the walls +rose perpendicularly on each side. A hundred yards east and west of +this narrowest portion of the pass were good places of concealment. I +placed Sergeant Cunningham and thirteen men at the western end, and +took as many and the boys with me to the eastern. + +The sergeant was instructed to keep his men perfectly quiet until the +head of the herd had passed their place of concealment, and then, +under cover of the noise made by the moving animals, to slip down into +the cańon, and when the rear of the herd came up make a dash across +the front of the Indians and begin firing, taking care not to hit us. + +For myself, I intended to drop into the pass with my detachment when +the Navajo rear had passed, deploy, and bag the whole party and the +booty. + +It was a long and tiresome wait before the raiders appeared. The men +had been told that they might sleep, and many of them had availed +themselves of the permission. + +The moon rose soon after ten o'clock, and made our surroundings +plainly visible in the rarefied atmosphere peculiar to the arid region +of the plains and Rockies. I sat on a bowlder and watched through the +tedious hours until three o'clock, when Corporal Frank approached from +the direction of the place where his brother was sleeping. + +"What sound is that, Mr. Duncan?" he whispered. + +I listened intently, and presently heard the distant bleating of +sheep, and soon after the deeper low of an ox. + +"The Indians must be approaching," I replied. "You may stir up the +men. Be careful that no noise is made." + +I continued to listen, and after a long time noticed a sound like the +rushing of wind in a pine forest. It was the myriad feet of the +coming flocks and herds, hurrying along the grassy valley. The men +began to assemble about me, all preserving perfect silence, listening +for the approaching Indians. + +Another half-hour passed, and over a roll in the surface of the +valley, revealed against the sky, looking many times their actual size +in the uncertain perspective, appeared two tall figures, whose nearer +approach showed to be mounted Indians piloting the captured stock, +which followed close behind. + +"Corporal Henry," I said, "drop carefully down into the trail and +skirt closely along the wall until you come to Sergeant Cunningham's +position, and tell him the Indians are close by. Tell him also to +allow the two Indians in advance to pass unmolested." + +I sent this order by the younger boy because I suspected he was +feeling that Corporal Frank's expedition to Jemez, with the adventures +of the return trip, had given him a certain prominence to be envied. I +meant Henry should divide honors with his brother hereafter. + +The little corporal silently disappeared beneath the wall, and a few +minutes afterwards the two Indians entered the defile, and the goats +and sheep, which had been spread widely over the open valley, +scampered, crowded, and overleaped one another as they closed into the +narrow way. There seemed to be fully two thousand of them, +intermingled with a motley herd of horses, mules, asses, and kine of +all sizes and descriptions, numbering three hundred or more, all +driven by a party of seventy-three Indians. + +The cattle-thieves were evidently congratulating themselves upon +having run the gantlet of the military camp and being out of danger, +for they had abandoned the traditional reserve of the Indian race, and +were talking loudly and hilariously as they passed my wing of the +ambuscade. The Indians fell completely into the trap, and they and the +cattle with them were captured without any difficulty. + +During the winter our supply of grain ran short, and I sent a party, +with the Cordovas as guides, to Jemez. They were unable to get through +the snow, and the elder Cordova was so badly frost-bitten that in +spite of all we could do he died in the camp. + +Then I went with a larger party, and was successful. On June 1st +orders came to break up the camp, and on the 9th the accumulated +stores of nineteen months' occupation were packed, and with a train of +ten wagons we set out for Santa Fé. + + + + +VI + +CROSSING THE RIVER + + +Two days after my arrival at the Territorial capital I was ordered to +proceed alone to Los Pinos, a town two hundred miles south, in the +valley of the Rio Grande, and report to Captain Bayard, commanding +officer of a column preparing for a march to Arizona. + +On reaching Algodones, on the eastern bank of the great river, I was +visited by a Catholic priest. He told me that Manuel Perea, the +Mexican lad with whom the boy corporals were so friendly at Santa Fé, +was a prisoner in the hands of Elarnagan, a chief of the Navajos. He +begged me to assist in his release, and I promised to do all I could, +consistently with my military duty. Two days after arriving at Los +Pinos, where I found a troop of California volunteer cavalry and also +another troop of New Mexican volunteers, the boy corporals +unexpectedly arrived. Colonel Burton had changed his plans and had +allowed them to accompany me. They at once asked to be assigned to +duty, and I promised to consult with Captain Bayard. + +My interview with him concluded, I returned to my tent and found the +boys busy in fitting up two cot bedsteads, spreading mats before them, +hanging a small mirror to the rear tent-pole, and arranging their +marching outfit as they proposed to set it up at every encampment +between the Rio Grande and Prescott. + +"Did you have this tent pitched for our use, sir?" asked Henry. + +"I did not know you were coming, corporal, so that is impossible. Your +tent was placed here some days ago by the post commander, for the +accommodation of visiting officers who have since gone. Captain Bayard +has assigned it to you." + +"Then we are to have the tent to ourselves?" + +"Yes." + +"Isn't that just jolly, Frank?" + +"Fine. To-morrow we'll place a short rail across the back for our +saddles and saddle-blankets, two pegs in the tent-pole for bridles, +and raise a box somewhere for curry-combs and brushes." + +"Can't we have Vic here, too, sir?" asked Henry. + +"And leave me all alone?" I replied. + +"You wouldn't mind it, would you, sir?" + +"Well, I'll leave it to Vic. You may make a bed for her, and we'll see +which she will occupy--yours, or her old bed near mine." + +"All right, sir; we'll try it to-night." + +"Now something about yourselves, boys. Your tent is to be always +pitched on the left of mine; you are to take your meals with the +officers, and your ponies will be taken care of by one of the men +who--" + +"That will not do, sir," interrupted Frank. "Father has always +required us to take care of our arms, clothing, and horses like other +soldiers, just as we always did in the valleys, you know. He says an +officer who rides on a march, particularly an infantry officer, should +not require a soldier who has marched on foot to wait upon him." + +"Very well; do as you choose." + +I returned to my own tent and went to bed. Placing two candles on a +support near my pillow, I tucked the lower edge of the mosquito-bar +under the edge of my mattress, and, settling back comfortably, +proceeded to read the last instalment of news from "the States"--news +which had been fifteen days on the way from the Missouri. As I read of +battle, siege, and march I was conscious that the boys were having +some difficulty in inducing Vic to remain with them. When at last all +was quiet, except their regular and restful breathing, a soft nose was +thrust up to my pillow, and I opened an aperture in the netting large +enough to exchange affectionate greetings, and Vic cuddled down on her +bed beside mine and went to sleep. This was always her custom +thereafter. While she was very fond of the boys, and spent most of her +waking hours with them, no persuasion or blandishments could prevent +her, when she knew the boys had dropped into unconsciousness, from +returning to my tent, offering me a good-night assurance of her +unchanged affection, and going to sleep upon her old bed. + +The time had now come for us to begin our march to Arizona. Company F +had arrived, and the boy corporals were again in possession of their +beautiful horses. Grain, hay, and careful attendance had put new +graces into the ponies' shapes, and kind treatment had developed in +each a warm attachment for its young master. + +The first day of our march was spent in crossing the Rio Grande del +Norte and making camp four miles beyond the opposite landing. There +was a ferry-boat at Los Pinos, operated by the soldiers of the post, +capable of taking over four wagons at a time. + +We rose at an earlier hour than usual, and by daybreak our train of +eighty-nine wagons, drawn by five hundred and thirty-four mules, was +on its way to the river. The two boy corporals joined me as I followed +the last wagon. Mounted on their handsome animals, with carbines on +their right hips, revolvers in their belts, portmanteaus behind their +saddles, and saddle-pouches on each side, they were, indeed, very +warlike in appearance. + +The two detachments of cavalry and their officers, accompanied by a +paymaster and a surgeon, proceeded at once to the river, crossed and +went into camp, leaving the infantry and its officers to perform the +labor of transferring, from one shore to the other, wagons and mules, +a herd of three hundred beef cattle, and a flock of eight hundred +sheep. The boy corporals also remained behind to act as messengers, +should any be required. + +Mules and oxen swam the stream, but the sheep were boated across. On +the last trip over our attention was attracted by a sudden shouting +up-stream, followed by a rapid discharge of fire-arms. In the river, +less than a quarter of a mile distant, were several objects making +their way towards the western shore. When near the bank, and in +shoaling water, we saw the objects rise, until three Indians and three +ponies stood revealed. As soon as they reached the shore the men +sprang into their saddles and rode rapidly away. + +A shout from our rear caused us to look towards the shore we had just +left, and we saw the post-adjutant sitting on his horse on the +embankment. He said: "Three Navajos have escaped from the guard. Send +word to Captain Bayard to try to recapture them. If they get away they +will rouse their people against you, and your march through their +country will be difficult." + +[Illustration: "MOUNTED, THE BOYS PRESENTED A WARLIKE APPEARANCE"] + +I wrote a brief message, handed it to Corporal Frank, and when the +boat touched the western landing he dashed off at full speed in the +direction of camp. + +The afternoon was well advanced when Henry and I, with the infantry, +entered the first camp of our march. We found Frank awaiting our +arrival, and learned from him that Captain Bayard had sent two +detachments of cavalry in pursuit of the Indians, and that they had +returned after a fruitless attempt to follow the trail. + +On our first evening in camp many of the officers and civilians +gathered in groups about the fires for protection against the +mosquitoes, to smoke, to discuss the route, and to relate incidents of +other marches. Captain Bayard took from his baggage a violin, and, +retiring a little apart, sawed desperately at a difficult and +apparently unconquerable exercise. There I found him at the end of a +tour of inspection of train and animals, and obtained his sanction to +a plan for the employment of the boy corporals. + +I proceeded to tell the boys what their duties would be. Corporal +Frank was to see to the providing of wood, water, and grass while we +were on the march. He was further instructed that he was to conform +his movements to mine, and act as my messenger between the train, the +main body, and the rear guard. These were to be his regular duties, +but he was to hold himself in readiness for other service, and be on +the alert for any emergency. + +The odometer with which to measure the distance to Prescott was placed +in charge of Corporal Henry, and he was told to strap this to the +spokes near the hub of the right hind wheel of the last wagon in the +train, taking care that the wagon should start from the same point +where it had turned from the main road into camp the previous day. He +was to report the distance we had marched to the commanding officer at +guard-mounting, which, on the march, always takes place in the evening +instead of morning, as at posts and permanent camps. After reaching +Fort Wingate, and taking up the march beyond, he would ride with the +advance, and act as messenger of communication with the rear; but +until then he would ride with his brother and me. + +The next morning found all ready for a start at three o'clock. The boy +corporals found it a hardship to be wakened out of a sound sleep to +wash and dress by starlight and sit down to a breakfast-table lighted +by dim lanterns. There was little conversation. All stood about the +camp-fires in light overcoats or capes, for Western nights are always +cool. + +When the boys and I started to ride out of camp we were, for a few +moments, on the flank of the infantry company. It was noticeable that +although the men were marching at "route step," when they are not +required to preserve silence, few of them spoke, and very rarely, and +they moved quite slowly. Corporal Henry, at the end of a prolonged +yawn, asked, "Are we going to start at this hour every morning, sir?" + +"Yes, usually," I replied. + +"How far do we go to-day, Frank?" + +"Eighteen miles is the scheduled distance," answered Frank. + +"How fast do men march?" + +"Three miles an hour," said I. + +"Then we shall be in camp by ten o'clock. I don't see the sense of +yanking a fellow out of bed in the night." + +"Of course, Henry, there's a good reason for everything done in the +army," observed Frank, with soldierly loyalty. + +"Where's the sense of marching in the dark when the whole distance can +be done in six hours, and the sun rises at five and sets at seven? I +prefer daylight." + +Evidently our youngest corporal had not had his sleep out, and was out +of humor. + +"Will you please explain, sir?" asked Frank. + +"With pleasure," I answered. "It is more comfortable to march in the +early morning, when it is cool. Marches rarely exceed fifteen or +twenty miles a day, except where the distance between watering-places +is more than that. Sometimes we are obliged to march forty miles a +day." + +"Seems to me the officers are very tender of the men," observed the +sleepy Henry. "Fifteen and twenty miles a day, and five or six hours +on the road, can't tire them much." + +"Why not try a march on foot, Henry?" suggested his brother. "It might +prove a useful experience." + +"Let me suggest something better," said I. "Tie your pony to the back +of that wagon, and crawl in on top of the bedding and have your nap +out." + +Henry disdained to reply, but with a long and shivering yawn relapsed +into silence. + +In a little more than six hours we reached the Rio Puerco, and forded +its roily, brackish current to a camping-place on the other side. +Harry, who with daylight and warmth had recovered his good-humor, +examined the odometer and reported the distance travelled to be 18.65 +miles. He entered in his note-book that the Spanish name Puerco meant, +as a noun, hog, and as an adjective, dirty. He thought the river well +named. He also mentioned that on the eastern side of the stream there +was an excellent camping-place, but that much pains had been taken to +ford it to a very poor one. After pondering this apparently +unreasonable movement he asked: "Why did we not camp on that grassy +park on the opposite side?" + +"I suppose it appears to you there can be no good reason for crossing +to this side?" I asked, in reply. + +"It does seem even more absurd than starting on a march just after +midnight--something like going into a wood-shed to rest on a wood-pile +when one could as well go into a parlor and rest on a divan." + +"And certainly," added Frank, "we have gained nothing in distance in +crossing. The march is to be short to-morrow." + +"Still, boys, there is quite as good a reason for doing this as for +starting early to avoid the heat of the day. These Far Western streams +have a trick of rising suddenly; very rarely, to be sure, but +frequently enough to cause commanding officers to be on their guard. A +rainfall fifty or seventy-five miles up-stream might send down a +volume of water that would make it impassable for several hours or +several days, according as the fall is large or small; so the rule in +the army is, 'cross a stream before camping.'" + +"Have you ever been caught by a rise, sir?" + +"Twice. Once on this very stream, near its mouth. I was in command of +a small escort to a train. The wagon-master advised me to cross, but I +was tempted by a fine meadow on the lower side, in contrast to a rough +place on the opposite side, to take my chances. I was compelled to +remain there five days. The other delay was on the Gallina; but that +was rising when we approached and we had no choice about crossing. We +were delayed that time but two days." + +"I heard the paymaster and surgeon grumbling about the folly of +crossing just now," said Frank. + +"Very likely; this is their first march in the Far West." + +"The captain and lieutenants heard them, but did not explain, as you +have. Why was that?" + +"There are two reasons. One is that in the army, as well as out of it, +'tenderfeet' are left to learn by experience; the other is that our +surgeon resents being cautioned or advised. Now, boys, after dinner +you had better take a _siesta_. By doing so you will find it less +difficult to make an early start to-morrow morning." + +"Thank you," replied Frank. "Tom Clary and George Hoey have told us +that a nap is the correct thing after dinner on the march. Henry and I +are going to try it." + +"I am sorry, sir," added Henry, "that I was so ill-humored this +morning. I will try to do as the soldiers do when they first start +out--say nothing till day breaks." + +"The early start was a surprise to you; you will be prepared for it +hereafter." + +A reverberating peal of thunder interrupted our conversation and +caused us to glance towards the west. There we saw a mass of dark +clouds rolling down upon us. Bolt after bolt of lightning zigzagged +across the sky and from sky to earth, and peal after peal of thunder +crashed upon our ears. + + + + +VII + +A SWOLLEN STREAM AND STOLEN PONY + + +It was our custom at all camps to park the supply-train in the form of +an oval, with the tongues of the wagons outward and the wheels locked. +An entrance, the width of a wagon, was left at one end. + +When, therefore, it became certain that a tempest was about to break +upon us, using the boy corporals as messengers, the chief wagon-master +received orders from me to drive up the mules and corral them within +the circle of wagons, and the commissary stock was hurried under the +shelter of a rocky mesa west of the camp. All this was to prevent a +stampede should the coming tempest be accompanied by wind and hail. + +Tent-pins were driven in deeper, guys tightened, cavalry horses driven +up, hobbled, and secured to picket ropes, loose articles thrown into +wagons, and every precaution taken to be in readiness for the storm. + +We had not long to wait before the rain came down in torrents. In an +incredibly short time the water was flowing swiftly down the slope to +the river. It gathered against our tent, and finding the frail +structure must go, we seized everything portable, dashed into the +furious downpour, and climbed to the tops of surrounding bowlders. + +Through the sheets of rain we could dimly see the cavalry horses +standing knee-deep in water, men looking out of the covered wagons, +into which they had crawled for shelter, or standing, like ourselves, +on the bowlders, their bodies covered with ponchos and gum blankets. +Wall-tents, the sides of which had been looped up when pitched, stood +with the flood flowing through them; cranes, upon which hung lines of +kettles in preparation for dinner, standing alone, their fires and +firewood swept away. The whole country as far as we could see was one +broad sheet of rushing water, and the river, which was little more +than a rill when we crossed it a few hours before, now rolled and +boomed, a torrent several fathoms deep and dirtier than ever. + +The storm continued little over half an hour, and with the return of +sunlight the surface water rapidly disappeared. Demoralized tents were +then set up, baggage and bedding examined, and the wet articles +exposed to the sun; and before night, except for the booming of the +river, little remained to remind us that we had been through a storm. + +Just before retreat, Frank, Henry, and I stood on the bank of the +river watching the trunks and branches of trees rush past, and the +occasional plunge of a mass of earth undermined by the current. + +"Well," said Frank, after silently contemplating the scene a few +moments, "what you told us about crossing a stream before camping upon +it has proved true, sir, and very quickly, too." + +"Yes; I think even the paymaster and surgeon must be congratulating +themselves they are on this side of that flood," I replied. + +Next morning we resumed our march at the usual hour, and passed over +23.28 miles to a deserted Mexican town and Indian pueblo. + +On the following day we crossed a chain of hills into the valley of +the Rio Gallo. As we debouched from a deep ravine we caught sight of +the pueblo of Laguna, illuminated by the sun, just rising, behind us. +The town stands upon a rocky eminence overlooking the river, which +waters, by irrigation, its large and well-cultivated valley. + +When within four miles of it I proposed to the boys that we should +hasten forward in advance of the wagons and visit the town. We +galloped on, and were hospitably received by the Indian governor, who +did the honors of the community in person. He showed us the interior +of the terraced buildings, and conducted us through the subterranean +_estufa_ where, for centuries before the invention of the +friction-match, the Indians kept their sacred fire--fire made sacred +through the difficulty of obtaining it or rekindling it when once +extinguished--and so watched day and night by sleepless sentinels. + +When we entered the town we left our horses hitched to the willows on +the bank of the irrigating ditch, near the wall of the first house, +and I ordered the dog Vic to remain with them. Three-quarters of an +hour afterwards Vic looked into the _estufa_ from above, gave three +sharp barks, and dashed away. + +We were so deeply interested in the examination of a lot of scalps, +quaint pottery, weapons of warfare, etc., that we paid no attention to +her. Presently she appeared a second time, repeated her barking, and +ran off again. A few moments later the dog again showed herself at the +sky-light, and thrusting her head downward continued to bark until I +approached the foot of the ladder. As I did so she uttered a sound of +anxiety, or distress, and disappeared. + +"Something must be the matter with our animals, boys," I remarked. +"Frank, go and see what has happened, while Henry and I take leave of +our host." + +Corporal Frank climbed the ladder two rungs at a step, while Henry and +I remained to thank the governor for his kindness and bestow some +trifling gifts upon the rabble of children that had followed us +closely throughout our visit. We then ascended the ladder and started +for the place where we had left our animals. + +Hurrying down the narrow alley we met Frank, who was nearly +breathless with exertion and excitement. While yet at a considerable +distance from us he shouted: + +"Chiquita's gone! Can't see her anywhere!" + +Hastening to the willows I found that Henry's pony was indeed missing. +I thought she had simply broken loose, and would be found somewhere in +the neighborhood, so mounted and made a hasty search. I saw our train +several miles away, toiling up a long ascent, but there was no sign of +a riderless pony on the road. On my return to the willows Henry said: + +"Chiquita did not break away, sir; her halter-strap was too strong, +and I tied it with a cavalry hitch. She must have been unfastened by +some one. Perhaps these Pueblos have stolen her." + +"She may have been stolen, as you suggest," I replied, "but not by the +Pueblos. We were their guests, and our property was sacred." + +The Indians, seeing our trouble, gathered about us, and among them I +saw the governor. Making my way to him, I explained what had happened. +He turned to his people and addressed them in his own tongue. A young +girl approached and said something, at the same time pointing to the +southwest. + +Looking in the direction indicated, over a long stretch of broken +country, bordered on the west by an irregular range of sandstone +mesas, I thought I saw a moving object near the foot of a rugged +bluff, several miles distant; but before I could adjust my field-glass +the object had turned the bluff and disappeared. One thing, however, I +did see--it was Vic, sitting on a knoll less than a mile from the +pueblo. + +"I wonder we have not thought of Vic's absence all this time," I said; +"there she is, on the trail of the thief, wondering why we do not +pursue." + +"The good doggie," said Henry. "She did her best to tell us Chiquita +was stolen, and she means to do her best to retake her." + +Turning to the governor, I asked, "Are there any Navajos about here?" + +"There is a large band in the _cienaga_, three leagues from here. The +lost pony will be found there." + +I directed Henry to run after the train and report what had happened. +"Wave your handkerchief," said I, "and some one will come to meet +you. If it should be a mounted man, take his animal, overtake Captain +Bayard, tell him all you know, and say that Frank and I have gone in +pursuit, and that I request him to send a detachment of cavalry to +look us up." + +Henry started off with a celerity begotten of his anxiety at the loss +of his pony and the fear that his brother might fall into danger +unless a body of troopers followed him closely. + +Frank and I then galloped towards Vic. As soon as the dog saw us +approaching she sprang into the air, shook herself in an ecstasy of +delight, then put her nose to the earth, and went steadily on in +advance, threading her way through clumps of sage-brush and greasewood +and along the ravines. + +The tracks of a shod pony satisfied us that we were on the trail of +Chiquita and her Navajo rider. The boy had kept well down in the +ravines and depressions, in order to screen himself from observation +and possible pursuers. We, however, were not obliged to follow his +tracks; Vic did that, and we took the general direction from her, +cutting across turnings and windings, and making much better progress +than the thief could have done. + +An hour's ride brought us to the bluff behind which I had seen an +object disappear. Vic turned it and began to ascend the almost dry bed +of the stream, in the bottom of which I could see occasional +depressions at regular distances, as if made by a horse at a trot. +Soon the brook enlarged, becoming a flowing stream, and the tracks +were no longer visible. + +That the brook flowed from the _cienaga_, or marsh, where the Navajos +were rendezvoused, was an easy inference. The Indian boy was +endeavoring to reach that place with the stolen pony. Directing Frank +to keep up the left side of the stream, and to look for tracks +indicating that Chiquita had left its bed, I took the right side and +hastened on. + +Willows now began to appear along the banks, showing that we had +reached a permanent flow of water. Twice we came to masses of bowlders +which made it impossible for a horse to travel in the stream, and we +found that the pony had skirted them. + +We had now reached a point where a small brook entered the larger one +from the right. We dismounted at the confluence to make an +observation. Vic suddenly began to bark furiously; then a yelp and a +continued cry of pain showed that the dog was hurt, and presently she +appeared with an arrow through the thick of her neck. + +Advancing cautiously I caught sight of Chiquita in a cleft of the rock +at my left, and an Indian boy standing behind her and aiming an arrow +over the saddle. A sharp twang, and the missile flew through my hair +between my right ear and my hat-rim. The boy then sprang forward, and +raised a knife as if to hamstring the pony. But it was not to be, for +a carbine spoke, and the raised arm of the Indian fell at his side. + +"Well done, Frank!" I called. + +We ran forward to capture the young Navajo, but he quickly disappeared +behind a large rock and was seen no more. Returning to the main brook +with Chiquita, we tied the horses to the willows and began a search +for Vic. I called her by all the pet names to which she was +accustomed, but received no response. I searched over as great a +distance as I dared, with a consciousness that a band of Navajos was +not far distant. + +Reluctantly abandoning our search, we were preparing to return to the +train and escort when we descried a large war-party of Indians riding +towards us from the direction of the _cienaga_. It was at once evident +they saw us, for, raising a terrific war-whoop, their irregular mass +broke for us in a furious charge. + +Death certainly awaited us if captured, and this thought prompted us +to leave our exposed position instantly. Leading Chiquita, and telling +Frank to follow, I dashed down the stream in the direction of the Fort +Wingate road. + +As we flew along, feeling positive that the Indians would overtake us, +I eagerly surveyed the rocky wall on our left, hoping to find a break +in which we could shelter ourselves and hold the enemy in check until +our friends arrived. But no opening appeared, and it seemed impossible +for us to reach Laguna alive. + +On we went into the dense bushes, a hail of bullets and a rush of +arrows about our ears. But at this moment the clear notes of a cavalry +trumpet sounded "deploy," and the California cavalry crashed through +the willows and we were saved. They broke into a skirmish-line behind +us, but only a few shots were fired and the Navajos were gone. + +Being an escort, we could not delay for further operations against the +enemy. Our duty was to return at once to the train. Frank and I were +both uninjured, but a bullet had raised the chevron on the boy's +sleeve, and another had shattered the ivory hilt of his revolver. + +The volunteers dismounted for a rest, and I took the opportunity to +make a further search for Vic, my faithful companion and friend. +Leaving my horse with Frank, I started towards the place where I had +last seen her. + +As I descended a shallow ravine to the willow-clad brook I came upon +an unexpected sight, and paused to witness it. On his knees, close to +the water, his back towards me, was Corporal Henry. Extended at his +left side was Vic, held closely under his left arm, her plumy tail +hanging dejectedly in my direction. An occasional dispirited wag +showed that she appreciated the kindness being shown her. The boy was +evidently busy at something that elicited from the animal, every now +and then, faint cries of pain. I heard something snap, and saw him lay +two parts of an arrow on the ground to his right; then he drew a +handkerchief from his pocket, dipped it in the brook, and apparently +washed a wound. + +All the time the boy could be heard addressing his patient in soothing +tones, occasionally leaning his face against her head caressingly. +"Poor little Vicky! Nice, brave doggie! There, there; I will not hurt +you more than I can help. They can't shoot you again, girlie, for lots +of your friends are here now. You shall ride back to the train on +Chiquita with me. We'll own Chiquita together after this." + +I felt a little delicacy about breaking in upon this scene and letting +the boy know I had overheard all his fond talk to Vic, so withdrew +into a clump of bushes and began calling the dog. + +Henry promptly answered: "Here she is, sir. This way. She wants to +come, but I think she had better not." + +"Is she much hurt?" I asked, approaching them. + +"Not dangerously, sir. This arrow passed through the top of her neck. +I notched it and broke it, so as not to be obliged to draw the barb or +plume through the wound. She is weak from her long run and loss of +blood. The wound might be bound up if her collar was off." + +"I will remove it and not put it on again until the sore heals," I +answered, and, taking a key from my pocket, I took off the collar and +assisted in dressing the wound. + +After petting Vic for a while, and using quite as much "baby talk" in +doing so as Henry had in dressing the wound, I asked the boy how he +came to return with the cavalry. + +"I ran ahead, as you told me to, sir, and the wagon-master came to +meet me. He lent me his mule, and I rode on to Captain Bayard and made +my report. The captain sent Lieutenant Baldwin and his men, and lent +me a spare horse to come along as guide." + +"Have you seen Chiquita?" + +"At a distance. Is she all right?" + +"Yes, but very tired. Let us join the troop, for it is time we were on +our way to the train." + +Our return ride was at a walk. Henry turned his cavalry horse over to +a trooper to be led, and mounted Chiquita with Vic in his arms. +Arrived in camp he took the dog to the surgeon for treatment, and in a +few days she was as lively as ever. + + + + +VIII + +OVER THE DIVIDE--A CORPORAL MISSING + + +Fort Wingate was reached in two more marches--six in all from the Rio +Grande--and we went into camp for two days for rest and some needed +repairs to wagons before undertaking the second and longer section of +our military journey--a section upon which at that time no white man +had set up a home. + +Recalling my promise to the priest who had interviewed me in behalf of +Seńora Perea, I made inquiries of the Port Wingate officers concerning +her son. None of them had heard more than she already knew, but a +scout claimed he had recently seen a Mexican boy herding ponies for +the Navajo chief Elarnagan, thirty miles north of Zuńi. + +The evening before resuming our march Captain Bayard informed me that +there was an emigrant family camped half a mile to the west of Fort +Wingate, which had been awaiting our arrival in order to travel to +Arizona under our protection. He told me to assign the family a place +in the train. + +I went to their camp, and found it located in a grove of cottonwoods a +short distance out, on the Arizona trail. Mr. Arnold, the head of the +family, never ceased his occupation while I was talking to him. He was +constructing a camp-table and benches of some packing-boxes he had +procured from the post trader. He was a tall, well-proportioned man, +of dark complexion and regular features, with black, unkempt hair and +restless brown eyes. He was clothed in a faded and stained butternut +suit of flannel, consisting of a loose frock and baggy trousers, the +legs of the trousers being tucked into the tops of road-worn boots. +His hat was a battered and frayed broad-brimmed felt. Mrs. Arnold sat +on a stool superintending the work, bowed forward, her elbows on her +knees, holding a long-stemmed cob-pipe to her lips with her left hand, +removing it at the end of each inspiration to emit the smoke, which +curled slowly above her thin upper lip and thin, aquiline nose. She +was a tall, angular, high-shouldered, and flat-chested woman, dark +from exposure to wind, sun, and rain, her hair brown in the neck, but +many shades lighter on the crown of her head. Her eyes were of an +expressionless gray. A brown calico of scant pattern clung in lank +folds to her thin and bony figure. + +The three daughters were younger and less faded types of their mother. +Each was clad in a narrow-skirted calico dress, and each was +stockingless and shoeless. Mother and daughters were dull, slow of +speech, and ignorant. + +After staying long enough to give the necessary instructions and +exchange civilities with each member of the family in sight, I was +riding slowly back to the roadway, intending to take a brisk canter to +the fort, when Corporal Henry's voice called from a clump of cedars at +the back of the Arnold family's wagons. + +"Oh, Mr. Duncan, may I speak to you a moment?" + +Turning my horse in the direction of the voice, I saw my young friend +approaching, switching a handsome riding-whip in his hand. + +"You haven't seen all the family, sir," he said. + +"I have seen Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and those the mother said were all +their children--the three barefooted girls." + +"But there is one more girl, sir, a very pretty one, too--a niece. +She's back of the wagons making friends with Vic and Chiquita. You +must not go without seeing her." + +I went back with Henry and saw a girl of about fourteen standing by +Chiquita, holding her by the bridle-rein and smoothing her neck, while +Vic nestled at her feet. She seemed very attractive at my first casual +glance, impressing me favorably. A blonde, possessed of abundant +flaxen tresses held in a band of blue ribbon, having a complexion +which her recent journey had tanned and sprinkled with abundant +freckles, but giving promise of rare beauty with added years and less +exposure to sun and wind. Her clothing was fashionably made and well +fitted, and her delicate feet were encased in neat boots and +stockings. + +"Miss Arnold," said Henry, "permit me to introduce our quartermaster, +Lieutenant Duncan--and Mr. Duncan," continued the boy, "it gives me +pleasure to present to you Miss Brenda Arnold." + +The quality, modulation, and refinement of the voice in which the girl +assured me of her pleasure in meeting me, confirmed my first +impression. + +"But how did you make the acquaintance of Corporal Henry Burton, Miss +Arnold?" I asked. + +"I was riding back from the fort, sir, where I had been to mail some +letters, and my pony, Gypsy, lost a shoe and came near falling. The +stumble caused me to drop a package, and Mr. Burton chanced to come up +and restore it to me, and he also picked up Gypsy's shoe. He +accompanied me to camp, and since we arrived has been giving me the +history of Vic, Sancho, and Chiquita." + +"And that, of course, included something of the history of their +devoted attendants?" + +"Yes, I have learned something of the gallant deeds of Corporals Frank +and Henry Burton and Lieutenant Duncan at Los Valles Grandes and on +the march here. When I meet Corporal Frank I shall know you all." + +"He will present himself to-morrow, no doubt," I observed. "But about +that pony's shoe; do you want it reset?" + +"Yes, but who can do it?" + +"At our next camp, to-morrow, our soldier-blacksmith shall set it." + +"But I do not belong to government, sir." + +"But part of this government belongs to you," replied Henry. "I'll +lead Gypsy to the forge for you, and Private Sattler shall shoe her as +he does Chiquita, and polish the shoes, too." + +The Arnold family history, gathered incidentally on the march, and at +a period later in my story, was briefly this: Brenda was the only +daughter of Mr. Arnold's only brother, and had been reared in a large +inland city of New York. Her father and mother had recently perished +in a yachting accident, and the young girl had been sent to her +paternal uncle in Colorado. There were relatives on the mother's side, +but they were scattered, two brothers being in Europe at the time of +the accident. Brenda had reached her Western uncle just as he was +starting on one of his periodical moves--this time to Arizona. + +The different social status of the families of the two brothers was +unusual, but not impossible in our country. One of the brothers was +ambitious, of steady habits, and possessed of a receptive mind; the +other was idle, impatient of restraint, with a disinclination to +protracted effort of any kind. + +The distance to the first camp beyond Fort Wingate where we were sure +to find water was twenty-two miles; and it being impossible for us to +leave the post before three o'clock in the afternoon, we determined to +make a dry camp five and a half miles out. + +When Frank and Henry learned that the start was not to be an early one +they rode out to the Arnold camp with the information, and the former +was duly presented to Miss Brenda. Gypsy was brought into the fort and +shod, and returned to her mistress in season for the march. + +The evening was well advanced when we pitched our tents at the dry +camp. Horses and mules were turned out to graze for the first time +without water, and although in this mountain region the grass was +abundant, they did not cease to whinny and bray their discontent +throughout the night. + +The sun dropped behind the mountain spurs, and we drew nearer and +nearer the fires, adding a thicker garment as the twilight deepened +into night. Frank expressed the trend of thought by asking, "We now +march into the heart of the Navajo country, do we not, sir?" + +"Not precisely through the heart, but along its southern border." + +"They'll try to make it lively for us, I suppose?" + +"They will certainly watch us closely, and will take advantage of any +carelessness on our part." + +"Do you think there is any chance of our finding Manuel Perea?" + +"Hardly; he is too far off our route. We cannot leave the train to +look him up." + +There was a suspicious choke in the voice of the little corporal when +he said: "It is awful to think we are going so near the dear old boy +and can do nothing for him. Only think of his poor mother!" + +"I was told at the fort that she has offered five thousand dollars to +the man who will bring Manuel to her," said Frank. "I wish I could +bring him in for nothing." + +"Brenda says she believes we shall find him somehow," Henry said. "I +hope she is right, for I saw his mother at Algodones and promised her +to rescue him or become a prisoner with him." + +"So she wrote me at Los Pinos," I replied. "Well, something may turn +up to enable us to serve his mother. Let us go to bed." + +Next morning we were again on the road by starlight. A march of +sixteen miles brought us to Agua Fria--cold water. Less than a hundred +yards west of the spring was a ridge which did not rise fifty feet +above it, and that was the "backbone" of the continent. The water of +Agua Fria flowed into the Atlantic; the springs on the other side of +the ridge flowed into the Pacific. + +The wagons of the Arnold family travelled between the rear-guard and +the government wagons. They consisted of two large "prairie +schooners," drawn by three pairs of oxen each, a lighter wagon, drawn +by four horses, beside which four cows, two ponies, and four dogs were +usually grouped. The father and eldest daughter drove the ox-teams, +the mother the horse-team, and two daughters rode the ponies. Brenda's +pony, Gypsy, was her own property, purchased soon after she joined +her uncle in Colorado. As my station and Frank's were with the +rear-guard, or along the flanks of the train, Miss Brenda commonly +rode with us after daylight. Henry, after leaving Fort Wingate, rode +with the advance. + +After supper at Agua Fria, Corporal Frank ordered all water-kegs to be +filled, for the water at El Morro, or Inscription Rock, our next +camping-place, was poor. The distance was seventeen and a half miles. +The next march was to the junction of the Rio Pescado and Otter Creek, +twenty-two miles, and the following to Arch Spring, nineteen miles. +This way took us through the ancient town of Zuńi, an Indian community +described by the Spanish priest, Father Marco de Niga, in 1559. + +After leaving Zuńi, a march of thirty-two miles brought us late in the +evening to a spring variously called by Mexicans, Indians, and +Americans, Ojo Rodondo, Wah-nuk-ai-tin-ai-z, and Jacob's Well. It is a +funnel-shaped hole in a level plain, six hundred feet in diameter at +the top, and one hundred and sixty feet deep. + +At the bottom of the hole is a pool of brackish, green water, reached +by a spiral track around the wall. Our cooks first procured a supply +of water, and then the animals were driven down in detachments. They +waded, swam, and rolled in the water until it was defiled for human +use. + +An hour after our arrival four Navajos appeared and were admitted to +an interview with Captain Bayard, of whom they asked information +concerning the terms offered their bands as an inducement to surrender +and go upon the reservation. In reply to our questions they told us we +would find plenty of water at Navajo Springs, seven miles from Jacob's +Well, and that there had been a heavy rainfall at the west. As the +Indians were preparing to leave, Corporal Henry came forward and asked +Captain Bayard to inquire for Manuel Perea. The captain thanked the +boy for the suggestion, and did so; and we learned that a Mexican boy, +answering the description given, was assisting in herding the ponies +of Elarnagan, north of the Twin Buttes, at the head of Carizo Creek. + +"Carizo Creek," said Frank, reflectively, turning over his schedule of +distances, "that is 19.05 miles from here." + +[Illustration: "CORPORAL HENRY ASKED CAPTAIN BAYARD TO INQUIRE FOR +MANUEL PEREA"] + +"Yes, and there are the Twin Buttes," said Henry, pointing to two +prominent peaks to the northwest. "Can't we go there, sir? It cannot +be more than thirty miles." + +"I would not be justified in leaving the road except upon an +extraordinary emergency," replied Captain Bayard. + +"Don't you suppose, sir, that Elarnagan would give Manuel up for the +large reward his mother offers?" asked Brenda Arnold, who stood by the +side of the boy corporals, an interested listener to all that had been +said. + +The captain asked her question of the Indians, and one of them replied +that the chief had refused large offers heretofore, and would +doubtless continue to do so. + +"Cannot you scare him by a threat?" asked Henry. + +"I will try it, corporal," answered the captain. Then, turning to the +Navajos, he continued: "Tell the chief, Elarnagan, that it is not the +part of a brave warrior to cause grief and sorrow to women and +children; tell him that the great chief at Santa Fé is fast bringing +this war to a close, and that two-thirds of his people are already on +the reservation at Bosque Rodondo; tell him that when he +surrenders--which will not be long from now--if the boy Manuel is not +brought in safe he will be severely punished." + +"Thank you," said Henry. + +The Indians left in a northerly direction. + +At guard-mounting Captain Bayard announced that, owing to the recent +fatiguing marches and the lack of good water, we would go no farther +than Navajo Springs the following day, and that we would not break +camp before eight o'clock. + +This announcement was received with pleasure; for since leaving Agua +Fria little water had been drunk, it being either muddy, stagnant, or +alkaline. The water at Navajo Springs was said to be pure. + +Ten o'clock next morning found us at the springs. They were fifteen in +number, clustered in an area of less than an acre. Each was of the +dimensions of a barrel set upon end in the ground, with a mere thread +of water flowing from it--a thread which the fierce sun evaporated +before it had flowed a rod from its source. It soon became plain to +every one that we could not long remain there. + +The Indians had said there had been a heavy rainfall at the west. Five +and one-twentieth miles over a rough, red, and verdureless country +brought us to the Rio Puerco of the West. There was not a drop of +water in it. + +The commanding officer ordered me to take ten cavalrymen, with +shovels, and go on to Carizo Creek, and, if I found no running water, +to sink holes in a line across its bed. The boy corporals were allowed +to go with me. + +The distance to Carizo was seven miles, over a high, intervening +ridge, and the creek, when we reached it, was in no respect different +from the one we had just left. We opened a line of holes six feet +deep, but found very little water. + +Sending Corporal Henry back with a message to Captain Bayard, we +pushed on to Lithodendron Creek, a distance of thirteen miles, and +found about an acre of water, four inches deep, in the bed of the +stream, under the shadow of a sandstone cliff. It was miserable +stuff--thick, murky, and warm--but it was better than nothing; I sent +a soldier back to the command, and sat down with Frank under the +cliff to wait. + +The march had lengthened into thirty-two miles, over an exceedingly +rough country, and it had been continuous, with no noonday rest, and +under a broiling sun. + +Frank and I sat a little apart from the soldiers, watching for the +arrival of the approaching wagons. + +Time dragged slowly on until after nine o'clock, when a faint +"hee-haw" in the far distance gave us the first hint that the train +was over the divide and that the unfailing scent of the mules had +recognized the vicinity of water. + +An hour more passed before Sergeant Cunningham and half a dozen +privates of the infantry company marched down to the roily pool and +stooped for a drink. The rest of the men were straggling the length of +the train, which arrived in sections, heralded by the vigorous and +continued braying of the mules. + +No one felt inclined to pitch a tent, partly on account of extreme +fatigue, but chiefly because the ground was rough and stony and cacti +in endless variety strewed the surface, branching and clustering +about the petrified trunks of giant trees which gave the creek its +name. + +There was no grass in the vicinity, and no grain on the train. The +animals when turned loose went to the pool and drank, and then +wandered about the wagons calling for forage. Lowing of cattle, +bleating of sheep, braying of mules, and whinnying of horses never +ceased as the suffering animals wandered in search of food. There was +no fuel for fires in the midst of this petrified forest of prostrate +trees, so hard bread and raw bacon made our supper. + +After a time I began to wonder why Vic had not come to greet me. She +had accompanied Henry when he went back with my message, and I knew +that if he had returned she would have looked me up immediately. I was +about to search for her, when Frank appeared, and asked, "Have you +seen my brother?" + +"No," I replied, "nor have I seen Vic. They must be with the rear +guard." + +"No, sir; they are not there. I have just seen the sergeant of the +guard." + +"Have you visited the Arnolds?" + +"Yes, sir; and Miss Brenda says they have not seen him since he came +back from you." + +"Is not Corporal Henry here?" asked Captain Bayard, who had approached +and overheard a part of our conversation. + +"No, sir," I answered. "I sent him to you at Carizo to say we had +found no water." + +"He reported to me," the captain replied, "and I sent him back at once +with orders for you to proceed to Lithodendron, as you have done." + +"He did not reach me. I came here because it seemed the only thing to +do." + +"Henry not here!" and the captain and all of us began moving towards +the train. "Cause an immediate search to be made for him. Examine +every wagon. He may have got into a wagon and fallen asleep." + +It is needless to say, perhaps, that this search was participated in +by nearly every individual in the command not too tired to stir. Henry +was known to all, and had in many gentlemanly and kindly ways acquired +the respect and affection of soldiers and civilian employés. + +Every wagon was examined, although from the first there was a general +presentiment that it would be useless. In the wagon assigned to the +use of the boy corporals and myself, Henry's carbine and revolver were +found, but Frank said his brother had not worn them during the day. + +The mule and cavalry herds were examined for the cream-colored pony, +but that also was missing. Then the thought suggested itself that the +lad might be wandering on the road we had just traversed; but an +examination of the sergeant of the guard showed that to be impossible. + +But one conclusion could be arrived at, and that was that Henry had +been picked up by the Navajos when returning from the command to my +detachment on the Carizo. + +At the conclusion of the search the officers gathered near their +wagons for a consultation. Frank remained apart, silent and miserable. + +Captain Bayard said: "It is impossible for us to make an immediate +pursuit with horses in such a condition as ours. To attempt a pursuit +over the barren region about us would be to invite failure and +disaster. If we had Mexican ponies, or Indian ponies like those of the +boys, we might start at once. The boy is probably a prisoner, and a +delay of one or two days can make little difference to him." + +"But can we go with any better prospect of success to-morrow or next +day?" I asked. + +"Yes, a march of sixteen miles and a half will bring us to the +Colorado Chiquito--a stream flowing at all times with pure water; +there, also, we shall find abundance of grass and a recently +established cavalry camp. I received a letter from the department +commander before I left Wingate, stating that Lieutenant Hubbell and +forty New Mexican cavalry had been ordered there three weeks ago. We +shall find an abundance of grain at the camp, and can put our animals +in good condition for an expedition into Elarnagan's country in a few +days. Now, gentlemen, let us get such rest as we can, and start at an +early hour in the morning." + + + + +IX + +THE RESCUING PARTY + + +At the close of the consultation I rejoined Corporal Frank, and we +went back to our former seat under the cliff. The boy was exceedingly +depressed, and I did my best to persuade him that all would end well +and his brother would be rescued. + +"But he may be dead, or dying," he answered to my arguments. + +"No; that is improbable. Had he been killed, the Indians would have +taken particular pains to mutilate and place his body where the +passing column would have seen it. That in itself is good evidence +that he is living. The worst that is likely to happen is that he may +be held for ransom or exchange." + +"But how _can_ I wait?" exclaimed Frank. "I feel as though I ought to +start now." + +"That would do no good," I replied. "You cannot find your brother's +trail, nor could you follow it in the night." + +"I cannot help thinking, sir, that Henry will send Vicky with a +message, and I fear that she cannot follow us so far. She must be +fearfully hungry and thirsty. I feel as if I ought to go and meet +her." + +"You may be right about the message. As Vic was without her collar, +she may not have been killed." + +The hours crept slowly on. The uneasy animals never ceased their walk +backward and forward between the water and the wagons, uttering their +discontent. Towards midnight, overcome by the fatigues of the day, I +fell into a doze, and did not wake until called at three. + +A breakfast similar to our supper was served, and we were ready for +the road. The mules were harnessed while vigorously braying their +protests against such ill usage, and, once under way, slowly drew the +wagons to the summit of the divide between the Lithodendron and the +Little Colorado, a distance of twelve miles. + +I did not see Frank while overlooking the drawing out of the train, +but gave myself no anxiety on his account, thinking he had +accompanied the advance. We had proceeded about a mile when a corporal +of the guard ran after me, and reported that the Arnolds were not +hitching up. Halting the train, I rode back and found Brenda sitting +by the road-side in tears. + +"What is the matter, Miss Arnold?" I asked. + +"Oh, it is something this time," she sobbed, "that even you cannot +remedy." + +"Then you think I can generally remedy things? Thank you." + +"You have always helped us, but I do not see how you can now." + +"What is the trouble, please?" + +"Our poor oxen have worn their hoofs through to the quick. They were +obliged to travel very fast yesterday, and over a flinty road, and +their hoofs are worn and bleeding. Uncle says we must remain behind." + +"Perhaps things are not as bad as you think," I said. "Let us go back +and see." + +Rising dejectedly, and by no means inspired by hope, Brenda led the +way to the Arnold wagons, where I found the father and mother on their +knees beside an ox, engaged in binding rawhide "boots" to the +animal's feet. These boots were squares cut from a fresh hide procured +from the last ox slaughtered by the soldier-butcher. The foot of the +ox being set in the centre, the square was gathered about the ankle +and fastened with a thong of buck-skin. + +"Are all of your cattle in this condition, Mr. Arnold?" I asked. + +"Only one other's 's bad's this, but all uv 'em's bad." + +"That certainly is a very bad-looking foot. I don't see how you kept +up, with cattle in that condition." + +"Had to, or git left." + +"That's where you make a mistake. We could not leave you behind." + +"I didn't think 'twould be uv any use t' say anythin'," said Mr. +Arnold. "You seem t' have all you can haul now." + +"We have over three hundred head of oxen in our commissary herd that +we purchased of a freighter. We can exchange with you. A beef is a +beef. Turn your cattle into our herd, and catch up a new lot. When we +get to Prescott you can have your old teams if you want them." + +"Thank you agin, sir. I shall want 'em. They know my ways an' I know +theirs." + +From the top of the divide the road, smooth and hard, descended to the +river, ten miles away. At nine o'clock the head of the column had +reached the banks, and a few moments later men and horses had partaken +of the clear, cool water. + +As the infantry and cavalry moved away from the shore the wagons came +down the decline, the mules braying with excitement at the sight of +the water gleaming through the green foliage of the cottonwoods and +the verdant acres of rich grass that stretched along the river-side. +Brakes were put on and wheels double-locked, until the harness could +be stripped off and the half-frantic animals set free to take a turn +in the river. + +Sheep and oxen plunged down the banks and stood leg-deep in the +current while they drank the grateful water. A few moments later all +the refreshed animals were cropping the generous grass. As I was going +to Captain Bayard I observed Brenda Arnold taking the odometer from +its wheel and making an entry in a note-book. Approaching her, I +asked: "Why are you doing that, Miss Brenda?" + +"I promised Mr. Frank I would do it until he and Mr. Henry return," +was her answer. + +"Promised Frank? Where has he gone?" + +"Gone to find his brother." + +"And you knew what you are telling me when we were exchanging oxen +this morning?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Why did you not tell me?" + +"Mr. Frank said I must not before we arrived here." + +"Have you no idea of the fearful danger in which he has placed +himself?" + +"I know he has gone to find Henry, and that he said he should find +him," and the pretty girl betrayed her lack of confidence in the boy's +project by sitting down in the grass and bursting into tears. + +"When did Corporal Frank start?" I asked. + +"Last night. He gave Sancho about a dozen pounds of hard bread, filled +his canteen with water which Aunt Martha had filtered through sand, +and asked me to attend to the odometer, and rode off in the darkness. +Don't you really believe the boys will return, sir?" + +"God grant they may," I answered; "but it is very doubtful." + +Here was fresh trouble--trouble the whole command shared, but which +rested heaviest upon Captain Bayard and myself. We were answerable to +Colonel Burton for the manner in which we executed his trust. + +"Ride down the valley," said the captain to me after I had concluded +my account of what Brenda had said, "and look for Lieutenant Hubbell's +camp. It cannot be far from here. Tell him to send me three days' +grain for forty animals. While you are gone I will select a camp +farther down stream, and within easy communication with him, park the +train, and establish order. We will remain here until we know what has +become of the boys." + +I found the New Mexican cavalry camp three miles down the river, and +obtained the desired forage. When I returned our new camp was +established, fires burning, and cooking well under way. + +Captain Bayard informed me that the detachment of Mexican cavalry +which had accompanied us thus far would leave at this point and not +rejoin us. "I have ordered Baldwin to grain his horses and be ready to +start in search of our boys at daybreak," continued the captain. "You +will accompany him. We shall be in no danger, with Hubbell so near. +You can take thirty pounds of grain on your saddles, and you will find +plenty of water on the Carizo where it breaks from the hills." + +"How many days are we to stay out?" + +"You are to take five days' rations. If the boys are not found in that +time I fear they will never be found." + +I went to bed early, and soon fell into a fitful slumber, which lasted +until an hour before midnight. I arose, dressed, and sat down by the +smouldering camp-fire, a prey to unpleasant reflections. + +Suddenly the sound of a cantering horse approaching from the north +fell upon my ears. What could it mean? I listened intently. The horse +slowed down to a walk. He entered the camp. The voice of Private Tom +Clary, who was posted as sentinel No. 1, challenged: "Halt!--who comes +there?" + +"A friend--Corporal Frank Burton," was the answer. + +"Blest be the saints! Corpril Frank, laddie, is it you--and aloive?" +said the sentinel, forgetting in his joy to continue the usual +formality of the challenge or to call the corporal of the guard. + +Springing from my seat I walked towards the sentinel, and there, by +the light of the moon, I saw Frank, mounted upon Sancho, with Vic in +his arms. I reached up to take my dog, but the boy quickly exclaimed: + +"Be careful, sir, be careful! She's badly hurt. Here's the letter she +brought. Henry is alive." + +To attempt to relate all that now occurred would be impossible. In +some mysterious manner the news of Frank's arrival crept through the +camp, and half-dressed figures of officers and soldiers gathered about +the camp-fire, curious to listen to an account of the boy's adventure. +One little, blanketed figure ran out of the darkness, caught Vic's +face between her two palms, nestled her cheek against it, and with a +cheerful "good-night," disappeared as suddenly as she had come. + +I took Vic in my lap as I sat on the ground, and by the light of a +blazing pine-knot proceeded to examine her condition. I found the +mouth and feet of the poor animal full of the spines of the _cholla_ +cactus, a growth which is simply a mass of fine thorns. This cactus +grows in patches, and when the dead clusters fall to the ground the +spines stick to everything touching them. The dog had stepped into a +bed of these bunched needles, and filled her feet, and in trying to +remove them with her teeth had thrust them through cheeks, lips, and +tongue, literally closing her jaws. Her paws bristled with them like +pin-cushions. + +As to Frank's adventures: After leaving the Arnolds, as already +described by Brenda, he retraced the route to Carizo Creek and to the +Rio Puerco without seeing any sign of his brother. Returning to the +west he dismounted at the crossing of the Carizo. He felt sure that if +Henry had been captured by the Navajos he must have been taken in the +dry bed of that creek. + +A long and patient search resulted in the discovery of tracks made by +several ponies running along the eastern side of the Carizo to the +north and the hills. One of the set showed the print of iron shoes. +Frank mounted again and followed this trail up the valley for some +hours. He was thinking about returning, when he saw a white object +moving on a hill-side, far in advance. It seemed to tumble, rise, and +go in a circle, then tumble, rise, and circle again. Frank's curiosity +was aroused, and he rode on to examine the object. A few hundred yards +more revealed the fact that he had come upon the missing Vic, and that +something was seriously the matter with her. At first Frank thought +she was mad or in a fit, but as he came nearer she sat up and made +demonstrations of joy at his approach. He dismounted, and found her in +the condition already described. On the ground was a chip, neatly cut +and shaven, which she was in vain attempting to take between her +sealed jaws. Frank understood the matter at once. Whenever Victoriana +was sent on a message she was given a stick to deliver. It was plain +that some one had sent her to either Frank or me. Of course, it could +have been no one but Henry. She had come thus far, and had stepped +into a bed of _cholla_. In trying to remove the needles from her feet +she had absolutely sealed her mouth; in the attempt to recover the +chip she had made the movements that had attracted the boy's +attention. + +Nothing was written on the stick. Around the dog's neck was tied a +cravat of dirty buck-skin. Untying and opening it, Frank found the +inner surface covered with writing, evidently traced in berry-juice +with a quill or a stick. It read as follows: + + "Captured by the Navajos. Am herding ponies north of Twin + Buttes, at the head of Carizo. Come to butte with cavalry, + and wave handkerchief from left peak about noon. If I do not + come, look for me in plain north of butte. Don't worry; I'm + all right. + + "HENRY." + +I remained at the fire long after every one had returned to their beds +or duty, busy in extracting the _cholla_ spines from Vic's mouth and +feet. The dog seemed to understand the necessity of the treatment she +was receiving, and bore the pain submissively, with only occasional +moans and cries, until the operation ended. She then received a drink +of water, and went to bed with Frank. + +At daybreak the rescue detachment left camp, retraced our route to the +Carizo, where Corporal Frank put us upon the trail of the Indians. We +climbed to the highest point reached by the path, and saw it descend +on the opposite side to a brook, deep in the valley. Here we halted, +took the horses a short distance down the slope we had just ascended, +picketed them in a grassy nook, and Frank and I started to ascend the +left peak. + +"Mr. Baldwin," I said, as I moved away, "when you see us start to +return, saddle and bridle as rapidly as possible, so as to be ready +for emergencies." + +"I'll do so. You can depend upon us to be ready when wanted," was the +reply. + +We scrambled through a scattering growth of pińon and junipers for +several yards, and at last came to a perpendicular shaft of sandstone +twenty feet high, with a flat top. The diameter of the shaft was about +fifty feet. + +"Henry could not have come up here, or he never would have set us to +attempt an impossibility," said Frank, as his eyes ran up and down +the rock. + +"Perhaps it may not be so impossible as it appears," I replied. "Let +us walk round the butte." + +We passed to the right, and, having found a practicable place for +attempting the ascent, accomplished the feat in a few moments. + +On the flat summit we found the remains of former fires that had +undoubtedly been lighted as signals. The view was grand and extensive. +Directly to the north lay many verdant valleys--grazing-grounds of the +nomadic Navajos. One of these valleys lay at the foot of the mountain +upon which we stood, with a bright stream of water crossing its hither +border. Well out in the valley were several flocks of sheep and goats, +and close to the opposite side of the brook was a herd of ponies. + +After Frank had looked long and anxiously towards the flocks and +herds, he said: "Those specks near the ponies must be men, I suppose. +I wonder if Henry is among them? Shall I make the signal?" + +"Not yet. It is not yet noon. Let us lie down among these rocks, +where we shall be less conspicuous, and use the field-glass." + +"Tell me what you see, sir, if you please." + +"There are five large flocks of sheep in the charge of a lot of women, +some mounted and some on foot. The pony herd, which must number +several hundred, is in charge of three naked Indians--boys, I think. +There are no other persons in sight. Take a look for yourself." + +Frank accepted the glass and surveyed the valley. "I can see nothing +that looks like Henry," he said. "He certainly cannot be there. Why +are those boys so ghostly white?" + +"They are covered with yeso to protect them from sunburn." + +"Oh yes--whitewash." + +"Gypsum. The Mexicans use it for whitewash, and to preserve the +complexion." + +"Well, those boys must have plastered it on thick; they look like +living statues. Not a rag on them except 'breech-clouts.' Hello, there +comes a troop around that mound to the right. Must be two hundred +men." + +Taking the glass, I looked again. Coming into sight from the opposite +side of an elevation on the farther side of the valley was a party of +two hundred and fifteen Navajo warriors. They rode to each flock of +sheep in succession, stopped near the women a few moments, and then +came down to the pony herd. They approached the boys, and one large +Indian, who appeared to be the chief, lifted the smaller boy out of +his saddle, and, swinging him to his shoulder, dashed around the herd +at full speed, and then set him back in his own saddle, and patted him +approvingly on the back. + +The party next proceeded to exchange the ponies they were riding for +fresh ones from the herd, and then disappeared behind the trees which +bordered the brook to the west. + +"The pony that small boy rides looks like Chiquita," remarked Frank; +"but the saddle and bridle are different. Seńora Perea said that +Manuel was herding ponies for the Navajos, and that he was naked." + +"Yes, I know; but the letter Vic brought from Henry made no mention of +another boy, and there are three with that herd. But let us make the +signal and see what will happen." + +Standing up and advancing to the edge of the butte's top, I waved my +handkerchief from side to side, keeping my eyes fixed upon the three +boys. They formed in line, facing us, looked long in our direction, +and then, as if started by a spring, they flew down the plain, leaped +the brook, and galloped up the long ascent towards the concealed +cavalrymen. + + + + +X + +THE CORPORALS ARE PROMOTED + + +The three Indian boys were doing their utmost to excite their ponies +to their greatest speed up the height. As they sped on they glanced +repeatedly backward, as if fearing pursuit. Higher and higher they +came up the steep until we could not doubt it was their intention to +reach the command. + +"What does it mean? What does it mean?" exclaimed Frank. "Why are +those Navajo boys running their horses in this direction? It can't +be--" + +"Never mind, Frank," I interrupted. "Let us get down to the men as +soon as we can. The Indian women are already riding after the +war-party." + +At considerable risk to life and limb we slid down the ragged angle +which we had ascended, and hurried to where Baldwin and the soldiers +stood beside their saddled steeds. + +We had barely reached the crest from which we could see the valley +when the three whitewashed boys appeared on their panting and foaming +animals, the little one on the buck-skin pony in the lead. + +"What in the world is this?" exclaimed Baldwin. "Three whitewashed +young redskins! What do they want of us?" + +"Here we are!" shouted a familiar voice, in excellent English. "Here +we are--Manuel, Sapoya, and I!" + +Before we could sufficiently recover from our surprise, or, rather, +calm our joyful realization of a hope born of the boys' start from the +valley below, they were among us, and Henry had sprung from his horse +and embraced his brother, leaving a generous coating of _yeso_ upon +the army blue. Tears of joy had ploughed two streaks through the +whiting on his face, and lent a comical effect to the boyish +countenance. A general handshake ensued, and Corporal Frank asked, +"Where are your clothes, Henry?" + +"Confiscated by the chief Elarnagan." + +"Not to wear?" + +"Well, no; I think they might prove baggy on his diminutive person." + +"Then why did he take them?" + +"He has a numerous progeny, and the young Elarnaganitos have an +article apiece. My saddle and bridle went to Mrs. Elarnagan. She rides +astride, you know." + +"When did the chief take your clothes?" + +"Just as soon as I arrived in the valley my horse and I were stripped +of--But hold on, Frank; what am I thinking of?" and Henry ran to one +of the other boys, a graceful youngster whose perfect limbs and +handsome face the _yeso_ could not mask, and who sat his horse as if +he were a part of the animal. Saying something to him in an undertone, +the boy dismounted and approached me with Henry, who said, in Spanish: +"This is Manuel Augustine Perea y Luna, of Algodones. It is he who +planned the escape when I told him there were soldiers near." + +I took the Mexican boy's hand and assured him of the great happiness +his escape afforded me, and the greater happiness it would afford his +mother and relatives. + +Frank approached, took Manuel's hand, and then dropped it to give him +a hearty and brotherly embrace. + +"Ah, Manuelito mio, I dreamed many dreams of rescuing you as we +marched through this country, but I never believed they would be +realized," he said. + +"But the little Enrique acted, and I am here," laughed Manuel. + +"And Frank acted, too," said I, "as you shall soon hear; and you will +learn that it took both boys to effect your rescue." + +"Pardon me," replied Manuel, "but it is not safe to remain here +longer. Elarnagan, whom you saw leaving the valley with his warriors, +is intending to move down the Lithodendron to attack your train +somewhere on the Colorado Chiquito." + +At the close of his remarks Manuel turned away, as if to mount his +horse, and then, as if correcting an oversight, he said, "Wait one +moment, sir." Going up to the third boy, he spoke a few words to him +in an unknown tongue. The boy sprang to the ground and came forward. +"This is Sapoya," continued Manuel, "a Cherokee boy, whom I found a +captive when I joined Elarnagan's band. He is my brother, and will go +with me and share my home." + +Sapoya extended his hand and clasped mine. He was a handsome Indian +boy, about the same age and height as his friend. He addressed me in +Navajo, which was interpreted by Manuel: "I am glad to meet one who +has helped to open the broad land again to my brother and me. But our +horses stand still, while those of our enemy fly to retake us." + +Evidently the Mexican and Cherokee boys had no desire to again fall +into the hands of the Navajo chief. We made no further delay, but +mounted and forced our animals down the mountain defiles as rapidly as +possible. As soon as the route would permit, Henry and Manuel rode on +each side of Frank, and I heard the former ask about Vic. Frank +answered in Spanish, so that the Mexican boy might understand. Such +expressions as "La perra brava!" "La fina perrita Vic!" from time to +time showed they were hearing of Vic's adventures. + +[Illustration: "'GOD HAS GIVEN ME, AMONG MANY FRIENDS, TWO THAT ARE +SOMETHING MORE'"] + +Finding that Corporal Frank was not doing himself justice in his +narration, I drew alongside the boys and related what I knew of +Frank's midnight ride and rescue of Vic, an event which, had it not +occurred, would have left Henry and his friends still in captivity. At +the conclusion of my tale Manuel changed his position from the flank +to one between the brothers, and, taking a hand of Frank in his left, +and one of Henry's in his right, rode on a few moments in silence. +Then he said: "God has given me, among many friends, two that are +something more. But for your brave acts I should still be a captive. +Thank you for myself, my dear mother, and Sapoya." + +Having reached the wagon-road crossing of the Carizo, we turned at a +canter over the divide between it and the Lithodendron. As we rose +above a terrace our attention was attracted to two mounted Indians +scurrying off into the broken and higher country on our right. + +"Ah, look!" shouted Manuel; "they expected to stop three naked, +unarmed boys, and they are surprised to meet a troop of cavalry! Viva +los Estados Unidos! Run, you sheep-stealers, we are safely out of your +hands!" + +Upon reaching the summit of the divide the whole war-party stood +revealed, far to our right, out of rifle-shot. Plainly, our presence +was a great surprise to them. Although they greatly outnumbered us, +the country was too open for their system of warfare, and they were +poorly armed. They stood sullenly aloof, and allowed us to canter past +unmolested. + +Just as our rear was passing them we noticed a solitary warrior +advance and show a white cloth. + +"That is Elarnagan," said Manuel. "He wants to speak with you." + +Accompanied by the Mexican boy to act as interpreter, I advanced to +the chief. He took my hand with dignity, and said he accepted the loss +of his pale-faced captives as the fortune of war, but he demanded the +return of Sapoya. He said that in a fight with the Utes, ten years +before, his people had captured a Cherokee chief, who was visiting +that tribe with his wife and child. The chief and his wife had died, +and he, Elarnagan, had brought up the child as his own. He asked that +Sapoya be restored to him. + +I called the Indian lad to me and, repeating the words of the chief, +said, "You may answer for yourself." + +"Sapoya says to the bravest warrior of the Navajos, that he is +grateful for all the favors that he has received, and that he thinks +he has returned by hard service ample payment for all. He brought +parents, three horses, and ample clothing to the Navajos; he takes +nothing away but the pony he rode. He has shared his blanket and food +with his brother, Manuel, for these many moons, undergoing fatigue and +exposure with him, until his heart beats as one with his comrade's, +and he desires to go with him to his home and become one of his +people." + +The chief said nothing in reply, but advancing gave his hand in amity +to both boys, and rode back to his people. + +"He is a good chief and a brave one," said Manuel, as we rejoined the +command, "but I should cherish kindlier memories of him if he had +given us some clothing and an extra blanket." + +Later, as we were riding slowly out of the bed of Lithodendron, Frank +said, "I do not see how the Indians came to spare Vic." + +"One of them did attempt to kill her, but I threw my arms about her +and the chief patted her head and gave orders that she should not be +hurt. I think if her collar had not been taken off at Laguna she would +have been killed in a scramble to possess it. Even Elarnagan would +have considered her life worthless compared with the possession of +such a beautiful trinket." + +"The chief seems to have taken quite a liking to Corporal Henry," I +remarked. + +"Not enough to allow him to retain his clothing," said Manuel; "but he +would not permit him to be deprived of his pony. Perhaps you saw him, +when you were on the butte, dash round the herd with Henry on his +shoulder?" + +"Frank and I saw it," I answered. + +"He said, when he placed Henry back upon Chiquita, 'He will make a +brave chief.'" + +Camp was reached a little after dark, and the boys plunged into the +river to remove the _yeso_, and then dressed themselves in civilized +garments, Henry drawing on his reserve, and the others from the +quartermaster's stores. + +Had not Victoriana been a modest doggie, the amount of praise and +attention she received from the four boys would have turned her head; +and the boys themselves had no reason to complain of the kindly +congratulations they received from the infantry company. + +Word was sent to Lieutenant Hubbell that Manuel Perea had been +rescued, and the following morning all the New Mexicans not on duty +rode into camp to congratulate the boy upon his escape. Spanish cheers +and Spanish felicitations filled the air for an hour. + +When the volunteers had gone and quiet was resumed, Brenda came, and +her delight at seeing the boys again showed itself in ceaseless +caressings of Vic and many requests for a repetition of the account of +their flying ride when the signal was waved from the butte. When she +at last withdrew, to repeat the story to her relatives, the corporals +and I wrote a letter to Seńora Perea, to be delivered by her son. In +my portion I related the circumstances attending his recovery, +detailing the part taken by the boy corporals, the dog, and the troop. +I said no one desired to claim the generous reward she had offered, +since no one in particular had rescued Manuel; many things had +combined to enable him to escape. If the lady insisted upon paying +the reward, we all desired that it should be devoted to the education +of Sapoya. + +Frank added a few lines, and Henry closed the letter. The younger +corporal wrote: + + "I've laughed with the rest over my two days' captivity + among the Navajos, and made light of it. I don't mind + telling you that after shivering through two nights without + clothes and without enough blankets, being bitten by + mosquitoes and flies, and scorched daytimes by the sun, I + begin to think Manuel a great hero. + + "You know when I saw you I told you I was going to bring + back Manuel or be a prisoner with him. That, of course, was + all foolish talk, for I planned nothing. To be sure, I was a + prisoner with him for two days and had something to do about + bringing him back, but it all happened without planning. It + seems as if God directed us all through. Frank, Vic, the + soldiers, officers, and myself--even the dry time from + Jacob's Well to the Lithodendron--all had something to do + with finding Manuel. + + "About the reward the lieutenant speaks of, we think none of + us deserve it. We've talked it over, and we think if you + would give Sapoya a chance at school, and if you cannot make + a white boy of him make him an educated man, that would be + the best reward. He's very intelligent, and if he can have a + good chance will learn fast. + + "Frank and I have a scheme we hope you will approve of. Mr. + Duncan has secured a detail from the War Department to a + boys' military school in the States as instructor in + tactics, and will probably go in November. We are intending + to ask papa to let us join that school after the Christmas + holidays. We want you to send Manuel and Sapoya there. Won't + you, please? Be sure and say yes. Think what a fine chance + it will be for Sapoya. + + "You know we boys feel something more than a friendship for + one another. I suppose it is like the comradeship of + soldiers who have stood shoulder to shoulder in battle. + There is a tie uniting us that is closer and firmer than + friendship; we feel more like brothers. + + "We will write often. Hoping Manuel will arrive home safe, + and that he may never again be a captive, + + "I remain your friend, + + "HENRY BURTON." + +Our letters were despatched by Manuel and Sapoya to Lieutenant +Hubbell's camp, where Captain Bayard directed the boys to await the +detachment of New Mexican cavalry which had accompanied us from the +Rio Grande and which was shortly to return there. + +We resumed our march the following day at a very early hour, and as we +passed the cavalry camp two half-dressed boys came bounding out to the +road-side to once more repeat their affectionate good-byes and renew +their promises to meet in the future. + +The march continued for a week longer, through a region over which the +Pullman car now rushes with the modern tourist, but through which we +moved at the gait of infantry. The boy corporals and Brenda Arnold +climbed eminences, looked through clefts in precipices into the +sublime depths of the great cańon, stood on the edge of craters of +extinct volcanoes, penetrated the mysterious caverns of the +cliff-dwellers, fished for trout in a mountain lake, caught axolotl in +a tank at the foot of San Francisco Mountain, shot turkeys, grouse, +and antelope, and enjoyed the march as only healthy youngsters can. +Brenda became a pupil of the boys in loading and firing their +revolvers, carbines, and fowling-pieces, and made many a bull's-eye +when firing at a mark, but invariably failed to hit anything living. +Henry said she was too tender-hearted to aim well at animals. That she +was no coward an incident to be told in a future chapter will prove. + +When our train and its escort reached Fort Whipple, or, rather, the +site of that work--for we built it after our arrival--the Arnolds +caught up their cattle from our herd, and after a two weeks' stay in +Prescott removed to a section of land which they took up in Skull +Valley, ten miles to the west by the mountain-trail, and twenty-five +miles by the only practicable wagon-road. This place was selected for +a residence because its distance from Prescott and its situation at +the junction of the bridle-path and wagon-road made it an excellent +location for a way-side inn. + +At a dress-parade held the evening before the family's departure for +their new home, Brenda sat on her pony, Gypsy, near Captain Bayard, +and heard an order read advancing her young friends from the grade of +corporal to that of sergeant, "for soldierly attention to duty on the +march, gallant conduct in the affair at Laguna, and meritorious +behavior in effecting the rescue of captive boys from the Navajos at +Carizo Creek; subject to the approval of Colonel Burton." + + + + +XI + +BOTH PONIES ARE STOLEN + + +"Here, Frank, come and help push this gate, I can't start it alone." + +"Don't be in such a hurry, Henry. Wait just a moment. I think I hear a +horse coming down the Prescott road. I want to see if it is the +express from La Paz." + +The younger boy ceased his efforts to close the gates, and advancing a +few steps before the entrance of the fort, looked up the valley to +where the road from Prescott appeared from behind a spur of the +foot-hills. The two boys had mounted their sergeant's chevrons and +adopted white stripes down the legs of their trousers. As they stood +side by side Vic approached and placed herself between them, nestling +her delicate muzzle against the younger boy's hip and responding to +his caresses with waves of her plumy tail. + +"Do you think we shall hear from father, Frank?" + +"We ought to; you know he said in his last letter he was getting +settled at the Presidio, and would soon send for us." + +"Takes twelve days to bring a letter from San Francisco. I suppose +it'll take us longer to go there; seems to me he might get ready for +us while we are on the road," said Henry, lugubriously. "I'm getting +mighty tired of opening and shutting these gates." + +"You forget father has to visit all the posts where companies of his +regiment are stationed. That will probably take him all of a month +longer." + +"And we must go on opening and closing gates and running errands in +Arizona? But come; let's get a swing on 'em and watch for the +expressman afterwards. We haven't much time before retreat." + +The gates closed a fort which we had built since our arrival in +Arizona. Peeled pine logs, ten feet long, had been set up vertically +in the ground, two feet of them below the surface and eight above, +enclosing an area of a thousand square feet, in which were +store-rooms, offices, and quarters for two companies of soldiers and +their officers. At corners diagonally opposite each other were two +large block-house bastions, commanding the flanks of the fort. The +logs of the walls were faced on two sides and set close together, and +were slotted every four feet for rifles. At one of the corners which +had no bastions were double gates, also made of logs, bound by cross +and diagonal bars, dovetailed and pinned firmly to them. Each hung on +huge, triple hinges of iron. + +The two boys returned to the gates, and, setting their backs against +one of them and digging their heels in the earth, pushed and swung it +ponderously and slowly, until its outer edge caught on a shelving log +set in the middle of the entrance to support it and its fellow. Then, +as the field-music began to play and the men to assemble in line for +retreat roll-call, they swung the second gate in the same way, and +braced the two with heavy timbers. The boys then reported the gates +closed to the adjutant. + +As the companies broke ranks and dispersed the boy sergeants went to +the fifth log, to the left of the gates, and swung it back on its +hinges. This was one of two secret posterns. On the inside of the +wall, when closed, its location was easily noticeable on account of +its hinges, latches, and braces; on the outside it looked like any +other log in the wall. Their work being completed, the boys asked +permission of the adjutant to stand outside the wall and watch for the +mail. + +"All right, sergeants," said the adjutant; "there is no further duty +for you to perform to-day." + +Frank and Henry ran through the postern, and arrived on the crest of +the bluff overlooking the Prescott road just as a horseman turned up +the height. The news that the La Paz courier had arrived spread +rapidly through the quarters, and every man not on duty appeared +outside the walls. + +Joining the boy sergeants, I said, "Boys, if you want to drop the job +of opening and closing the gates, it can hereafter be done by the +guard." + +"Thank you, sir. We took the job, and we'll stick to it," replied +Sergeant Frank. + +"I wonder if Samson could lift those gates as easily as he did the +gates of Gaza?" questioned Henry, seating himself on a log which had +been rejected in the building and taking Vic's head in his lap and +fondling her silken ears. + +"We can't remain here much longer," said Frank; "I think this express +will bring an order for us to go to San Francisco." + +"Very likely. No doubt life here is not very enjoyable for boys." + +"I should say not," said Henry, "for we can't look outside the fort +unless a dozen soldiers are along for fear the Apaches 'll get us." + +"But you can go to Prescott." + +"Prescott!" in a tone of great contempt; "twenty-seven log cabins and +five stores, and not a boy in the place--only a dozen Pike County, +Missouri, girls." + +"And we can't go there with any comfort since Texas Dick and Jumping +Jack stole Sancho and Chiquita," added Frank. + +Further conversation on this subject was temporarily interrupted by +the arrival of the expressman. A roan bronco galloped up the slope, +bearing a youthful rider wearing a light buck-skin suit and a soft +felt hat with a narrow brim. He was armed with a breech-loading +carbine and two revolvers, and carried, attached to his saddle, a roll +of blankets, a haversack, and a mail-pouch. + +Dismounting, he detached the pouch, at the same time answering +questions and giving us items of news later than any contained in his +despatches. + +After handing his pouch to the quartermaster-sergeant, his eyes fell +upon the boy sergeants. + +"I saw Texas Dick and Juan Brincos at Cisternas Negras," he said, +addressing them. + +"My! Did you, Mr. Hudson?" exclaimed Henry, springing to his feet and +approaching the courier. "Did they have our ponies?" + +"You know I never saw your ponies; but Dick was mounted on a black, +with a white star in his forehead, and Juan on a cream-color, with a +brown mane and tail." + +"Sancho!" said Frank. + +"Chiquita!" said Henry. + +"Do you know where they were bound?" asked Captain Bayard. + +"I did not speak to them, nor did they see me; I thought it would be +better to keep out of the way of such desperate characters in a +lonely place. I learned from a friend of theirs at Date Creek that +they intend to open a monte bank at La Paz." + +"Then they are likely to remain there for some time." + +"Can't something be done to get the ponies back, sir?" asked Frank. + +"Perhaps so. I will consider the matter." + +The mail was taken to my office and soon distributed through the +command. Among my letters was one from Colonel Burton, the father of +the boy sergeants. He said he had been expecting to send for his sons +by this mail, but additional detached service had been required of him +which might delay their departure from Whipple for another month, if +not longer. He informed me that a detail I had received to duty as +professor of military science and tactics in a boys' military school +had been withheld by the department commander until my services could +be spared at Fort Whipple, and that he thought the next mail, or the +one following it, would bring an order relieving me and ordering me +East. This would enable me to leave for the coast about the first week +in November. + +Frank and Henry shared my quarters with me, and that evening, seated +before an open fire, I read their father's letter, and remarked that +perhaps I should be able to accompany them to San Francisco, and, if +the colonel consented to their request to go to the military school +with me, we might take the same steamer for Panama and New York. + +"Oh, won't that be too fine for anything!" exclaimed the younger +sergeant. "Then I'll not have to leave Vicky here, after all." + +Vic, upon hearing her name called, left her rug at my feet and placed +her nose on Henry's knee, and the boy stroked and patted her in his +usual affectionate manner. + +"Then you have been dreading to leave the doggie?" I asked. + +"Yes; I dream all sorts of uncomfortable things about her. She's in +trouble, or I am, and I cannot rescue her and she cannot help me. +Usually we are parting, and I see her far off, looking sadly back at +me." + +"Henry is not the only one who dreads to part with Vic," said Frank. +"We boys can never forget the scenes at Los Valles Grandes, Laguna, +and the Rio Carizo. She saved our lives, helped recover Chiquita, and +she helped rescue Manuel, Sapoya, and Henry from the Navajos." + +"Yes; but for her I might have lost my brother at La Roca Grande," +remarked Henry. "That was probably her greatest feat. Nice little +doggie--good little Vicky--are you really to go to San Francisco and +the East with us?" + +"I believe if I only had Sancho back, and Henry had Chiquita, I should +be perfectly happy," observed the elder brother. + +After a slight pause, during which the boy seemed to have relapsed +into his former depression, Henry asked: + +"Do they have cavalry drill at that school?" + +"Yes, the superintendent keeps twenty light horses, and allows some of +the cadets to keep private animals. All are used in drill." + +"And if we get our ponies back, I suppose we shall have to leave them +here. Do you think, sir, there is any chance of our seeing them +again?" asked Frank. + +"Not unless some one can go to La Paz for them. Captain Bayard is +going to see me after supper about a plan of his to retake them." + +"I wonder what officer he will send?" + +"Perhaps I shall go." + +"Father could never stand the expense of sending them to the States, I +suppose," said Henry, despondently. + +"They could easily be sent to the Missouri River without cost," I +observed. + +"How, please?" + +"There is a quartermaster's train due here in a few weeks. It would +cost nothing to send the ponies by the wagon-master to Fort Union, and +then they could be transferred to another train to Fort Leavenworth." + +"Frank, I've a scheme!" exclaimed the younger boy. + +"What is it?" + +"If Mr. Duncan finds Sancho and Chiquita, let's send them to Manuel +Perea and Sapoya on the Rio Grande. When they go to the military +school they can take our horses and theirs, and we'll join the +cavalry." + +"That's so," said Frank. "Manuel wrote that if he went to school he +should cross the plains with his uncle, Miguel Otero, who is a +freighter. He could take the whole outfit East for nothing. There +would remain only the cost of shipping them from Kansas City to the +school." + +"Yes, but before you cook a hare you must catch him," said I. + +"And our two hares are on the other side of the Xuacaxélla[1] Desert," +said Frank, despondently. "I suppose there is small chance of our ever +seeing them again." + +[Footnote 1: Pronounced Hwar-car-hál-yar.] + +Our two boy sergeants had found life in Arizona scarcely monotonous, +for the hostile Apaches made it lively enough, compelling us to build +a defensible post and look well to the protection of our stock. A few +years later a large force, occupying many posts, found it difficult to +maintain themselves against those Indians, so it cannot seem strange +to the reader that our small garrison of a hundred soldiers should +find it difficult to do much more than act on the defensive. Close +confinement to the reservation chafed the boys. + +A ride to Prescott, two miles distant, was the longest the boys had +taken alone. Two weeks before this chapter opens they had been invited +to dine with Governor Goodwin, the Governor of the Territory, and he +had made their call exceedingly pleasant. When, at an advanced hour in +the evening, the boys took leave of their host and went to the stable +for their horses, they found them gone, with their saddles and +bridles. + +Inquiries made next day in town elicited the information that two +notorious frontier scamps, Texas Dick and Juan Brincos, an American +and Mexican, were missing, and it was the opinion of civil and +military authorities that they had stolen the ponies. The boys took +Vic to the Governor's, and, showing her the tracks of her equine +friends, she followed them several miles on the Skull Valley trail. It +was plainly evident that the thieves had gone towards the Rio +Colorado. + +After supper I accompanied the commanding officer to his quarters. He +told me that the express had brought him a communication from the +department commander, stating that, since Arizona had been transferred +to the Department of the Pacific, our stores would hereafter be +shipped from San Francisco to the mouth of the Rio Colorado, and up +that stream by the boats of the Colorado Steam Navigation Company to +La Paz. He said he had decided to send me to La Paz to make +arrangements with a freighter for the transportation of the supplies +from the company's landing to Fort Whipple. + +"And while you are in La Paz," said the captain, "look after those +horse-thieves, and turn them over to the civil authorities; but, +whether you capture them or not, be sure to bring back the boys' +ponies." + +"What do you think about allowing the boys to go with me?" + +"No doubt they would like it, for life has been rather monotonous to +them for some time, especially since they lost their horses. Think it +would be safe?" + +"No Indians have been seen on the route for some time." + +"The 'calm before the storm,' I fear." + +"The mail-rider, Hudson, has seen no signs for a long time." + +"So he told me. The excursion would be a big treat to the lads, and, +with a good escort and you in command, Duncan, I think they will be +in no danger. Tell the adjutant to detail a corporal and any twelve +men you may select, and take an ambulance and driver." + +"Shall I go by Bill Williams Fork or across the Xuacaxélla?" + +"The desert route is the shortest, and the courier says there is water +in the Hole-in-the-Plain. There was a rainfall there last week. That +will give you water at the end of each day's drive." + +I returned to my rooms and looked over an itinerary of the route, with +a schedule of the distances, and other useful information. After +making myself familiar with all its peculiarities, I told Frank and +Henry that if they desired to do so they might accompany me. + +They were overjoyed at the prospect. Henry caught Vic by the forepaws +and began to waltz about the room. Then, sitting down, he held her +head up between his palms and informed her that she was going to bring +back Sancho and Chiquita. + +"I do not intend to take Vic, Henry," I said. + +"Not take Vic? Why not, sir?" + +"The road is long and weary--six days going and six returning, over a +rough and dry region--and she will be in the way and a constant care +to us." + +"But how are we going to find our horses without her? She always helps +whenever we are in trouble, and she will be sure to assist us in this +if we take her," said Sergeant Henry, emphatically. + +"She need be no care to you, sir," said the elder boy; "Henry and I +will look after her." + +"I am sorry to disappoint you, boys, but I cannot take the dog. She +will be left with Captain Bayard." + +This decision made the boys somewhat miserable for a time. They +commiserated the dog over her misfortune, and then turned their +attention to preparations for the journey. + +"Have you ever been to La Paz?" asked Frank. + +"I have never been beyond Date Creek in that direction," I replied. + +"Is the Xuacaxélla really a desert?" + +"Only in the rainless season. Grasses, cacti, and shrubbery not +needing much moisture grow there. One of the geological surveys calls +it Cactus Plain. It is one hundred miles long. There is water in a +fissure of a mountain-spur on one side called the Cisternas Negras, +or Black Tanks, but for the rest of the distance there was formerly no +water except in depressions after a rainfall, a supply that quickly +evaporated under a hot sun and in a dry atmosphere. A man named Tyson +has lately sunk a well thirty miles this side of La Paz." + +"It was at Black Tanks the expressman saw Texas Dick and Juan Brincos +with our ponies," said Henry. "What a queer name that is!--Juan +Brincos, John Jumper, or Jumping Jack, as nearly every one calls him." + +"He is well named; he has been jumping stock for some years." + +"I thought Western people always hanged horse-thieves?" + +"Not when they steal from government. Western people are too apt to +consider army mules and horses common property, and they suppose your +ponies belong to Uncle Sam." + +"Frank," said Henry, just before the boys fell asleep that night, "I +felt almost sure we should recapture the ponies when I thought Vic was +going, but now I'm afraid we never shall see them again." + + + + +XII + +INDIANS ON THE WAR-PATH + + +The following day we were so delayed by several minor affairs that we +did not begin our journey until the middle of the afternoon. + +At the time of which I write there were but two wagon-roads out of +Prescott--one through Fort Whipple, which, several miles to the north, +divided into a road to the west, the one over which we had marched +from New Mexico, and a second which left in a northwesterly direction. +We took the latter, pursuing it along the east side of Granite Range +for eight miles, when we passed through a notch in the range to Mint +Creek, where the road made an acute angle and followed a generally +southwesterly course to La Paz. + +We halted for the night at the creek, eight miles from the fort. Our +ambulance was provided with four seats--one in front for the driver, +fixed front and rear seats in the interior, with a movable middle +seat, the back of which could be let down so that it fitted the +interval between the others and afforded a fairly comfortable bed. On +the rack behind were carried the mess chest, provisions, and bedding, +and inside, under the seats, were the ammunition and some articles of +personal baggage. Beneath the axle swung a ten-gallon keg and a nest +of camp kettles. + +While supper was being prepared the boys wandered about the reed-grass +in a fruitless search for some ducks they had seen settle in the +creek. Private Tom Clary, who was acting as our cook, having spread +our meal of fried bacon, bread, and coffee upon a blanket to the +windward of the fire, called them to supper. While sugaring and +stirring our coffee, the cook stood by the fire holding two long rods +in his hands, upon the ends of which were slices of bacon broiling +before the glowing coals. Suddenly he exclaimed: + +"Look there, sergeant laddies! look there!" raising and pointing with +both sticks and the rashers of bacon towards the reed-grass behind +us. + +There in its very edge sat Mistress Vic, winking her eyes and +twitching her ears deprecatingly, plainly in doubt as to her +reception. + +"Stop, boys! keep quiet!" I said, to prevent a movement in her +direction. "Vic, you bad girl, how dared you follow me?" + +No reply, only a slow closing and opening of the eyes and an +accompanying forward and backward movement of the ears. + +"Go home! Go!" + +The setter rose, dropped her head, and, turning dejectedly, +disappeared with drooping tail into the tall grass. Both boys +exclaimed at once: + +"Don't drive her off, sir! Poor little Vic!" + +"Well, go and see if you can coax her back. If she returns with you +she may go to La Paz." + +The boys ran eagerly into the grass, and soon I heard them soothing +and pitying the dog, telling her that it was all right, and that she +could go. But it was evident she doubted their authority to speak for +me, for Henry presently came running towards me. + +"She won't come, sir. Keeps moving slowly back in the direction of the +fort. She looks so sorry and so tired. Only think how badly she feels, +and it is a long distance to Whipple! Can't she stay with us until +morning?" + +"Then she will not come with you?" + +"No. She is your dog, and knows it. She never disobeys you." + +"But she followed me here; that looks very much like disobedience." + +"But you did not tell her not to come." + +"I believe you are right. I forgot to tell her to stay." + +"And she did not hear you tell the corporal to tie her, sir. You told +him in your room, and she was outside." + +"Then you think she is not to blame for following us?" + +"Of course not. She's a military dog, and always obeys orders." + +"But how guilty she looked." + +"It was not guilt made her look so, sir; it was disappointment." + +"Yes, I think you are right, Henry. I'll let her go with us. Let us +try an experiment, and see if she understands ordinary conversation. +You know some people think dogs do." + +"Yes, sir; I know Vic does." + +"I'll speak to her without altering my tone of voice. Now watch. +'Here, Vicky, little girl, it's all right; you may go with us.'" + +Out of the reeds, bounding in an ecstasy of delight, came Vic. She +sprang about me, then about the boys, the soldiers, and animals, and +then approaching the fire, sat down and looked wistfully at the +rashers of bacon Clary was still broiling. It was settled in her dog +mind that she was now a recognized member of our party. + +We resumed our journey with the first break of dawn and rode to Skull +Valley. The first section of the road passed through a rough, +mountainous, and wooded country; but at the end of thirteen miles it +entered a level valley, which gradually broadened into a wide plain +that had been taken up by settlers for farms and cattle ranges. Being +well acquainted, I made several calls at the log-cabins which skirted +the road. At the Arnold house we were made very welcome, and after a +generous dinner were escorted through the house and stables by the +entire family. I had visited the valley many times when on scouting +or escort duty, and had seen the Arnold cabins gradually substituted +for their tents, and their acres slowly redeemed from grazing ground +to cultivated fields; but since my last visit Mr. Arnold had adopted +an ingenious means of defence in case of an Indian attack. + +The house and stables from the first had been provided with heavy +shutters for windows and doorways, and loop-holes for fire-arms had +been made at regular four-foot intervals. These the proprietor had not +considered ample, and had constructed, twenty yards from the house, an +ingenious earthwork which could be entered by means of a subterranean +passage from the cellar. This miniature fort was in the form of a +circular pit, sunk four feet and a half in the ground, and covered by +a nearly flat roof, the edges or eaves of which were but a foot and a +half above the surface of the earth. In the space between the surface +and the eaves were loop-holes. The roof was of heavy pine timber, +closely joined, sloping upward slightly from circumference to centre, +and covered with two feet of tamped earth. To obtain water, a second +covered way led from the earthwork to a spring fifty yards distant, +the outer entrance being concealed in a rocky nook screened in a thick +clump of willows. + +As we were climbing into our ambulance, preparatory to resuming our +journey, Brenda said: + +"If you had reached here three hours earlier you might have had the +company of two gentlemen who are riding to La Paz." + +"Sorry I did not meet them. Who were they?" + +"Mr. Sage and Mr. Bell from Prescott. They are going to purchase goods +for their stores; and that reminds me that not one of you has +mentioned the object of this journey of yours." + +"That is really so," I replied. "You have made every minute of our +call so interesting in showing us your improvements and the fort, and +in doing the hospitable, that we have not thought of ourselves. Frank, +tell her about the ponies." + +Sergeant Frank, aided by Sergeant Henry, told in full of the loss of +their animals, and said we intended to try to capture Texas Dick and +Juan Brincos and recover Sancho and Chiquita. + +At the end of the boys' story, Brenda asked: "The thieves were a +Mexican and an American?" + +"Yes." + +"The American had a scar on the bridge of his nose, and the Mexican +had lost his front teeth?" + +"Exactly. What do you know about them, Brenda?" + +"They were here, but I did not see their ponies nearer than the +stable; they were black and cream color. The Mexican traded saddles +with uncle. You'll find the one he left in the lean-to, on a peg +beside the door." + +Both boys leaped to the ground and ran round the house to the lean-to, +and presently returned with Henry's neat McClellan saddle. It had been +stripped of its pouches and small straps, but was otherwise unharmed. + +"Well, when I come back with Chiquita, Mr. Arnold, I'd like to trade +saddles." + +"All right, youngkett, I'll trade, or you can take it now, and +welcome," replied the ranchman. + +"No; I'll leave it until I return." + +The saddle was taken back to the lean-to, and after a few more words +of leave-taking we started up the valley. A few miles of rapid +travelling brought us to a steep ascent into a mountainous range to +the right. We had proceeded but a short distance through a narrow and +rugged roadway when we were overtaken by the military expressman whom +we had left at Fort Whipple. He had come from Prescott to Skull Valley +by a short cut. + +"I have a letter for you, lieutenant," said he, approaching the +ambulance. + +Unfastening the mail-pouch, he turned its contents upon the back seat. +A heap of loose letters and three well-worn books strewed themselves +over the cushion. Frank picked up the books and examined their titles. + +"Xenophon's _Memorabilia_, Euripides' _Alcestis_ and _Medea_, and a +Greek grammar!" exclaimed the astonished youngster. "What are you +doing with these college text-books on the La Paz trail?" + +"Making up conditions," replied the courier, a blush deepening the +brown of his face. + +"What are conditions?" asked Henry. + +"Oh, blissful ignorance! Why was I not spared the task of enlightening +it?" answered the courier. "Conditions are stumbling-blocks placed in +the way of successful trackmen, football players, and rowing men by +non-appreciative and envious professors." + +"'Joseph Gould Hudson, University of Yalvard,'" read Frank from the +fly-leaf of the _Memorabilia_. "Is that your name, Mr. Hudson?" + +"I'm so borne on the Yalvard catalogue." + +"Please explain, Mr. Hudson," I said, "how a college boy happens to be +in Arizona running the gantlet of this mail-route and making up +conditions in Greek?" + +"I was stroke in the crew that won the championship for Yalvard at New +London one year ago, and got behind in these. I was conditioned, and +being ashamed to face an angry father, struck out for myself on the +Pacific coast. I drifted about from mining-camp to cattle-range until +I was dead broke; this place offered, and I took it because I could +find nothing else. I've had lots of opportunities for reflection on +the Xuacaxélla. I'm the repentant prodigal going home to his father." + +"Oh, you are no prodigal, Mr. Hudson," observed Henry. "We've heard +all about you; you are too brave." + +"Thank you, Sergeant Henry. No, I've not wasted my substance in +riotous living, nor have I eaten husks, but I've been prodigal in +wasting opportunities." + +"Lost a whole college year, haven't you?" I asked. + +"I hope not. There is a German university man at La Paz who has been +coaching me. He thinks if I keep at work until after Christmas I can +go on with my old class. This is my last trip, and if I escape the +Apaches once more I'm going to lay off and work hard for a few months, +and then return to New Havbridge for examination. There's something in +that letter that concerns me." + +Opening the letter, I learned that Captain Bayard knew Mr. Hudson's +story. He said this was to be the last trip of the courier, but that +after his return to La Paz he would come out to meet me at Tyson's +Wells and report whether the horse-thieves were in town. He also +suggested that in establishing a transshipment storehouse at the +steamboat-landing I place Hudson in charge. The pay would be of use to +him while "making up." + +The courier wished us a pleasant journey, and rode away at a +scrambling canter up the pass. He had been gone but a few moments when +I heard a shout, and, looking up, saw him standing on a pinnacle by +the way-side, on the summit of the ascent. He was looking in the +opposite direction, and I saw him fire three shots from his carbine in +rapid succession. Dismounting the men, I made rapid preparations to +meet an attack, and proceeded to work our way slowly up the height, +and when we reached the narrow level at the top we found Hudson and +the two soldiers that formed our advance occupying a shelter among the +rocks to the left, and gazing down the opposite slope. + +"What is it, Hudson?" I asked. + +"A party of Indians attempted to jump me here. There they go +now--across that opening in the sage-brush!" + +A dozen Indians dashed across an open space south of the road, but too +far away for effective shooting, and then two more passed over, +supporting a third between them. + +"You must have hit one of them." + +"I tried to. I think another was hurt more seriously, by the way he +acknowledged my shot." + +"Are you hurt?" + +"A slight scratch on the arm near the shoulder, and my horse is hurt." + +An examination of Hudson's arm proved that the scratch was not +serious, but I thought it best to exchange his horse for one belonging +to a soldier. We then went on, Frank and I walking in advance of the +ambulance mules. + +"There's something down there in the road by Ferrier's grave, sir," +said Corporal Duffey. "Looks like a dead man." + +"Is that where Ferrier was killed?" I asked. + +"Yes, sir; I was in command of the detail that came here to look him +up. He had built a little stone fort on that knoll up yonder, and kept +the redskins off three days. He kept a diary, you remember, which we +found. He killed six of them, and might as many more, but he couldn't +live without sleep or food, and the rascals got him. They scattered +the mail in shreds for miles about here." + +"Who was Ferrier?" Frank asked. + +"He was a discharged California volunteer, who rode the express before +Mr. Hudson." + +"Do you think Mr. Hudson knew his predecessor had been killed?" + +"Yes; the incident was much talked of at the time." + +We were nearing the object in the road. Suddenly the mules caught +sight of it, backed, and crushed the ten-gallon keg under the axle +against a bowlder--a serious mishap, as our after experience will +show. Walking on, we came to the mutilated bodies of two men, several +yards apart, whom we had no difficulty in recognizing to be the +tradesmen Bell and Sage. With axe, bayonets, and tin cups we dug a +shallow grave beside Ferrier's. We placed the bodies side by side, and +heaped a pyramid of stones above them. + +The courier again bade us good-bye, and we went on. The rest of the +ride through the mountain-pass was accomplished without adventure, and +evening found us encamped at Willow Springs. The boys shot a few quail +here, of the variety known as the California quail, distinguished by +an elegant plume of six feathers on the top of its head. Clary broiled +them for breakfast. + +The road on the following day was so rough that for much of the way +we were unable to move faster than a walk--the slow walk of draught +animals. When near a place called Soldiers' Holes, on account of some +rifle-pits sunk there, the corporal called my attention to a pool of +blood in the road. + +A close examination led us to believe that two men had fallen, that +one had been wounded, and that a second party had come and taken the +wounded man away. The locality was well adapted for a surprise. On the +left was a growth of dense shrubbery extending from the road to the +foot of the mountain-range. On the opposite side was an open plain. + +We were moving on again, when Frank remarked: + +"There seems to have been a big gathering of Apaches along this road." + +"Yes; a war-party bent on mischief. They have struck at two points, +and I fear a third--Date Creek--may have been attacked by this time. +That is where we are to pass the night." Then turning to Corporal +Duffey, I continued: "The road from here to the creek is soft and +loamy, and we are not likely to make much noise; caution the men to +be quiet and not show themselves outside the track. If the Indians are +at the ranch it will be best for us to appear there unexpectedly." + +"Do Indians never stand up like white men, and fight?" asked the +younger boy. + +"Frequently, but their system is different from ours; however, our +latest military tactics appear to be modelled on theirs." + +Although this section of our journey was but twenty-five miles long, +our rate of progress had been so slow that the day was nearly closed +when we came in sight of the lines of cottonwoods that bordered Date +Creek. We turned at last sharply to the left, and began a descent +through a narrow ravine towards the creek. We were nearing its +widening mouth when a half-dozen sharp reports of fire-arms broke upon +our ears. A halt was ordered and the men directed to prevent the +animals from betraying our presence by whinnying or braying. Telling +Sergeant Henry to remain behind and keep Vic with him, I went in +advance with Sergeant Frank. + +"What do you think is going on?" asked my companion, as several more +reports rang out. + +"What I feared; the Apaches are attacking the men who went out to +bring in the dead and wounded men at Soldiers' Holes." + +"And if Mr. Hudson was not the wounded man there, I suppose he is sure +to be in this scrape. Why not rush in with the escort and frighten +them away?" + +"They may be too many for us," I answered, "and it will be prudent to +learn the situation at the ranch before we go nearer. I want to join +the white men without the Indians' knowledge, if possible." + +"If Mr. Hudson is not dead, he must know we are here." + +"He may be there, and the men may know we are on the road, but it +certainly does not look like it." + +"Can't Vic be sent with a message?" + +"No; she will not take a message to a stranger." + +We had now reached a point from which we could see a log cabin, a +stable, and an open shed or tool-house. On the side of the buildings +towards us, as if screening themselves from an enemy in the opposite +direction, were a few men. + +"If you would like me to, sir, I can crawl to the house without being +seen," said Frank. "That cart, wagon, oven, and stack will screen me." + +"Yes, you can do it easily. Tell Mr. Hopkins that we are +here--seventeen, counting you two boys--and to make no demonstration +when we close up. I will explain a plan to him which, I think, will +enable us to teach the Apaches a lesson. If you find Mr. Hudson there, +tell him to show himself at a window or door." + + + + +XIII + +THE BOY SERGEANTS DO GOOD SERVICE + + +Frank dropped flat upon the earth and worked his way to the cabin +without being seen. Instantly I received a signal from Mr. Hopkins +through a back window, and a moment later Mr. Hudson looked out of a +back door and raised his hat. I was glad to see that his college +career was still a possibility. + +Hurrying back to the ambulance, I caused the animals to be grouped in +charge of the driver and two soldiers, and with the rest of the detail +moved in the direction of the ranch buildings. + +It had become so dark that we might possibly have passed over the open +space without being seen, but, for fear of accidents, we covered it, +as Frank had done, on all fours. The first persons I met when I rose +to a vertical position were Hudson and Frank, who took me to Mr. +Hopkins. The ranchman greeted me with the assurance that the arrival +of my party was a godsend, and had probably saved their scalps. + +I learned that the men at Date Creek, including the mail-carrier, +numbered seven; that three were in the stable and four in the house. +These buildings were the same distance from the stream, and fifty feet +apart. The bank of the creek was perpendicular for a mile either way, +standing fully twelve feet above the surface of the water; but there +was a notch with a sloping descent, midway between the buildings, down +which the live-stock was driven to water. This slope offered the only +practicable point of attack, unless the Indians chose to move by one +of our flanks over a long level. + +Mr. Hopkins said he had crept out to the shrubbery on the edge of the +precipitous river-bank, to the left of the slope, just before my +arrival, and had seen on the opposite shore a small party of men +moving through the willow branches towards our left. He believed it +was a flanking-party, intending to make a feint from that direction +and enable the main body to charge through the notch in the bank. +Believing the repelling force to be but seven, the Indians were quite +sure of success. + +I was convinced that Mr. Hopkins's inferences were correct; but in +order that no mistake should be made, I sent two veterans in frontier +service, Privates Clary and Hoey, to reconnoitre both flanks. They +were gone half an hour, and returned with the information that no +demonstration was being made towards our right, but that a dozen or +more men had gathered on the opposite shore, at a point where they +could cross and turn our left flank. + +Preparations to meet this movement were begun at once. Sergeant Frank +was sent to the ambulance with orders for the men in charge to bring +in the animals, two at a time, and fasten them in the rear of the +stable and stack. This was easily accomplished in the darkness. The +ambulance was left in charge of Vic. + +While this was going on, and I was overlooking the construction of +rifle-shelters on the flanks, Sergeant Henry approached and asked if +he could not be of some use. Something in the tone of the boy's voice +showed me he felt he had been neglected, while his brother had been +kept busy. + +"What would you like to do?" I asked. + +"Does a soldier choose his duty, sir?" was the reply, uttered with +some dignity. + +"Not usually, sergeant, it is true. I have a very important thing for +you to do--something for which I was intending to look you up. Go and +find Private Clary, and tell him to help you carry several armfuls of +hay from the stack to the right of the slope. Make a heap, so that +when it is lighted it will illuminate the approach from the creek. Ask +Mr. Hopkins if he has any kerosene or other inflammable stuff to +sprinkle on the hay and make it flash up quickly and burn brilliantly. +Then throw up a shelter in which you can lie and be ready to light the +hay when signalled." + +"Yes, sir. Thank you. I'll attend to everything." + +Not more than fifteen minutes had elapsed when the boy sergeant +returned and informed me that the bundle of hay was prepared and a +shelter constructed. + +"Mr. Hopkins has two gallons of axle-grease and two quarts of spirits +of turpentine." + +"Excellent. Mix them together and sprinkle the hay thoroughly. Then +place yourself in the shelter, and when you see a light flash from the +west window of the house light your bonfire." + +"I'll do so, sir," and the boy ran away in the darkness. + +An hour had passed when loud whoops gave us warning of the enemy's +approach. It was the war-cry of the terrible Apaches. Not a sound came +from the creek. I strained my eyes in that direction, but nothing was +visible in the black darkness beneath the pendulous branches of the +willows. + +At last I saw the fixed reflections of the stars in the surface of the +pool diffuse themselves into myriads of sparkling atoms. A +considerable body of Indians must be in the water, but none appeared +in sight. Yes, they were crossing in two columns, to the right and +left of the notch, concealed by the high shore, and would shortly +unite and charge up the slope. Baldwin ran to the stable to tell the +men there that the Apaches were coming, and to be on the alert. + +The whoops of the flanking party redoubled, and were accompanied by a +desultory firing, which the four men opposing them answered in the +same way. Then I saw the sparkling water of the pool cut off from my +sight, and knew that a body of men stood on the slope between us and +the creek. + +"Frank, show the light! Men, ready!" + +The lantern flashed from the window, quickly answered by a flash on +the bank, and a mass of red flame threw its luminous tresses skyward, +bathing the whole scene in light. In the notch, half-way up the slope, +stood a momentarily paralyzed group of nearly a hundred painted +warriors. Every rifle in the hands of the white men in the two +buildings spoke, and instantly the notch emptied itself pell-mell of +its living throng. Only a few prostrate bodies showed the Apaches had +been there. + +With the discharge of fire-arms a silence immediately fell upon the +scene, in marked contrast to the shrieking and yelling of a moment +before. The bonfire burned low, and went out. Once more we were in +darkness. + +We believed the Indians would make no further demonstration, and an +hour later a scouting party ascertained that they had gathered their +dead and departed. Sentinels were posted, the ambulance run in by +hand, the stock fed, and a midnight meal cooked. + +While sitting by the camp-fire, listening to the sizzling of the bacon +and sniffing the aroma of the coffee, Mr. Hopkins introduced me to his +men and guests, and I heard an explanation of the tracks and blood at +Soldiers' Holes. + +Early that morning three gentlemen, who had passed the night at the +ranch, started for Prescott. They were a Mr. Gray, a Scotch merchant +at La Paz; Mr. Hamilton, a lawyer of the same place; and a Mr. +Rosenberg, a freighter. When near the Holes, Mr. Hamilton, who was +riding in advance, was shot by Indians concealed in the sage-brush. +Mr. Rosenberg's mule was wounded, and plunged so that his rider fell +to the ground. Mr. Gray, seeing the plight of the freighter, rode to +his side, seized him by the collar, and aided him to leap to a seat +behind him. + +It is probable that this act of generous daring might have ended in +the death of both men but for a diversion caused by the sudden and +unexpected appearance of the military expressman. He came up a slope +from a lower level, and, taking in the situation at a glance, let fly +three shots from his breech-loading carbine that caused the Indians to +lie low. The three men rode to the ranch, and Mr. Hopkins and his +three workmen accompanied them to bring in the body of Mr. Hamilton. +The Indians did not begin to concentrate at the creek until after the +burial. + +Supper being over, the boys and I were getting into our blankets for +the rest of the night, when Mr. Hudson, who had been preparing to +depart, came to bid us good-bye. + +"I seem to take frequent leave of you, these times, lieutenant," he +said. + +"Yes; and your farewell ride with the Whipple mail so far seems to +have been anything but monotonous. I think the _Anabasis_ would be a +more suitable subject of study on this route than the _Memorabilia_." + +"'Hence they proceeded one day's journey, a distance of five +parasangs, and fell in with the barbarians,' might well be said of +this trip, for a fact." + +"Hadn't you better travel with me the rest of the way?" + +"I think we have seen the last of the Apaches. They do not range south +and west of here. Good-bye, sir." + +"Good-bye, until we meet at Tyson's Wells." + +The next morning, when the boys, Vic, and I were taking our places in +the ambulance, Mr. Hopkins and his men, Mr. Gray and Mr. Rosenberg, +approached us mounted. They informed me that they were going to La +Paz. + +"The Ingins are gettin' a little too thick here," observed the +ranchman. "I find it diffikilt to git proper rest after a hard day's +work. Think I'll stay away until Uncle Sam's boys thin 'em out a +little more." + +"Can I obtain a five or ten gallon keg of you, Mr. Hopkins?" I asked. +"Ours was accidentally smashed on the road." + +"Haven't a keg to my name, lieutenant. One way 'n' ernuther all's been +smashed, give away, or lent." + +The ride from the ranch to the edge of the desert plain was twelve +miles, a portion of it over a rugged ridge. To the point where we were +to ford the creek was two miles, and there the hired men, pack-mules, +and ranch cattle turned off on the Bill Williams Fork route to the +Rio Colorado. + +Once on the level of the Xuacaxélla our team broke into a brisk trot, +and we rolled along with a fair prospect of soon crossing the one +hundred miles between Date Creek and La Paz. Messrs. Gray, Rosenberg, +and Hopkins shortly turned into a bridle-path which led into a mine. +Before taking leave of us Mr. Gray told me that my camping-place for +the night would be at the point of the third mountain-spur which +jutted into the plain from the western range. + +We had not travelled long before we realized our misfortune in having +smashed our water-keg. Each individual in our party possessed a +three-pint army canteen, which had been filled when we forded the +creek in the early dawn. These were to last us until evening, through +an exceedingly sultry day. Frank, Henry, and I did our best to +overcome our desire for water, but the younger boy could not refuse +the appeals of Vic, when she looked up with lolling tongue and +beseeching eyes to the canteens. + +The men were the greatest sufferers, unless I except their horses. +Long before mid-day their canteens were empty and their mouths so dry +that articulation was difficult and they rarely spoke. + +At five we arrived opposite the third spur, where we found a wand +sticking in the ground and holding in its cleft end a slip of paper. +It proved to be a note from Mr. Hudson, saying that this was the place +to camp, and the Black Tanks were on the southern side of the spur, +three miles distant. + +In a few minutes, with the horses and mules divested of saddles, +bridles, and harnesses, leaving two men behind to guard the property +and collect fuel for a fire, we were on the way to water. + +Hurrying along, we saw before us a long, irregular range, apparently +three thousand feet in height, which had been cleft from summit to +base as if by a wedge. In this rent we found water--water deposited in +a natural reservoir by the periodical rainfalls in millions of +gallons, a reservoir never known to be dry. + +Climbing over the dike which enclosed the main deposit, we descended +to the cistern, filled our cups, and swallowed the contents without +taking a breath. When we dipped up a second, Tom Clary looked into the +depths of his cup with knitted brows. + +"Whist, now, sergeant laddies!" he exclaimed. "Look into the wather! +It's aloive with wigglers of ivery variety. They're 's plinty as pays +in a soup." + +"Ugh! And we are full of them, too, Tom," said Henry, looking into his +cup with narrow-eyed anxiety. + +Pausing in the act of taking a second drink, I looked into my cup, and +saw that it contained myriads of animalcula and larvć, which zigzagged +from side to side in the liveliest manner. + +"Will they hurt us, Tom?" questioned Henry. + +"I rickon they've got the worst of it, sergeant laddie; but I think +I'd fale a bit aisier if I was blindfolded or takin' a drink in the +dark. I prefer me liquid refrishment with a little less mate, not to +minshin its bein' less frisky." + +We had come to the Cisternas Negras with towels, intending to wash off +the dust of travel. We now used one of them to strain the water, and +were astonished to see that each gallon left behind it a plump +spoonful of animalcula. The water was sweet, but, after discovering +the abundant life in it, we deferred drinking more of it until it had +been boiled. + +As we pursued the narrow path to camp in single file, we noticed Vic a +considerable distance to the right, scouting and nosing about in an +earnest manner. Evidently she thought she had made an important +discovery, for she several times paused and looked in our direction +and barked. But we were too hungry to investigate, and soon she +disappeared from our view. + +When we reached the ambulance the boys put a few cakes of hard bread +in their pockets, and, taking their shot-guns, went out to look for +some "cottontails" while supper was being prepared. Believing we were +well out of the range of hostile Indians, I did not object to their +going alone. They passed a considerable distance beyond the growth of +_Cereus giganteus_, over a level stretch covered with knee-high +bunch-grass and desert weeds, without seeing a hare. Pausing on the +brink of a shoal, dry ravine, they stood side by side, and rested the +butts of their guns upon the ground. Just then a shout of "Supper! +supper!" came from the group at the camp-fire. + +"Hate to go back without anything," said Frank, so I afterwards heard. +"Strange we can't see a rabbit now, when we saw dozens on the way to +the Tanks." + +"That's because we didn't have a gun," said Henry. + +"You don't believe the rabbits knew we weren't armed then and know we +are now?" + +"Hunters tell bigger stories than that about 'Brer Rabbit.' Not one +has bobbed up since we got our guns." + +Suddenly from the flat surface of the plain, not twenty yards from +where the boys stood, where nothing but bunch-grass and low shrubbery +grew, sixteen Indians sprang up to full height, like so many +Jacks-in-a-box. + + + + +XIV + +ON THE DESERT WITHOUT WATER + + +The boys were frightened. Their hearts leaped into their throats, and +it was difficult for them to restrain an impulse to turn and run; but +a soldierly instinct brought them to a "ready," with eyes fixed upon +the probable enemy. + +"Quick, Henry! shoot!" exclaimed Frank, intending to reserve his own +fire. + +The younger sergeant raised his double-barrelled shot-gun to his +shoulder and pulled both triggers. Down went the sixteen Indians as if +the bird-shot had been fatal to all. The plain became in an instant as +objectless as it was a moment before. + +"Load, Henry, and, backward, march!" said Frank, ready to fire +whenever a head showed above the grass, and at the same time moving as +rapidly as possible towards the camp-fire. + +"How! how! how!" was chorused from the direction of the Indians, and +several naked brown arms were stretched upward, holding rifles +horizontally in the air. + +"That means peace," said Henry. "They aren't going to fire. Let's +answer. How! how! how!" + +"How! how! how!" Frank joined in, and at once the sixteen redmen +sprang to their feet, apparently none the worse for Henry's double +charge of bird-shot at short range. They held their weapons above +their heads, and continuing to utter their friendly "How!" rapidly +advanced towards the boys. + +"They aren't playing us a trick, are they, Frank?" asked Henry, in an +anxious tone. + +"No," replied the elder boy, after snatching a glance to the rear. +"The lieutenant and soldiers are saddling. The Indians dare not harm +us on an open plain in sight of a mounted force." + +The boys stopped, and the redmen came up and began shaking hands in a +most friendly manner, over and over again, repeating "How!" many +times. They were clad in loose and sleeveless cotton shirts, all +ragged and dirty, with no other clothing. The one who appeared to be +chief was distinguished by the possession of three shirts, worn one +above the other. Each man possessed several hares and field-rats, held +against his waist by tucking the heads under his belt. + +The boy sergeants and their strange guests reached the camp-fire, and +the hand-shaking and exchange of amicable civilities went on for some +time. The chief approached me and, placing a finger on one of my +shoulder-straps, asked, in mongrel Spanish: + +"Usted capitan?" (Are you the captain?) + +I replied in the affirmative. + +"Yo capitan, tambien; mucho grande heap capitan." (I'm a captain, too; +a very great heap captain.) + +He then asked where we were from and where we were going, and informed +us that they were Yavapais on a hunting expedition. We exchanged hard +bread with them for a few cottontails, and set Clary to making a +rabbit-stew, the boys and I deferring our supper until it should be +ready. + +"Oh, Mr. Duncan," shouted Henry from the direction of the Indians, a +few moments later, "come and see what these creatures are doing!" + +I left the ambulance and joined the group of soldiers who stood in a +circle about an inner circle of seated Indians. Each Yavapai had +selected a rat from the collection in his belt, and had laid it on the +coals without dressing it or in any way disturbing its anatomy. He +rolled the rat over once or twice, and took it up and brushed and blew +off the singed hair. He placed it again on the coals for a moment, +and, taking it up, pinched off the charred fore legs close to the body +and the hind legs at the ham-joint. Replacing it on the fire, he +turned it over a few more times. Picking it up for the third time, he +held it daintily in the palm of his left hand, and with the fingers of +his right plucked off the flesh and put it in his mouth. + +When we were making our beds ready for the night, Vic, whom we had +forgotten in the exciting events of the evening, trotted into camp and +laid a horseshoe in Henry's lap. The lad took it up, and exclaimed: + +"One of Chiquita's shoes!--a left hind shoe!" + +"How do you know?" I asked. + +"Private Sattler always shaped the heel of the left shoe like this, to +correct a fault in her gait." + +"May I look at the shoe, sergeant?" asked Corporal Duffey, +approaching from the group of men near the guard's fire. "Shoes are +like hand-writing--no two blacksmiths make them alike. I am a +blacksmith by trade, and know all the shoes made by the smiths of our +regiment. This," examining it, "is one of Sattler's. He put a +side-weight on it, and here is the bevel-mark of his hammer." + +"Then our ponies have certainly passed here, and Vic was on their +trail when we saw her coming from the Tanks," remarked Frank; "but +there could have been no scent after so long a time." + +"Oh, she knows Sancho's and Chiquita's tracks," asseverated Henry; +"she knows their halters, bridles, and will bring them when told to, +without mistake." + +The sentinel awakened us next morning at four o'clock, and informed us +that the Indians had left two hours before. The animals were again +driven to the Tanks, the vessels and canteens filled, and at six +o'clock we were on the road. Nearly all our water was used in the +preparation of breakfast, except that in the canteens. It would have +been better if we had made a third trip to the cisterns and refilled +our coffee-pot and camp-kettles; but the delay necessary to do it, and +the assurance that there was water at Hole-in-the-Plain, determined me +to go on at once. The weather was a repetition of that of the previous +day--hot and windless. + +The road proved generally smooth, but there were occasional long +stretches over which it was impossible to drive faster than a walk. +About four in the afternoon we reached Hole-in-the-Plain, and found +nothing but a few hundred square yards of thin mud. The fierce rays of +the sun had nearly evaporated every vestige of the recent rainfall, +and in twenty-four hours more the mud would be baked earth. + +Vic, consumed with thirst and suffering in the extreme heat, waded +into the mud and rolled in it until she was the color of a fresh +adobe, and was, in consequence, made to ride thereafter in disgrace on +the driver's foot-board. + +We had intended to pass the night at the Hole, but want of water +compelled us to move on. Very gloomy and doubtful of the outcome, we +left the Hole-in-the-Plain. We were toiling slowly up a slope, nearly +a dozen miles on this third stage of the desert route, when a +horseman overtook us, who proved to be Mr. Gray. He slowed up, +listened to my account of our perplexities, and after saying many +hopeful and cheering things, telling us that Tyson's Wells were now +not far ahead, he galloped swiftly away in the darkness. + +At midnight the road ascended to a considerably higher level and +became suddenly hard and smooth. The driver urged the team into a +series of brief and spasmodic trots, which lasted a couple of hours, +when we again descended to a lower level, where the wearily slow gait +was resumed. With the slower pace our spirits fell and our thirst +increased. As Private Tom Clary expressed it to the driver: + +"In a place like this a gallon of Black Tanks water would be +acciptible without a strainer, and no reflictions passed upon the +wigglers." + +"That's so, Tom," called Henry, from the depths of his blankets; "I +could drink two quarts of it--half and half." + +"Half and half--what do you mean?" I asked. + +"Half water and half wigglers," was the answer. + +"I thought you were asleep." + +"Can't sleep, sir; I'm too thirsty. Did drop off once for two or three +minutes, and dreamed of rivers, waterfalls, springs, and wells that I +could not reach." + +"I've not slept at all," said Frank; "just been thinking whether I +ever rode over a mile in Vermont without crossing a brook or passing a +watering-trough." + +"It's beginning to grow light in the east," observed the driver. "By +the time we reach the top of the next roll we can see whether we are +near the Wells." + +"You may stop the team, Marr," said I; "we will wait for the escort to +close up." + +We got out to stretch our legs, while the straggling soldiers slowly +overtook us. The man on the wounded bronco did not arrive until the +edge of the sun peeped above the horizon, and I ordered him to remove +the saddle and bridle, hitch the animal behind the ambulance, and take +a seat beside the driver. + +Just when we were about to start again, Frank asked permission to run +ahead with the field-glass to the rising ground and look for Tyson's +Wells. I consented, and told him to signal us if he saw them, and that +if he did not we would halt, turn out, and send the least worn of the +escort ahead for relief. + +Frank started, and presently disappeared behind some brush at a turn +in the road. An instant later he shouted and screamed at the top of +his voice. Whether he was shouting with joy or terror, or had gone out +of his senses, we were unable to guess. It sounded like "Who-o-o-op! +water! water! water!" + +Had the boy seen a mirage and gone mad? We could see nothing but the +broad hollow about us, barren and dry as ever. But still the boy +continued to shout, "Water! water!" and presently he appeared round +the bend, running and holding up what appeared to be a letter. It was +a letter. When Frank reached the ambulance tears were in his eyes as +he handed me a yellow envelope. + +"Found it on the head of a barrel over there, with a stone on it to +prevent it from blowing away." + +Breaking open the envelope with trembling fingers, I read: + + "TYSON'S WELLS. + + "DEAR LIEUTENANT.--Please accept four barrels of water and + four bushels of corn, with my compliments. + + "GRAY." + +Need I confess the emotions with which we realized the service this +brave Arizona merchant had done us? or need I mention that Mr. +Gray--God bless him, wherever he may be!--is always remembered with +gratitude by me? for this is no idle incident invented to amuse a +reader, but an actual occurrence. + +Water!--four barrels!--one hundred and sixty gallons! That meant two +gallons for every man and boy, and eight gallons for each animal. It +meant rest, speed, safety. + +We moved across the ravine and found the four barrels by the +road-side. The animals were secured to the ambulance and the acacia +bushes, the heads of the barrels removed, and after each person had +satisfied his thirst the camp kettles were used, until horses and +mules had drunk the contents of one each. The stock was then turned +out to graze. + +When coffee was poured, Private Tom Clary arose, and, holding up his +tin cup, said to his comrades: + +"Here's a toast to be drunk standin', b'ys, and for many raysons, +which I think nade not be explained to this assimbly, I'm glad to +drink it in a decoction whose principal ingraydiant is wather. Here's +to Mr. Gray, whose conduct at Soldiers' Holes, at Date Creek, and on +the Walkerhelyer has won our admiration. May he niver lack for the +liquid he has so ginerously dispinsed, nor a soft hand to smooth his +last pillow, and plinty of masses for the repose of his sowl!" + +Frank and Henry sprang towards the circle of soldiers, raised their +cups as Clary finished his sentiment, and joined in the hearty +response when he closed. + +At one o'clock the animals were caught up, given the remainder of the +water and their portion of the corn, and got ready for the road. Once +up the slope Marr cracked his whip, the mules started into a trot, the +horses of the escort broke into a canter, and amid the cheerful +clatter of hoofs and the rattle of wheels we sped on our way as fresh +as if we were just leaving Fort Whipple. A ride of twenty miles +brought us to Tyson's Wells. These were two in number, sunk at an +intersection of several roads leading to settlements and mines, an +accommodation to trains, flocks, and herds, and a profit to the owner. + +I learned from Colonel Tyson that immediately upon his arrival Mr. +Gray had hired a wagon to take water and corn to us. He had bargained +for the driver to go until he met us, but the man being prepaid may +account for his not fulfilling his agreement to the letter. + +The rest of the day and night was spent at the Wells, the boys and I +taking our supper at the Desert Hotel, kept by the colonel. At the +table, Henry, in a tone of evident anxiety, asked if we should return +the way we came. + +"Yes, if we can find a few kegs in La Paz that will hold water," I +answered. + +"But we cannot haul kegs enough in the ambulance to supply the +animals." + +"It will not be difficult. We will follow the army custom in such +cases, and I will promise you that there will be no suffering from +thirst when we cross the desert again." + +Just as we were preparing for bed Mr. Hudson arrived from La Paz. He +informed me that Texas Dick and Jumping Jack were there and in +possession of the ponies; that there was to be a horse-race the day +after to-morrow, and the ponies had been entered. At this news the boy +sergeants became much excited, and proposed a dozen impracticable ways +of going on at once and seizing their property. + +Hudson said he had talked the matter over with Mr. Gray, and the +merchant had advised that we give out a report in La Paz that we were +there on the transportation and storehouse business only, and make no +immediate attempt to capture the ponies. He said the town was full of +the friends of the horse-thieves, and that our movements would be +closely watched and reported to them. If they became alarmed they +would probably run across the Mexican boundary at once. + +"But why cannot we attend the race with the escort, as spectators, and +seize them?" asked Frank. + +"That is a move they will be sure to be looking for. If any of you go +to the race, I believe neither of those men nor the ponies will be +there." + +I told Hudson to return to La Paz before daylight and circulate the +report that I was coming for the purpose he had mentioned. I also +requested him to watch Jack and Dick, and if he saw them making +preparations for flight to come and meet me. We were met on the +outskirts of the town by Mr. Gray, who told us we were to be his +guests during our stay, and that his corral and store-rooms were at +the service of my men and stock. + +Going directly to the house of the hospitable trader, we found it to +consist of well-furnished bachelor quarters, with several spare rooms +for guests. The boys were assigned a room by themselves, and I one +adjoining them, in which we found ample evidence that our host had +looked forward with pleasure to our visit and had fully understood +boyish needs and desires. + +Henry, after exchanging his travelling-dress for a neat uniform, +appeared upon the veranda with glowing face and shining hair. + +"Mr. Gray, how pleasant you have made our room for us! Have you any +boys of your own?" he asked. + +"Only two nephews, Sandy and Malcolm, in the 'Land of Cakes,'" was the +reply. + +"What a good uncle you must be to them!" + +"Thank you, laddie. I hope the bairns are as fine boys as you and your +brother." + +"You are very kind to say so, sir. May I ask you a question?" + +"A dozen, laddie. What is it?" + +"When you overtook us on the desert you said it was not far to Tyson's +Wells, and that we should soon be there." + +"Ah! then you thought it a long way, sergeant?" + +"Perhaps my terrible thirst had something to do with it, but it seemed +more than twenty-five miles. I thought you had a queer notion of +distances." + +"Only a little deception to keep up your heart, laddie. I saw you were +in sad need of water, and I made a hard ride to send it to you, but I +wanted you to do your best to meet it. What do you think of the +shrinking properties of water when applied to a desert road?" + +"Wasn't it great, though! Those last twenty miles your four barrels +shrank into nothing but a pleasant three hours' ride." + +After dinner Mr. Hudson reported that he had dropped information at +the hotels and business places that we were here to meet a director of +the Colorado Navigation Company. We also learned from him that the +steamer _Cocopah_ had arrived that morning from up-river, and was now +lying at her landing, one mile below town, awaiting the return of the +director from Wickenburg. Both Mr. Gray and Hudson were of the opinion +that the horse-thieves were suspicious of our presence, for their +agents had been unable to locate the ponies at any stable in town. The +horse-race was advertised to come off on the afternoon of the +following day, half a mile below the steamboat-landing, and Texas Dick +and Juan Brincos had entered horses for the stakes. + +Mr. Gray thought the appearance of the ponies in the race would depend +entirely upon what course we pursued. If we attended the race the +ponies would not be there; if we stayed away he had no doubt they +would run. + +Believing the trader's convictions to be correct, I instructed the +escort not to go south of the town during the day of the races, and +told Frank and Henry to amuse themselves about the streets or in the +vicinity of Mr. Gray's residence. I then started with our host to +procure a building for a military storehouse. + +For the rest of the day the boys showed little disposition to wander +about; they spent most of their time lounging on their beds with a +book, or asleep. + + + + +XV + +THE PONIES ARE FOUND + + +The following day the boy sergeants rose from their beds fully +refreshed, and after breakfast began to explore the town. They made +some purchases in the stores, and found much amusement in watching a +bevy of Mojave Indian girls buying pigments to be used in adorning +their necks, arms, and faces. Following the bronze maidens to the +shore of a lagoon that backed up to the town from the river, they +seated themselves beneath a cottonwood and witnessed the designing of +tracings in many colors, made with endless and musical chatterings, +accompanied by an evident consciousness that they were objects of +interest to two pale-face boys. + +After completing the tinting the girls would walk about for a while +and display their work to admiring friends, and then plunge into and +swim about the lagoon with the ease and grace of a lot of mermaids; +emerging with no trace left of their recent ornamentation, they would +proceed to renew it in different designs, and take another swim. + +"Quite like watering-place belles with extensive wardrobes," remarked +Frank. + +"And takes about as long to put on the paint as to put on a +fashionable dress," said Henry, "but not so long to remove it." + +Another thing that amused the boys was a _balsa_, or raft, made by the +Mojaves, of the cane-grass which grew in the river-bottoms to the +height of fifteen feet. A large bundle bound at the ends with grass +ropes would sustain two men. The boys borrowed one of an Indian girl, +who was sitting in the shade of some willows prinking herself +artistically with an original and intricate pigmentary pattern. +Stepping on board, they paddled about the lagoon for a considerable +period. + +Tiring at last of the sport, they separated, Frank saying that he was +going for his shot-gun, and perhaps shoot for some quail, and Henry +that he meant to find Tom Clary and set some lines for catfish. + +The younger sergeant failing to find the soldier, selected a line, +and, procuring some bait, returned alone to the lagoon. On his way he +met the Indian girl walking along the sidewalk, an object of +admiration and envy to the men and women of her people. Her bronze +flesh was adorned with a lacelike tracery of beautiful design, in many +tints. + +"How exceedingly pretty!" said Henry, in Spanish, a language fairly +well understood by the aborigines of the Southwest. + +"I, or my paint?" asked the girl, coquettishly. + +"The paint is well put on; but I think you prettiest just after a +swim." + +"Thank you, seńor." + +"May I use the balsa again, Indita?" + +"Si, seńor, and you may keep it, but return the paddle." + +"Thank you. I will leave the paddle on the shore where you were +sitting." + +With this exchange of civilities Henry walked down to the pool. An +idea had occurred to him. He wondered if he could not float down the +river to the racing-ground and get a peep at Sancho and Chiquita, as +they came in victors. He felt sure no ponies in Arizona could outrun +them. But Mr. Duncan had told the escort not to go to the race. True; +but what harm could there be if he kept out of sight? + +Placing an empty box on the raft for a seat, he took Vic on board, and +began paddling out of the lagoon. Speed could not be made with such a +craft; it was simply a convenience for crossing or journeying down the +river. The Mojaves, whose village was five miles above La Paz, came +down on freshly made _balsas_ every day, but walked home, carrying +their paddles. + +Once well out of the lagoon, and in the river-current, the boy and dog +were swept along at a swift rate. + +A mile down the shore he saw a crowd of men, mounted and on foot, +intently watching something inland. He was approaching the +race-course. He made a landing on a sand-spit that struck off from an +outward curve of the bank, and dragged the _balsa_ out of the water. + +The shore rose abruptly from the bar to a height two feet above his +head. He lifted and boosted Vic up, and seizing the long tufts of +overhanging grass and thrusting his feet into the loops of willow +roots, drew himself to the higher level and crept into a screen of low +bushes. + +Peering through the branches, Henry saw a straight-away course, +parallel to the river, bordered for three hundred yards with the +motley crowd of a mining and Indian country. At the northern end of +the course was a group of ten ponies, out of which he found no +difficulty in discovering two, a black and a cream-color, and +recognizing in them the property of his brother and himself. In his +opinion they were the handsomest animals in the group. + +At the fourth signal--a pistol-shot--the ponies got away. Down the +three-hundred-yard track they sped, and over the last fourth the black +and cream-color led by a length, crossing the goal with Sancho half a +neck in advance. Of course the little sergeant knew they would beat, +and in spite of his sorrow at the loss of his ponies--intensified by +this stolen sight of them--he could not refrain from clapping his +hands and saying, aloud, "Bravo, Sancho! Bravita, Chiquita!" + +The subdued cheer was promptly answered by a succession of barks at +the foot of the tree, and Vic, interpreting the boy's clapping and +speech to mean that she was free to go, dashed off at the top of her +speed for the race-course, and to its southern end, where the victors +were now held by their dismounted riders. Vic bounded wildly about +them for a few moments, and then, standing still, Henry saw each horse +in turn place its nose to the dog's nose. One of the men struck the +dog sharply with the loop of his bridle-rein, and as she fled back in +the direction of the tree in which the boy was, he saw the riders hold +a brief consultation and then follow the dog. + +Henry, perceiving he was discovered, let himself down from the tree. +Texas Dick and Jumping Jack approached. + +"Ven acá, muchacho" (Come here, boy), said the Mexican. + +Henry did not stir, and Dick said to his companion, in Spanish: "He +does not understand your lingo. I will try him in English: Come here, +boy." + +Henry had not disregarded Juan's summons for any particular reason, +but the remark of Dick gave him an idea. By pretending ignorance of +Spanish he might learn something that would be of advantage to him. +Accordingly, he came forward when Dick spoke. + +"From Fort Whipple, ain't yer, sonny?" + +"I am." + +"D' ye know these critters?" + +"The black is my brother's, the light is mine." + +"Lookin' on 'em up, I s'pect?" + +"We shall take them, if we can." + +"You see, I was right," continued Dick to his companion, in Spanish. +"They came here to take these horses." + +"Then we better call for the prize, collect our stakes, and leave," +said Juan. + +"Where shall we go?" asked Dick. "Arizona's getting uncomfortable for +me, and your kin across the Mexican line don't love you." + +"Valgame Dios, no! Let's cross the river and go to San Diego or Los +Angeles." + +"Estar bueno. Come with us, youngster," he added, in English; "and +mind ye keep a quiet tongue in yer head or ye'll have no head to wag +it in after ye've spoke." + +Henry followed the men to the head of the race-course, where they +received their prizes and winnings, and withdrew to the river-bank. +There they divided the money and held a conference. + +"We'd better cross the river to-night and camp at El Rincon until +morning, and then strike for Dos Palmas and the coast." + +"Shall we leave our monte and other stuff in town?" asked Juan. + +"No; you stay here and take care of the boy, and I'll go back and sell +out. Anastacio Barela will buy. Look sharp that the young soldier does +not send a message by his dog. I heard lots of strange stories of her +performances in that line at Prescott. I will bring down something for +our supper and the road." + +Dick galloped away, leaving the Mexican and Henry to await his return. +As the twilight deepened into darkness the boy's thoughts grew more +and more despondent. He now fully and sadly realized that his +disobedience of orders had brought disgrace upon himself, and ruined +every chance of recovering the ponies, for once the thieves got well +away they were secure from capture. + +It was night when Dick returned and told the Mexican that he had made +an advantageous sale of their gambling outfit. + +"Now, kid, ye kin slope," he said, addressing the disheartened lad. +"Tell the lieutenant that he kin look for us at Hermosilla, on the +other side of the Mexican bound'ry. Good-bye." + +Henry hurried away towards La Paz, with Vic close at his heels. There +was no occasion for haste, for he felt that nothing in the town could +overtake the lost Sancho and Chiquita; still he hurried and stumbled +on in the darkness. + +"Oh, Vicky," said the boy, in his misery, stooping to caress his +companion, "I ought to be court-martialled and dishonorably discharged +from the service for this. I have done very wrong. I have lost our +ponies for good." + +The dog licked his hand sympathetically, and then suddenly bounded +away, barking, and Henry heard Frank's voice say: + +"Why, Tom, here's Vic!" + +"Thin Sargint Hinery must be near," said the soldier. + +"Yes, I'm here, Frank--and oh, Frank, I'm in such trouble!" And in a +curiously jumbled and half-incoherent manner Henry related his +afternoon's experience. + +At the conclusion of the recital the three held a consultation as to +what was best to be done. Time was precious, and the town was nearly +two miles distant. + +"Sargints," said Private Tom Clary, "I belave we can do bist by +oursilves. Me afthernoon's lave ixpires at tattoo, but if, as me +shuparior officers, ye'll allow me to be out of camp a bit longer, I +think we can sarcumvint the thaves." + +"We'll do our best to get you excused by the lieutenant," said Frank. + +"Thank you, sargint laddie. You say the grass-boat is near by, Sargint +Hinery?" + +"Not far from here, Tom. Just west of the middle of the race-course." + +"And the thaves are going to camp and cook their supper on the other +side?" + +"So they said." + +"Thin we'll attimpt to interfare with their arrangemints. I think the +liftinint will commind an 'absence without lave' if we bring in the +raskils and the ponies." + +The soldier and boys turned, and, bidding Vic keep close to them, +hurried to the bar where Henry had left the gift of the Mojave belle. +As they were lifting the elastic raft into the water they heard the +voices of men on the river, accompanied by the splashing of water, and +knew that the horse-thieves were fording the stream. + +The Colorado was shoal, having an average autumnal depth of four feet +at La Paz. Clary secured two poles from the river débris lodged on the +bar, one for Frank and one for himself. Henry sat on the box in the +middle, holding his companions' guns across his lap with one hand, and +grasping Vic's collar with the other. The well-filled game-bags lay +between his feet. + +The _balsa_ moved slowly towards the opposite shore and swiftly +down-stream, the stalwart Irish soldier's feet settling into the +loosely bound stems as he poled. Becoming alarmed when he found the +water standing above his ankles, he called, in a subdued undertone: + +"Sargint Frank, I belave I shall go through the bottom of this l'aky +craft before we git across." + +"Take Henry's paddle, Tom; it lies on the right side of the box. Lay +it across the reeds and stand on it." + +"Ah, sure and that's betther. Kape yer ind a little more up-strame, +sargint. We'll steer by the avening star." + +In a few minutes the _balsa_ lodged against the shore in the still +water of a little cove. The boys and soldier were aware that they were +landing some miles below their starting-point, for the current was +strong and swift, while the horse-thieves had forded the river almost +in a direct line. They climbed the bank, and ordering Vic to keep +close by them, began to move as fast as possible up the shore. + +They had made their way for nearly an hour over a rough and miry +river-bottom when the setter showed sudden excitement and began +sniffing to the right and left. + +"She must have struck their path from the river to their +camping-place, Tom," said Frank. "Look sharp, Vicky, look sharp!" + +"But she seems to be working up-stream," said Henry. "I should think +they would have gone straight inland." + +"There's an excillint rayson for that, sargint laddie," returned +Clary. "One of the routes t' th' coast begins exactly opposite th' +town, and they must go up-strame to foind it; El Rincon the +landing-place is called." + +"The Corner?" + +"Yis, Th' Corner. Th' shore binds out there a wee bit." + +Man and boys continued to struggle along, until across a level, +grassless plot they saw, near a clump of cottonwoods, a fire, where +Texas Dick and Jumping Jack were plainly visible, cooking their +supper. On the side of the fire opposite the river were two saddles, +upon which rested their rifles and revolvers. Still farther west the +two ponies were picketed and grazing. + +Clary told Henry to go to the ponies and stay there with Vic, while he +and Frank crept upon the thieves. Screening themselves behind tufts +and swells, and lastly behind the saddles, they worked across the +level, the sound of their moving being covered by the booming and +rushing of the mighty river. When within twenty yards of the fire and +five from the saddles, Private Tom Clary sprang to his feet, aimed his +double-barrelled shot-gun at the thieves, and shouted: + +"Throw up your arrums!" + +At the same instant Frank made a flying leap for the saddles, and +seized the rifles and revolvers. Henry ran forward and assisted his +brother in keeping Dick and Juan under the muzzles of their own +rifles, while Clary securely bound them. This accomplished, the boys +went back for a moment to renew their acquaintance with their horses. +Yes, the chase was over, and their favorites were again in their +possession; and it cannot appear strange that the young soldiers went +into boyish ecstasies of delight at their good-fortune, embracing, +patting, and talking to Sancho and Chiquita as if they understood all +that was said to them. + +But at last they joined Clary at the fire, and the three, while they +continued to carry on the interrupted cooking of their captives, +discussed ways and means of returning to La Paz, and it was decided to +send the setter with a message. A note was pencilled on a page of +Frank's diary, attached to Vic's collar, and she was taken to the +river-bank and given a stick, with orders to deliver it to her master. +With but little hesitation she plunged into the murky current, and +soon disappeared in the darkness in the direction of the other shore. + +While the boy sergeants were going through these adventures I remained +in La Paz. At retreat and tattoo roll-calls Corporal Duffey had +reported Private Clary absent, adding the words "and unaccounted for," +and at Mr. Gray's table the boys were absent from supper. + +At first I gave myself no anxiety over the absentees, but at midnight, +becoming alarmed, I began a search for them. I soon learned that Henry +had been seen to paddle out of the lagoon on a Mojave _balsa_, +accompanied by Vic, and that Frank and Clary had gone quail-shooting. +I did not feel especially anxious about the older boy, for he was in +the company of one of the most trustworthy of our veteran soldiers, +and would probably soon turn up safe. But Henry--gone down the +turbulent river on a frail bundle of grass--what might I not fear? + +I led all the men of the detail--every one of them as anxious as +myself--on a long and fruitless search beside the river, without +coming upon a clew. Returning to Mr. Gray's, and dismissing the men, I +sat upon the veranda alone, sadly reflecting upon the absence of my +young companions and Vic. + +In the midst of my sad reflections there scrambled up the steps a wet +and bedraggled dog, who dropped at my feet a chip. Carrying her in my +arms to my room, I lighted a lamp and examined her collar, and found a +few leaves of a memorandum-book covered with Frank's hand-writing. + +The news of Vic's arrival with a message spread quickly, and soon the +household was gathered in my room and in possession of the news of the +exploit of the boys and Tom Clary. + +"Good! good!" exclaimed the director of the Navigation Company. "Come +with me to the _Cocopah_. We'll steam across and get the whole party." + +On the western shore of the Colorado, Private Tom Clary and the boy +sergeants sat by the fire broiling quail, which they seasoned from the +supplies of Texas Dick and Juan Brincos, and accompanied by slices of +toasted bread from the same source. In the midst of their enjoyment of +"quail on toast" a loud "who-o-of! who-o-of! who-o-of!" came across +the river. + +"Hullo!" said Henry; "the old _Cocopah_ is starting for the Gulf +mighty early. I should think the pilot would find it difficult to keep +off the shores when it is so dark." + +The boys could see by the boat's changing lights that her bow, which +had been headed up-stream, when she lay at the bank, was swinging +slowly out into the stream, and they expected shortly to see her +starboard lights as she headed downward. But she seemed to pause, with +her furnace fires and pilot lanterns pointing towards them. + +"Who-o-of! who-o-of! who-o-of!--patter, patter, patter." The noise of +the steamer grew louder and louder, until the boys rose from their +seats and stared in surprise at the rapidly growing lights. + +"I really believe she is coming here," said Frank. + +"She is, or she nades a dale of space to turn in," observed Private +Tom. + +Presently two tall smoke-stacks separated themselves from the darkness +and appeared high above their heads. + +"Ahoy there, boys!" shouted the captain's voice from the bridge. + +"Ay, ay, sir!" answered Frank. + +"Get ready to come on board! Below there--stand by to lower +gang-plank! Now!--lower away!" + +Down came the plank, and a joyous group of friends walked down to the +shore to greet the boys and the soldier. + +A few moments afterwards the boy sergeants led their ponies on board, +and Private Tom Clary escorted the prisoners. The _Cocopah_ cleared +away and paddled back to the La Paz side, where Texas Dick and Juan +Brincos were turned over to the civil authorities, and Sancho and +Chiquita to the escort in Mr. Gray's corral. + +Three days later the boys and I took leave of Mr. Hudson, who was now +in charge of the government storehouse, and, accompanied by Mr. Gray, +started for Fort Whipple. Hanging under the hind axle of the ambulance +was a ten-gallon keg, and inside was another. We left La Paz early in +the morning and arrived at Tyson's Wells at nine o'clock. Remaining +there until six o'clock in the evening, we watered our animals, and +with freshly filled kegs started for Hole-in-the-Plain, where we +stayed until the following evening, the animals passing the day on +grass without water. A second night-drive brought us to Cisternas +Negras, and the third to Date Creek, from which last point we resumed +travelling by daylight. + +At Skull Valley, at the earnest request of Miss Brenda Arnold, Henry +was allowed to remain for a few days' visit. He promised to join the +next incoming mail-rider, and to ride back to the fort by way of the +mountain-trail. + + + + +XVI + +APACHES IN SKULL VALLEY + + +It was near midnight, four days after my return from La Paz, that I +sat by my open fire, absorbed in a recently published popular novel. I +was suddenly aroused by a distant and rapid clatter of horse's feet. +The sound came distinctly through the loop-holes in the outer wall of +the room--loop-holes made for rifles and left open for ventilation. +Dropping my book upon the table, I listened intently to the +hoof-beats. Some one was riding from the direction of Prescott, +evidently in great haste; and Arizona being a country of alarms, I +surmised that the rider was coming to the fort. The horseman stopped +at the great gates. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" rang out the voice of Private Tom Clary, who +was sentinel No. 1, stationed at the post entrance. "Sargint Hinery, +is it you, laddie?" the voice continued, in a lower and gentler tone. + +"Yes, Tom; and, oh, tell Mr. Duncan, quick, that--" + +"Whist! Take care, laddie! Howld on a bit!" and a rifle fell +clattering to the ground and two solid feet sprang forward with a +rush. + +Hearing this, I started for the secret postern, and as I opened my +door, heard the honest old soldier shout: + +"Corpril uv th' guard, No. 1!" and, in a lower and appealing tone: +"Liftinint, if ye hear me, come quick to the little sargint. I fear +th' dear b'y is dyin'." + +In an instant I was through the narrow gate-way, standing beside a +group of the guard that surrounded Clary, who, kneeling beside a +panting and reeking pony, held the inanimate form of Henry Burton in +his arms. + +"Corpril Duffey, will ye let one uv the b'ys walk me bate a minate +till I can take the laddie in?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, Clary, go ahead, and stay as long as you're needed," was the +kindly answer. + +"Is it to your room I'll be takin' him, sor?" asked Clary, rising and +holding his burden across his breast. + +"Of course, and place him on my bed. Corporal Duffey, send a man for +the surgeon and hospital steward, and send another with the pony to +the stable." + +It was too dark to take in details, but I noticed Chiquita was utterly +exhausted, and that she was covered with foam. Following Clary to my +room, I saw, when the light fell upon Henry's face, that his right +cheek and neck were bleeding, and that his left arm hung unnaturally +limp by the bearer's side. + +We placed him upon the bed, and Surgeon Coues, who had now arrived and +pronounced the boy to be simply in a faint from loss of blood and +over-exertion, applied restoratives and brought him back to +consciousness. As Henry's eyelids raised, and he recognized me, he +said, weakly: + +"Oh, Mr. Duncan, tell Captain Bayard the Indians have attacked Mr. +Arnold's ranch, and that Mrs. Arnold is dead!" + +"Indians attacked the ranch! When?" + +"About four o'clock." + +"How many?" + +"Don't know. Seemed as if there were over a hundred. And don't stop to +worry over me. Don't stop an instant--these scratches are nothing--but +send the soldiers, quick, or Brenda and all will be killed!" + +"How did you get away from the ranch? But you are right, this is no +time for talk." + +I aroused the other officers instantly, and sent Frank to his brother. +All assembled in my quarters, and, while the surgeon dressed the +wounds in cheek and neck and set a fractured radius, orders for an +expedition to Skull Valley were issued, and Henry told his story. + +At the time this incident occurred the Californians had been mustered +out of service and returned to their distant homes, and the garrison +at Fort Whipple consisted of infantry only. But there were many +"dough-boys" who were good riders, and a number of excellent horses +were kept by the quartermaster for emergencies which required speed +and short service. + +Captain Bayard gave orders for a sergeant, three corporals, and +twenty-two privates to be got in readiness for mounted service, with +rations for five days. The command was given to me, and Private Tom +Clary immediately applied to be relieved from guard in order to +accompany me. His request was granted. + +Sergeant Frank concluded to remain with his brother. + +"I know it is rough on you, Frankie," said Henry, "not to have a +chance to win a few scars, too; but I should be dreadfully worried if +you were to go, and I'm worried enough about Brenda now. You must stay +with me." + +And so it was settled, and Frank remained behind, lending his pony +Sancho to Private Clary. + +During all this preparation, dressing of wounds, and setting of +fractures, Henry had managed to give us an account of what had +happened at Skull Valley before he left. I will, however, repeat it a +little more connectedly, with additions obtained later from other +parties. + +After I left Sergeant Henry in the valley, as I passed through there +from the Xuacaxélla, he had for three days devoted himself to the +amusement of his young hostess, Brenda, and her cousins. + +There were many reasons why the Arnolds were not fearing an attack at +the time, the principal one being that the Indians had recently been +defeated at Date Creek. With that affair they seemed to have +withdrawn, and no signs of them had been seen since. + +Near the close of the afternoon of the fourth day of Henry's visit a +party of forty-one Apaches had suddenly appeared, and had spent an +hour or more reconnoitring the valley and its approaches. Apparently +becoming satisfied that they would not be interrupted in their attack +by outside parties, they began active operations by collecting the +Arnold cattle and horses, and placing them in charge of two of their +number near the spring. + +Next they fired one of the out-buildings, and under cover of the smoke +gained entrance to a second, which stood less than a hundred feet from +the north side of the house. Knocking the mud and chips from between +the logs here and there, they were enabled to open fire upon the +settlers at short range. + +With the first appearance of the Indians, Mr. Arnold, assisted by two +travellers who had arrived that afternoon from Date Creek on their way +to Prescott, closed the windows and doorways with heavy puncheon +shutters, removed the stops from the loop-holes, directed the girls to +carry provisions and property into the earthwork, got the arms and +ammunition ready, and awaited further demonstrations. + +The available defensive force consisted of every member of the family, +including Sergeant Henry Burton and the two strangers. The mother and +daughters had been taught the use of fire-arms by the husband and +father, and Brenda had been taught by the boy sergeants. In an +emergency like the one being narrated, where death and mutilation were +sure to follow capture, the girls were nerved to do all that could +have been expected of boys at their ages. + +Until the Apaches gained possession of the second out-building, few +shots had been exchanged, and the besieged closely watched their +movements through the loop-holes. It was while doing this that a +bullet pierced the brain of Mrs. Arnold, and she fell dead in the +midst of her family. + +The body of Mrs. Arnold was borne to the cellar by the sorrowing +husband, accompanied by the weeping children. The firing became +desultory and without apparent effect. Ball and arrow could not pierce +the thick walls of the log-house; only through the loop-holes could a +missile enter, and by rare good-fortune none of the defenders, after +the first casualty, chanced to be in line when one did. + +The family again assembled in defence of their home and lives, the +grave necessity of keeping off the impending danger banishing, in a +measure, the thoughts of their bereavement. An ominous silence on the +part of the Indians was broken at last by the swish of a blazing arrow +to the roof. Mr. Arnold rushed to the garret, and with the butt of his +rifle broke a hole in the covering and flung the little torch to the +ground. + +But another and another burning arrow followed, and in spite of +desperate and vigilant action the pine shingles burst into flames in +several places. At this juncture Henry, whose station was on the south +side of the house, approached Mr. Arnold and said: + +"Sir, I see Chiquita grazing near the spring, close to the edge of the +willows, and the two Indians there with the herd keep well this way, +watching the fight. If you think best, I will creep through the +passage, mount, and ride to the fort for the soldiers." + +Mr. Arnold did not at once reply. He took a long look through a +loop-hole towards the spring, and Henry, misinterpreting his silence, +said: + +"Don't think I want to desert you, sir, and skip the ranch. I'll stay +here and do my best with the others, but I thought, perhaps, if I +could do it, I might save you all." + +"God bless ye, my boy; nobody can doubt yer fightin' 'bility; yer was +born a soldier. I was only thinkin' yer chance uv gittin' by them two +redskins at the spring's mighty small." + +"Then you think it a good plan?" + +"Yes; I'd like to have ye do it, if ye can." + +"Thank you, sir. I'll do my best." + +Then the lad passed around the rooms, taking the hand of each defender +in farewell until he reached Brenda. As he took her hand in his right +and fondly lay his left upon it, the young girl broke into +uncontrollable sobbing, and, throwing her disengaged arm over his +shoulder, said: + +"Oh, Henry! what a dear, brave boy you are! You never think of +yourself, but always of your friends!" + +"I will bring the soldiers, Brenda, and you shall all be saved. Keep +up a good heart." + +"But it is such a long ride, and even if you do get away, you may find +us dead or captives when you return." + +"You must be brave, Brenda--no, not brave, for you are that already; +but be patient. We are sure to be here before those fellows can take +the little fort. That can be defended as long as the ammunition holds +out." + +Then the boy kissed the pretty Brenda and her cousins, and dropped +into the cellar. Passing into the earthwork, he selected his saddle +and bridle from a heap of others, buckled on his spurs, dropped with +bowed head upon his knees a moment, and crept into the passage leading +to the spring. Groping his way between the narrow walls, he presently +emerged through a natural crevice in a mass of bowlders near the +spring. Standing in the screen of willows, he parted the branches +cautiously in the direction of the two Indians, and saw them less than +a hundred yards distant, standing with their backs towards him +watching the Arnold house, the roof of which was now a roaring, +leaping mass of flame. + +Closing the boughs again, Henry opened them in an opposite direction +and crept softly up to Chiquita, holding out his hand to her. The +docile pony raised her head, and, coming forward, placed her nose in +his palm, submitting to be saddled and bridled without objection or +noise. + +Leaping into the saddle, the boy drove his spurs into the animal's +flanks, and was off at a furious run in the direction of Whipple. +Startled by the hoof-beats, the Apaches looked back, and began running +diagonally across the field to try to intercept the boy before he +turned into the direct trail. Arrow after arrow flew after him, one +wounding him in the neck and another in the cheek, and when the +distance began to increase between him and his pursuers and they saw +the boy was likely to get away, one raised his rifle and sent a bullet +after him, which fractured the radius of his left arm. + +"Well, Chiquita," said Henry, as he turned fairly into the Prescott +trail and had realized the exact nature of his injuries, "you haven't +got a scratch, and are good for this run if I can hold out." + +It was dusk when Henry began his ride, and it rapidly grew darker as +he hurried along the trail. Neither he nor the pony had been over it +before. Twice he got off the trail, and long and miserable stretches +of time elapsed in regaining it; but the fort was reached at last and +the alarm given. + + + + +XVII + +PURSUIT OF THE APACHES + + +With twenty-eight men, including two scouts picked up as we passed +through Prescott, and the post surgeon, I left for Skull Valley. The +night was moonless, but the myriad stars shone brilliantly through the +rarefied atmosphere of that Western region, lighting the trail and +making it fairly easy to follow. It was a narrow pathway, with but few +places where two horsemen could ride abreast, so conversation was +almost impossible, and few words, except those of command, were +spoken; nor were the men in a mood to talk. All were more or less +excited and impatient, and, wherever the road would permit, urged +their horses to a run. + +The trail climbed and descended rugged steeps, crossed smooth +intervals, skirted the edges of precipices, wound along borders of dry +creeks, and threaded forests of pine and clumps of sage-brush and +greasewood. Throughout the ride the imaginations of officers and men +were depicting the scenes they feared were being enacted in the +valley, or which might take place should they fail to arrive in time +to prevent. + +It is needless to say, perhaps, that the one person about whom the +thoughts of the men composing the rescuing party centred was the +gentle, bright, and pretty Brenda. To think of her falling into the +hands of the merciless Apaches was almost maddening. + +On and on rode the column, the men giving their panting steeds no more +rest than the nature of the road and the success of the expedition +required. At last we reached the spur of the range behind which lay +Skull Valley. We skirted it, and with anxious eyes sought through the +darkness the place where the ranch buildings should be. All was +silence. No report of fire-arms or whoop of savages disturbed the +quiet of the valley. + +Ascending a swell in the surface of the ground we saw that all the +buildings had disappeared, nothing meeting our anxious gaze but beds +of lurid coals, occasionally fanned into a red glow by the +intermittent night breeze. But there was the impregnable earthwork; +the family must be in that. I dashed swiftly forward, eagerly followed +by my men. The earthwork was destroyed, nothing but a circular pit +remaining, in the bottom of which glowed the embers of the fallen +roof-timbers. + +A search for the slain was at once begun, and continued for a long +time. Every square rod of the valley for a mile was hunted over +without result, and we all gathered once more about the two cellars, +in which the coals still glowed. + +"It was in the cellar of the house that Sergeant Henry said the body +of Mrs. Arnold was laid, was it not?" asked Dr. Coues. + +"Yes," I replied. + +"Then if all were killed after he left--shot from time to time--would +not their remains be likely to be beside hers?" + +"Not beside hers, I think. The last stand must have been made in the +fort." + +"Then the bodies, or what is left of them, must lie under that +circular bed of coals, Duncan, if they died here." + +"Probably, doctor. It's an uncanny thing to do, but we must stir the +coals and see." + +A thorough search revealed nothing. + +"Does th' liftinint moind that Sargint Hinery mintioned a covered way +that led from th' cellar to th' spring?" asked Private Tom Clary, who +wielded a rail beside me. "Perhaps th' pretty lassie and her frinds +are in that." + +"That is so, Clary; thank you for the suggestion," I answered. "Can +you make out the opening?" + +"Nothin' sure, sor. Behoind thim wagon-tires there sames to be a +natural slope of earth." + +"Tip the tires over, Clary," I ordered; and presently a number of +tires, from which the fire had burned the felloes, spokes, and hubs, +fell into the coals, disclosing a recently filled aperture. + +"Looks as if the end of a passage had been filled, doesn't it?" asked +the surgeon. + +"It certainly does," I answered. "Let us go to the spring and +examine." + +Accompanied by the doctor and several men, I rode to the spring. When +we arrived there we broke a way through the thick-set willows into an +irregular mass of small bowlders. Climbing over these, we found +ourselves at the mouth of a narrow passage about four feet high and +two feet wide. + +"This must be the entrance to the covered way," I remarked, and +placing my head in the crevice, I called: "Oh, Mr. Arnold, we are +here--your friends from Fort Whipple!" + +"Thank Heaven!" in a man's tones, came clearly through the entrance, +accompanied by a sudden outburst of sobs in girlish voices. + +"We'll be there directly," spoke another man's voice--that of a +stranger. "We've heard your horses' hoofs jarring the ground for some +time, but we thought it safest to lay low until we were sure it wasn't +redskins." + +Then followed the sound of steps, accompanied by voices, sounding at +the entrance, as a voice spoken in a long tube appears to be uttered +at the listener's end. Some time elapsed before those who seemed so +near appeared; but at last there emerged from the passage Mr. Arnold, +two strange men, and three girls--but no Brenda. + +"Where is Brenda, Mr. Arnold?" I asked. + +"Heaven only knows, lieutenant. She gave herself up to the Apaches." + +"Gave herself up to the Apaches! What do you mean?" + +"That's precisely what she did, lieutenant," said one of the +strangers, adding: "My name is Bartlett, from Hassayampa, and this is +Mr. Gilbert, from Tucson. We were on our way from La Paz to Prescott +and stopped here for a meal, and got corralled by the Indians. But +about the girl Brenda: she took it into her head, after we got into +the little fort, that unless some one could create a diversion to +mislead the devils, we'd all lose our scalps." + +"That beautiful young girl! Gave herself up to certain torture and +death! Why did you allow it?" + +"Allow it!" exclaimed Mr. Bartlett, indignantly. "I hope, lieutenant, +you don't think so hard of me and my friend as to believe we'd have +allowed it if we'd suspected what the plucky miss meant to do!" + +"Tell me the circumstances, Mr. Bartlett," said I. + +The party moved slowly along the path from the spring to the fires, +and as they walked Mr. Arnold and the travellers gave an account of +all that had happened after Sergeant Henry left for Fort Whipple. + +The burning arrows sent to the pitch-pine roof became so numerous that +the besieged found it impossible to prevent the flames from catching +in several places. Henry was hardly out of sight before the house +became untenable, and the defenders were obliged to retire to the +fort. When the house was consumed, and its timbers had fallen into the +cellar a mass of burning brands, the space about the earthwork was +clear, and the rifles at its loop-holes kept the Indians close within +the out-building they had occupied since the attack began. No one +dared to show himself to the unerring marksmen, who watched every +movement. + +For a long time silence reigned among the Indians. The whites, +however, felt sure that plans were being matured which meant disaster +to them. + +At last these plans were revealed in a constant and rapid flight of +arrows, directed at a point between two loop-holes--a point which +could not be reached by the besieged, and where, if a considerable +collection of burning brands could be heaped against the logs, +between the earth and the eaves, the pine walls and rafters must take +fire. Walls and roof were too solid to be cut away, and water could +not reach the outside. + +The defenders, when they realized what the result of a fire would be, +held a consultation, and decided that in the event of the fire getting +control of the fort they should retire into the covered way, block up +the entrance with earth, and remain there until help should arrive. It +was thought the Indians would suppose all had perished in the flames. + +"But they know we came here by an underground passage from the house," +said Brenda; "will they not suspect we have entered another passage if +we all disappear?" + +"P'r'aps they may," answered Mr. Arnold; "I had not thought of that. +We'll have to take our chances." + +"If one of us was to appear to escape from here, and join them," +continued the girl, "I think they would suppose the others had +perished, and make no search." + +"That may be true, but I'll take my chances here," said Mr. Gilbert. + +"So will I," said his companion. "A fellow wouldn't last a minute +outside this fort. I prefer smothering to the death those devils will +give me." + +It soon became evident to the besieged that the outer wall was on +fire. + +The sun had gone down and darkness was deepening in the valley when +the first tongue of flame licked through a crevice in the roof and +showed that the fire had gained a foothold. Soon a hole appeared, +close to the eaves, which gradually enlarged towards the centre of the +roof and along the surface of the earth. With blankets the fire was +beaten out on the sides, but it crept insidiously along between the +timber and earth covering. + +In making the roof, branches of pine had been spread over the timber, +and the branches in turn covered with a thick layer of straw to +prevent the earth from filtering between the logs. This material was +as dry as tinder, and held the fire. + +The men stood at the loop-holes and compelled the savages to remain +under cover of the out-building, while the four girls exerted +themselves to keep the fire from showing inside. Delay until help +could arrive from Whipple was what all were struggling to gain; but +the increasing heat and smoke showed the defenders at last that they +could no longer put off retiring to the covered way. + +The word was given and all entered it, and the men with shovels began +to close the entrance. When it was a little more than half closed the +hole in the roof had become triangular, resembling the space between +two spokes and a felloe of a wheel. On the earth, or felloe side of +the triangle, there was no fire; but the other sides were burning +fiercely. + +Making a sudden dash, and before any one could realize her intention, +Brenda leaped past the shovellers, sprang over the embankment they +were throwing up, and by the aid of a bench sprang up the four-foot +wall, through the flame-bordered aperture, and disappeared, her +clothing apparently in a blaze. The war-whoops immediately ceased. + +No attempt at pursuit or rescue was made. The Arnolds and the +strangers felt that it would be useless, and only result in the death +of the pursuers. The work of closing the passage was resumed and +completed, and all sat down to await the slow flight of time and the +possible arrival of the soldiers. + +After listening to the story of the Arnolds I concluded that Brenda +had fallen a victim to the cruelty of the Apaches, and that we should +find her mutilated and disfigured body. A rapid and excited search was +at once began. Far and wide, over plain, through ravines, and into the +foot-hills rode the soldiers, leaving no part of the country for +several miles around unsearched; but not a trace of the missing girl +was discovered. + +Once more the detachment gathered near the ruins of the Arnold home, +and began preparations for returning to Whipple. The remains of the +dead wife and mother were lifted from beneath the charred timbers and +deposited in a grave near by. While the burial was taking place, the +two scouts, Weaver and Cooler, were absent, looking for the Apache +trail. Day was dawning, and as it was probable when they returned that +the command could start, I ordered the horses fed from the loose +forage scattered about, and the men to prepare their breakfast. + +The scouts returned as the men were dispersing from their meal, and +Cooler placed in my hand a dainty lock of flaxen hair, wound around +the middle with a strand of the same. + +"I found it," said the scout, "beside the ravine yonder, a little more +than two miles from here. The young miss is alive, and dropped it for +a 'sign.' The redskins all left in that direction." + +Whatever Brenda's three cousins may have lacked in education and +cultivation, they wanted nothing in affection. They gathered about the +little tress, took it daintily in their palms, kissed it again and +again, and moistened it with tears. Low sobs and endearing names for +the brave darling who had been willing to sacrifice her life to +preserve theirs fell from their lips. Poor, rude, frontier maids, they +had shown an equal bravery all through the defence, and proved +themselves to be worthy descendants of the race that lived through the +colonial struggles with the Indians of the Mohawk Valley. The three +girls gathered about me, and, clinging to my arms, besought me to go +to the rescue of their cousin. + +"Yes, yes, girls," I replied; "everything shall be done that possibly +can be. We will start at once, and I hope to bring her back to you." +Turning to the father, I said, "Mr. Arnold, I will leave you a +luncheon for the road, and you must try to make the distance to +Prescott on foot." + +"Yes, sir; we can do it easy, thank you." + +"I would leave you some of the men as escort, but in such an +expedition I need more than I have." + +"That's all right, Mr. Dunkin; 'f I had a beast I'd go with ye. +There'll be no Apaches round these parts agin for a considerable +spell," and his eyes ran sadly over the ruins of his home, the wreck +of his property, resting finally on the grave of his wife. + +Yes, Brenda was alive, and a prisoner of the Apaches, spared by them, +probably, as children sometimes are after such raids, for adoption. It +was plainly our duty to rescue her from the fate of a continued life +with her captors. + + + + +XVIII + +ON THE TRAIL OF THE APACHES + + +After a further delay, to allow the scouts and their broncos to +breakfast, the party mounted and turned to the west. Calling Paul +Weaver to ride by my side, I questioned him about the region before +us. + +"I suppose you are familiar with this part of the country, Paul?" + +"Ought t' be. Trapped and hunted here since I was twenty, and I'm nigh +on to sixty-five now." + +"Have these Apaches a camping-place near here?" + +"Yes; they spend a part of every year here-abouts, gatherin' mezcal. +From the direction they've took, I b'lieve they're goin' to Santy +Maree Creek." + +"That flows into Bill Williams Fork, does it not?" + +"Yes, an' 't has a northern and southern branch. One of th' favorite +campin'-places of th' Mezcalleros 's on th' southern branch." + +"How far is it from here?" + +"'Bout fifty mile." + +"Easy of approach?" + +"Toler'ble; good ridin' all th' way, 'cept a bit of bowlder country on +a divide." + +"Is the camp open to attack?" + +"Wide open arter yer git into th' valley. There's a waterfall, or, +rather, a piece of rips ther' that 'll drown th' n'ise of our comin'." + +"Isn't it strange Indians should camp in such a place?" + +"They're Mezcallero 'Paches, and the'r food, th' mezcal, grows thick +round ther'. 'Sides, ther's no other place on th' stream combinin' +grazin' and waterin', and they've never been hunted into that region +yit." + +"Well, Paul, they will be now." + +I urged the men on as fast as possible, taking care not to exhaust the +horses and unfit them for a long pursuit. The soldiers were animated +by a strong desire to punish the Indians for their treatment of the +family in Skull Valley, and were excited by the fear that the gentle +and beautiful young girl in their hands might fall a victim to some +barbaric cruelty before they could be overtaken, so that the animals +were constantly urged close to their powers of endurance. + +Near the middle of the forenoon, as the soldiers were riding up a +cańon, on each side of which rose rugged sandstone precipices, we came +to a fork in the trail and the cańon. Not only the track parted, but, +judging from footprints, most of the captured stock had passed to the +right. Weaver said the right-hand path led to the northern branch of +the Santa Maria, and the left to the southern. + +I halted the detachment, perplexed. To divide my party of twenty-nine +in order to follow both trails seemed to me to be inviting disaster. +To take the whole number over a wrong trail and not rescue Brenda was +a course to be dreaded. I called up the scouts, Weaver and Cooler, for +a consultation. + +"Don't you think it is probable," I asked, "that a girl who was +thoughtful enough to drop a 'sign' to show she is alive and a captive, +would be likely to give a hint here as to which trail she was taken +over?" + +"That's prob'ble, liftinint," replied Weaver. "'F you'll hold th' boys +here a bit, George an' I'll ride up th' two trails a piece an' look +for signs." + +"Go quite a distance, too. She might not get an opportunity to drop +anything for some time after leaving the fork." + +"That's true, sir," said Cooler; "the redskins would naturally be +watching her closely. Which way will you go, Paul?" + +"Let the liftinint say," answered the elder scout, tightening his belt +and readjusting his equipments for resuming his riding. + +"All ready, then," said I. "You take the right, Weaver, and George the +left. While you are gone we'll turn out the stock." + +The scouts departed, and a few moments later the horses of the command +were cropping the rich grass of the narrow valley, sentinels were +placed to watch them and look for the return of the guides, and the +rest of the men threw themselves upon the turf to rest. + +An hour passed away, when Weaver was seen returning from the northern +trail. As he approached he held something above his head. Directing +the horses to be made ready, I walked forward to meet him, and +received from his hand a small bow of blue ribbon, which I at once +recognized to be the property of Brenda. + +It now appeared certain the girl captive had been taken over the road +to the right; so, without waiting for the return of Cooler, the men +were ordered into their saddles, and we started along the northern +trail. Our march had not long continued, however, when Private Tom +Clary, who was riding in the rear, called to me. Looking back, I saw +the young scout galloping rapidly forward and waving his hat in a +beckoning manner. + +A halt was ordered, and Cooler rode up to me and placed in my hand _a +lock of flaxen hair, bound with a thread of the same_. Placed by the +other they were twin tresses, except that the last was slightly singed +by fire. + +Well, tears glistened on the eyelids of some of the bronzed veterans +at the sight of the tiny lock of hair. We had barely escaped taking +the wrong trail. + +"God bliss the darlint," said grizzled Tom Clary. "There's not a +ridskin can bate her with their tricks. We'll bring her back to her +frinds, b'ys, or it'll go hard wid us." + +Clary's remarks were subscribed to by many hearty exclamations on the +part of his fellow-soldiers. We had no difficulty in understanding +that the Apaches had expected to be pursued and had dropped the ribbon +to mislead us, and that Brenda had dropped her "sign" to set her +friends right. + +I asked the guides if it was not probable the Apaches had set a watch +on the overlooking heights to see which road we should take at this +point. + +"It's sartin', liftinint," answered Weaver; "they're watchin' us sharp +jest now." + +"Then we had better continue on the northern trail awhile and mislead +them, you think?" + +"That's it, liftinint. That's th' best thing to do. We needn't reach +their camp until after midnight, an' we might 's well spend th' time +misleadin' em." + +"Yes, and it'll be better to reach them a few hours after midnight, +too," added Cooler; "they sleep soundest then." + +"Then we will go on as we began for some time longer," I replied, and +the soldiers again moved at a brisk canter over the northern trail. + +An hour passed, and a halt was made in a grassy nook, where the horses +were turned out to graze until dusk. Our route was then retraced to +the fork and the march resumed over the southern branch. + +Night overtook us on a high ridge covered with loose, rounded +bowlders, over which it was necessary to lead the horses slowly, with +considerable clatter and some bruises to man and beast. The rough road +lasted until a considerable descent was made on the western side, and +ended on the edge of a grassy valley. + +At this point Weaver advised that the horses should be left and the +command proceed on foot; for if the Indians were in camp at the rapids +it would be impossible to approach mounted without alarming them, +while if on foot the noise of the rushing water would cover the sound +of all movements. + +Six men were sent back to a narrow defile to prevent the attacking +party from being surprised by the detachment of Indians which had +taken the northern trail, should they intend to rejoin their friends +at the rapids. Upon the recommendation of the scouts I determined to +defer making an attack until after three o'clock, for they assured me +that at that time the enemy would be feeling quite secure from pursuit +and be in their deepest sleep. + +The horses were picketed, guards posted, and a lunch distributed, and +all not on duty lay down to wait. Time dragged slowly. About one +o'clock a noise on the opposite side of the creek attracted attention, +and Cooler crept away in the darkness to ascertain its cause. In half +an hour he returned with the information that the party of Mezcalleros +who had taken the northern trail had rejoined their friends and turned +their animals into the general herd. Upon learning this I despatched a +messenger to call in the six men sent to guard the defile. + +When the time for starting arrived one man only was left with the +picketed horses, and the rest of us slipped down the slope to the +river-bottom, taking care not to rattle arms and equipments, and began +a slow advance along a narrow pathway, the borders of which were +lined with the spiked vegetation of the country. + +Moving on for some time, I judged from the sound of flowing water that +we were nearing the camp, and, halting the party, sent the scouts to +reconnoitre. They returned with the information that the camp was +close at hand, and contained thirteen mat and skin covered tents, or +huts, and that the stolen stock and Indian ponies were grazing on a +flat just beyond. No guards were visible. + +The flat about the encampment was covered with Spanish-bayonet, +soapweed, and cacti, with here and there a variety of palmetto, which +attains a height of about twenty-five feet, the trunks shaggy with a +fringe of dead spines left by each year's growth. Cooler suggested +that at a given signal the trunks of two of these trees should be set +on fire to light up the camp, and enable the soldiers to pick off the +Apaches as they left their shelter when our attack should begin. He +also proposed that we yell, saying: "If you out-yell 'em, lieutenant, +you can out-fight 'em." + +Although I seriously doubted whether twenty-five white throats could +make as much noise as half a dozen red ones, I consented to the +proposition. I sent nine men to the flat upon which the ponies and +cattle were grazing, with orders to place themselves between the creek +and herd, and when the firing began drive the animals into the hills. + +When these instructions had been given, Surgeon Coues asked me if the +firing would be directed into the tents. + +"Yes, doctor," I replied. + +"Of course, Miss Brenda is in one of them," he observed. + +"Yes, and if we shoot into them indiscriminately we are quite as +likely to hit her as any one." + +"Can you think of any way of locating her?" + +"No; I am at a dead loss. We will try Cooler's plan of yelling, and +perhaps that will bring the Indians out." + +I sent Clary, who had been directed to remain near me, for Sergeant +Rafferty, and when the sergeant appeared directed him to forbid any +one to fire a shot until ordered to do so. + + + + +XIX + +THE ATTACK ON THE APACHE CAMP + + +Orders were passed and dispositions so made that one-half the force +was placed on each flank of the camp. All movements were made at a +considerable distance from the place to be attacked, and the utmost +care taken not to make a sound that would alarm the sleeping foe. Once +on the flanks, the men were to creep up slowly and stealthily to +effective rifle range. When the trunks of the palmettos were lighted +all were to yell as diabolically as possible, and fire at every Indian +that showed himself. + +The front of the camp looked towards the creek, which flowed over +bowlders and pebbles with a great rush and roar. The Indians were +expected in their flight to make a dash for the stream, and attempt to +pass through the shoal rapids to the wooded bluffs beyond. My +instructions were for the men to screen themselves on the flanks, +behind the yuccas, Spanish-bayonet, emole, and cacti. Accompanied by +Tom Clary and Paul Weaver, I selected a clump of vegetation on the +northern side, from which the front of the tents could be observed. +Sergeant Rafferty, with George Cooler, was on the opposite flank, and +the lighting of a tree on my side was to be the signal for one to be +lighted on the other, and for the yelling to begin. + +This plan was carried out. The flash of one match was followed +promptly by the flash of another. Two flames burst forth, and rapidly +climbed the shaggy trunks of the little palms, lighting up the whole +locality. At the same instant an imitation war-whoop burst from +vigorous lungs and throats. + +Every one held his rifle in readiness to shoot the escaping Apaches, +but not a redskin showed his jetty head. The soldiers yelled and +yelled, practising every variation ingenuity could invent in the vain +attempt to make their tame white-man utterances resemble the +blood-curdling, hair-raising, heart-jumping shrieks of their Indian +foes, now so strangely silent. Not a savage responded vocally or +otherwise. + +But for the presence of the captive girl in one of the thirteen tents +the attack would have begun by riddling the thinly covered shelters +with bullets at low range. + +The two burning trees had gone out and two others had been lighted, +and it soon appeared evident that if something was not done to bring +out the foe the supply of torches would soon be exhausted and nothing +accomplished. In the darkness the advantage might even turn to the +side of the redman. + +Surgeon Coues, who reclined near me, asked: "Do you think any of those +fellows understand English?" + +"Perhaps a few common phrases. They know Spanish fairly well from +living for some centuries near the Mexicans." + +"Are they quite as old as that, lieutenant?" + +"You know what I mean, doctor." + +"Why not speak to Brenda in English, and ask her to try to show us +where she is? The Apaches will not understand--will think you are +talking to your men." + +"An excellent idea, doctor. I'll try it." + +Private Tom Clary was sent along both flanks with orders for all +yelling to cease and for perfect quiet to be maintained. Then, acting +upon the surgeon's suggestion, I called, in a clear, loud voice: + +"Brenda, we are here--your friends from the fort. Your relatives are +safe. Try to make a signal, or do something by which we can learn +where you are. Take plenty of time, and do nothing to endanger your +life." + +A long silence ensued, during which two more pillars of fire burned +out. I was beginning to fear I should be obliged to offer terms to the +Indians, leaving them unhurt if they would yield up their captive and +the stolen stock; but before I had fully considered this alternative +Clary, who was returning along the rear of the line of tents from his +recent errand, approached and said: "Liftinint, as I was crapin' along +behoind th' wiggies I saw somethin' loike a purty white hand stickin' +out from undher th' edge of th' third from this ind." + +"Show it to me," said I. "I'll go with you." + +Making a slight détour to the rear, the soldier and I crept up to the +back of the tent indicated, pausing at a distance of twenty feet from +it. + +Nothing definite could be made out in the darkness. A narrow, white +object was visible beneath the lower edge. Sending Clary back a few +yards to light up a palm, I fixed my eyes on the object mentioned, and +as the flames leaped up the trunk perceived by the flaring light a +small, white hand, holding in its fingers the loose tresses of +Brenda's hair. The question was settled. The captive girl was in the +third tent from the right of the line. + +Waiting until the fire went out, Clary and I made our way back to our +former station. + +"Go around the lines again, Clary, and tell Sergeant Rafferty to move +his men to a point from which he can cover the rear of the camp, and +open fire on all the tents except the third from the right." + +"All roight, sor; th' b'ys 'll soon mak' it loively for th' rids." + +"Tell the sergeant to light up some trees." + +"Yes, sor." + +I then crept slowly back to my own flank, and ordered a disposition of +my half of the party so as to command the space in front of the line +of tents. In another instant the flames were ascending two +tree-trunks, and the rapid cracking of rifles broke our long reserve. +With the first scream of a bullet through their flimsy shelters the +Indians leaped out and ran for the river. Few fell. Rapid zigzags and +the swinging of blankets and arms as they ran confused the aim of the +soldiers. In less than five minutes the last Apache was out of sight, +and the firing had ceased. + +We dashed up to the tents, and I rushed to the one from which I had +seen the hand and tress thrust out, and called, "Brenda!" There was no +response or sound. Looking into the entrance, I saw in the dim light +of the awakening day the figure of a girl lying on her back, her feet +extended towards me, and her head touching the rear wall. The right +arm lay along her side, and the left was thrown above her head, the +fingers still holding her hair. + +A terrible fear seized my heart. I again called the girl by her name, +but received no answer. I went in, and with nervous fingers lighted a +match and stooped beside her. Horror-stricken, I saw a stream of blood +threading its way across the earthern floor from her left side. I +shouted for Dr. Coues, and the surgeon hurried in. From his +instrument-case he took a small, portable lamp, and, lighting it, fell +upon his knees beside the prostrate girl. + +During the following few moments, while the skilled fingers of the +firm-nerved surgeon were cutting away clothing to expose the nature of +the wound, my thoughts found time to wander to the distant family, on +its way to the fort, and to the boy sergeants there. I thought what a +sad message it would be my province to bear to them, should this dear +relative and cherished friend die by savage hands. + +There was little hope that the pretty girl could live. To me she +seemed already claimed by death. She who had made our long and weary +march from Wingate to Whipple so pleasant by her vivacity and +intelligence, and had latterly brightened our occasional visits to +Skull Valley, was to die in this wretched hole. + +But the _tactus eruditus_ of the young surgeon was continuing the +search for some evidence that the savage stab was not fatal, and his +mind was busy with means for preserving life, should there be a +chance. I watched his motions, and assisted now and then when asked, +and waited with strained patience for a word upon which to base a +hope. + +At last the surgeon gently dropped the hand whose pulse he had long +been examining, and said: "She is alive, and that is about all that +can be said. You see, her hands, arms, and neck are badly scorched by +the dash she made through the fire at the ranch. Then this wicked +knife-thrust has paralyzed her. She has bled considerably, too, but +she lives. Press your finger upon this artery--here." + +"Can she be made to live, doctor?" + +"The knife has not touched a vital part, but it may have done +irreparable injury. I can tell more presently." + +Nothing more was said, except in the way of direction, for some time, +the surgeon working slowly and skilfully at the wound. At last, +rearranging the girl's clothing and replacing his instruments in their +case, he said: "If I had the girl in the post-hospital, or in a +civilized dwelling, with a good nurse, I think she might recover." + +"Can't we give her the proper attendance here, doctor?" I asked. + +"I fear not. She ought to have a woman's gentle care, for one thing, +and some remedies and appliances I haven't with me for such a delicate +case. It is the long distance between here and the fort, and the rough +road, that make the outlook hopeless. She cannot survive such a +journey." + +"Then we will remain here, doctor," said I. "Write out a list of what +you want, and I will send a man to Whipple for tents and supplies, a +camp woman, Frank, Vic, and the elder Arnold girl." + +"Duncan, you are inspired!" exclaimed the doctor. "I'll have my order +ready by the time the messenger reports, and then we'll make Brenda +comfortable." + +A letter was written to Captain Bayard, the surgeon's memoranda +enclosed, and a quarter of an hour afterwards fleet-footed Sancho was +flying over the sixty miles to Fort Whipple as fast as Private Tom +Clary could ride him. Three days later a pack-train arrived, with a +laundress from the infantry company, Frank Burton, and Mary Arnold, +and with stores and supplies necessary for setting up a sick-camp. The +wounded girl mended rapidly from the start. + +In due time Brenda recovered sufficiently to bear transportation to +Prescott, where she joined her uncle and cousins. Rapid changes +quickly followed. I received orders directing me to report for duty at +once at the Seabury Military School, and by the same mail came letters +from Colonel Burton directing his sons to accompany me. At the end of +the next fortnight, just as we were packed for a journey to the +Pacific coast, Brenda received instructions from her maternal +relatives to make the same journey, and joined us. + +Frank and Henry's project to transport their ponies East, and their +plans for Manuel and Sapoya, were also carried out. Boys and ponies +became a prominent contingent to the corps of cadets under my military +instruction during the following three years. + +Later, Henry went to West Point and became an officer of the army. +Frank and Manuel went to college, the former becoming a distinguished +civil engineer and the latter a prominent business man. Sapoya closed +his school career at Seabury, and rejoined his people in the Indian +Territory, becoming a valued and respected leader of his people. + +On a beautiful lawn before a fine mansion on the eastern shore of the +Hudson River, beneath the shade of a stately elm, stands a small +monument, upon the top of which rests a finely chiselled model of a +setter dog. Beneath, on a bronze tablet, is engraved: + + "BENEATH THIS STONE LIES VICTORIANA, THE LOVED + AND ESTEEMED FRIEND OF + CHARLES ALFRED DUNCAN, + FRANK DOUGLAS BURTON, + BRENDA ARNOLD BURTON, + HENRY FRANCIS BURTON, + MANUEL AUGUSTINE PEREA Y LUNA, + SAPOYA SNOYGON PEREA." + + +THE END + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Captured by the Navajos, by Charles A. 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Curtis + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } +a[name] {position:absolute;} + + a:link {color:#0000ff; text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} + + table { width:60%; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } + .tb1 { width:100%; } + .td1 {text-align:center; } + .tocch { text-align: right; vertical-align: top;} + .tocpg {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} + .img1 {border-color:#000000; border-style:solid; border-width:1px; } + .sig { text-align:right; } + .sig2 { margin-left:80%; } + .sig3 { margin-left:60%; } + p.p1 { margin-left:15em; } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + + .caption {font-weight: bold; text-align:center;} + + + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: middle; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Captured by the Navajos, by Charles A. Curtis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Captured by the Navajos + +Author: Charles A. Curtis + +Release Date: May 8, 2006 [EBook #18352] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTURED BY THE NAVAJOS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + +<p class="center"><img src="images/image_01.jpg" alt="Cover" width="500" height="727" /></p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><img src="images/image_06.jpg" alt="First_Page" width="400" height="596" /></p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><a name="Illustration" id="Illustration"></a><img class="img1" src="images/image_02.jpg" alt=""EVERY ONE HELD HIS RIFLE IN READINESS TO SHOOT THE ESCAPING APACHES."" width="600" height="395" /></p> +<p class="caption">"EVERY ONE HELD HIS RIFLE IN READINESS TO SHOOT THE ESCAPING APACHES." <br /> +See p. <a href="#Page_282">282</a></p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>CAPTURED<br /> +BY THE NAVAJOS</h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>CAPTAIN CHARLES A. CURTIS </h2> +<h3>U.S.A.</h3> +<p> </p> +<p class="center">ILLUSTRATED</p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><img src="images/image_07.jpg" alt="Seal" width="150" height="216" /></p> +<p> </p> +<h3> NEW YORK AND LONDON</h3> +<h2>HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS</h2> +<p class="center">Copyright, 1904, by <span class="smcap">Harper & Brothers</span>. +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr><td></td><td> </td> + <td>CHAP.</td> + <td class="tocpg">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch"> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tocpg"> </td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">I.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CAPTURED_BY_THE_NAVAJOS">Introduces the Boys</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">II.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#II">Attacked by Navajos</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">III.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#III">Warlike Pueblos</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">IV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#IV">In a Navajo Trap</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">V.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#V">A Siege and an Ambuscade</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#VI">Crossing the River</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#VII">A Swollen Stream and Stolen Pony</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#VIII">Over the Divide—a Corporal Missing</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">IX.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#IX">The Rescuing Party</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">X.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#X">The Corporals are Promoted</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#XI">Both Ponies are Stolen</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#XII">Indians on the War-Path</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#XIII">The Boy Sergeants Do Good Service</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#XIV">On the Desert Without Water</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#XV">The Ponies are Found</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#XVI">Apaches in Skull Valley</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#XVII">Pursuit of the Apaches</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_258">258</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#XVIII">On the Trail of the Apaches</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_271">271</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIX.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#XIX">The Attack on the Apache Camp</a></span></td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_281">281</a></td></tr> +</table> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ILLUSTRATIONS" id="ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<table class="tb1" summary="Illustrations"> + <tr> + <td>"EVERY ONE HELD HIS RIFLE IN READINESS TO +SHOOT THE ESCAPING APACHES"</td> + <td> </td> + <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Illustration">Frontispiece</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>"MOUNTED, THE BOYS PRESENTED A WARLIKE +APPEARANCE"</td> + <td class="td1"><i>Facing p.</i></td> + <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>"CORPORAL HENRY ASKED CAPTAIN BAYARD TO +INQUIRE FOR MANUEL PEREA"</td> + <td class="td1">"</td> + <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>"'GOD HAS GIVEN ME AMONG MANY FRIENDS, +TWO THAT ARE SOMETHING MORE'"</td> + <td class="td1">"</td> + <td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CAPTURED_BY_THE_NAVAJOS" id="CAPTURED_BY_THE_NAVAJOS"></a>CAPTURED BY THE NAVAJOS</h2> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>I</h2> +<h3>INTRODUCES THE BOYS</h3> +<p>It was late in the fall of the second year of the civil war that I +rejoined my company at Santa Fé, New Mexico, from detached service in +the Army of the Potomac. The boom of the sunrise gun awoke me on the +morning after my arrival, and I hastened to attend reveille roll-call. +As I descended the steps of the officers' quarters the men of the four +companies composing the garrison were forming into line before their +barracks. Details from the guard, which had just fired the gun and +hoisted the national colors, were returning to the guard-house, and +the officers were hastening to their places.</p> + +<p>At the conclusion of the ceremony I turned again towards my quarters, +and noticed two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> handsome boys, evidently aged about fifteen and +thirteen, dressed in a modification of the infantry uniform of the +army, and wearing corporals' chevrons. They stood near the regimental +adjutant, and seemed to be reporting their presence to him.</p> + +<p>At breakfast, the adjutant chancing to sit near me, I asked him who +the youthful soldiers were.</p> + +<p>"They are the sons of Lieutenant-Colonel Burton, Corporals Frank and +Henry," he replied. "They hold honorary rank, and are attached to +head-quarters, acting as messengers and performing some light clerical +work."</p> + +<p>"How do they happen to be in Santa Fé?"</p> + +<p>"Mother recently died in the East, and the colonel had them sent here +in charge of a tutor who is to fit them for college, I believe."</p> + +<p>Later, on the same day, being desirous of looking over this ancient +Indian and Mexican town, I was making a pedestrian tour of its +streets, and chanced to be opposite San Miguel School in the eastern +section during the pupils' recess. Half a dozen boys were engaged in +throwing the lasso over the posts of the enclosing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> fence, when +suddenly from a side street appeared the young corporals whom I had +seen at reveille.</p> + +<p>The Mexican boys instantly greeted them with derisive shouts and +jeers. They called them little Gringos and other opprobrious names, +and one young Mexican threw the loop of his lasso over the smaller +corporal's head and jerked him off his feet. His companions laughed +loudly. The older corporal instantly pulled out his knife and cut the +rope. Then the two brothers stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the +crowd, quite ready to defend themselves. The young Mexicans, +gesticulating and shouting, crowded round the two brothers, and blows +appeared imminent.</p> + +<p>"Muchachos," suddenly cried a ringing voice from the rear, in Spanish, +"are you not ashamed? A hundred against two!"</p> + +<p>A handsome lad forced his way through the crowd, placed himself beside +the two corporals, and faced his young countrymen. Before the Mexicans +recovered from their surprise the bell of San Miguel summoned them to +school. They hurried away, leaving the two corporals with the young +Mexican who had come to their assistance.</p> + +<p>"My name is Frank Burton," said the older<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> corporal, extending his +hand to the Mexican, "and this is my brother, Henry."</p> + +<p>The Mexican boy grasped the proffered hand, and said, "My name is +Manuel Perea, of Algodones."</p> + +<p>"We are the sons of the commanding officer at the fort. Can't you come +and see us next holiday?"</p> + +<p>"I should much like to; I will ask the fathers if I may."</p> + +<p>"Come over, and we will try to make your visit pleasant."</p> + +<p>"How well you speak Spanish! It will be a great pleasure to visit +American boys who can speak my language, for I know but few English +words."</p> + +<p>"Next Saturday, then?"</p> + +<p>"At ten o'clock, if the padres consent. Good-bye," and Manuel +disappeared into the school-room.</p> + +<p>The following Saturday I saw the two corporals and their newly +acquired companion at the post and at dinner in the mess-room, and a +friendship was then formed which was to continue for many years.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + +<p>One evening, nearly a month afterwards, I received an order to march +my company into the Jemez Mountains to co-operate with other detached +commands in a war being carried on against the Navajo Indians. Just as +I had laid aside the order after reading it, Colonel Burton entered, +and, taking a seat by my fireside, announced that he had been ordered +on detached service to northern Colorado, on a tour of inspection, +which would require him to be absent for a considerable period, and +that he had been thinking of allowing his sons to accompany me to my +camp at Los Valles Grandes.</p> + +<p>"The hunting and fishing are fine in those valleys, and Frank and +Henry would enjoy life there very much," he said. "They have done so +well in their studies that they deserve a well-earned recreation."</p> + +<p>"I should much like to have their company, sir," I replied, "but would +it not be exposing them to great danger from the Indians?"</p> + +<p>"The officer whom you are to relieve has been in the valleys nearly a +year, and he reports that he has not seen a Navajo in all that time. +Of course, it may be your fortune to meet them,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> but I do not think +so. If you do, then the boys must give a good account of themselves. +In any engagement that involves the whole command they must not forget +they are the sons of a soldier. Still, I do not want them needlessly +exposed. You are quite sure it will give you no trouble to take them?"</p> + +<p>"Few things could afford me greater pleasure on such isolated duty, +sir. They will be good company for me."</p> + +<p>"Thank you for your kindness. The lads will report to you to-morrow +morning. I will see that they are properly fitted out, and will write +you now and then during my absence, and as soon as I return to Santa +Fé they can be sent back."</p> + +<p>Colonel Burton then took his departure, and I turned to a local +history to learn from its pages something of the tribe with which I +might be brought in contact.</p> + +<p>The home of the Navajos lay between the Rio Grande del Norte on the +east, the Rio Colorado on the west, the Rio San Juan on the north, and +the Rio Colorado Chiquito on the south, but from time immemorial they +had roamed a considerable distance beyond these borders.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> + +<p>They had always been known as a pastoral race, raising flocks and +herds, and tilling the soil. They owned, at the time we began war upon +them, sheep and ponies by the thousand, and raised large quantities of +corn, wheat, beans, and other products.</p> + +<p>They numbered between twelve and fifteen thousand, and could put three +thousand mounted warriors in the field. They were industrious, the men +doing all the hard work instead of putting it upon the women, as do +the Indians of the plains and all of the marauding tribes. They +manufactured their wearing apparel, and made their own weapons, such +as bows, arrows, and lances. They wove beautiful blankets, often very +costly, and knit woollen stockings, and dressed in greater comfort +than did most other tribes. In addition to a somewhat brilliant +costume, they wore numerous strings of fine coral, shells, and many +ornaments of silver, and usually appeared in cool weather with a +handsome blanket thrown over the shoulders.</p> + +<p>The Navajos and the New Mexicans were almost continually at war. +Expeditions were frequently fitted out in the border towns by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +class of New Mexicans who possessed no land or stock, for the sole +purpose of capturing the flocks and herds of the Navajos. The Indians +retaliated in kind, making raids upon the settlements and pasture +lands, and driving off sheep, horses, and cattle to the mountains. +Complaints were made by the property-holders, and war was declared +against the Indians.</p> + +<p>The military department of New Mexico was in fine condition to carry +on a successful war. Besides our regiment of regular infantry, it had +two regiments of California volunteer infantry and one regiment each +of California and New Mexican cavalry.</p> + +<p>The Navajo upon the war-path was terribly in earnest, and his methods +of waging war were like those of the redman everywhere. With the +knowledge that the American soldier was an ally of his old-time enemy, +and that the Mexican was wearing the uniform of the "Great Father," he +no longer hesitated to look upon us as his enemies also, and resolved +to combat us up to the very walls of our posts.</p> + +<p>No road in the Territory was safe to the traveller; no train dared +move without an escort.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> Towns were raided, and women and children +carried into captivity. Frightful cases of mutilation and torture were +constantly occurring in the mountain fastnesses. Troops took the +field, and prosecuted with vigilance a war in which there was little +glory and plenty of suffering and hard service.</p> + +<p>Every band of Indians captured was taken to the Bosque Rodondo, on the +Rio Pecos, where a large fort had been established. It was occupied by +a strong garrison of infantry and cavalry.</p> + +<p>I had found social life in Santa Fé very pleasant during my brief stay +there, so I was not overjoyed when I received the order to march my +company to Los Valles Grandes, there to relieve the California company +already referred to. But the order being peremptory, we packed our +baggage during the first hours of the night, and were on the road soon +after daybreak.</p> + +<p>It was the 3d of October when the boy corporals and myself, mounted on +sturdy Mexican ponies, rode out of Fort Marcy for our new station, one +hundred miles due west. The regimental band escorted the company +through the plaza and for a mile on our way, playing, after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +immemorial custom, "The Girl I Left Behind Me," and adding, I thought +with a vein of irony, "Ain't Ye Glad You've Got Out th' Wilderness?"</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 8th, after four days of gradual and constant +ascent from the valley of the Rio Grande, which we had forded at San +Ildefonso, we began the slower ascent of the most difficult portion of +our march.</p> + +<p>The woods were full of wild turkeys and mountain grouse, made fat on +the pine-nuts, and Frank and Henry and the soldier huntsmen secured a +generous supply for our first meal in our new military home.</p> + +<p>It took us from early morning until noon of the last day's march to +reach the highest point of the road. What with the frequent halts for +the men to fasten a rope to the wagon-poles and aid the severely taxed +mules up the steepest places, to fill gullies and sloughs with stones +and brush, to pry mired wheels up to firm ground, and repair broken +harnesses and wagons, we were over half a day in going a distance +which could have been accomplished in two hours by soldiers +unencumbered with a baggage and supply train.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>The downward march on the western slope of the mountain-range was +rapidly made over a smooth road through a continuous avenue of +overarching forest trees, and without a halt. From the lower limit of +the forest we caught the first glimpse of the Great Valleys. The +valley before us was fourteen miles long, and of a nearly uniform +width of eight miles. It was almost surrounded by mountains; in fact, +while there were many trails leading out of it, there was but one +practicable wagon-road—that by which we had entered. But at the +southern extremity there was a precipitous cañon, through which flowed +a considerable stream. To the west was another cañon, a dry one, +called La Puerta—the doorway—which led into the second valley, +called the Valley of San Antonio.</p> + +<p>The Great Valley, on the eastern edge of which I had halted the +company for a few moments' rest and observation, was lower through the +centre than at the sides. It was not unlike an oblong platter, and was +absolutely treeless, except that opposite us a bold, pine-clad point +jutted out from the western mountain-range about three miles, like a +headland into the sea.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>The whole valley was verdant with thick grass. The two boys, sitting +on their ponies a few yards in advance of the company line, were in +raptures over the prospect.</p> + +<p>"This is the first bit of country I've seen in New Mexico that looks +like Vermont," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and what a change in the space of a few miles!" observed Henry. +"On the opposite side of this range were only bunch-grass, cactus, and +sand, and here we have fine turf and waving grass. What are those +objects in that farther corner, sir?" he continued, turning to me and +pointing to the southwest. "Look like deer or grazing cattle."</p> + +<p>"There is a small herd of deer there, sure enough," I replied, after +making out the objects through my glass. "We shall not want for +venison if we have good luck with our rifles."</p> + +<p>"Deer, antelope, turkeys, ducks, geese, sand-hill crane, and trout!" +exclaimed Frank. "We've hit a hunter's paradise."</p> + +<p>"And bears and catamounts, too, I suspect," said Henry, looking a +little lugubrious.</p> + +<p>"My, but wouldn't I like to kill a bear!" said Frank.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I don't believe I shall hunt for one, and I hope a bear won't +hunt for me," said the younger lad. "I'll be satisfied with turkeys, +grouse, ducks, and trout."</p> + +<p>Six miles due west, a little south of the wooded point, detached from +it about half a mile, we perceived a line of small cabins, which we +inferred was the volunteer encampment. They stretched across a little +level space, enclosed by a gently sloping ridge of horseshoe shape. +The ridge, in fact, proved to be of that shape when we examined it +later. The row of sixteen cabins stretched across the curve, and +looked out of the opening towards the eastern side of the valley. +Fifty yards in front of the cabins, running across the horseshoe from +heel to heel, flowed a crystal stream of water twenty feet wide and +two feet deep, which rose from forty-two springs near the northern end +of the valley. The ridge enclosing the encampment was nowhere more +than twenty-five feet above the level parade.</p> + +<p>The cabins were built of pine logs laid up horizontally, flanked on +the north by the kitchen and stable, and on the south by a storehouse. +Behind the cabins, at the centre of the horseshoe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> curve, two-thirds +the way up the slope of the ridge, and overlooking the encampment from +its rear, stood the guard-house, in front of which paced a sentinel.</p> + +<p>Resuming our march, a brisk step soon brought us to the encampment. At +the brook before the parade I was met by the volunteer officers, who +did not disguise their joy at the prospect of leaving what they +considered a life of unbearable exile. Even before the customary +civilities were passed, the captain asked me if my animals were in a +condition to warrant his loading the wagons with his company property +as soon as I unloaded mine, as he wished to make an evening's march +towards Santa Fé.</p> + +<p>I told him I thought they were, provided he took the two wagons +belonging to the camp in addition, so that the loads would be light. +He approved of my suggestion, and promised to send back the wagons as +soon as he reached Fort Marcy.</p> + +<p>The wood-yard being well supplied with fuel, I saw no reason why the +wagons and mules could not be spared the ten days necessary to make +the round trip.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + +<p>One reason for doing all I could to facilitate the immediate departure +of the Californians was that my men were anxious to move into the +cabins at once.</p> + +<p>With my first glance at the encampment, it had seemed to me too open +to surprise. The adjacent forest-clad point crept up near the left +flank, offering an effectual screen to an attacking party, and the +overlooking sentinel at the guard-house did not have a range of vision +to the rear of more than fifty yards. He was not on the summit of the +ridge by at least half that distance, and walked along the side of the +guard-house next the cabins. He could see nothing of the surface of +the valley to the west of the ridge, and when passing along the front +of the building, as he paced backward and forward, he saw nothing to +the rear of his beat.</p> + +<p>I expressed my opinion of the situation to the volunteer captain, but +he replied, "Pshaw! you might as well take the sentinel off, for all +the good he does as a lookout for Indians."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen none?"</p> + +<p>"Not a solitary moccasin, except an occasional Pueblo, since I've been +here—eleven months."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I suppose you have scouted the country thoroughly?"</p> + +<p>"There isn't a trail within thirty miles that I do not know. These +bundles of wolf-skins and other pelts you see going into the wagons +are pretty good evidence that my men know the country."</p> + +<p>We walked to the kitchen, and found, hanging on the walls of the +store-room, a dozen quarters of venison, the fat carcass of a bear, +and several bunches of fowl.</p> + +<p>"We are not obliged to kill our cattle to supply the men with meat," +added the captain. "We butcher only when we need a change from wild +meat."</p> + +<p>"I saw from the edge of the valley where I entered it that you have +deer."</p> + +<p>"Pretty much everything but buffalo is here."</p> + +<p>"I hear your brook is full of fish."</p> + +<p>"There's where you make a mistake," he replied. "There is not a fish +in this valley. The water is spring water, and must possess some +mineral property distasteful to trout, for they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>never run up here. In +San Antonio Valley, six miles to the west, in a brook less clear than +this, you can catch them by the cart-load."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you intend to take this venison with you?"</p> + +<p>"Not if you will accept the gift of all but a few quarters, which we +will take for friends in the city."</p> + +<p>"Thank you and your men. It will be a treat to us, and keep us going +until we can put in a hunt on our own account."</p> + +<p>We went back to the parade, and stood looking at the surrounding +mountains in the deepening twilight.</p> + +<p>"What other ways are there in and out of the valley, besides the one +which we entered?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, on the east and south sides there is a trail between the peaks, +four in all, and one good bridle-path to the Pueblo of Jemez. That +descends from the valley level to the Jemez River bottom, a drop of +nearly three thousand feet, in a distance of three miles, zigzagging +twice that distance."</p> + +<p>"And to the west and north?"</p> + +<p>"To the north there is a trail to Abiquiu, rarely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> used, and to the +west there is only La Puerta, into which all the other trails from the +east and south concentrate. It is to watch La Puerta that this camp +was established."</p> + +<p>"And you say you have seen no Navajos or signs of them since you +came?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, plenty of signs, but no Indians. Parties have passed here in the +night, but none were driving stock."</p> + +<p>I learned all I could of the captain while his men hurried their +baggage into the wagons, but he was too much excited over the prospect +of leaving the Great Valleys, as well as curious to know of events in +Santa Fé, to give me much information. When the guard of regulars +relieved the volunteer guard, I placed my sentinel on a beat a dozen +yards in rear of the guard-house, which enabled him to see several +hundred yards back of the ridge, and yet not show himself prominently +to an approaching foe.</p> + +<p>The volunteers at last marched away, and I made a casual examination +of the cabins. I noticed that the inner surface of the log walls had +been hewn smooth, and the names, company, and regiment of the former +occupants had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> carved with knives or burned in with hot pokers +along the upper courses. Each had a wide, open, stone fireplace and +chimney set in one corner, after the Mexican fashion.</p> + +<p>No uniform design had been observed in the construction of the cabins, +the occupants having followed their own ideas of what would prove +comfortable. Height, width, and depth were variable, but their fronts +were in perfect alignment.</p> + +<p>The hut which had been occupied by the officers and which fell to the +boys and myself was at the right of the line, next the storehouse, a +little removed from the others. It was twenty by twenty feet, +partitioned on one side into two alcoves in which were rude bedsteads, +one of which was assigned to the boys and one to myself. A door opened +on the south side, and a window, the only glass one in camp, looked +out upon the parade. Floors in all the cabins were of earth, raised a +foot higher than the outside surface of the ground, smoothed with a +trowel and carpeted with blankets, until later, when skins of wild +animals took their place. Doors were made of puncheons, swung on +wooden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> hinges and fastened with wooden latches operated by +latch-strings.</p> + +<p>Our first day in camp was principally spent in making ourselves +comfortable. The men were busy in filling bed-sacks from the +hay-stacks, and in repairing the cabins and articles of furniture. Ten +head of beef cattle had been turned over to me with the other property +of the camp. I had placed them in charge of a soldier, with orders to +herd them in the valley immediately in front of the opening, where +they could be plainly seen from the parade as well as the guard-house.</p> + +<p>At noon two Mexican hunters, father and son, rode up to my door, the +former mounted on a mule and the latter on a burro, or donkey. The +elder said their names were José and Manuel Cordova, of Cañoncito, +that they were looking for deer, and would like permission to make the +camp their place of rendezvous. I gave them permission to do so, and +their animals were turned loose with our stock.</p> + +<p>About four o'clock in the afternoon the boy corporals and myself, +tired with our work of repairing and arranging quarters, sat down to a +lunch of broiled grouse.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>We were busily picking the last bones when we were startled by loud +shouts. Quickly running to the centre of the parade, where the men +were rapidly assembling with their arms, I saw the soldier-herdsman +coming towards camp as fast as he could run, waving his hat and +shouting. Behind him the steers were running in the opposite +direction, driven by six Indians on foot. They were waking the echoes +with their war-whoops.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>ATTACKED BY NAVAJOS</h3> +<p>The six Navajos made no attempt to shoot the herder, although for some +time he was within easy rifle range. They contented themselves with +driving the cattle towards the southern section of the valley.</p> + +<p>At the first alarm Sergeant Cunningham got the men into line without a +moment's delay. He had hardly counted off when the report of the +sentinel's rifle was heard, followed by his shouting, excitedly, +"Indians! Indians! This way! This way!"</p> + +<p>In the direction of the guard-house I saw the sentinel and guard +getting into line with great rapidity. They were gesticulating wildly +to us. Frank Burton, who was standing near me, shouted, "Henry, get +your carbine and fall in with me on the left!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p><p>"Don't expose yourselves, boys," I said. "The colonel told me to keep +you out of danger."</p> + +<p>"We are needed, sir," answered Frank, promptly, and the two youngsters +instantly placed themselves on the left of the line.</p> + +<p>I broke the company to the rear through the intervals between the +cabins. The men had only the marching allowance of ten rounds of +ammunition, so I had a couple of boxes broken open with an axe, and +cartridges were distributed to them. The two Mexicans joined us, and +steadily and rapidly we advanced up the slope to unite with the guard.</p> + +<p>Scarcely two hundred yards distant we saw a compact body of over three +hundred Indians. They were charging down upon us, and with a general +and frightful war-whoop they began firing.</p> + +<p>We deployed as skirmishers. The men fired by volleys, sheltering +themselves behind bowlders, logs, and ridges.</p> + +<p>Instantly, at the head of the mounted column, there was an emptying of +saddles. The onset was suddenly checked, and the Indians broke into +two divisions. Part of the force swept along the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> outer side of the +horseshoe ridge to the south, and the other part wheeled round to the +north.</p> + +<p>I met the attack by dividing my men into two divisions. The men moved +along the interior slopes, firing as they ran, and kept pace with the +ponies running to the extremities.</p> + +<p>The Navajos had lost twenty men. A chief, who had been in the front of +the fight throughout, had the utmost difficulty in holding them in +close column.</p> + +<p>"That is the great chief, El Ebano," cried the elder Cordova, as he +put his gun to his shoulder. Taking careful aim at the gray-haired +leader, he fired, and one of the most famous chieftains of the Navajos +rolled from his saddle. The beautiful black horse he had been riding +ran on towards us. With El Ebano dead, the Indians were dismayed. A +moment later they were in full retreat, and joined their comrades who +had stolen our cattle.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Our casualties were few. Sergeant Cunningham's scalp had been grazed +along the left side, Private Tom Clary had the lobe of an ear cut, +Privates Hoey and Evans were wounded along<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> the ribs, and Corporal +Frank Burton had a bullet wound in the right shoulder.</p> + +<p>The Indians had gathered in a compact body about three miles to the +southward, evidently holding a council of war. Reflecting that they +would not be likely to repeat their attack immediately, I walked out +with the first sergeant and a few of the men to note what casualties +had befallen the enemy, and learn if there were any wounded men in +need of assistance.</p> + +<p>As I neared the place where the charge had been checked, I met +Corporal Frank Burton leading a black pony, gently stroking his nose +and talking soothingly to him, while the animal seemed half divided +between fear and newly awakened confidence.</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't he a beauty, sir!" exclaimed the boy—"isn't he just a +perfect beauty!"</p> + +<p>"He certainly is a very handsome horse," I answered, after walking +around him and taking in all his graces and points. "Take him to the +stable and we will see to what use we can put him."</p> + +<p>"Do you think it would be possible for me to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> own him, sir?" inquired +the boy, in an anxious voice.</p> + +<p>"As spoil of war, corporal?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so, sir. I was first to capture him, you know."</p> + +<p>Before I could reply to this we were startled by a loud whinny, a +little to the north, which was promptly answered by the black, and, +looking in that direction, we saw a cream-colored pony, with +high-erected head, looking anxiously in the direction of our captive.</p> + +<p>"That seems to be a friend of your pony's," I said.</p> + +<p>"Another beauty, too, sir! Can't we catch it for Henry?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we can. It seems inclined to stay by this one. I see all the +other loose ponies have joined the Indians. But wait now until we look +over the field."</p> + +<p>We now turned our attention to the prostrate bodies of the fallen +enemy. All were dead.</p> + +<p>The body of El Ebano, clad in black buck-skin, ornamented with a +profusion of silver buttons, chains, and bracelets, lay face upward, +his resolute, handsome countenance still in the em<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>brace of death. I +told the men we would give him and his comrades a warrior's burial on +the morrow, and returned to camp to make it defensible against a +possible night attack.</p> + +<p>The advantage of numbers was decidedly on the side of the Indians, and +I felt if they could show the firmness and dash of white men our +chances of repelling a resolute attack were small. Counting the +Mexicans and the boys, we numbered but forty-eight, to their three +hundred or more.</p> + +<p>We were in the centre of a large valley, with no knowledge of our +surroundings nor with any way out except the road by which we had +entered. Should we leave the protection of our ridge and cabins and +take to the open valley we should be at the mercy of our foes.</p> + +<p>Even supposing we could pass out of the valley unmolested, there were +the forests and defiles, filled with natural ambuscades. We could not +hope to pass them and reach the Rio Grande alive.</p> + +<p>Only a few hours of daylight remained. Whatever was to be done in +preparation for defence must be done at once.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the wood-yard there were tiers of dry pine-logs, many of them four +feet in diameter, and all about twenty feet long. With drag ropes and +by rolling we conveyed them to the points of the ridge and to each end +of the guard-house, and erected effective barricades.</p> + +<p>While this work was going on the two boys were busy in an attempt to +capture the cream-colored pony. Frank led the black towards it, while +Henry rattled the contents of a measure of corn and coaxed the +cream-color in a tongue foreign to that with which the animals were +familiar to approach and partake of it. Tired at last of what seemed a +vain attempt, the young corporal set the box before the black, which +at once began to munch the crackling corn, and the other pony, +attracted by the sound, trotted up and placed her nose beside her +friend's. Instantly its bridle-rein was seized, and the lads uttered a +shout of triumph and led the prizes to the stable.</p> + +<p>From the top of the ridge I looked occasionally through my field-glass +at the enemy. They still continued well to the south on the western +side <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>of the brook. They had dismounted and appeared to be carrying on +an animated consultation.</p> + +<p>After a considerable interval of time, four of their number mounted, +and, collecting the ten beeves, mule, and burro, which had been +grazing near by, drove them up and down in front of the camp, beyond +rifle range. They made gestures for us to come and take them—an +invitation which, for obvious reasons, I declined to accept. I quite +agreed with Private Tom Clary, who, as he placed his brawny shoulder +to a big log to roll it up the slope, remarked to his "bunky," Private +George Hoey, "That's an invitation, begorra, I don't fale loike +acciptin'."</p> + +<p>"Ye'd niver make yer t'ilet for anither assimbly if ye did, Tom. I +don't think the lutinint will risk the comp'ny's hair in that way," +replied Hoey.</p> + +<p>To have attempted to recover our stock would have necessitated a +division of our force, and the main body of the Navajos stood ready to +dash in and cut off a party making such a reckless move.</p> + +<p>This was what they had originally attempted to accomplish, as I heard +years afterwards from a chief who took part in the raid.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>Failing to draw us out in pursuit of our lost stock, the Navajos moved +slowly away in the deepening dusk to a point close against the forest +on the eastern side of the valley and nearly opposite our camp. There +they built a row of five fires, which soon became, in the darkness, +the only evidence of their presence.</p> + +<p>I caused the sentinels to be increased, and, after dressing the wounds +of the men and removing a bullet from Frank's shoulder, went to bed +without undressing. After some half-hour of silence, Henry said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Duncan."</p> + +<p>"Yes; what is it?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to name my pony Chiquita."</p> + +<p>"And I'm going to name mine Sancho," added Frank.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with the animals you brought here?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Turn them in in place of the two we captured," answered Henry.</p> + +<p>"All right; for general utility. Good-night."</p> + +<p>"Good-night. Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>Half an hour before midnight the sergeant of the guard aroused me to +report that strange<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> noises could be heard from the rear of the camp.</p> + +<p>I went to the top of the ridge and listened. A sound like the dragging +of branches over the ground, with occasional pauses, fell upon my +ears. I sent for the elder Cordova, and he listened long, with an ear +close to the ground. His opinion was that the Indians were creeping up +for another attack.</p> + +<p>Orders were sent to Sergeant Cunningham to wake the men without noise +and assemble them at the barricades.</p> + +<p>A little after midnight the moon rose over the mountains and bathed +the valley in a beautiful light.</p> + +<p>As the moon cleared herself from the summits of the range and her rays +fell upon the line of paling camp-fires of the Indians, my field-glass +revealed the fact that the raiders had departed. Ponies and riders +were gone. In the whole length and breadth of the Great Valley not a +living being was in sight outside the limit of our encampment.</p> + +<p>An inspection to the rear, to the scene of the late conflict, revealed +the fact that the body of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> El Ebano and the group of dead warriors +which lay about him at nightfall had been taken away. Their removal +had caused the rushing and creeping sounds we had heard.</p> + +<p>Mounting my horse, and accompanied by four men upon the four ponies, I +crossed the valley to the Indian fires, but found nothing there except +the horns, hoofs, and entrails of our captured cattle. The flesh had +probably been packed upon the Cordovas' mule and burro to ration a +raiding party into the valley of the Rio Grande.</p> + +<p>A well-defined trail went back through the forest, which Cordova +afterwards assured me led to the town of Pina Blanca.</p> + +<p>Returning to camp, I wrote a letter to the commanding general, giving +an account of the attack and its repulse, and despatched it by the +Mexicans, who, taking cut-offs with which they were acquainted, and +borrowing horses in relays at ranches on the way, delivered it next +evening at Santa Fé.</p> + +<p>The general sent a hundred troopers to Los Valles Grandes, where they +came galloping into camp two evenings afterwards. As Captain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> Wardwell +sprang from his saddle and wrung my hand, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"God bless you, Duncan! I came out expecting to bury the bones of you +and your men."</p> + +<p>I was glad to see the California cavalry officers, and, during the +three days of their stay in the valley for rest after a forced march, +did the honors to the best of my ability. On the day of their +departure the wagons returned loaded with supplies. Instructions were +received to send back all but one wagon and six mules.</p> + +<p>With the departure of cavalry and wagons, life in the valley settled +down to quiet routine. I spent some time in instructing my companions, +according to an agreement I had made with their father. Not being a +West-Pointer, but a college graduate with a fair knowledge of Greek +and Latin, and some other acquirements not considered of military +utility, I was able to carry out a desire of the colonel and assist +the boys in preparing themselves for college.</p> + +<p>We rarely received visits from the outside world. The nearest hamlet +was an Indian pueblo, twenty-six miles away, in the Rio Jemez Valley, +and representatives of the army seldom had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> occasion to visit our +outposts. The mail arrived from Santa Fé every Saturday afternoon, and +left every Monday morning in the saddle-bags of two cavalry +express-men.</p> + +<p>To the soldiers life in the valleys was very pleasant. Duty was light, +and there were no temptations to dissipation or to be out of quarters +at night, and there were no confinements to the guard-house for +disorder. Evenings were spent over books and papers and quiet games, +and the days in drill, repairing buildings, providing the fuel for +winter, hunting, and scouting.</p> + +<p>As previously referred to, we were in a region of abundant game. The +boy corporals accompanied the hunting-parties, and became skilled in +bringing down whatever they sighted. Henry, as well as Frank, shot his +bear, and soon our floor was covered with the skins of wolves, +coyotes, bears, and catamounts, skilfully dressed and tanned by the +Cordovas.</p> + +<p>And now I must introduce a principal character of my story, a valued +friend who took a conspicuous part in our scouting and hunting, and +who, later on, did valuable service to myself and my youthful +comrades.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + +<p>Just as I was about to leave Santa Fé for Los Valles Grandes, the +regimental adjutant—since a distinguished brigadier-general in the +war in the Philippines—gave me a beautiful young setter named +Victoriana, and called Vic for convenience. She was of canine +aristocracy, possessing a fine pedigree, white and liver-colored, with +mottled nose and paws, and a tail like the plume of Henry of Navarre.</p> + +<p>The boys, soon after our arrival in the valleys, carrying out a +conceit suggested by the letters "U.S." which are always branded upon +the left shoulder of all government horses and mules, marked with a +weak solution of nitrate of silver upon Vic's white shoulder the same +characters, and as long as she continued to live they were never +allowed to grow dim.</p> + +<p>Vic came to me with no education, but plenty of capacity, and the +corporals and I spent much time during the long evenings and on the +days when we did not accompany the scouting and hunting parties, in +training her.</p> + +<p>She learned to close the door if we simulated a shiver, to bring me my +slippers when she saw me begin to remove my boots, to carry messages +to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> the first sergeant or the cook, to return to the camp from long +distances and bring articles I sent for.</p> + +<p>Vic was an unerring setter and a fine retriever. She was taught not to +bark when a sound might bring an enemy upon us, and she would follow +patiently at my heels or those of either of the boys when told to do +so and never make a break to the right or left.</p> + +<p>Our repeated scoutings soon made us acquainted with every trail in and +out of the valley. I obtained permission from department head-quarters +to employ the elder Cordova as spy and guide, and he was of invaluable +use to us. He was able to show me a mountain-trail into the valley of +San Antonio besides the one through La Puerta, which I kept in reserve +for any desperate emergency which might make it necessary to use +another. We frequently went trout-fishing with an armed party, and +could pack a mule with fish in a few hours.</p> + +<p>One morning, near the close of October, Cordova left the camp before +reveille on a solitary hunting-trip in order to reach Los Vallecitos, +four miles to the south of our valley, before sunrise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>He had gone but half an hour, and I was dressing after first +bugle-call for reveille, when I was startled by the rapid approach of +some one running towards my door. Presently the guide tumbled into the +cabin, gasping:</p> + +<p>"Muchos Navajos, teniente, muchos Navajos!" (Many Navajos, lieutenant, +many Navajos!)</p> + +<p>"Where are they, and how many?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"About half a league over the ridge," pointing to the south. "They +chased me from the Los Vallecitos trail. They number about a hundred."</p> + +<p>Without waiting for more definite information, I told the boys, who +were hastily getting into their clothes, to stay in the cabin, and, +going for Sergeant Cunningham, ordered him to parade the company under +arms without delay; then, taking my glass, I went to the top of the +ridge. Lying down before reaching the crest, I looked through the +screening grass and saw a party of eighty-three Indians, halted and +apparently in consultation. They were in full war costume, and were +painted and feathered to the height of Indian skill.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III</h2> + +<h3>WARLIKE PUEBLOS</h3> +<p>The party of Indians halted for nearly ten minutes, evidently in +excited dispute, accompanying their talk with much gesticulation. I +had time to notice that the details of dress were not like those of +the Navajos with whom we had recently had a fight; but as the old +hunter Cordova had pronounced them Navajos, I gave the matter little +consideration. They did not seem to be aware of the existence of an +encampment of soldiers in the valleys, and after a brief delay moved +on towards La Puerta.</p> + +<p>Returning to the parade, I ordered the six mules and four ponies +brought to my door, saddled and bridled, and all the men not on guard +to assemble under arms with cartridge-boxes filled. Fortunately, the +mail-riders had arrived the previous evening from Santa Fé, so I +ordered them to form a part of the expedition, and placed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> the party +of thirteen under command of Sergeant Cunningham, mounted upon my +horse.</p> + +<p>The sergeant was directed to take the "reserved trail" through the +hills into the valley of San Antonio and bring his men into the +western end of La Puerta before the Indians could pass through it. I +impressed it upon him on no account to fire unless the redmen showed +fight, to leave his mules and horses concealed in the timber at the +entrance of the cañon, and so dispose his men as to convey the +impression that thirteen was but a part of his force.</p> + +<p>Just before the horsemen were to start I overheard Private Tom Clary, +who was mounted on Frank's recent equine acquisition, Sancho, say to +the boy:</p> + +<p>"Corpril Frank, laddie, can ye give me the Naviho words for <i>whoa</i> and +<i>get up</i>? I'm afeared the little baste 'll not understand me English, +and may attimpt to lave for his troibe."</p> + +<p>"You needn't speak to him, Tom. Use your reins, curb, and spurs," +replied the boy.</p> + +<p>"True for you, corpril; a pull to stop, and a spur to go ahead. That's +a language that nades no interpreter."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>For myself, I proposed to follow up the Navajos with the rest of the +company as soon as they were fairly within the cañon, and I expected +to capture them without blood-shed.</p> + +<p>We started, the mounted men turning to the north of the wooded point +and entering the forest, and the footmen marching direct for La +Puerta. I kept my men out of sight under the rolls of the valley +surface, and moved at quick time. When the redmen were well within the +walls of the cañon we deployed right and left, and closed up rapidly +behind them.</p> + +<p>The Indians showed perceptible astonishment when they perceived this +unexpected and warlike demonstration, but they soon recovered, and +then, feeling the superiority of the mounted man over the footman, +they broke into derisive shouts and made gestures conveying their +contempt for us. This continued for some time, when they suddenly +showed confusion. They dashed at a gallop to the north side of the +passage, and skirted it for a considerable distance, as if looking for +a place of escape. Failing to find one they dashed wildly to the other +side, where they met with no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> better success, and then they halted and +consulted.</p> + +<p>Presently one of their number rode out and waved a white cloth. Upon +this I approached alone and made signs for them to dismount and lay +down their arms. They did so, and at another sign withdrew in a body, +when my men picked up everything and collected their ponies.</p> + +<p>I was certainly surprised at such a bloodless result of my strategy, +and, after shaking hands with the chief, began my return march to +camp.</p> + +<p>We had gone but a short distance when I overheard Private Clary, one +of the mounted men, who was riding near me, say to Private Hoey beside +him.</p> + +<p>"D'ye moind the cut uv thim chaps' hair, Jarge?"</p> + +<p>"Indade I do that, Tom," replied George.</p> + +<p>"Thim's no Navihos!"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit uv it. I'd as soon expict to see one in currls!"</p> + +<p>I had a wholesome respect for the opinions of these old soldiers, for +they had campaigned against Indians in Texas, Utah, Colorado, and New +Mexico long before I had seen a more savage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> redman than the indolent, +basket-making descendants of the Passamaquoddies and Penobscots. +Accordingly, without appearing to notice their remarks, I approached +the chief, and said, interrogatively:</p> + +<p>"Apache?"</p> + +<p>A shake of the head.</p> + +<p>"Ute?"</p> + +<p>Another shake.</p> + +<p>"Navajo?"</p> + +<p>"Si, señor!" he said, with a bow of his head, and I moved triumphantly +on, satisfied that my eighty-three prisoners were Navajos.</p> + +<p>But presently I heard Clary ask, "Jarge, did ye iver see Navihos with +blankets like thim?"</p> + +<p>"Niver!" answered Hoey, emphatically.</p> + +<p>Evidently the two soldiers did not believe they were Navajos, and were +"talking at me." But if not Navajos, Apaches, or Utes, who were these +warriors?</p> + +<p>When we were near camp we were met by Cordova, who had remained behind +to recover from the fatigue of his early morning run. As soon as he +came up to the Indians there seemed to be an immediate recognition. He +and the chief met<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> and embraced, and conversed for a few moments in a +language that was neither English nor Spanish. Then the hunter turned +to me, looking shamefaced, and said, in Spanish, "Lieutenant, these +Indians are Pueblos, of Santo Domingo."</p> + +<p>Whoever knows the character of the Pueblos will appreciate the joke I +had perpetrated upon myself. Many towns in New Mexico are inhabited by +these Indians—towns which stood on their present sites when Coronado +entered the country in 1541. They form an excellent part of the +population, being temperate, frugal, and industrious. They dress in +Indian style, and when at war paint and disfigure themselves like any +other of the red peoples, so that a green soldier would see no +difference between them and the wilder tribes.</p> + +<p>The Pueblos explained that they were in pursuit of a band of Navajos +who had stolen some of their cattle the previous night. When they +first saw Cordova they attempted to approach him to inquire if he had +seen any Navajo "signs."</p> + +<p>My appearance and warlike demonstrations they could not account for, +not knowing there <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>was a camp of soldiers in the valley. When I put +the questions, Apache? Ute? Navajo? the chief thought I was asking him +if he was in pursuit of a party of one of those tribes. Being in +pursuit of Navajos, he answered yes to that name.</p> + +<p>A week after my captives had returned to their homes in Santo Domingo, +at the close of a long and fruitless search for their lost stock, a +gentleman and his servant, mounted on broncos and leading a pack-mule, +rode up to my cabin late in the afternoon. He introduced himself as a +government Indian agent for the Navajos, and handed me a letter from +the department commander. It stated that the bearer was on his way to +the Indian pueblo of Jemez, to prevent the massacre of a number of +Navajo women, children, and old men who had sought asylum there, and +authorized me to furnish him with all the aid in my power.</p> + +<p>After dismounting and entering my quarters, the agent stated that, the +Navajo country being over-run by national troops, many of the +principal men had sent their wives and children, with a few old men, +to Jemez for safety; that the party of Dominicans which had been +recently captured by us, being bitterly disappointed at their lack of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +success in retaking their missing cattle, had determined to go to +Jemez and wreak vengeance upon the enemy.</p> + +<p>The Santo Dominicans had informed the people of Jemez that if they +interfered to prevent the slaughter of the Navajos they would be +considered by the military authorities as allies of that tribe, and +treated accordingly.</p> + +<p>Convinced, from what the agent told me, that I should act without +unnecessary delay, I proposed that we should start for Jemez at once, +but he declared himself too much fatigued by a long journey to +undertake a night ride of twenty-six miles. My instructions from the +general were to conform my movements to the wishes of the agent, so I +very reluctantly and much against my convictions concluded to wait +until morning. He strongly insisted there was no reason for haste, as +the Dominicans had not planned to leave their pueblo before noon.</p> + +<p>We set out, therefore, at four o'clock next morning. Sergeant +Cunningham asked permission to accompany the expedition, and I allowed +him to do so, leaving Sergeant Mulligan in charge until our return.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>We were a party of thirteen, mounted on every available animal in +camp. Henry was left behind, but Frank accompanied us, mounted on the +recently captured Sancho, proud of his horse and proud to be included +in the detachment.</p> + +<p>We passed through an interesting country, filled with wind-carven +pillars and minarets, eroded shelves and caverns, and lunched at +noonday beside a dozen boiling sulphur springs. We also passed +Cañoncito, the little village which was the home of José Cordova.</p> + +<p>As we came in sight of the tinned spires of the church at Jemez, we +heard a distinct murmur, and halted at once. In a moment the murmur +swelled into an unmistakable Indian war-whoop. It was plainly evident +the Dominicans had arrived before us.</p> + +<p>As soon as I heard the war-whoop I told Sergeant Cunningham to bring +up the men as rapidly as possible, sticking to the travelled road, +and, accompanied by the agent and Corporal Frank, I put spurs to my +horse and dashed towards the town.</p> + +<p>Our route was through the cultivated land, while that of the soldiers +was on the hard ground<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> along the foot-hills. Ours was in a direct +line, over deep, soft earth, frequently crossed by irrigating ditches, +while theirs, although nearly treble the distance, was over firm soil +without a break. We struck directly for the church spires, which I +knew rose from the central plaza.</p> + +<p>Often we plunged down the banks of <i>acequias</i>, carrying avalanches of +soil with us into two or three feet of water, to make a difficult +scramble up the crumbling wall of the opposite side; and as we neared +the pueblo, the louder grew the discordant yells of the Dominicans.</p> + +<p>As I reached the border of the plantation I found between me and the +road, which here entered the town, a cactus hedge about five feet +high, with no passage through it except at a considerable distance to +the right. The agent veered away to the opening, but Corporal Frank +kept Sancho close behind me, and I gave my good thoroughbred his head +and rode sharply at the hedge, cleared it at a bound, receiving but a +few scratches from the cactus spines. Turning my head as I came into +the road, I saw Frank come through like a trooper and join me.</p> + +<p>Clear of the hedge, I found myself at the foot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> of a narrow street +which passed between two tall adobe buildings and entered the plaza +near the centre of its western side. I took it at a run, and when +half-way through saw directly before its inner end, facing the north, +a group of old, gray-haired Navajos standing alone with their arms +folded, and holding their blankets firmly about their breasts, while +in their immediate front were some one hundred mounted Indians, +painted and ornamented in true aboriginal warrior style.</p> + +<p>On the terraced fronts of the houses and their flat roofs, and along +the three sides of the square, seemed to be gathered the entire +population of the town, looking passively on.</p> + +<p>Before I had more than taken in the situation, a rattling discharge of +rifles came from the direction of the Dominicans, and the old men fell +in a heap to the ground. Covered with dust and mud, our horses reeking +with foam, Corporal Frank and I burst through the crowd of spectators +on the west side of the plaza, and gained the open space just as the +firing-party was advancing with gleaming knives and wild yells to +complete the tragedy by scalping the slain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>Raising my right hand I shouted, in Spanish, "Stop where you are!"</p> + +<p>Frank had unslung his carbine and was holding it by the small of the +stock in his right hand, the barrel resting in his left, looking +calmly and resolutely at the hesitating Indians. The blood of three +generations of soldierly ancestors was thrilling his veins with a +resolution to act well in any emergency which might arise.</p> + +<p>The Pueblos halted, and at the same moment a group of eighteen women +and nearly three times as many children, some of them in arms, who had +been reserved—as I afterwards learned—for later shooting, ran into +the space and clung to my feet, stirrups, and the mane and tail of my +horse, entreating with eyes and voices for protection.</p> + +<p>The war-cries had ceased and the Dominicans had gathered in an angry +and gesticulating group, when Sergeant Cunningham and the rest of the +men appeared on foot, running into the plaza from a side street, and +formed in line before us.</p> + +<p>The massacre ended with the death of the old men. Aided by the agent +and the Catholic priest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> of the pueblo I succeeded in impressing upon +the Jemez warriors that they must discountenance any further hostile +demonstrations of the Santo Dominicans, and told the latter that +unless they promptly withdrew and departed for their own reservation I +should punish them for their recent conduct. They at once sullenly +departed.</p> + +<p>That evening, by the light of a brilliant moon, the dead Navajos were +buried upon a hill-top overlooking the town, amid the wailing of their +women and much ceremonious demonstration by the Jemez people, and +Frank and I retired for the night to the house of the hospitable +priest.</p> + +<p>Early the following morning I held an inspection of the mules and +horses, and finding the wheel and swing spans were much exhausted by +the unaccustomed gait they had maintained in the forced march from the +valleys, I determined to give them a day's rest before making the +return trip. Finding Sergeant Cunningham's, Frank's, and my own horses +none the worse for their exertions, I concluded that we three would +return at once to camp. I placed Corporal Duffy in charge of the +party, and told him after one day had passed to return by way of the +hot springs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>Instead of returning by the route we came, the sergeant, Frank, and I +were to take a shorter and rougher one pointed out to us by Padre +Gutierrez. This trail was almost as straight as an arrow, but led +through a section of the country over which we had not scouted. At +half-past nine o'clock the three of us started, Vic bounding and +barking at my horse's head.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV</h2> + +<h3>IN A NAVAJO TRAP</h3> +<p>Six miles from Jemez our road, which, after leaving the cultivated +valley of the Pueblos had narrowed to a path, entered the forest and +ran along the side of a small brook, which it continued to follow for +several miles, and then rose gradually to the side of a range of +hills. We were walking our animals along the side of this acclivity, +at a considerable distance above the brook on our left, their hoofs +making no noise in the soft, black earth, when I was startled by the +braying of an ass somewhere in the ravine.</p> + +<p>Sergeant Cunningham and Corporal Frank threw themselves quickly from +their saddles and held the horses by the bits to prevent them from +responding to the greeting, and I quickly sought a place from which I +could make an observation.</p> + +<p>We were in a clump of evergreen trees which commanded a view of the +ravine and obscured us<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> from sight in all directions. Looking across +the ravine, I caught a glimpse of a party of Indians a little beyond +the brook. Through my glass I made them out to be a party of +twenty-seven Navajos, sitting about a camp-fire eating their dinner.</p> + +<p>As many ponies were grazing near, and a mule and burro. From certain +peculiar markings I had observed the day Cordova joined me in the +valleys, I had no difficulty in recognizing the last two animals to be +his property. Packs were lying near the fire, showing that the +captured animals were being used as beasts of burden.</p> + +<p>All this time I had entirely overlooked the presence of my dog Vic. +Had I thought of her in season, it would have been easy to have kept +her close at my heels; but I had left her free to wander, not thinking +of any threatening danger.</p> + +<p>Suddenly I heard a chorus of grunts from the Indians, and looking in +their direction I saw Vic stand for an instant with her forefeet on a +prostrate log, look questioningly at the savages, and then drop down +into the furze and disappear.</p> + +<p>The sight of a white man's dog, wearing a brilliant metallic collar, +produced an electrical<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> effect. Instantly the redmen sprang to their +feet, seized their arms, and began saddling and bridling their ponies.</p> + +<p>"Vic has betrayed us, sergeant," I said. "We must get out of here as +quickly as possible."</p> + +<p>As we sprang into our saddles and regained the trail Vic came with a +bound before us, and I immediately gave her positive orders to keep +close at our heels. We rode as fast as it was possible to do without +making a noise, hoping that we might get a considerable distance away +before we were discovered. We had not proceeded far, however, when a +yell announced that we were seen.</p> + +<p>As we galloped on we saw that it was impossible for the Indians to +cross to our side of the ravine. Every mile we passed the path rose +higher and the sides of the stream grew more precipitous. The Indians +were pursuing a path parallel to ours and about half a mile in our +rear. What was the nature of the country ahead we did not know. The +fact that they were pursuing, and with such eagerness, seemed to +indicate they knew of some advantage to be gained farther on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>On and on we rode, I in advance, the sergeant next, and Frank behind. +The trail wound through the trees and clumps of underbrush, with +occasional openings through which we could catch glimpses of our eager +pursuers. The prospect appeared exceedingly gloomy.</p> + +<p>As we galloped on I noticed at last, through a rift in the wood a +considerable distance in advance, an eminence or butte which lifted +its summit nearly three hundred feet skyward, and which presented on +the side towards us an almost perpendicular wall. When we approached +it we saw a neat log-cabin nestling under its overarching brow. We +dismounted, led our panting and utterly exhausted animals into the +cabin, closed the doors, and went to the windows with our rifles.</p> + +<p>The cabin was about thirty by twenty feet in area, and stood with its +northern end close against the perpendicular wall of the butte, with +an overhanging cliff a hundred feet above it. If a stone had been +dropped from the sheltering cliff it would have fallen several feet +away from the cabin's southern wall.</p> + +<p>At the end of the cabin farthest from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> butte the ground upon which +it stood broke off perpendicularly twenty feet downward, to a +spring—the source of the brook we had been following since we left +Jemez. The only way to cross from one trail to the other, except by +going several miles down the brook or to the north end of the butte, +was, therefore, through the cabin, and for this purpose a door had +been placed in each side. The cabin could be approached only on the +east and west sides, and was unassailable at its north and south ends.</p> + +<p>Each wall contained a small window, except the one which rested +against the butte, and there a wide, stone fireplace had been built. +Three men with plenty of rations and ammunition could make a good +defence. Water could be had by lowering a bucket or canteen from the +southern window to the spring, twenty-four feet below its sill.</p> + +<p>The Indians had discovered that we had found shelter from their +pursuit and for the present were safe, and all but five, who soon +afterwards appeared in the edge of the forest to the east, had joined +the main party to the west of us. They showed great respect for our +place of refuge and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> rifles, and kept well out of range. The +sergeant's and my Springfield rifle could throw a bullet farther and +could be loaded more rapidly than any rifles in their possession, and +Frank with his Spencer could fire about twenty balls to our one.</p> + +<p>We removed the saddles and bridles from our animals, and, hitching +them in the corners each side of the fireplace, began a discussion of +our prospects.</p> + +<p>"If we could keep a couple of fires going before the doors during the +night, sir," said the sergeant, "we might keep them away."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid a fire would be of greater advantage to them than to us," +I replied; "we should have to expose ourselves every time we +replenished it. I wonder if the roof is covered with earth? It is +flat."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you in half a minute, sir," said Frank, and entering the +fireplace he proceeded to ascend the wide-mouthed chimney by stepping +on projecting stones of which it was built. In a moment he called down +to me, "Yes, sir; it is covered with about two feet of earth."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p><p>"All right then. If we can get pine enough to keep a blaze going then +we will have one. A fire on the roof will illuminate everything about +us and leave our windows and doorways in darkness. It will aid our aim +and confuse the Indians."</p> + +<p>We set to work at once and pulled down all the bunks, and with large +stones from the fireplace succeeded in breaking into fragments the +pine puncheons and posts of which they were made. Then Sergeant +Cunningham ascended the chimney and tore away one side of the part +which projected above the roof—the side looking in the direction +opposite the precipice. This would enable one of us to stand in the +top and replenish the fire, and at the same time remain concealed from +the enemy. As we could be fired upon from only two directions, the +fire tender would be safe.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, Padre Gutierrez's housekeeper had put up a lunch +sufficient to last us, including Vic, for three days, and water could +be drawn easily through the southern window with a canteen and lariat.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid those chaps 'll get us in the end, sir," observed the +sergeant. "Of course we can eat horse-meat for a while after our +victuals are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> gone, but we are three and they are twenty-seven—we are +prisoners and they are free."</p> + +<p>"Very true, sergeant," I replied, "but something may turn up in our +favor. The Jemez party will reach camp day after to-morrow, and when +it learns we are not there we shall be looked up."</p> + +<p>"If another party of Navajos don't jump them, sir."</p> + +<p>"Of course, the chances are against us, sergeant, but let us keep up +our spirits and make a good fight."</p> + +<p>"I'll do my best, sir, as I always have done, but this is a beastly +hole to be caught in."</p> + +<p>"But why don't you send Vic for help, Mr. Duncan?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"Laddie, I believe you have saved us! Thank you for the suggestion. +We'll put the little girl's education to a practical test."</p> + +<p>"What! Going to send her to Jemez for the men?" asked Sergeant +Cunningham.</p> + +<p>"No; I hardly think I could make her understand our wishes in that +direction, but there is no doubt she can be sent to camp. She has done +that many times."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, she'll go to the valley," said Frank. "You know I sent her +with a message to you from San Antonio Valley, six miles. I wonder how +far camp is from here?"</p> + +<p>"'Bout nine miles," replied the sergeant; "but she'll do it, I think. +Look at her!"</p> + +<p>Vic had come forward, and sat looking intelligently from one to the +other of us while this discussion ran on.</p> + +<p>"All right, little girl," I said, patting and smoothing her silky +coat, "you shall have a chance to help us after dusk. Go and lie down +now."</p> + +<p>The dog went to a corner and, lying down on Frank's saddle-blanket, +appeared to sleep; and while Corporal Frank took my place at a window +I wrote a message to Sergeant Mulligan at the camp, describing our +desperate situation and requesting him to send a detachment to our +rescue. I also prepared a flat, pine stick, and wrote upon it, in +plain letters, "Examine her collar." I intended she should carry the +stick in her mouth, as she had hitherto carried articles and messages, +fearing she would not understand she was to go on an errand unless all +the conditions of her education were observed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>During that day the Navajos simply showed their presence occasionally +among the trees, far away on either flank. We once heard the rapid +strokes of an axe, as of chopping, and wondered what it could mean. +Nothing further happened till dusk. Then I called Vic and attached the +note to her collar, wrapped in a piece of my handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"I think, sergeant," I said, "we had better send our message before it +gets darker and the Navajos close up nearer or the corporal lights his +fire."</p> + +<p>"Yes, she can't leave any too soon, sir, I think. It's going to be +pokerish work for us before morning, and I shall be mighty glad to see +a few of old Company F appear round that rock."</p> + +<p>After fastening the note securely in the dog's collar, I placed the +stick in her mouth and, opening the eastern door, said, "Now, little +Vic, take that stick to the sergeant—go!"</p> + +<p>She turned from the doorway, crossed the room, and dropped the stick +at Sergeant Cunningham's feet. The sergeant stooped, and placing his +hand under her chin raised her head upward and laid his bronze cheek +affectionately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> upon it. "Well, Vicky," he said, "there is but one +sergeant in the world to you, and he is here, isn't he?"</p> + +<p>"That's so, sir," exclaimed Corporal Frank, addressing me. "We never +sent her to anybody but you, the sergeant, and the cook."</p> + +<p>"True enough. I'll have to send her to the cook—the only one now in +camp to whom she has borne messages. As he is the dispenser of fine +bones and dainties, and she has had nothing to eat since morning, +perhaps it is as well he is to receive this message. Here, Vic," +placing the chip once more in her mouth, "take this stick to the +cook—go!"</p> + +<p>The setter looked at me an instant, then at the sergeant and corporal, +walked to the door, looked out, and then glanced questioningly at me.</p> + +<p>"Yes, little one; the cook—go!"</p> + +<p>She bounded through the doorway and turned the corner of the butte at +a run, bearing our summons to our comrades at Los Valles Grandes.</p> + +<p>For some time after the departure of Vic the sergeant and I stood at +our windows and gloomily watched the darkness deepen in the woods. +Frank looked out of the window above the spring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> and was also silent. +I was disposed to put off the lighting of our fire upon the roof as +long as it appeared safe to do so, in order to husband our fuel. The +animals, disappointed of the forage usually furnished them at this +hour, stamped impatiently and nosed disdainfully the stale straw and +pine plumes which we had emptied from the bunks and which were now +scattered over the floor.</p> + +<p>It was during a momentary lull of this continuous noise that I heard a +crushing sound as of a heavy wheel rolling over twigs and gravel, but +was unable to guess its meaning.</p> + +<p>Fearing that further delay to light our fire might bring disaster upon +us, I told Corporal Frank to kindle it. He ascended the chimney, +lighted a few splinters of pitch-pine and placed them upon the roof, +and as soon as they were well lighted added to them half a dozen +billets of wood which Sergeant Cunningham passed up to him. Soon a +brilliant blaze was leaping upward, and, being reflected strongly by +the white sandstone of the overhanging cliff, lighted the whole space +about the cabin.</p> + +<p>As soon as Frank descended to the floor we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> gazed long and anxiously +out of the windows. Everything about us was now plainly visible to our +eyes, and we felt sure our movements could not be seen by the Navajos. +To the east all was silent, and for a long while we saw nothing in +that direction to suggest a lurking foe. To the west we could see no +enemy, but the same mysterious sound of crushing and grinding came to +our ears. What could it be, and what did it threaten? Adjusting my +field-glass I looked from my window in the direction of the puzzling +sound, and on the farther edge of the opening, near the wood, saw a +log about three feet in diameter and twenty-five or more in length +slowly rolling towards us, propelled by some unseen force.</p> + +<p>Passing the glass to the sergeant, I said: "The Indians seem to be +rolling a log in our direction. What do you think of it?"</p> + +<p>"I think it's easy to understand, sir," replied the sergeant, after a +long look. "That log is a movable breastwork, which can be rolled to +our door."</p> + +<p>"True, sergeant. Probably a dozen or more warriors are lying behind it +and rolling it for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>ward. Rather a black prospect for us if we cannot +stop it!"</p> + +<p>We all three gathered at the western window, and for some moments +watched the slow approach of the moving breastwork.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V</h2> + +<h3>A SIEGE AND AN AMBUSCADE</h3> +<p>We continued to watch long and anxiously the slowly rolling log. Not a +glimpse of the motive power could be obtained, but it ground and +crushed its way along with ominous certainty, straight in our +direction.</p> + +<p>Just as I had come to the conclusion that assistance could not arrive +in time, the log stopped. I looked through my glass and saw the cause.</p> + +<p>"Sergeant," I exclaimed, "the log has struck a rock! Open the door and +draw a bead on it! Don't let a man leap over it to remove the stone! +Corporal, guard the east window!"</p> + +<p>The sergeant stood ready at the open door. All the efforts of the +prostrate men behind the log had no effect, except to swing the end +farthest from the obstacle slightly ahead.</p> + +<p>"There seems to be nothing for them to do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> but to remove the stone. +Keep a sharp eye on the log, sergeant!"</p> + +<p>I had hardly spoken when a sudden discharge of rifles ran irregularly +along the length of the log, and under cover of the fire and smoke a +stalwart warrior leaped over, raised the stone, and had borne it +nearly to the top, when Sergeant Cunningham's rifle spoke sharply.</p> + +<p>The stone dropped on our side; the Indian fell forward, with his arms +extended towards his friends, who pulled him over the log, and he was +screened from our sight. The volley of the Navajos did us no harm.</p> + +<p>Corporal Frank replenished the fire on our roof from time to time, and +our vigilant watch went on. At last the sergeant, who still stood at +the open door, exclaimed, "Lieutenant, the stone is moving! It's +dropping into the ground!"</p> + +<p>"It's gone, and here comes our fate," I said. "They must have dug +under the log with their knives and sunk the stone."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, and they're safe to reach the cabin door and roast us out."</p> + +<p>"If there were two or three more stones in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> way, sergeant, the +delay they would cause might serve us until help comes."</p> + +<p>"I'll run out there with one, Mr. Duncan," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"No, laddie," replied the sergeant, "that's a duty for me. I'll drop a +couple there in a minute."</p> + +<p>"And when you return, sergeant, I will drop two more," said I.</p> + +<p>We went quickly to work to carry out our plan. The corporal once more +mended the fire, and then we selected from the loose rubbish which had +been torn from the top of the chimney several large-sized stones.</p> + +<p>Removing his shoes, the sergeant, with my assistance, raised two big +stones to his breast, and stood in the doorway with them clasped +firmly in his arms. I took the revolvers in my hands, whispered the +word, and he started out at a rapid walk, setting his feet down +carefully and without noise. He dropped the stones, one before the +other, without attracting attention, and regained the cabin without a +shot being fired on either side.</p> + +<p>Now it was my turn, and I went beyond the place where he had dropped +his last stone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>At that instant an alarm was shouted from the distant wood, and an +Indian raised his head above the log and fired. The bullet struck the +falling rock, and sent a shower of stinging splinters into my face. I +turned and fled.</p> + +<p>With the discharge of the Indian's rifle Sergeant Cunningham and +Corporal Frank opened a rapid fusillade with the revolvers, which +successfully covered my retreat to the cabin; but we knew that our +last chance at stone-dropping was past.</p> + +<p>Several terribly long hours had crept past since we saw Vic turn the +butte on her errand to the valleys. Judging by the time it had taken +the Navajos to bore a tunnel under their log and undermine the first +trigging-stone, we estimated that two more hours must pass before the +four obstructions we had placed in their way could be removed, unless +they took some more speedy method.</p> + +<p>It was quite nine miles to camp, and the dog could easily reach it in +about an hour. If she had arrived, help should by this time be fairly +on the way; but if she had been killed by the besiegers <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>before she +reached the north end of the butte, or had been torn in pieces by the +wolves!</p> + +<p>Should the log once reach our door, we could not hope to do more than +make the price of our lives dear to the enemy.</p> + +<p>While the sergeant and I stood at the door and window, speculating in +no very hopeful vein over these probabilities, there came a scratch at +the eastern door. Frank was at the window on that side, and, startled +by the sound, he called to us, "I'm afraid an Indian has sneaked up on +us, sir."</p> + +<p>Again the scratching was heard, this time accompanied by a familiar +whine, which presently swelled into a low bark.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Duncan, it's Vic! It's Vic!" shouted the boy, and, springing +to the door, he flung it wide open.</p> + +<p>In trotted Vic, and, coming up to me, she dropped a stick at my feet +bearing the words: "In the collar, as before."</p> + +<p>It took some little time for Corporal Frank to secure the messenger. +She capered about the room, licked our hands and faces, jumped up to +the noses of the ponies, and behaved as if she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> was conscious of +having performed a great feat and was overjoyed to have returned +safely.</p> + +<p>But Vic surrendered to the boy at last, and, submitting her neck for +inspection, he found attached to her collar a letter which read as +follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="sig">"<span class="smcap">Camp at Los Valles Grandes</span>.</p> + +<p class="sig3">"<i>November 20, 1863</i>.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant,—Message received, and the messenger fed. +Corporal Coffey and eight men leave here at 10.15 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span></p> + +<p class="sig">"<span class="smcap">James Mulligan</span>, <i>Sergeant</i>."</p> +</div> + +<p>"Come here, little doggie," said Sergeant Cunningham. "If we get out +of this, the company shall pay for a silver collar and a medal of +honor for the finest dog in the army."</p> + +<p>"If that detail marches at the regulation gait of three miles an +hour," I said, "it should be here by a quarter-past one, and it is now +a quarter to twelve."</p> + +<p>My anxiety over our prospects was so great I neglected to show proper +gratitude to our devoted messenger.</p> + +<p>"The men will do better than that, sir, if they keep on the road. The +trouble will be in finding this trail. They have never been this +way."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think the junction of this and the hot-springs trail cannot be far +from here. Let's take a shot at that log every three minutes from now +on, and the noise may attract our friends."</p> + +<p>We began firing at once, aiming at the under side of the log where it +touched the earth. I am confident this must have sent some sand and +gravel into the eyes of the rollers, if it did no other damage.</p> + +<p>Two of the trigging-stones we had dropped were soon undermined and +sunk, and the log had stopped at the third, less than a hundred yards +away. As it came on, the sergeant climbed to the top of the chimney, +and shortly afterwards returned with the report that he had seen the +prostrate body of a warrior revealed beyond—good evidence that his +first shot had been fatal. If the next two stones should be as rapidly +removed as the others, we feared the Indians would reach us, unless +the rescuing party prevented, at about half-past twelve.</p> + +<p>Marked by our periodical shots at the log, the time hurried all too +rapidly on, the Indians slowly and surely approaching the cabin.</p> + +<p>The third stone disappeared, and the log<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> moved with a louder grating +over the gravelly soil to the fourth and last obstacle, about thirty +yards away, and paused.</p> + +<p>"I believe, lieutenant," said Cunningham, "I could hit those fellows' +legs now from the chimney."</p> + +<p>"All right, sergeant. Close your door and go up and try it," I +replied. "A redskin with a broken leg can do us as little injury as +one with a broken head."</p> + +<p>The words were hardly spoken and the sergeant had barely reached the +fireplace, when, as if in anticipation of this movement, two figures +leaped over the end of the log nearest the perpendicular rock, ran to +the corner formed by the cabin and the wall, and by the aid of the +dovetailed ends of the logs clambered quickly to the roof. I sent a +shot at them, but it had no effect.</p> + +<p>No sooner had they reached the roof than they threw the flaming brands +and coal of our bonfire down the chimney, where they broke into +fragments and rolled over the floor, setting fire to the scattered +straw and plumes.</p> + +<p>Busy putting stops into the windows, and fastening them and the doors, +we could do nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> to extinguish the fire before it got well under +way.</p> + +<p>A blanket was thrown over the top of the chimney to prevent a draught, +and soon the whole interior was thick with stifling smoke.</p> + +<p>The horses plunged frantically, sending the fire in every direction. +Our eyes began to smart painfully, and we felt ourselves suffocating +and choking in the thick and poisonous atmosphere.</p> + +<p>To remain in the house was to be burned alive; to leave it was to +perish, perhaps, in a still more horrible way. Just as I was on the +brink of despair, the sergeant gasped rather than spoke:</p> + +<p>"They are here, lieutenant. Hark! Hark!"</p> + +<p>Ping! Ping! We heard the sound of rifle-shots, accompanied by a good, +honest, Anglo-Saxon cheer. Was there ever sweeter music?</p> + +<p>The war-whoops ceased, the blanket was quickly withdrawn from the +chimney-top, and two thuds on the east side of the cabin showed the +Indians had left the roof. A general scurrying of feet and other thuds +down the perpendicular wall back of the spring were evidence that the +besiegers were in full and demoralized flight.</p> + +<p>We threw the doors open, and our friends<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> rushed in, and before a +greeting was uttered feet and butts of rifles were sweeping brands and +straw into the fireplace, and the roaring draught was fast clearing +the air.</p> + +<p>Before I had fairly recovered my sight, and while still engaged in +wiping away the tears the smoke had excited to copious flow, I heard a +sobbing voice near me say:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Franky, brother, if it had not been for dear little Vicky what +would have happened to you?"</p> + +<p>Blinking my eyes open, I saw the boy corporals with their right arms +about each other's neck, holding their Spencers by the muzzles in +their left hands.</p> + +<p>"Why, Henry," I said, "you did not make that march with the men?"</p> + +<p>"Couldn't keep him back, sir," answered Corporal Coffey. "Said his +place was with his brother. Made the march like a man, and fired the +first shot when we turned the bluff."</p> + +<p>We shook hands all round, and then went out to see whether the volleys +of the rescuing party had inflicted any punishment upon the Navajos. +Two dead Indians lay near the cabin, and farther<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> away the one that +had fallen when attempting to remove the obstacle before the log. +There were traces of others having been wounded.</p> + +<p>A fire was promptly kindled outside the cabin, and we sat about it for +a time to rest and enjoy a lunch. The horses had been somewhat singed +about the legs, but were not disabled. An hour afterwards Sergeant +Cunningham placed Corporal Henry on his pony, Chiquita, and we started +for the valleys.</p> + +<p>At daybreak the day after we left Jemez we reached camp, and on the +evening of the same day the detachment we had left behind for a rest +also arrived, without adventure on the march. Cordova and his son at +once set out on the trail of the Navajos, whom we reported to be in +possession of their animals, to ascertain why they were in our +vicinity.</p> + +<p>After four days' scouting the Mexicans returned with the information +that they found the Indians had left their camp on the Jemez road +after their defeat. They had struck straight through the hills for the +Rio Grande, where they joined the main body, the same which had +attacked us the day after our arrival in the valleys, and which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> had +recently made several successful raids on the flocks and herds near +Peña Blanca and Galisteo.</p> + +<p>It was the guide's opinion that the party which had besieged me in the +cabin had been to the valleys to see what chance there was of running +captured stock through there. Their report must have been favorable, +for Cordova said a detachment of forty-seven Navajos was now encamped +in Los Vallecitos, apparently intending to pass us the following night +with a large number of cattle, horses, mules, and sheep.</p> + +<p>I began at once to make preparations to retake the stolen stock and to +capture the Navajos.</p> + +<p>That the Navajos, if they were watching our movements, might not +surmise we knew of their presence near us, I ordered the scouting +party and huntsmen not to go out next morning, and all the men to keep +within the limits of the parade.</p> + +<p>The next evening I marched all the company, except the guard, +including the boy corporals, by way of the reserved trail into the +valley of St. Anthony, and entered La Puerta from the western <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>end. +This was done for fear some advance-guard of the redmen might witness +our movement if we went by the usual way, and because so large a party +might leave a trail visible to the keenly observant enemy even by +starlight, and there would be moonlight before we could cross the +valley.</p> + +<p>It was my intention to make an ambush in La Puerta. In the narrowest +part of that cañon, where it was barely fifty yards wide, the walls +rose perpendicularly on each side. A hundred yards east and west of +this narrowest portion of the pass were good places of concealment. I +placed Sergeant Cunningham and thirteen men at the western end, and +took as many and the boys with me to the eastern.</p> + +<p>The sergeant was instructed to keep his men perfectly quiet until the +head of the herd had passed their place of concealment, and then, +under cover of the noise made by the moving animals, to slip down into +the cañon, and when the rear of the herd came up make a dash across +the front of the Indians and begin firing, taking care not to hit us.</p> + +<p>For myself, I intended to drop into the pass with my detachment when +the Navajo rear had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> passed, deploy, and bag the whole party and the +booty.</p> + +<p>It was a long and tiresome wait before the raiders appeared. The men +had been told that they might sleep, and many of them had availed +themselves of the permission.</p> + +<p>The moon rose soon after ten o'clock, and made our surroundings +plainly visible in the rarefied atmosphere peculiar to the arid region +of the plains and Rockies. I sat on a bowlder and watched through the +tedious hours until three o'clock, when Corporal Frank approached from +the direction of the place where his brother was sleeping.</p> + +<p>"What sound is that, Mr. Duncan?" he whispered.</p> + +<p>I listened intently, and presently heard the distant bleating of +sheep, and soon after the deeper low of an ox.</p> + +<p>"The Indians must be approaching," I replied. "You may stir up the +men. Be careful that no noise is made."</p> + +<p>I continued to listen, and after a long time noticed a sound like the +rushing of wind in a pine <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>forest. It was the myriad feet of the +coming flocks and herds, hurrying along the grassy valley. The men +began to assemble about me, all preserving perfect silence, listening +for the approaching Indians.</p> + +<p>Another half-hour passed, and over a roll in the surface of the +valley, revealed against the sky, looking many times their actual size +in the uncertain perspective, appeared two tall figures, whose nearer +approach showed to be mounted Indians piloting the captured stock, +which followed close behind.</p> + +<p>"Corporal Henry," I said, "drop carefully down into the trail and +skirt closely along the wall until you come to Sergeant Cunningham's +position, and tell him the Indians are close by. Tell him also to +allow the two Indians in advance to pass unmolested."</p> + +<p>I sent this order by the younger boy because I suspected he was +feeling that Corporal Frank's expedition to Jemez, with the adventures +of the return trip, had given him a certain prominence to be envied. I +meant Henry should divide honors with his brother hereafter.</p> + +<p>The little corporal silently disappeared beneath the wall, and a few +minutes afterwards the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> two Indians entered the defile, and the goats +and sheep, which had been spread widely over the open valley, +scampered, crowded, and overleaped one another as they closed into the +narrow way. There seemed to be fully two thousand of them, +intermingled with a motley herd of horses, mules, asses, and kine of +all sizes and descriptions, numbering three hundred or more, all +driven by a party of seventy-three Indians.</p> + +<p>The cattle-thieves were evidently congratulating themselves upon +having run the gantlet of the military camp and being out of danger, +for they had abandoned the traditional reserve of the Indian race, and +were talking loudly and hilariously as they passed my wing of the +ambuscade. The Indians fell completely into the trap, and they and the +cattle with them were captured without any difficulty.</p> + +<p>During the winter our supply of grain ran short, and I sent a party, +with the Cordovas as guides, to Jemez. They were unable to get through +the snow, and the elder Cordova was so badly frost-bitten that in +spite of all we could do he died in the camp.</p> + +<p>Then I went with a larger party, and was suc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>cessful. On June 1st +orders came to break up the camp, and on the 9th the accumulated +stores of nineteen months' occupation were packed, and with a train of +ten wagons we set out for Santa Fé.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI</h2> + +<h3>CROSSING THE RIVER</h3> +<p>Two days after my arrival at the Territorial capital I was ordered to +proceed alone to Los Pinos, a town two hundred miles south, in the +valley of the Rio Grande, and report to Captain Bayard, commanding +officer of a column preparing for a march to Arizona.</p> + +<p>On reaching Algodones, on the eastern bank of the great river, I was +visited by a Catholic priest. He told me that Manuel Perea, the +Mexican lad with whom the boy corporals were so friendly at Santa Fé, +was a prisoner in the hands of Elarnagan, a chief of the Navajos. He +begged me to assist in his release, and I promised to do all I could, +consistently with my military duty. Two days after arriving at Los +Pinos, where I found a troop of California volunteer cavalry and also +another troop of New Mexican volunteers, the boy corporals +unexpectedly arrived. Colonel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> Burton had changed his plans and had +allowed them to accompany me. They at once asked to be assigned to +duty, and I promised to consult with Captain Bayard.</p> + +<p>My interview with him concluded, I returned to my tent and found the +boys busy in fitting up two cot bedsteads, spreading mats before them, +hanging a small mirror to the rear tent-pole, and arranging their +marching outfit as they proposed to set it up at every encampment +between the Rio Grande and Prescott.</p> + +<p>"Did you have this tent pitched for our use, sir?" asked Henry.</p> + +<p>"I did not know you were coming, corporal, so that is impossible. Your +tent was placed here some days ago by the post commander, for the +accommodation of visiting officers who have since gone. Captain Bayard +has assigned it to you."</p> + +<p>"Then we are to have the tent to ourselves?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Isn't that just jolly, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Fine. To-morrow we'll place a short rail across the back for our +saddles and saddle-blankets, two pegs in the tent-pole for bridles, +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> raise a box somewhere for curry-combs and brushes."</p> + +<p>"Can't we have Vic here, too, sir?" asked Henry.</p> + +<p>"And leave me all alone?" I replied.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't mind it, would you, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll leave it to Vic. You may make a bed for her, and we'll see +which she will occupy—yours, or her old bed near mine."</p> + +<p>"All right, sir; we'll try it to-night."</p> + +<p>"Now something about yourselves, boys. Your tent is to be always +pitched on the left of mine; you are to take your meals with the +officers, and your ponies will be taken care of by one of the men +who—"</p> + +<p>"That will not do, sir," interrupted Frank. "Father has always +required us to take care of our arms, clothing, and horses like other +soldiers, just as we always did in the valleys, you know. He says an +officer who rides on a march, particularly an infantry officer, should +not require a soldier who has marched on foot to wait upon him."</p> + +<p>"Very well; do as you choose."</p> + +<p>I returned to my own tent and went to bed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> Placing two candles on a +support near my pillow, I tucked the lower edge of the mosquito-bar +under the edge of my mattress, and, settling back comfortably, +proceeded to read the last instalment of news from "the States"—news +which had been fifteen days on the way from the Missouri. As I read of +battle, siege, and march I was conscious that the boys were having +some difficulty in inducing Vic to remain with them. When at last all +was quiet, except their regular and restful breathing, a soft nose was +thrust up to my pillow, and I opened an aperture in the netting large +enough to exchange affectionate greetings, and Vic cuddled down on her +bed beside mine and went to sleep. This was always her custom +thereafter. While she was very fond of the boys, and spent most of her +waking hours with them, no persuasion or blandishments could prevent +her, when she knew the boys had dropped into unconsciousness, from +returning to my tent, offering me a good-night assurance of her +unchanged affection, and going to sleep upon her old bed.</p> + +<p>The time had now come for us to begin our march to Arizona. Company F +had arrived, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> the boy corporals were again in possession of their +beautiful horses. Grain, hay, and careful attendance had put new +graces into the ponies' shapes, and kind treatment had developed in +each a warm attachment for its young master.</p> + +<p>The first day of our march was spent in crossing the Rio Grande del +Norte and making camp four miles beyond the opposite landing. There +was a ferry-boat at Los Pinos, operated by the soldiers of the post, +capable of taking over four wagons at a time.</p> + +<p>We rose at an earlier hour than usual, and by daybreak our train of +eighty-nine wagons, drawn by five hundred and thirty-four mules, was +on its way to the river. The two boy corporals joined me as I followed +the last wagon. Mounted on their handsome animals, with carbines on +their right hips, revolvers in their belts, portmanteaus behind their +saddles, and saddle-pouches on each side, they were, indeed, very +warlike in appearance.</p> + +<p>The two detachments of cavalry and their officers, accompanied by a +paymaster and a surgeon, proceeded at once to the river, crossed and +went into camp, leaving the infantry and its of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>ficers to perform the +labor of transferring, from one shore to the other, wagons and mules, +a herd of three hundred beef cattle, and a flock of eight hundred +sheep. The boy corporals also remained behind to act as messengers, +should any be required.</p> +<p class="center"><img class="img1" src="images/image_03.jpg" alt=""MOUNTED, THE BOYS PRESENTED A WARLIKE APPEARANCE"" width="600" height="395" /></p> +<p class="caption"> "MOUNTED, THE BOYS PRESENTED A WARLIKE APPEARANCE"</p> + +<p>Mules and oxen swam the stream, but the sheep were boated across. On +the last trip over our attention was attracted by a sudden shouting +up-stream, followed by a rapid discharge of fire-arms. In the river, +less than a quarter of a mile distant, were several objects making +their way towards the western shore. When near the bank, and in +shoaling water, we saw the objects rise, until three Indians and three +ponies stood revealed. As soon as they reached the shore the men +sprang into their saddles and rode rapidly away.</p> + +<p>A shout from our rear caused us to look towards the shore we had just +left, and we saw the post-adjutant sitting on his horse on the +embankment. He said: "Three Navajos have escaped from the guard. Send +word to Captain Bayard to try to recapture them. If they get away they +will rouse their people against you, and your march through their +country will be difficult."</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p><p>I wrote a brief message, handed it to Corporal Frank, and when the +boat touched the western landing he dashed off at full speed in the +direction of camp.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was well advanced when Henry and I, with the infantry, +entered the first camp of our march. We found Frank awaiting our +arrival, and learned from him that Captain Bayard had sent two +detachments of cavalry in pursuit of the Indians, and that they had +returned after a fruitless attempt to follow the trail.</p> + +<p>On our first evening in camp many of the officers and civilians +gathered in groups about the fires for protection against the +mosquitoes, to smoke, to discuss the route, and to relate incidents of +other marches. Captain Bayard took from his baggage a violin, and, +retiring a little apart, sawed desperately at a difficult and +apparently unconquerable exercise. There I found him at the end of a +tour of inspection of train and animals, and obtained his sanction to +a plan for the employment of the boy corporals.</p> + +<p>I proceeded to tell the boys what their duties<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> would be. Corporal +Frank was to see to the providing of wood, water, and grass while we +were on the march. He was further instructed that he was to conform +his movements to mine, and act as my messenger between the train, the +main body, and the rear guard. These were to be his regular duties, +but he was to hold himself in readiness for other service, and be on +the alert for any emergency.</p> + +<p>The odometer with which to measure the distance to Prescott was placed +in charge of Corporal Henry, and he was told to strap this to the +spokes near the hub of the right hind wheel of the last wagon in the +train, taking care that the wagon should start from the same point +where it had turned from the main road into camp the previous day. He +was to report the distance we had marched to the commanding officer at +guard-mounting, which, on the march, always takes place in the evening +instead of morning, as at posts and permanent camps. After reaching +Fort Wingate, and taking up the march beyond, he would ride with the +advance, and act as messenger of communication with the rear; but +until then he would ride with his brother and me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next morning found all ready for a start at three o'clock. The boy +corporals found it a hardship to be wakened out of a sound sleep to +wash and dress by starlight and sit down to a breakfast-table lighted +by dim lanterns. There was little conversation. All stood about the +camp-fires in light overcoats or capes, for Western nights are always +cool.</p> + +<p>When the boys and I started to ride out of camp we were, for a few +moments, on the flank of the infantry company. It was noticeable that +although the men were marching at "route step," when they are not +required to preserve silence, few of them spoke, and very rarely, and +they moved quite slowly. Corporal Henry, at the end of a prolonged +yawn, asked, "Are we going to start at this hour every morning, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, usually," I replied.</p> + +<p>"How far do we go to-day, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Eighteen miles is the scheduled distance," answered Frank.</p> + +<p>"How fast do men march?"</p> + +<p>"Three miles an hour," said I.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p><p>"Then we shall be in camp by ten o'clock. I don't see the sense of +yanking a fellow out of bed in the night."</p> + +<p>"Of course, Henry, there's a good reason for everything done in the +army," observed Frank, with soldierly loyalty.</p> + +<p>"Where's the sense of marching in the dark when the whole distance can +be done in six hours, and the sun rises at five and sets at seven? I +prefer daylight."</p> + +<p>Evidently our youngest corporal had not had his sleep out, and was out +of humor.</p> + +<p>"Will you please explain, sir?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"With pleasure," I answered. "It is more comfortable to march in the +early morning, when it is cool. Marches rarely exceed fifteen or +twenty miles a day, except where the distance between watering-places +is more than that. Sometimes we are obliged to march forty miles a +day."</p> + +<p>"Seems to me the officers are very tender of the men," observed the +sleepy Henry. "Fifteen and twenty miles a day, and five or six hours +on the road, can't tire them much."</p> + +<p>"Why not try a march on foot, Henry?" suggested his brother. "It might +prove a useful experience."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let me suggest something better," said I. "Tie your pony to the back +of that wagon, and crawl in on top of the bedding and have your nap +out."</p> + +<p>Henry disdained to reply, but with a long and shivering yawn relapsed +into silence.</p> + +<p>In a little more than six hours we reached the Rio Puerco, and forded +its roily, brackish current to a camping-place on the other side. +Harry, who with daylight and warmth had recovered his good-humor, +examined the odometer and reported the distance travelled to be 18.65 +miles. He entered in his note-book that the Spanish name Puerco meant, +as a noun, hog, and as an adjective, dirty. He thought the river well +named. He also mentioned that on the eastern side of the stream there +was an excellent camping-place, but that much pains had been taken to +ford it to a very poor one. After pondering this apparently +unreasonable movement he asked: "Why did we not camp on that grassy +park on the opposite side?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose it appears to you there can be no good reason for crossing +to this side?" I asked, in reply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It does seem even more absurd than starting on a march just after +midnight—something like going into a wood-shed to rest on a wood-pile +when one could as well go into a parlor and rest on a divan."</p> + +<p>"And certainly," added Frank, "we have gained nothing in distance in +crossing. The march is to be short to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Still, boys, there is quite as good a reason for doing this as for +starting early to avoid the heat of the day. These Far Western streams +have a trick of rising suddenly; very rarely, to be sure, but +frequently enough to cause commanding officers to be on their guard. A +rainfall fifty or seventy-five miles up-stream might send down a +volume of water that would make it impassable for several hours or +several days, according as the fall is large or small; so the rule in +the army is, 'cross a stream before camping.'"</p> + +<p>"Have you ever been caught by a rise, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Twice. Once on this very stream, near its mouth. I was in command of +a small escort to a train. The wagon-master advised me to cross, but I +was tempted by a fine meadow on the lower side, in contrast to a rough +place on the opposite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> side, to take my chances. I was compelled to +remain there five days. The other delay was on the Gallina; but that +was rising when we approached and we had no choice about crossing. We +were delayed that time but two days."</p> + +<p>"I heard the paymaster and surgeon grumbling about the folly of +crossing just now," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"Very likely; this is their first march in the Far West."</p> + +<p>"The captain and lieutenants heard them, but did not explain, as you +have. Why was that?"</p> + +<p>"There are two reasons. One is that in the army, as well as out of it, +'tenderfeet' are left to learn by experience; the other is that our +surgeon resents being cautioned or advised. Now, boys, after dinner +you had better take a <i>siesta</i>. By doing so you will find it less +difficult to make an early start to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," replied Frank. "Tom Clary and George Hoey have told us +that a nap is the correct thing after dinner on the march. Henry and I +are going to try it."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, sir," added Henry, "that I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> so ill-humored this +morning. I will try to do as the soldiers do when they first start +out—say nothing till day breaks."</p> + +<p>"The early start was a surprise to you; you will be prepared for it +hereafter."</p> + +<p>A reverberating peal of thunder interrupted our conversation and +caused us to glance towards the west. There we saw a mass of dark +clouds rolling down upon us. Bolt after bolt of lightning zigzagged +across the sky and from sky to earth, and peal after peal of thunder +crashed upon our ears.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII</h2> + +<h3>A SWOLLEN STREAM AND STOLEN PONY</h3> +<p>It was our custom at all camps to park the supply-train in the form of +an oval, with the tongues of the wagons outward and the wheels locked. +An entrance, the width of a wagon, was left at one end.</p> + +<p>When, therefore, it became certain that a tempest was about to break +upon us, using the boy corporals as messengers, the chief wagon-master +received orders from me to drive up the mules and corral them within +the circle of wagons, and the commissary stock was hurried under the +shelter of a rocky mesa west of the camp. All this was to prevent a +stampede should the coming tempest be accompanied by wind and hail.</p> + +<p>Tent-pins were driven in deeper, guys tightened, cavalry horses driven +up, hobbled, and secured to picket ropes, loose articles thrown into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +wagons, and every precaution taken to be in readiness for the storm.</p> + +<p>We had not long to wait before the rain came down in torrents. In an +incredibly short time the water was flowing swiftly down the slope to +the river. It gathered against our tent, and finding the frail +structure must go, we seized everything portable, dashed into the +furious downpour, and climbed to the tops of surrounding bowlders.</p> + +<p>Through the sheets of rain we could dimly see the cavalry horses +standing knee-deep in water, men looking out of the covered wagons, +into which they had crawled for shelter, or standing, like ourselves, +on the bowlders, their bodies covered with ponchos and gum blankets. +Wall-tents, the sides of which had been looped up when pitched, stood +with the flood flowing through them; cranes, upon which hung lines of +kettles in preparation for dinner, standing alone, their fires and +firewood swept away. The whole country as far as we could see was one +broad sheet of rushing water, and the river, which was little more +than a rill when we crossed it a few hours before, now rolled and +boomed, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> torrent several fathoms deep and dirtier than ever.</p> + +<p>The storm continued little over half an hour, and with the return of +sunlight the surface water rapidly disappeared. Demoralized tents were +then set up, baggage and bedding examined, and the wet articles +exposed to the sun; and before night, except for the booming of the +river, little remained to remind us that we had been through a storm.</p> + +<p>Just before retreat, Frank, Henry, and I stood on the bank of the +river watching the trunks and branches of trees rush past, and the +occasional plunge of a mass of earth undermined by the current.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Frank, after silently contemplating the scene a few +moments, "what you told us about crossing a stream before camping upon +it has proved true, sir, and very quickly, too."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I think even the paymaster and surgeon must be congratulating +themselves they are on this side of that flood," I replied.</p> + +<p>Next morning we resumed our march at the usual hour, and passed over +23.28 miles to a deserted Mexican town and Indian pueblo.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the following day we crossed a chain of hills into the valley of +the Rio Gallo. As we debouched from a deep ravine we caught sight of +the pueblo of Laguna, illuminated by the sun, just rising, behind us. +The town stands upon a rocky eminence overlooking the river, which +waters, by irrigation, its large and well-cultivated valley.</p> + +<p>When within four miles of it I proposed to the boys that we should +hasten forward in advance of the wagons and visit the town. We +galloped on, and were hospitably received by the Indian governor, who +did the honors of the community in person. He showed us the interior +of the terraced buildings, and conducted us through the subterranean +<i>estufa</i> where, for centuries before the invention of the +friction-match, the Indians kept their sacred fire—fire made sacred +through the difficulty of obtaining it or rekindling it when once +extinguished—and so watched day and night by sleepless sentinels.</p> + +<p>When we entered the town we left our horses hitched to the willows on +the bank of the irrigating ditch, near the wall of the first house, +and I ordered the dog Vic to remain with them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> Three-quarters of an +hour afterwards Vic looked into the <i>estufa</i> from above, gave three +sharp barks, and dashed away.</p> + +<p>We were so deeply interested in the examination of a lot of scalps, +quaint pottery, weapons of warfare, etc., that we paid no attention to +her. Presently she appeared a second time, repeated her barking, and +ran off again. A few moments later the dog again showed herself at the +sky-light, and thrusting her head downward continued to bark until I +approached the foot of the ladder. As I did so she uttered a sound of +anxiety, or distress, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Something must be the matter with our animals, boys," I remarked. +"Frank, go and see what has happened, while Henry and I take leave of +our host."</p> + +<p>Corporal Frank climbed the ladder two rungs at a step, while Henry and +I remained to thank the governor for his kindness and bestow some +trifling gifts upon the rabble of children that had followed us +closely throughout our visit. We then ascended the ladder and started +for the place where we had left our animals.</p> + +<p>Hurrying down the narrow alley we met Frank,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> who was nearly +breathless with exertion and excitement. While yet at a considerable +distance from us he shouted:</p> + +<p>"Chiquita's gone! Can't see her anywhere!"</p> + +<p>Hastening to the willows I found that Henry's pony was indeed missing. +I thought she had simply broken loose, and would be found somewhere in +the neighborhood, so mounted and made a hasty search. I saw our train +several miles away, toiling up a long ascent, but there was no sign of +a riderless pony on the road. On my return to the willows Henry said:</p> + +<p>"Chiquita did not break away, sir; her halter-strap was too strong, +and I tied it with a cavalry hitch. She must have been unfastened by +some one. Perhaps these Pueblos have stolen her."</p> + +<p>"She may have been stolen, as you suggest," I replied, "but not by the +Pueblos. We were their guests, and our property was sacred."</p> + +<p>The Indians, seeing our trouble, gathered about us, and among them I +saw the governor. Making my way to him, I explained what had happened. +He turned to his people and addressed them in his own tongue. A young +girl<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> approached and said something, at the same time pointing to the +southwest.</p> + +<p>Looking in the direction indicated, over a long stretch of broken +country, bordered on the west by an irregular range of sandstone +mesas, I thought I saw a moving object near the foot of a rugged +bluff, several miles distant; but before I could adjust my field-glass +the object had turned the bluff and disappeared. One thing, however, I +did see—it was Vic, sitting on a knoll less than a mile from the +pueblo.</p> + +<p>"I wonder we have not thought of Vic's absence all this time," I said; +"there she is, on the trail of the thief, wondering why we do not +pursue."</p> + +<p>"The good doggie," said Henry. "She did her best to tell us Chiquita +was stolen, and she means to do her best to retake her."</p> + +<p>Turning to the governor, I asked, "Are there any Navajos about here?"</p> + +<p>"There is a large band in the <i>cienaga</i>, three leagues from here. The +lost pony will be found there."</p> + +<p>I directed Henry to run after the train and report what had happened. +"Wave your hand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>kerchief," said I, "and some one will come to meet +you. If it should be a mounted man, take his animal, overtake Captain +Bayard, tell him all you know, and say that Frank and I have gone in +pursuit, and that I request him to send a detachment of cavalry to +look us up."</p> + +<p>Henry started off with a celerity begotten of his anxiety at the loss +of his pony and the fear that his brother might fall into danger +unless a body of troopers followed him closely.</p> + +<p>Frank and I then galloped towards Vic. As soon as the dog saw us +approaching she sprang into the air, shook herself in an ecstasy of +delight, then put her nose to the earth, and went steadily on in +advance, threading her way through clumps of sage-brush and greasewood +and along the ravines.</p> + +<p>The tracks of a shod pony satisfied us that we were on the trail of +Chiquita and her Navajo rider. The boy had kept well down in the +ravines and depressions, in order to screen himself from observation +and possible pursuers. We, however, were not obliged to follow his +tracks; Vic did that, and we took the general direction from her, +cutting across turnings and windings,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> and making much better progress +than the thief could have done.</p> + +<p>An hour's ride brought us to the bluff behind which I had seen an +object disappear. Vic turned it and began to ascend the almost dry bed +of the stream, in the bottom of which I could see occasional +depressions at regular distances, as if made by a horse at a trot. +Soon the brook enlarged, becoming a flowing stream, and the tracks +were no longer visible.</p> + +<p>That the brook flowed from the <i>cienaga</i>, or marsh, where the Navajos +were rendezvoused, was an easy inference. The Indian boy was +endeavoring to reach that place with the stolen pony. Directing Frank +to keep up the left side of the stream, and to look for tracks +indicating that Chiquita had left its bed, I took the right side and +hastened on.</p> + +<p>Willows now began to appear along the banks, showing that we had +reached a permanent flow of water. Twice we came to masses of bowlders +which made it impossible for a horse to travel in the stream, and we +found that the pony had skirted them.</p> + +<p>We had now reached a point where a small<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> brook entered the larger one +from the right. We dismounted at the confluence to make an +observation. Vic suddenly began to bark furiously; then a yelp and a +continued cry of pain showed that the dog was hurt, and presently she +appeared with an arrow through the thick of her neck.</p> + +<p>Advancing cautiously I caught sight of Chiquita in a cleft of the rock +at my left, and an Indian boy standing behind her and aiming an arrow +over the saddle. A sharp twang, and the missile flew through my hair +between my right ear and my hat-rim. The boy then sprang forward, and +raised a knife as if to hamstring the pony. But it was not to be, for +a carbine spoke, and the raised arm of the Indian fell at his side.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Frank!" I called.</p> + +<p>We ran forward to capture the young Navajo, but he quickly disappeared +behind a large rock and was seen no more. Returning to the main brook +with Chiquita, we tied the horses to the willows and began a search +for Vic. I called her by all the pet names to which she was +accustomed, but received no response. I searched over as great a +distance as I dared, with a con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>sciousness that a band of Navajos was +not far distant.</p> + +<p>Reluctantly abandoning our search, we were preparing to return to the +train and escort when we descried a large war-party of Indians riding +towards us from the direction of the <i>cienaga</i>. It was at once evident +they saw us, for, raising a terrific war-whoop, their irregular mass +broke for us in a furious charge.</p> + +<p>Death certainly awaited us if captured, and this thought prompted us +to leave our exposed position instantly. Leading Chiquita, and telling +Frank to follow, I dashed down the stream in the direction of the Fort +Wingate road.</p> + +<p>As we flew along, feeling positive that the Indians would overtake us, +I eagerly surveyed the rocky wall on our left, hoping to find a break +in which we could shelter ourselves and hold the enemy in check until +our friends arrived. But no opening appeared, and it seemed impossible +for us to reach Laguna alive.</p> + +<p>On we went into the dense bushes, a hail of bullets and a rush of +arrows about our ears. But at this moment the clear notes of a cavalry +trumpet sounded "deploy," and the California cav<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>alry crashed through +the willows and we were saved. They broke into a skirmish-line behind +us, but only a few shots were fired and the Navajos were gone.</p> + +<p>Being an escort, we could not delay for further operations against the +enemy. Our duty was to return at once to the train. Frank and I were +both uninjured, but a bullet had raised the chevron on the boy's +sleeve, and another had shattered the ivory hilt of his revolver.</p> + +<p>The volunteers dismounted for a rest, and I took the opportunity to +make a further search for Vic, my faithful companion and friend. +Leaving my horse with Frank, I started towards the place where I had +last seen her.</p> + +<p>As I descended a shallow ravine to the willow-clad brook I came upon +an unexpected sight, and paused to witness it. On his knees, close to +the water, his back towards me, was Corporal Henry. Extended at his +left side was Vic, held closely under his left arm, her plumy tail +hanging dejectedly in my direction. An occasional dispirited wag +showed that she appreciated the kindness being shown her. The boy was +evidently busy at something that elicited from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> animal, every now +and then, faint cries of pain. I heard something snap, and saw him lay +two parts of an arrow on the ground to his right; then he drew a +handkerchief from his pocket, dipped it in the brook, and apparently +washed a wound.</p> + +<p>All the time the boy could be heard addressing his patient in soothing +tones, occasionally leaning his face against her head caressingly. +"Poor little Vicky! Nice, brave doggie! There, there; I will not hurt +you more than I can help. They can't shoot you again, girlie, for lots +of your friends are here now. You shall ride back to the train on +Chiquita with me. We'll own Chiquita together after this."</p> + +<p>I felt a little delicacy about breaking in upon this scene and letting +the boy know I had overheard all his fond talk to Vic, so withdrew +into a clump of bushes and began calling the dog.</p> + +<p>Henry promptly answered: "Here she is, sir. This way. She wants to +come, but I think she had better not."</p> + +<p>"Is she much hurt?" I asked, approaching them.</p> + +<p>"Not dangerously, sir. This arrow passed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> through the top of her neck. +I notched it and broke it, so as not to be obliged to draw the barb or +plume through the wound. She is weak from her long run and loss of +blood. The wound might be bound up if her collar was off."</p> + +<p>"I will remove it and not put it on again until the sore heals," I +answered, and, taking a key from my pocket, I took off the collar and +assisted in dressing the wound.</p> + +<p>After petting Vic for a while, and using quite as much "baby talk" in +doing so as Henry had in dressing the wound, I asked the boy how he +came to return with the cavalry.</p> + +<p>"I ran ahead, as you told me to, sir, and the wagon-master came to +meet me. He lent me his mule, and I rode on to Captain Bayard and made +my report. The captain sent Lieutenant Baldwin and his men, and lent +me a spare horse to come along as guide."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen Chiquita?"</p> + +<p>"At a distance. Is she all right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but very tired. Let us join the troop, for it is time we were on +our way to the train."</p> + +<p>Our return ride was at a walk. Henry turned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> his cavalry horse over to +a trooper to be led, and mounted Chiquita with Vic in his arms. +Arrived in camp he took the dog to the surgeon for treatment, and in a +few days she was as lively as ever.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII</h2> + +<h3>OVER THE DIVIDE—A CORPORAL MISSING</h3> +<p>Fort Wingate was reached in two more marches—six in all from the Rio +Grande—and we went into camp for two days for rest and some needed +repairs to wagons before undertaking the second and longer section of +our military journey—a section upon which at that time no white man +had set up a home.</p> + +<p>Recalling my promise to the priest who had interviewed me in behalf of +Señora Perea, I made inquiries of the Port Wingate officers concerning +her son. None of them had heard more than she already knew, but a +scout claimed he had recently seen a Mexican boy herding ponies for +the Navajo chief Elarnagan, thirty miles north of Zuñi.</p> + +<p>The evening before resuming our march Captain Bayard informed me that +there was an emigrant family camped half a mile to the west of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> Fort +Wingate, which had been awaiting our arrival in order to travel to +Arizona under our protection. He told me to assign the family a place +in the train.</p> + +<p>I went to their camp, and found it located in a grove of cottonwoods a +short distance out, on the Arizona trail. Mr. Arnold, the head of the +family, never ceased his occupation while I was talking to him. He was +constructing a camp-table and benches of some packing-boxes he had +procured from the post trader. He was a tall, well-proportioned man, +of dark complexion and regular features, with black, unkempt hair and +restless brown eyes. He was clothed in a faded and stained butternut +suit of flannel, consisting of a loose frock and baggy trousers, the +legs of the trousers being tucked into the tops of road-worn boots. +His hat was a battered and frayed broad-brimmed felt. Mrs. Arnold sat +on a stool superintending the work, bowed forward, her elbows on her +knees, holding a long-stemmed cob-pipe to her lips with her left hand, +removing it at the end of each inspiration to emit the smoke, which +curled slowly above her thin upper lip and thin, aquiline nose. She +was a tall, angular, high<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>-shouldered, and flat-chested woman, dark +from exposure to wind, sun, and rain, her hair brown in the neck, but +many shades lighter on the crown of her head. Her eyes were of an +expressionless gray. A brown calico of scant pattern clung in lank +folds to her thin and bony figure.</p> + +<p>The three daughters were younger and less faded types of their mother. +Each was clad in a narrow-skirted calico dress, and each was +stockingless and shoeless. Mother and daughters were dull, slow of +speech, and ignorant.</p> + +<p>After staying long enough to give the necessary instructions and +exchange civilities with each member of the family in sight, I was +riding slowly back to the roadway, intending to take a brisk canter to +the fort, when Corporal Henry's voice called from a clump of cedars at +the back of the Arnold family's wagons.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Duncan, may I speak to you a moment?"</p> + +<p>Turning my horse in the direction of the voice, I saw my young friend +approaching, switching a handsome riding-whip in his hand.</p> + +<p>"You haven't seen all the family, sir," he said.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have seen Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and those the mother said were all +their children—the three barefooted girls."</p> + +<p>"But there is one more girl, sir, a very pretty one, too—a niece. +She's back of the wagons making friends with Vic and Chiquita. You +must not go without seeing her."</p> + +<p>I went back with Henry and saw a girl of about fourteen standing by +Chiquita, holding her by the bridle-rein and smoothing her neck, while +Vic nestled at her feet. She seemed very attractive at my first casual +glance, impressing me favorably. A blonde, possessed of abundant +flaxen tresses held in a band of blue ribbon, having a complexion +which her recent journey had tanned and sprinkled with abundant +freckles, but giving promise of rare beauty with added years and less +exposure to sun and wind. Her clothing was fashionably made and well +fitted, and her delicate feet were encased in neat boots and +stockings.</p> + +<p>"Miss Arnold," said Henry, "permit me to introduce our quartermaster, +Lieutenant Duncan—and Mr. Duncan," continued the boy, "it gives me +pleasure to present to you Miss Brenda Arnold."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<p>The quality, modulation, and refinement of the voice in which the girl +assured me of her pleasure in meeting me, confirmed my first +impression.</p> + +<p>"But how did you make the acquaintance of Corporal Henry Burton, Miss +Arnold?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I was riding back from the fort, sir, where I had been to mail some +letters, and my pony, Gypsy, lost a shoe and came near falling. The +stumble caused me to drop a package, and Mr. Burton chanced to come up +and restore it to me, and he also picked up Gypsy's shoe. He +accompanied me to camp, and since we arrived has been giving me the +history of Vic, Sancho, and Chiquita."</p> + +<p>"And that, of course, included something of the history of their +devoted attendants?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have learned something of the gallant deeds of Corporals Frank +and Henry Burton and Lieutenant Duncan at Los Valles Grandes and on +the march here. When I meet Corporal Frank I shall know you all."</p> + +<p>"He will present himself to-morrow, no doubt," I observed. "But about +that pony's shoe; do you want it reset?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, but who can do it?"</p> + +<p>"At our next camp, to-morrow, our soldier-blacksmith shall set it."</p> + +<p>"But I do not belong to government, sir."</p> + +<p>"But part of this government belongs to you," replied Henry. "I'll +lead Gypsy to the forge for you, and Private Sattler shall shoe her as +he does Chiquita, and polish the shoes, too."</p> + +<p>The Arnold family history, gathered incidentally on the march, and at +a period later in my story, was briefly this: Brenda was the only +daughter of Mr. Arnold's only brother, and had been reared in a large +inland city of New York. Her father and mother had recently perished +in a yachting accident, and the young girl had been sent to her +paternal uncle in Colorado. There were relatives on the mother's side, +but they were scattered, two brothers being in Europe at the time of +the accident. Brenda had reached her Western uncle just as he was +starting on one of his periodical moves—this time to Arizona.</p> + +<p>The different social status of the families of the two brothers was +unusual, but not impossible in our country. One of the brothers was +ambitious, of steady habits, and possessed of a re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>ceptive mind; the +other was idle, impatient of restraint, with a disinclination to +protracted effort of any kind.</p> + +<p>The distance to the first camp beyond Fort Wingate where we were sure +to find water was twenty-two miles; and it being impossible for us to +leave the post before three o'clock in the afternoon, we determined to +make a dry camp five and a half miles out.</p> + +<p>When Frank and Henry learned that the start was not to be an early one +they rode out to the Arnold camp with the information, and the former +was duly presented to Miss Brenda. Gypsy was brought into the fort and +shod, and returned to her mistress in season for the march.</p> + +<p>The evening was well advanced when we pitched our tents at the dry +camp. Horses and mules were turned out to graze for the first time +without water, and although in this mountain region the grass was +abundant, they did not cease to whinny and bray their discontent +throughout the night.</p> + +<p>The sun dropped behind the mountain spurs, and we drew nearer and +nearer the fires, adding a thicker garment as the twilight deepened +into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> night. Frank expressed the trend of thought by asking, "We now +march into the heart of the Navajo country, do we not, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Not precisely through the heart, but along its southern border."</p> + +<p>"They'll try to make it lively for us, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"They will certainly watch us closely, and will take advantage of any +carelessness on our part."</p> + +<p>"Do you think there is any chance of our finding Manuel Perea?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly; he is too far off our route. We cannot leave the train to +look him up."</p> + +<p>There was a suspicious choke in the voice of the little corporal when +he said: "It is awful to think we are going so near the dear old boy +and can do nothing for him. Only think of his poor mother!"</p> + +<p>"I was told at the fort that she has offered five thousand dollars to +the man who will bring Manuel to her," said Frank. "I wish I could +bring him in for nothing."</p> + +<p>"Brenda says she believes we shall find him somehow," Henry said. "I +hope she is right,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> for I saw his mother at Algodones and promised her +to rescue him or become a prisoner with him."</p> + +<p>"So she wrote me at Los Pinos," I replied. "Well, something may turn +up to enable us to serve his mother. Let us go to bed."</p> + +<p>Next morning we were again on the road by starlight. A march of +sixteen miles brought us to Agua Fria—cold water. Less than a hundred +yards west of the spring was a ridge which did not rise fifty feet +above it, and that was the "backbone" of the continent. The water of +Agua Fria flowed into the Atlantic; the springs on the other side of +the ridge flowed into the Pacific.</p> + +<p>The wagons of the Arnold family travelled between the rear-guard and +the government wagons. They consisted of two large "prairie +schooners," drawn by three pairs of oxen each, a lighter wagon, drawn +by four horses, beside which four cows, two ponies, and four dogs were +usually grouped. The father and eldest daughter drove the ox-teams, +the mother the horse-team, and two daughters rode the ponies. Brenda's +pony, Gypsy, was her own property,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> purchased soon after she joined +her uncle in Colorado. As my station and Frank's were with the +rear-guard, or along the flanks of the train, Miss Brenda commonly +rode with us after daylight. Henry, after leaving Fort Wingate, rode +with the advance.</p> + +<p>After supper at Agua Fria, Corporal Frank ordered all water-kegs to be +filled, for the water at El Morro, or Inscription Rock, our next +camping-place, was poor. The distance was seventeen and a half miles. +The next march was to the junction of the Rio Pescado and Otter Creek, +twenty-two miles, and the following to Arch Spring, nineteen miles. +This way took us through the ancient town of Zuñi, an Indian community +described by the Spanish priest, Father Marco de Niga, in 1559.</p> + +<p>After leaving Zuñi, a march of thirty-two miles brought us late in the +evening to a spring variously called by Mexicans, Indians, and +Americans, Ojo Rodondo, Wah-nuk-ai-tin-ai-z, and Jacob's Well. It is a +funnel-shaped hole in a level plain, six hundred feet in diameter at +the top, and one hundred and sixty feet deep.</p> + +<p>At the bottom of the hole is a pool of brackish,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> green water, reached +by a spiral track around the wall. Our cooks first procured a supply +of water, and then the animals were driven down in detachments. They +waded, swam, and rolled in the water until it was defiled for human +use.</p> +<p class="center"><img class="img1" src="images/image_04.jpg" alt=""CORPORAL HENRY ASKED CAPTAIN BAYARD TO INQUIRE FOR MANUEL PEREA"" width="600" height="420" /></p><p class="caption">"CORPORAL HENRY ASKED CAPTAIN BAYARD TO INQUIRE FOR MANUEL PEREA"</p> +<p>An hour after our arrival four Navajos appeared and were admitted to +an interview with Captain Bayard, of whom they asked information +concerning the terms offered their bands as an inducement to surrender +and go upon the reservation. In reply to our questions they told us we +would find plenty of water at Navajo Springs, seven miles from Jacob's +Well, and that there had been a heavy rainfall at the west. As the +Indians were preparing to leave, Corporal Henry came forward and asked +Captain Bayard to inquire for Manuel Perea. The captain thanked the +boy for the suggestion, and did so; and we learned that a Mexican boy, +answering the description given, was assisting in herding the ponies +of Elarnagan, north of the Twin Buttes, at the head of Carizo Creek.</p> + +<p>"Carizo Creek," said Frank, reflectively, turning over his schedule of +distances, "that is 19.05 miles from here."</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> +<p>"Yes, and there are the Twin Buttes," said Henry, pointing to two +prominent peaks to the northwest. "Can't we go there, sir? It cannot +be more than thirty miles."</p> + +<p>"I would not be justified in leaving the road except upon an +extraordinary emergency," replied Captain Bayard.</p> + +<p>"Don't you suppose, sir, that Elarnagan would give Manuel up for the +large reward his mother offers?" asked Brenda Arnold, who stood by the +side of the boy corporals, an interested listener to all that had been +said.</p> + +<p>The captain asked her question of the Indians, and one of them replied +that the chief had refused large offers heretofore, and would +doubtless continue to do so.</p> + +<p>"Cannot you scare him by a threat?" asked Henry.</p> + +<p>"I will try it, corporal," answered the captain. Then, turning to the +Navajos, he continued: "Tell the chief, Elarnagan, that it is not the +part of a brave warrior to cause grief and sorrow to women and +children; tell him that the great chief at Santa Fé is fast bringing +this war to a close, and that two-thirds of his people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> are already on +the reservation at Bosque Rodondo; tell him that when he +surrenders—which will not be long from now—if the boy Manuel is not +brought in safe he will be severely punished."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Henry.</p> + +<p>The Indians left in a northerly direction.</p> + +<p>At guard-mounting Captain Bayard announced that, owing to the recent +fatiguing marches and the lack of good water, we would go no farther +than Navajo Springs the following day, and that we would not break +camp before eight o'clock.</p> + +<p>This announcement was received with pleasure; for since leaving Agua +Fria little water had been drunk, it being either muddy, stagnant, or +alkaline. The water at Navajo Springs was said to be pure.</p> + +<p>Ten o'clock next morning found us at the springs. They were fifteen in +number, clustered in an area of less than an acre. Each was of the +dimensions of a barrel set upon end in the ground, with a mere thread +of water flowing from it—a thread which the fierce sun evaporated +before it had flowed a rod from its source. It soon be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>came plain to +every one that we could not long remain there.</p> + +<p>The Indians had said there had been a heavy rainfall at the west. Five +and one-twentieth miles over a rough, red, and verdureless country +brought us to the Rio Puerco of the West. There was not a drop of +water in it.</p> + +<p>The commanding officer ordered me to take ten cavalrymen, with +shovels, and go on to Carizo Creek, and, if I found no running water, +to sink holes in a line across its bed. The boy corporals were allowed +to go with me.</p> + +<p>The distance to Carizo was seven miles, over a high, intervening +ridge, and the creek, when we reached it, was in no respect different +from the one we had just left. We opened a line of holes six feet +deep, but found very little water.</p> + +<p>Sending Corporal Henry back with a message to Captain Bayard, we +pushed on to Lithodendron Creek, a distance of thirteen miles, and +found about an acre of water, four inches deep, in the bed of the +stream, under the shadow of a sandstone cliff. It was miserable +stuff—thick, murky, and warm—but it was better than nothing; I sent +a soldier back to the command,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> and sat down with Frank under the +cliff to wait.</p> + +<p>The march had lengthened into thirty-two miles, over an exceedingly +rough country, and it had been continuous, with no noonday rest, and +under a broiling sun.</p> + +<p>Frank and I sat a little apart from the soldiers, watching for the +arrival of the approaching wagons.</p> + +<p>Time dragged slowly on until after nine o'clock, when a faint +"hee-haw" in the far distance gave us the first hint that the train +was over the divide and that the unfailing scent of the mules had +recognized the vicinity of water.</p> + +<p>An hour more passed before Sergeant Cunningham and half a dozen +privates of the infantry company marched down to the roily pool and +stooped for a drink. The rest of the men were straggling the length of +the train, which arrived in sections, heralded by the vigorous and +continued braying of the mules.</p> + +<p>No one felt inclined to pitch a tent, partly on account of extreme +fatigue, but chiefly because the ground was rough and stony and cacti +in endless variety strewed the surface, branching<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> and clustering +about the petrified trunks of giant trees which gave the creek its +name.</p> + +<p>There was no grass in the vicinity, and no grain on the train. The +animals when turned loose went to the pool and drank, and then +wandered about the wagons calling for forage. Lowing of cattle, +bleating of sheep, braying of mules, and whinnying of horses never +ceased as the suffering animals wandered in search of food. There was +no fuel for fires in the midst of this petrified forest of prostrate +trees, so hard bread and raw bacon made our supper.</p> + +<p>After a time I began to wonder why Vic had not come to greet me. She +had accompanied Henry when he went back with my message, and I knew +that if he had returned she would have looked me up immediately. I was +about to search for her, when Frank appeared, and asked, "Have you +seen my brother?"</p> + +<p>"No," I replied, "nor have I seen Vic. They must be with the rear +guard."</p> + +<p>"No, sir; they are not there. I have just seen the sergeant of the +guard."</p> + +<p>"Have you visited the Arnolds?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; and Miss Brenda says they have not seen him since he came +back from you."</p> + +<p>"Is not Corporal Henry here?" asked Captain Bayard, who had approached +and overheard a part of our conversation.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," I answered. "I sent him to you at Carizo to say we had +found no water."</p> + +<p>"He reported to me," the captain replied, "and I sent him back at once +with orders for you to proceed to Lithodendron, as you have done."</p> + +<p>"He did not reach me. I came here because it seemed the only thing to +do."</p> + +<p>"Henry not here!" and the captain and all of us began moving towards +the train. "Cause an immediate search to be made for him. Examine +every wagon. He may have got into a wagon and fallen asleep."</p> + +<p>It is needless to say, perhaps, that this search was participated in +by nearly every individual in the command not too tired to stir. Henry +was known to all, and had in many gentlemanly and kindly ways acquired +the respect and affection of soldiers and civilian employés.</p> + +<p>Every wagon was examined, although from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> the first there was a general +presentiment that it would be useless. In the wagon assigned to the +use of the boy corporals and myself, Henry's carbine and revolver were +found, but Frank said his brother had not worn them during the day.</p> + +<p>The mule and cavalry herds were examined for the cream-colored pony, +but that also was missing. Then the thought suggested itself that the +lad might be wandering on the road we had just traversed; but an +examination of the sergeant of the guard showed that to be impossible.</p> + +<p>But one conclusion could be arrived at, and that was that Henry had +been picked up by the Navajos when returning from the command to my +detachment on the Carizo.</p> + +<p>At the conclusion of the search the officers gathered near their +wagons for a consultation. Frank remained apart, silent and miserable.</p> + +<p>Captain Bayard said: "It is impossible for us to make an immediate +pursuit with horses in such a condition as ours. To attempt a pursuit +over the barren region about us would be to invite failure and +disaster. If we had Mexican ponies, or Indian ponies like those of the +boys,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> we might start at once. The boy is probably a prisoner, and a +delay of one or two days can make little difference to him."</p> + +<p>"But can we go with any better prospect of success to-morrow or next +day?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a march of sixteen miles and a half will bring us to the +Colorado Chiquito—a stream flowing at all times with pure water; +there, also, we shall find abundance of grass and a recently +established cavalry camp. I received a letter from the department +commander before I left Wingate, stating that Lieutenant Hubbell and +forty New Mexican cavalry had been ordered there three weeks ago. We +shall find an abundance of grain at the camp, and can put our animals +in good condition for an expedition into Elarnagan's country in a few +days. Now, gentlemen, let us get such rest as we can, and start at an +early hour in the morning."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX</h2> + +<h3>THE RESCUING PARTY</h3> +<p>At the close of the consultation I rejoined Corporal Frank, and we +went back to our former seat under the cliff. The boy was exceedingly +depressed, and I did my best to persuade him that all would end well +and his brother would be rescued.</p> + +<p>"But he may be dead, or dying," he answered to my arguments.</p> + +<p>"No; that is improbable. Had he been killed, the Indians would have +taken particular pains to mutilate and place his body where the +passing column would have seen it. That in itself is good evidence +that he is living. The worst that is likely to happen is that he may +be held for ransom or exchange."</p> + +<p>"But how <i>can</i> I wait?" exclaimed Frank. "I feel as though I ought to +start now."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p><p>"That would do no good," I replied. "You cannot find your brother's +trail, nor could you follow it in the night."</p> + +<p>"I cannot help thinking, sir, that Henry will send Vicky with a +message, and I fear that she cannot follow us so far. She must be +fearfully hungry and thirsty. I feel as if I ought to go and meet +her."</p> + +<p>"You may be right about the message. As Vic was without her collar, +she may not have been killed."</p> + +<p>The hours crept slowly on. The uneasy animals never ceased their walk +backward and forward between the water and the wagons, uttering their +discontent. Towards midnight, overcome by the fatigues of the day, I +fell into a doze, and did not wake until called at three.</p> + +<p>A breakfast similar to our supper was served, and we were ready for +the road. The mules were harnessed while vigorously braying their +protests against such ill usage, and, once under way, slowly drew the +wagons to the summit of the divide between the Lithodendron and the +Little Colorado, a distance of twelve miles.</p> + +<p>I did not see Frank while overlooking the drawing out of the train, +but gave myself no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> anxiety on his account, thinking he had +accompanied the advance. We had proceeded about a mile when a corporal +of the guard ran after me, and reported that the Arnolds were not +hitching up. Halting the train, I rode back and found Brenda sitting +by the road-side in tears.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, Miss Arnold?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is something this time," she sobbed, "that even you cannot +remedy."</p> + +<p>"Then you think I can generally remedy things? Thank you."</p> + +<p>"You have always helped us, but I do not see how you can now."</p> + +<p>"What is the trouble, please?"</p> + +<p>"Our poor oxen have worn their hoofs through to the quick. They were +obliged to travel very fast yesterday, and over a flinty road, and +their hoofs are worn and bleeding. Uncle says we must remain behind."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps things are not as bad as you think," I said. "Let us go back +and see."</p> + +<p>Rising dejectedly, and by no means inspired by hope, Brenda led the +way to the Arnold wagons, where I found the father and mother on their +knees beside an ox, engaged in binding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> rawhide "boots" to the +animal's feet. These boots were squares cut from a fresh hide procured +from the last ox slaughtered by the soldier-butcher. The foot of the +ox being set in the centre, the square was gathered about the ankle +and fastened with a thong of buck-skin.</p> + +<p>"Are all of your cattle in this condition, Mr. Arnold?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Only one other's 's bad's this, but all uv 'em's bad."</p> + +<p>"That certainly is a very bad-looking foot. I don't see how you kept +up, with cattle in that condition."</p> + +<p>"Had to, or git left."</p> + +<p>"That's where you make a mistake. We could not leave you behind."</p> + +<p>"I didn't think 'twould be uv any use t' say anythin'," said Mr. +Arnold. "You seem t' have all you can haul now."</p> + +<p>"We have over three hundred head of oxen in our commissary herd that +we purchased of a freighter. We can exchange with you. A beef is a +beef. Turn your cattle into our herd, and catch up a new lot. When we +get to Prescott you can have your old teams if you want them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thank you agin, sir. I shall want 'em. They know my ways an' I know +theirs."</p> + +<p>From the top of the divide the road, smooth and hard, descended to the +river, ten miles away. At nine o'clock the head of the column had +reached the banks, and a few moments later men and horses had partaken +of the clear, cool water.</p> + +<p>As the infantry and cavalry moved away from the shore the wagons came +down the decline, the mules braying with excitement at the sight of +the water gleaming through the green foliage of the cottonwoods and +the verdant acres of rich grass that stretched along the river-side. +Brakes were put on and wheels double-locked, until the harness could +be stripped off and the half-frantic animals set free to take a turn +in the river.</p> + +<p>Sheep and oxen plunged down the banks and stood leg-deep in the +current while they drank the grateful water. A few moments later all +the refreshed animals were cropping the generous grass. As I was going +to Captain Bayard I observed Brenda Arnold taking the odometer from +its wheel and making an entry in a note-book.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> Approaching her, I +asked: "Why are you doing that, Miss Brenda?"</p> + +<p>"I promised Mr. Frank I would do it until he and Mr. Henry return," +was her answer.</p> + +<p>"Promised Frank? Where has he gone?"</p> + +<p>"Gone to find his brother."</p> + +<p>"And you knew what you are telling me when we were exchanging oxen +this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not tell me?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Frank said I must not before we arrived here."</p> + +<p>"Have you no idea of the fearful danger in which he has placed +himself?"</p> + +<p>"I know he has gone to find Henry, and that he said he should find +him," and the pretty girl betrayed her lack of confidence in the boy's +project by sitting down in the grass and bursting into tears.</p> + +<p>"When did Corporal Frank start?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Last night. He gave Sancho about a dozen pounds of hard bread, filled +his canteen with water which Aunt Martha had filtered through sand, +and asked me to attend to the odometer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> and rode off in the darkness. +Don't you really believe the boys will return, sir?"</p> + +<p>"God grant they may," I answered; "but it is very doubtful."</p> + +<p>Here was fresh trouble—trouble the whole command shared, but which +rested heaviest upon Captain Bayard and myself. We were answerable to +Colonel Burton for the manner in which we executed his trust.</p> + +<p>"Ride down the valley," said the captain to me after I had concluded +my account of what Brenda had said, "and look for Lieutenant Hubbell's +camp. It cannot be far from here. Tell him to send me three days' +grain for forty animals. While you are gone I will select a camp +farther down stream, and within easy communication with him, park the +train, and establish order. We will remain here until we know what has +become of the boys."</p> + +<p>I found the New Mexican cavalry camp three miles down the river, and +obtained the desired forage. When I returned our new camp was +established, fires burning, and cooking well under way.</p> + +<p>Captain Bayard informed me that the detachment <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>of Mexican cavalry +which had accompanied us thus far would leave at this point and not +rejoin us. "I have ordered Baldwin to grain his horses and be ready to +start in search of our boys at daybreak," continued the captain. "You +will accompany him. We shall be in no danger, with Hubbell so near. +You can take thirty pounds of grain on your saddles, and you will find +plenty of water on the Carizo where it breaks from the hills."</p> + +<p>"How many days are we to stay out?"</p> + +<p>"You are to take five days' rations. If the boys are not found in that +time I fear they will never be found."</p> + +<p>I went to bed early, and soon fell into a fitful slumber, which lasted +until an hour before midnight. I arose, dressed, and sat down by the +smouldering camp-fire, a prey to unpleasant reflections.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the sound of a cantering horse approaching from the north +fell upon my ears. What could it mean? I listened intently. The horse +slowed down to a walk. He entered the camp. The voice of Private Tom +Clary, who was posted as sentinel No. 1, challenged: "Halt!—who comes +there?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A friend—Corporal Frank Burton," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Blest be the saints! Corpril Frank, laddie, is it you—and aloive?" +said the sentinel, forgetting in his joy to continue the usual +formality of the challenge or to call the corporal of the guard.</p> + +<p>Springing from my seat I walked towards the sentinel, and there, by +the light of the moon, I saw Frank, mounted upon Sancho, with Vic in +his arms. I reached up to take my dog, but the boy quickly exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Be careful, sir, be careful! She's badly hurt. Here's the letter she +brought. Henry is alive."</p> + +<p>To attempt to relate all that now occurred would be impossible. In +some mysterious manner the news of Frank's arrival crept through the +camp, and half-dressed figures of officers and soldiers gathered about +the camp-fire, curious to listen to an account of the boy's adventure. +One little, blanketed figure ran out of the darkness, caught Vic's +face between her two palms, nestled her cheek against it, and with a +cheerful "good-night," disappeared as suddenly as she had come.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<p>I took Vic in my lap as I sat on the ground, and by the light of a +blazing pine-knot proceeded to examine her condition. I found the +mouth and feet of the poor animal full of the spines of the <i>cholla</i> +cactus, a growth which is simply a mass of fine thorns. This cactus +grows in patches, and when the dead clusters fall to the ground the +spines stick to everything touching them. The dog had stepped into a +bed of these bunched needles, and filled her feet, and in trying to +remove them with her teeth had thrust them through cheeks, lips, and +tongue, literally closing her jaws. Her paws bristled with them like +pin-cushions.</p> + +<p>As to Frank's adventures: After leaving the Arnolds, as already +described by Brenda, he retraced the route to Carizo Creek and to the +Rio Puerco without seeing any sign of his brother. Returning to the +west he dismounted at the crossing of the Carizo. He felt sure that if +Henry had been captured by the Navajos he must have been taken in the +dry bed of that creek.</p> + +<p>A long and patient search resulted in the discovery of tracks made by +several ponies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> running along the eastern side of the Carizo to the +north and the hills. One of the set showed the print of iron shoes. +Frank mounted again and followed this trail up the valley for some +hours. He was thinking about returning, when he saw a white object +moving on a hill-side, far in advance. It seemed to tumble, rise, and +go in a circle, then tumble, rise, and circle again. Frank's curiosity +was aroused, and he rode on to examine the object. A few hundred yards +more revealed the fact that he had come upon the missing Vic, and that +something was seriously the matter with her. At first Frank thought +she was mad or in a fit, but as he came nearer she sat up and made +demonstrations of joy at his approach. He dismounted, and found her in +the condition already described. On the ground was a chip, neatly cut +and shaven, which she was in vain attempting to take between her +sealed jaws. Frank understood the matter at once. Whenever Victoriana +was sent on a message she was given a stick to deliver. It was plain +that some one had sent her to either Frank or me. Of course, it could +have been no <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span>one but Henry. She had come thus far, and had stepped +into a bed of <i>cholla</i>. In trying to remove the needles from her feet +she had absolutely sealed her mouth; in the attempt to recover the +chip she had made the movements that had attracted the boy's +attention.</p> + +<p>Nothing was written on the stick. Around the dog's neck was tied a +cravat of dirty buck-skin. Untying and opening it, Frank found the +inner surface covered with writing, evidently traced in berry-juice +with a quill or a stick. It read as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Captured by the Navajos. Am herding ponies north of Twin +Buttes, at the head of Carizo. Come to butte with cavalry, +and wave handkerchief from left peak about noon. If I do not +come, look for me in plain north of butte. Don't worry; I'm +all right.</p> + +<p class="sig">"<span class="smcap">Henry</span>."</p> +</div> + +<p>I remained at the fire long after every one had returned to their beds +or duty, busy in extracting the <i>cholla</i> spines from Vic's mouth and +feet. The dog seemed to understand the necessity of the treatment she +was receiving, and bore the pain submissively, with only occasional +moans and cries, until the operation ended. She then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> received a drink +of water, and went to bed with Frank.</p> + +<p>At daybreak the rescue detachment left camp, retraced our route to the +Carizo, where Corporal Frank put us upon the trail of the Indians. We +climbed to the highest point reached by the path, and saw it descend +on the opposite side to a brook, deep in the valley. Here we halted, +took the horses a short distance down the slope we had just ascended, +picketed them in a grassy nook, and Frank and I started to ascend the +left peak.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Baldwin," I said, as I moved away, "when you see us start to +return, saddle and bridle as rapidly as possible, so as to be ready +for emergencies."</p> + +<p>"I'll do so. You can depend upon us to be ready when wanted," was the +reply.</p> + +<p>We scrambled through a scattering growth of piñon and junipers for +several yards, and at last came to a perpendicular shaft of sandstone +twenty feet high, with a flat top. The diameter of the shaft was about +fifty feet.</p> + +<p>"Henry could not have come up here, or he never would have set us to +attempt an impossi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>bility," said Frank, as his eyes ran up and down +the rock.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it may not be so impossible as it appears," I replied. "Let +us walk round the butte."</p> + +<p>We passed to the right, and, having found a practicable place for +attempting the ascent, accomplished the feat in a few moments.</p> + +<p>On the flat summit we found the remains of former fires that had +undoubtedly been lighted as signals. The view was grand and extensive. +Directly to the north lay many verdant valleys—grazing-grounds of the +nomadic Navajos. One of these valleys lay at the foot of the mountain +upon which we stood, with a bright stream of water crossing its hither +border. Well out in the valley were several flocks of sheep and goats, +and close to the opposite side of the brook was a herd of ponies.</p> + +<p>After Frank had looked long and anxiously towards the flocks and +herds, he said: "Those specks near the ponies must be men, I suppose. +I wonder if Henry is among them? Shall I make the signal?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet. It is not yet noon. Let us lie<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> down among these rocks, +where we shall be less conspicuous, and use the field-glass."</p> + +<p>"Tell me what you see, sir, if you please."</p> + +<p>"There are five large flocks of sheep in the charge of a lot of women, +some mounted and some on foot. The pony herd, which must number +several hundred, is in charge of three naked Indians—boys, I think. +There are no other persons in sight. Take a look for yourself."</p> + +<p>Frank accepted the glass and surveyed the valley. "I can see nothing +that looks like Henry," he said. "He certainly cannot be there. Why +are those boys so ghostly white?"</p> + +<p>"They are covered with yeso to protect them from sunburn."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes—whitewash."</p> + +<p>"Gypsum. The Mexicans use it for whitewash, and to preserve the +complexion."</p> + +<p>"Well, those boys must have plastered it on thick; they look like +living statues. Not a rag on them except 'breech-clouts.' Hello, there +comes a troop around that mound to the right. Must be two hundred +men."</p> + +<p>Taking the glass, I looked again. Coming into sight from the opposite +side of an elevation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> on the farther side of the valley was a party of +two hundred and fifteen Navajo warriors. They rode to each flock of +sheep in succession, stopped near the women a few moments, and then +came down to the pony herd. They approached the boys, and one large +Indian, who appeared to be the chief, lifted the smaller boy out of +his saddle, and, swinging him to his shoulder, dashed around the herd +at full speed, and then set him back in his own saddle, and patted him +approvingly on the back.</p> + +<p>The party next proceeded to exchange the ponies they were riding for +fresh ones from the herd, and then disappeared behind the trees which +bordered the brook to the west.</p> + +<p>"The pony that small boy rides looks like Chiquita," remarked Frank; +"but the saddle and bridle are different. Señora Perea said that +Manuel was herding ponies for the Navajos, and that he was naked."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know; but the letter Vic brought from Henry made no mention of +another boy, and there are three with that herd. But let us make the +signal and see what will happen."</p> + +<p>Standing up and advancing to the edge of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> butte's top, I waved my +handkerchief from side to side, keeping my eyes fixed upon the three +boys. They formed in line, facing us, looked long in our direction, +and then, as if started by a spring, they flew down the plain, leaped +the brook, and galloped up the long ascent towards the concealed +cavalrymen.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X</h2> + +<h3>THE CORPORALS ARE PROMOTED</h3> +<p>The three Indian boys were doing their utmost to excite their ponies +to their greatest speed up the height. As they sped on they glanced +repeatedly backward, as if fearing pursuit. Higher and higher they +came up the steep until we could not doubt it was their intention to +reach the command.</p> + +<p>"What does it mean? What does it mean?" exclaimed Frank. "Why are +those Navajo boys running their horses in this direction? It can't +be—"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Frank," I interrupted. "Let us get down to the men as +soon as we can. The Indian women are already riding after the +war-party."</p> + +<p>At considerable risk to life and limb we slid down the ragged angle +which we had ascended,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> and hurried to where Baldwin and the soldiers +stood beside their saddled steeds.</p> + +<p>We had barely reached the crest from which we could see the valley +when the three whitewashed boys appeared on their panting and foaming +animals, the little one on the buck-skin pony in the lead.</p> + +<p>"What in the world is this?" exclaimed Baldwin. "Three whitewashed +young redskins! What do they want of us?"</p> + +<p>"Here we are!" shouted a familiar voice, in excellent English. "Here +we are—Manuel, Sapoya, and I!"</p> + +<p>Before we could sufficiently recover from our surprise, or, rather, +calm our joyful realization of a hope born of the boys' start from the +valley below, they were among us, and Henry had sprung from his horse +and embraced his brother, leaving a generous coating of <i>yeso</i> upon +the army blue. Tears of joy had ploughed two streaks through the +whiting on his face, and lent a comical effect to the boyish +countenance. A general handshake ensued, and Corporal Frank asked, +"Where are your clothes, Henry?"</p> + +<p>"Confiscated by the chief Elarnagan."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not to wear?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no; I think they might prove baggy on his diminutive person."</p> + +<p>"Then why did he take them?"</p> + +<p>"He has a numerous progeny, and the young Elarnaganitos have an +article apiece. My saddle and bridle went to Mrs. Elarnagan. She rides +astride, you know."</p> + +<p>"When did the chief take your clothes?"</p> + +<p>"Just as soon as I arrived in the valley my horse and I were stripped +of—But hold on, Frank; what am I thinking of?" and Henry ran to one +of the other boys, a graceful youngster whose perfect limbs and +handsome face the <i>yeso</i> could not mask, and who sat his horse as if +he were a part of the animal. Saying something to him in an undertone, +the boy dismounted and approached me with Henry, who said, in Spanish: +"This is Manuel Augustine Perea y Luna, of Algodones. It is he who +planned the escape when I told him there were soldiers near."</p> + +<p>I took the Mexican boy's hand and assured him of the great happiness +his escape afforded me, and the greater happiness it would afford his +mother and relatives.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frank approached, took Manuel's hand, and then dropped it to give him +a hearty and brotherly embrace.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Manuelito mio, I dreamed many dreams of rescuing you as we +marched through this country, but I never believed they would be +realized," he said.</p> + +<p>"But the little Enrique acted, and I am here," laughed Manuel.</p> + +<p>"And Frank acted, too," said I, "as you shall soon hear; and you will +learn that it took both boys to effect your rescue."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," replied Manuel, "but it is not safe to remain here +longer. Elarnagan, whom you saw leaving the valley with his warriors, +is intending to move down the Lithodendron to attack your train +somewhere on the Colorado Chiquito."</p> + +<p>At the close of his remarks Manuel turned away, as if to mount his +horse, and then, as if correcting an oversight, he said, "Wait one +moment, sir." Going up to the third boy, he spoke a few words to him +in an unknown tongue. The boy sprang to the ground and came forward. +"This is Sapoya," continued Manuel, "a Cherokee boy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> whom I found a +captive when I joined Elarnagan's band. He is my brother, and will go +with me and share my home."</p> + +<p>Sapoya extended his hand and clasped mine. He was a handsome Indian +boy, about the same age and height as his friend. He addressed me in +Navajo, which was interpreted by Manuel: "I am glad to meet one who +has helped to open the broad land again to my brother and me. But our +horses stand still, while those of our enemy fly to retake us."</p> + +<p>Evidently the Mexican and Cherokee boys had no desire to again fall +into the hands of the Navajo chief. We made no further delay, but +mounted and forced our animals down the mountain defiles as rapidly as +possible. As soon as the route would permit, Henry and Manuel rode on +each side of Frank, and I heard the former ask about Vic. Frank +answered in Spanish, so that the Mexican boy might understand. Such +expressions as "La perra brava!" "La fina perrita Vic!" from time to +time showed they were hearing of Vic's adventures.</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> +<p>Finding that Corporal Frank was not doing himself justice in his +narration, I drew alongside the boys and related what I knew of +Frank's midnight ride and rescue of Vic, an event which, had it not +occurred, would have left Henry and his friends still in captivity. At +the conclusion of my tale Manuel changed his position from the flank +to one between the brothers, and, taking a hand of Frank in his left, +and one of Henry's in his right, rode on a few moments in silence. +Then he said: "God has given me, among many friends, two that are +something more. But for your brave acts I should still be a captive. +Thank you for myself, my dear mother, and Sapoya."</p> + +<p>Having reached the wagon-road crossing of the Carizo, we turned at a +canter over the divide between it and the Lithodendron. As we rose +above a terrace our attention was attracted to two mounted Indians +scurrying off into the broken and higher country on our right.</p> + +<p>"Ah, look!" shouted Manuel; "they expected to stop three naked, +unarmed boys, and they are surprised to meet a troop of cavalry! Viva +los Estados Unidos! Run, you sheep-stealers, we are safely out of your +hands!"</p> + +<p>Upon reaching the summit of the divide the whole war-party stood +revealed, far to our right,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> out of rifle-shot. Plainly, our presence +was a great surprise to them. Although they greatly outnumbered us, +the country was too open for their system of warfare, and they were +poorly armed. They stood sullenly aloof, and allowed us to canter past +unmolested.</p> +<p class="center"><img class="img1" src="images/image_05.jpg" alt=""'GOD HAS GIVEN ME, AMONG MANY FRIENDS, TWO THAT ARE SOMETHING MORE'"" width="500" height="446" /></p> +<p class="caption">"'GOD HAS GIVEN ME, AMONG MANY FRIENDS, TWO THAT ARE SOMETHING MORE'"</p> +<p>Just as our rear was passing them we noticed a solitary warrior +advance and show a white cloth.</p> + +<p>"That is Elarnagan," said Manuel. "He wants to speak with you."</p> + +<p>Accompanied by the Mexican boy to act as interpreter, I advanced to +the chief. He took my hand with dignity, and said he accepted the loss +of his pale-faced captives as the fortune of war, but he demanded the +return of Sapoya. He said that in a fight with the Utes, ten years +before, his people had captured a Cherokee chief, who was visiting +that tribe with his wife and child. The chief and his wife had died, +and he, Elarnagan, had brought up the child as his own. He asked that +Sapoya be restored to him.</p> + +<p>I called the Indian lad to me and, repeating the words of the chief, +said, "You may answer for yourself."</p> + +<p>"Sapoya says to the bravest warrior of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> Navajos, that he is +grateful for all the favors that he has received, and that he thinks +he has returned by hard service ample payment for all. He brought +parents, three horses, and ample clothing to the Navajos; he takes +nothing away but the pony he rode. He has shared his blanket and food +with his brother, Manuel, for these many moons, undergoing fatigue and +exposure with him, until his heart beats as one with his comrade's, +and he desires to go with him to his home and become one of his +people."</p> + +<p>The chief said nothing in reply, but advancing gave his hand in amity +to both boys, and rode back to his people.</p> + +<p>"He is a good chief and a brave one," said Manuel, as we rejoined the +command, "but I should cherish kindlier memories of him if he had +given us some clothing and an extra blanket."</p> + +<p>Later, as we were riding slowly out of the bed of Lithodendron, Frank +said, "I do not see how the Indians came to spare Vic."</p> + +<p>"One of them did attempt to kill her, but I threw my arms about her +and the chief patted her head and gave orders that she should not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> be +hurt. I think if her collar had not been taken off at Laguna she would +have been killed in a scramble to possess it. Even Elarnagan would +have considered her life worthless compared with the possession of +such a beautiful trinket."</p> + +<p>"The chief seems to have taken quite a liking to Corporal Henry," I +remarked.</p> + +<p>"Not enough to allow him to retain his clothing," said Manuel; "but he +would not permit him to be deprived of his pony. Perhaps you saw him, +when you were on the butte, dash round the herd with Henry on his +shoulder?"</p> + +<p>"Frank and I saw it," I answered.</p> + +<p>"He said, when he placed Henry back upon Chiquita, 'He will make a +brave chief.'"</p> + +<p>Camp was reached a little after dark, and the boys plunged into the +river to remove the <i>yeso</i>, and then dressed themselves in civilized +garments, Henry drawing on his reserve, and the others from the +quartermaster's stores.</p> + +<p>Had not Victoriana been a modest doggie, the amount of praise and +attention she received from the four boys would have turned her head;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +and the boys themselves had no reason to complain of the kindly +congratulations they received from the infantry company.</p> + +<p>Word was sent to Lieutenant Hubbell that Manuel Perea had been +rescued, and the following morning all the New Mexicans not on duty +rode into camp to congratulate the boy upon his escape. Spanish cheers +and Spanish felicitations filled the air for an hour.</p> + +<p>When the volunteers had gone and quiet was resumed, Brenda came, and +her delight at seeing the boys again showed itself in ceaseless +caressings of Vic and many requests for a repetition of the account of +their flying ride when the signal was waved from the butte. When she +at last withdrew, to repeat the story to her relatives, the corporals +and I wrote a letter to Señora Perea, to be delivered by her son. In +my portion I related the circumstances attending his recovery, +detailing the part taken by the boy corporals, the dog, and the troop. +I said no one desired to claim the generous reward she had offered, +since no one in particular had rescued Manuel; many things had +combined to enable <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>him to escape. If the lady insisted upon paying +the reward, we all desired that it should be devoted to the education +of Sapoya.</p> + +<p>Frank added a few lines, and Henry closed the letter. The younger +corporal wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I've laughed with the rest over my two days' captivity +among the Navajos, and made light of it. I don't mind +telling you that after shivering through two nights without +clothes and without enough blankets, being bitten by +mosquitoes and flies, and scorched daytimes by the sun, I +begin to think Manuel a great hero.</p> + +<p>"You know when I saw you I told you I was going to bring +back Manuel or be a prisoner with him. That, of course, was +all foolish talk, for I planned nothing. To be sure, I was a +prisoner with him for two days and had something to do about +bringing him back, but it all happened without planning. It +seems as if God directed us all through. Frank, Vic, the +soldiers, officers, and myself—even the dry time from +Jacob's Well to the Lithodendron—all had something to do +with finding Manuel.</p> + +<p>"About the reward the lieutenant speaks of, we think none of +us deserve it. We've talked it over, and we think if you +would give Sapoya a chance at school, and if you cannot make +a white boy of him make him an educated man, that would be +the best reward. He's very intelligent, and if he can have a +good chance will learn fast.</p> + +<p>"Frank and I have a scheme we hope you will approve of. Mr. +Duncan has secured a detail from the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>War Department to a +boys' military school in the States as instructor in +tactics, and will probably go in November. We are intending +to ask papa to let us join that school after the Christmas +holidays. We want you to send Manuel and Sapoya there. Won't +you, please? Be sure and say yes. Think what a fine chance +it will be for Sapoya.</p> + +<p>"You know we boys feel something more than a friendship for +one another. I suppose it is like the comradeship of +soldiers who have stood shoulder to shoulder in battle. +There is a tie uniting us that is closer and firmer than +friendship; we feel more like brothers.</p> + +<p>"We will write often. Hoping Manuel will arrive home safe, +and that he may never again be a captive,</p> + +<p class="sig3"> +"I remain your friend,</p> +<p class="sig">"<span class="smcap">Henry Burton</span>."</p> +</div> + +<p>Our letters were despatched by Manuel and Sapoya to Lieutenant +Hubbell's camp, where Captain Bayard directed the boys to await the +detachment of New Mexican cavalry which had accompanied us from the +Rio Grande and which was shortly to return there.</p> + +<p>We resumed our march the following day at a very early hour, and as we +passed the cavalry camp two half-dressed boys came bounding out to the +road-side to once more repeat their affectionate good-byes and renew +their promises to meet in the future.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>The march continued for a week longer, through a region over which the +Pullman car now rushes with the modern tourist, but through which we +moved at the gait of infantry. The boy corporals and Brenda Arnold +climbed eminences, looked through clefts in precipices into the +sublime depths of the great cañon, stood on the edge of craters of +extinct volcanoes, penetrated the mysterious caverns of the +cliff-dwellers, fished for trout in a mountain lake, caught axolotl in +a tank at the foot of San Francisco Mountain, shot turkeys, grouse, +and antelope, and enjoyed the march as only healthy youngsters can. +Brenda became a pupil of the boys in loading and firing their +revolvers, carbines, and fowling-pieces, and made many a bull's-eye +when firing at a mark, but invariably failed to hit anything living. +Henry said she was too tender-hearted to aim well at animals. That she +was no coward an incident to be told in a future chapter will prove.</p> + +<p>When our train and its escort reached Fort Whipple, or, rather, the +site of that work—for we built it after our arrival—the Arnolds +caught up their cattle from our herd, and after a two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> weeks' stay in +Prescott removed to a section of land which they took up in Skull +Valley, ten miles to the west by the mountain-trail, and twenty-five +miles by the only practicable wagon-road. This place was selected for +a residence because its distance from Prescott and its situation at +the junction of the bridle-path and wagon-road made it an excellent +location for a way-side inn.</p> + +<p>At a dress-parade held the evening before the family's departure for +their new home, Brenda sat on her pony, Gypsy, near Captain Bayard, +and heard an order read advancing her young friends from the grade of +corporal to that of sergeant, "for soldierly attention to duty on the +march, gallant conduct in the affair at Laguna, and meritorious +behavior in effecting the rescue of captive boys from the Navajos at +Carizo Creek; subject to the approval of Colonel Burton."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI</h2> + +<h3>BOTH PONIES ARE STOLEN</h3> +<p>"Here, Frank, come and help push this gate, I can't start it alone."</p> + +<p>"Don't be in such a hurry, Henry. Wait just a moment. I think I hear a +horse coming down the Prescott road. I want to see if it is the +express from La Paz."</p> + +<p>The younger boy ceased his efforts to close the gates, and advancing a +few steps before the entrance of the fort, looked up the valley to +where the road from Prescott appeared from behind a spur of the +foot-hills. The two boys had mounted their sergeant's chevrons and +adopted white stripes down the legs of their trousers. As they stood +side by side Vic approached and placed herself between them, nestling +her delicate muzzle against the younger boy's hip and responding to +his caresses with waves of her plumy tail.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you think we shall hear from father, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"We ought to; you know he said in his last letter he was getting +settled at the Presidio, and would soon send for us."</p> + +<p>"Takes twelve days to bring a letter from San Francisco. I suppose +it'll take us longer to go there; seems to me he might get ready for +us while we are on the road," said Henry, lugubriously. "I'm getting +mighty tired of opening and shutting these gates."</p> + +<p>"You forget father has to visit all the posts where companies of his +regiment are stationed. That will probably take him all of a month +longer."</p> + +<p>"And we must go on opening and closing gates and running errands in +Arizona? But come; let's get a swing on 'em and watch for the +expressman afterwards. We haven't much time before retreat."</p> + +<p>The gates closed a fort which we had built since our arrival in +Arizona. Peeled pine logs, ten feet long, had been set up vertically +in the ground, two feet of them below the surface and eight above, +enclosing an area of a thousand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> square feet, in which were +store-rooms, offices, and quarters for two companies of soldiers and +their officers. At corners diagonally opposite each other were two +large block-house bastions, commanding the flanks of the fort. The +logs of the walls were faced on two sides and set close together, and +were slotted every four feet for rifles. At one of the corners which +had no bastions were double gates, also made of logs, bound by cross +and diagonal bars, dovetailed and pinned firmly to them. Each hung on +huge, triple hinges of iron.</p> + +<p>The two boys returned to the gates, and, setting their backs against +one of them and digging their heels in the earth, pushed and swung it +ponderously and slowly, until its outer edge caught on a shelving log +set in the middle of the entrance to support it and its fellow. Then, +as the field-music began to play and the men to assemble in line for +retreat roll-call, they swung the second gate in the same way, and +braced the two with heavy timbers. The boys then reported the gates +closed to the adjutant.</p> + +<p>As the companies broke ranks and dispersed the boy sergeants went to +the fifth log, to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> left of the gates, and swung it back on its +hinges. This was one of two secret posterns. On the inside of the +wall, when closed, its location was easily noticeable on account of +its hinges, latches, and braces; on the outside it looked like any +other log in the wall. Their work being completed, the boys asked +permission of the adjutant to stand outside the wall and watch for the +mail.</p> + +<p>"All right, sergeants," said the adjutant; "there is no further duty +for you to perform to-day."</p> + +<p>Frank and Henry ran through the postern, and arrived on the crest of +the bluff overlooking the Prescott road just as a horseman turned up +the height. The news that the La Paz courier had arrived spread +rapidly through the quarters, and every man not on duty appeared +outside the walls.</p> + +<p>Joining the boy sergeants, I said, "Boys, if you want to drop the job +of opening and closing the gates, it can hereafter be done by the +guard."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. We took the job, and we'll stick to it," replied +Sergeant Frank.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if Samson could lift those gates as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> easily as he did the +gates of Gaza?" questioned Henry, seating himself on a log which had +been rejected in the building and taking Vic's head in his lap and +fondling her silken ears.</p> + +<p>"We can't remain here much longer," said Frank; "I think this express +will bring an order for us to go to San Francisco."</p> + +<p>"Very likely. No doubt life here is not very enjoyable for boys."</p> + +<p>"I should say not," said Henry, "for we can't look outside the fort +unless a dozen soldiers are along for fear the Apaches 'll get us."</p> + +<p>"But you can go to Prescott."</p> + +<p>"Prescott!" in a tone of great contempt; "twenty-seven log cabins and +five stores, and not a boy in the place—only a dozen Pike County, +Missouri, girls."</p> + +<p>"And we can't go there with any comfort since Texas Dick and Jumping +Jack stole Sancho and Chiquita," added Frank.</p> + +<p>Further conversation on this subject was temporarily interrupted by +the arrival of the expressman. A roan bronco galloped up the slope, +bearing a youthful rider wearing a light buck-skin suit and a soft +felt hat with a narrow brim.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> He was armed with a breech-loading +carbine and two revolvers, and carried, attached to his saddle, a roll +of blankets, a haversack, and a mail-pouch.</p> + +<p>Dismounting, he detached the pouch, at the same time answering +questions and giving us items of news later than any contained in his +despatches.</p> + +<p>After handing his pouch to the quartermaster-sergeant, his eyes fell +upon the boy sergeants.</p> + +<p>"I saw Texas Dick and Juan Brincos at Cisternas Negras," he said, +addressing them.</p> + +<p>"My! Did you, Mr. Hudson?" exclaimed Henry, springing to his feet and +approaching the courier. "Did they have our ponies?"</p> + +<p>"You know I never saw your ponies; but Dick was mounted on a black, +with a white star in his forehead, and Juan on a cream-color, with a +brown mane and tail."</p> + +<p>"Sancho!" said Frank.</p> + +<p>"Chiquita!" said Henry.</p> + +<p>"Do you know where they were bound?" asked Captain Bayard.</p> + +<p>"I did not speak to them, nor did they see me; I thought it would be +better to keep out of the way of such desperate characters in a +lonely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> place. I learned from a friend of theirs at Date Creek that +they intend to open a monte bank at La Paz."</p> + +<p>"Then they are likely to remain there for some time."</p> + +<p>"Can't something be done to get the ponies back, sir?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so. I will consider the matter."</p> + +<p>The mail was taken to my office and soon distributed through the +command. Among my letters was one from Colonel Burton, the father of +the boy sergeants. He said he had been expecting to send for his sons +by this mail, but additional detached service had been required of him +which might delay their departure from Whipple for another month, if +not longer. He informed me that a detail I had received to duty as +professor of military science and tactics in a boys' military school +had been withheld by the department commander until my services could +be spared at Fort Whipple, and that he thought the next mail, or the +one following it, would bring an order relieving me and ordering me +East. This would enable me to leave for the coast about the first week +in November.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frank and Henry shared my quarters with me, and that evening, seated +before an open fire, I read their father's letter, and remarked that +perhaps I should be able to accompany them to San Francisco, and, if +the colonel consented to their request to go to the military school +with me, we might take the same steamer for Panama and New York.</p> + +<p>"Oh, won't that be too fine for anything!" exclaimed the younger +sergeant. "Then I'll not have to leave Vicky here, after all."</p> + +<p>Vic, upon hearing her name called, left her rug at my feet and placed +her nose on Henry's knee, and the boy stroked and patted her in his +usual affectionate manner.</p> + +<p>"Then you have been dreading to leave the doggie?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I dream all sorts of uncomfortable things about her. She's in +trouble, or I am, and I cannot rescue her and she cannot help me. +Usually we are parting, and I see her far off, looking sadly back at +me."</p> + +<p>"Henry is not the only one who dreads to part with Vic," said Frank. +"We boys can never forget the scenes at Los Valles Grandes, Laguna,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +and the Rio Carizo. She saved our lives, helped recover Chiquita, and +she helped rescue Manuel, Sapoya, and Henry from the Navajos."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but for her I might have lost my brother at La Roca Grande," +remarked Henry. "That was probably her greatest feat. Nice little +doggie—good little Vicky—are you really to go to San Francisco and +the East with us?"</p> + +<p>"I believe if I only had Sancho back, and Henry had Chiquita, I should +be perfectly happy," observed the elder brother.</p> + +<p>After a slight pause, during which the boy seemed to have relapsed +into his former depression, Henry asked:</p> + +<p>"Do they have cavalry drill at that school?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the superintendent keeps twenty light horses, and allows some of +the cadets to keep private animals. All are used in drill."</p> + +<p>"And if we get our ponies back, I suppose we shall have to leave them +here. Do you think, sir, there is any chance of our seeing them +again?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"Not unless some one can go to La Paz for them. Captain Bayard is +going to see me after supper about a plan of his to retake them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wonder what officer he will send?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I shall go."</p> + +<p>"Father could never stand the expense of sending them to the States, I +suppose," said Henry, despondently.</p> + +<p>"They could easily be sent to the Missouri River without cost," I +observed.</p> + +<p>"How, please?"</p> + +<p>"There is a quartermaster's train due here in a few weeks. It would +cost nothing to send the ponies by the wagon-master to Fort Union, and +then they could be transferred to another train to Fort Leavenworth."</p> + +<p>"Frank, I've a scheme!" exclaimed the younger boy.</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"If Mr. Duncan finds Sancho and Chiquita, let's send them to Manuel +Perea and Sapoya on the Rio Grande. When they go to the military +school they can take our horses and theirs, and we'll join the +cavalry."</p> + +<p>"That's so," said Frank. "Manuel wrote that if he went to school he +should cross the plains with his uncle, Miguel Otero, who is a +freighter. He could take the whole outfit East for nothing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> There +would remain only the cost of shipping them from Kansas City to the +school."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but before you cook a hare you must catch him," said I.</p> + +<p>"And our two hares are on the other side of the Xuacaxélla<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Desert," +said Frank, despondently. "I suppose there is small chance of our ever +seeing them again."</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Pronounced Hwar-car-hál-yar.</p></div> + +<p>Our two boy sergeants had found life in Arizona scarcely monotonous, +for the hostile Apaches made it lively enough, compelling us to build +a defensible post and look well to the protection of our stock. A few +years later a large force, occupying many posts, found it difficult to +maintain themselves against those Indians, so it cannot seem strange +to the reader that our small garrison of a hundred soldiers should +find it difficult to do much more than act on the defensive. Close +confinement to the reservation chafed the boys.</p> + +<p>A ride to Prescott, two miles distant, was the longest the boys had +taken alone. Two weeks before this chapter opens they had been invited +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>to dine with Governor Goodwin, the Governor of the Territory, and he +had made their call exceedingly pleasant. When, at an advanced hour in +the evening, the boys took leave of their host and went to the stable +for their horses, they found them gone, with their saddles and +bridles.</p> + +<p>Inquiries made next day in town elicited the information that two +notorious frontier scamps, Texas Dick and Juan Brincos, an American +and Mexican, were missing, and it was the opinion of civil and +military authorities that they had stolen the ponies. The boys took +Vic to the Governor's, and, showing her the tracks of her equine +friends, she followed them several miles on the Skull Valley trail. It +was plainly evident that the thieves had gone towards the Rio +Colorado.</p> + +<p>After supper I accompanied the commanding officer to his quarters. He +told me that the express had brought him a communication from the +department commander, stating that, since Arizona had been transferred +to the Department of the Pacific, our stores would hereafter be +shipped from San Francisco to the mouth of the Rio Colorado, and up +that stream by the boats<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> of the Colorado Steam Navigation Company to +La Paz. He said he had decided to send me to La Paz to make +arrangements with a freighter for the transportation of the supplies +from the company's landing to Fort Whipple.</p> + +<p>"And while you are in La Paz," said the captain, "look after those +horse-thieves, and turn them over to the civil authorities; but, +whether you capture them or not, be sure to bring back the boys' +ponies."</p> + +<p>"What do you think about allowing the boys to go with me?"</p> + +<p>"No doubt they would like it, for life has been rather monotonous to +them for some time, especially since they lost their horses. Think it +would be safe?"</p> + +<p>"No Indians have been seen on the route for some time."</p> + +<p>"The 'calm before the storm,' I fear."</p> + +<p>"The mail-rider, Hudson, has seen no signs for a long time."</p> + +<p>"So he told me. The excursion would be a big treat to the lads, and, +with a good escort and you in command, Duncan, I think they will be +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span>in no danger. Tell the adjutant to detail a corporal and any twelve +men you may select, and take an ambulance and driver."</p> + +<p>"Shall I go by Bill Williams Fork or across the Xuacaxélla?"</p> + +<p>"The desert route is the shortest, and the courier says there is water +in the Hole-in-the-Plain. There was a rainfall there last week. That +will give you water at the end of each day's drive."</p> + +<p>I returned to my rooms and looked over an itinerary of the route, with +a schedule of the distances, and other useful information. After +making myself familiar with all its peculiarities, I told Frank and +Henry that if they desired to do so they might accompany me.</p> + +<p>They were overjoyed at the prospect. Henry caught Vic by the forepaws +and began to waltz about the room. Then, sitting down, he held her +head up between his palms and informed her that she was going to bring +back Sancho and Chiquita.</p> + +<p>"I do not intend to take Vic, Henry," I said.</p> + +<p>"Not take Vic? Why not, sir?"</p> + +<p>"The road is long and weary—six days going and six returning, over a +rough and dry region<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span>—and she will be in the way and a constant care +to us."</p> + +<p>"But how are we going to find our horses without her? She always helps +whenever we are in trouble, and she will be sure to assist us in this +if we take her," said Sergeant Henry, emphatically.</p> + +<p>"She need be no care to you, sir," said the elder boy; "Henry and I +will look after her."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to disappoint you, boys, but I cannot take the dog. She +will be left with Captain Bayard."</p> + +<p>This decision made the boys somewhat miserable for a time. They +commiserated the dog over her misfortune, and then turned their +attention to preparations for the journey.</p> + +<p>"Have you ever been to La Paz?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"I have never been beyond Date Creek in that direction," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Is the Xuacaxélla really a desert?"</p> + +<p>"Only in the rainless season. Grasses, cacti, and shrubbery not +needing much moisture grow there. One of the geological surveys calls +it Cactus Plain. It is one hundred miles long. There is water in a +fissure of a mountain-spur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> on one side called the Cisternas Negras, +or Black Tanks, but for the rest of the distance there was formerly no +water except in depressions after a rainfall, a supply that quickly +evaporated under a hot sun and in a dry atmosphere. A man named Tyson +has lately sunk a well thirty miles this side of La Paz."</p> + +<p>"It was at Black Tanks the expressman saw Texas Dick and Juan Brincos +with our ponies," said Henry. "What a queer name that is!—Juan +Brincos, John Jumper, or Jumping Jack, as nearly every one calls him."</p> + +<p>"He is well named; he has been jumping stock for some years."</p> + +<p>"I thought Western people always hanged horse-thieves?"</p> + +<p>"Not when they steal from government. Western people are too apt to +consider army mules and horses common property, and they suppose your +ponies belong to Uncle Sam."</p> + +<p>"Frank," said Henry, just before the boys fell asleep that night, "I +felt almost sure we should recapture the ponies when I thought Vic was +going, but now I'm afraid we never shall see them again."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII</h2> + +<h3>INDIANS ON THE WAR-PATH</h3> +<p>The following day we were so delayed by several minor affairs that we +did not begin our journey until the middle of the afternoon.</p> + +<p>At the time of which I write there were but two wagon-roads out of +Prescott—one through Fort Whipple, which, several miles to the north, +divided into a road to the west, the one over which we had marched +from New Mexico, and a second which left in a northwesterly direction. +We took the latter, pursuing it along the east side of Granite Range +for eight miles, when we passed through a notch in the range to Mint +Creek, where the road made an acute angle and followed a generally +southwesterly course to La Paz.</p> + +<p>We halted for the night at the creek, eight <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>miles from the fort. Our +ambulance was provided with four seats—one in front for the driver, +fixed front and rear seats in the interior, with a movable middle +seat, the back of which could be let down so that it fitted the +interval between the others and afforded a fairly comfortable bed. On +the rack behind were carried the mess chest, provisions, and bedding, +and inside, under the seats, were the ammunition and some articles of +personal baggage. Beneath the axle swung a ten-gallon keg and a nest +of camp kettles.</p> + +<p>While supper was being prepared the boys wandered about the reed-grass +in a fruitless search for some ducks they had seen settle in the +creek. Private Tom Clary, who was acting as our cook, having spread +our meal of fried bacon, bread, and coffee upon a blanket to the +windward of the fire, called them to supper. While sugaring and +stirring our coffee, the cook stood by the fire holding two long rods +in his hands, upon the ends of which were slices of bacon broiling +before the glowing coals. Suddenly he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Look there, sergeant laddies! look there!" raising and pointing with +both sticks and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> rashers of bacon towards the reed-grass behind +us.</p> + +<p>There in its very edge sat Mistress Vic, winking her eyes and +twitching her ears deprecatingly, plainly in doubt as to her +reception.</p> + +<p>"Stop, boys! keep quiet!" I said, to prevent a movement in her +direction. "Vic, you bad girl, how dared you follow me?"</p> + +<p>No reply, only a slow closing and opening of the eyes and an +accompanying forward and backward movement of the ears.</p> + +<p>"Go home! Go!"</p> + +<p>The setter rose, dropped her head, and, turning dejectedly, +disappeared with drooping tail into the tall grass. Both boys +exclaimed at once:</p> + +<p>"Don't drive her off, sir! Poor little Vic!"</p> + +<p>"Well, go and see if you can coax her back. If she returns with you +she may go to La Paz."</p> + +<p>The boys ran eagerly into the grass, and soon I heard them soothing +and pitying the dog, telling her that it was all right, and that she +could go. But it was evident she doubted their authority to speak for +me, for Henry presently came running towards me.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She won't come, sir. Keeps moving slowly back in the direction of the +fort. She looks so sorry and so tired. Only think how badly she feels, +and it is a long distance to Whipple! Can't she stay with us until +morning?"</p> + +<p>"Then she will not come with you?"</p> + +<p>"No. She is your dog, and knows it. She never disobeys you."</p> + +<p>"But she followed me here; that looks very much like disobedience."</p> + +<p>"But you did not tell her not to come."</p> + +<p>"I believe you are right. I forgot to tell her to stay."</p> + +<p>"And she did not hear you tell the corporal to tie her, sir. You told +him in your room, and she was outside."</p> + +<p>"Then you think she is not to blame for following us?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not. She's a military dog, and always obeys orders."</p> + +<p>"But how guilty she looked."</p> + +<p>"It was not guilt made her look so, sir; it was disappointment."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think you are right, Henry. I'll let <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>her go with us. Let us +try an experiment, and see if she understands ordinary conversation. +You know some people think dogs do."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I know Vic does."</p> + +<p>"I'll speak to her without altering my tone of voice. Now watch. +'Here, Vicky, little girl, it's all right; you may go with us.'"</p> + +<p>Out of the reeds, bounding in an ecstasy of delight, came Vic. She +sprang about me, then about the boys, the soldiers, and animals, and +then approaching the fire, sat down and looked wistfully at the +rashers of bacon Clary was still broiling. It was settled in her dog +mind that she was now a recognized member of our party.</p> + +<p>We resumed our journey with the first break of dawn and rode to Skull +Valley. The first section of the road passed through a rough, +mountainous, and wooded country; but at the end of thirteen miles it +entered a level valley, which gradually broadened into a wide plain +that had been taken up by settlers for farms and cattle ranges. Being +well acquainted, I made several calls at the log-cabins which skirted +the road. At the Arnold house we were made very welcome, and after a +generous dinner were escorted through the house and stables by the +entire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> family. I had visited the valley many times when on scouting +or escort duty, and had seen the Arnold cabins gradually substituted +for their tents, and their acres slowly redeemed from grazing ground +to cultivated fields; but since my last visit Mr. Arnold had adopted +an ingenious means of defence in case of an Indian attack.</p> + +<p>The house and stables from the first had been provided with heavy +shutters for windows and doorways, and loop-holes for fire-arms had +been made at regular four-foot intervals. These the proprietor had not +considered ample, and had constructed, twenty yards from the house, an +ingenious earthwork which could be entered by means of a subterranean +passage from the cellar. This miniature fort was in the form of a +circular pit, sunk four feet and a half in the ground, and covered by +a nearly flat roof, the edges or eaves of which were but a foot and a +half above the surface of the earth. In the space between the surface +and the eaves were loop-holes. The roof was of heavy pine timber, +closely joined, sloping upward slightly from circumference to centre, +and covered with two feet of tamped earth. To obtain water, a second +covered way led from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> earthwork to a spring fifty yards distant, +the outer entrance being concealed in a rocky nook screened in a thick +clump of willows.</p> + +<p>As we were climbing into our ambulance, preparatory to resuming our +journey, Brenda said:</p> + +<p>"If you had reached here three hours earlier you might have had the +company of two gentlemen who are riding to La Paz."</p> + +<p>"Sorry I did not meet them. Who were they?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Sage and Mr. Bell from Prescott. They are going to purchase goods +for their stores; and that reminds me that not one of you has +mentioned the object of this journey of yours."</p> + +<p>"That is really so," I replied. "You have made every minute of our +call so interesting in showing us your improvements and the fort, and +in doing the hospitable, that we have not thought of ourselves. Frank, +tell her about the ponies."</p> + +<p>Sergeant Frank, aided by Sergeant Henry, told in full of the loss of +their animals, and said we intended to try to capture Texas Dick and +Juan Brincos and recover Sancho and Chiquita.</p> + +<p>At the end of the boys' story, Brenda asked: "The thieves were a +Mexican and an American?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The American had a scar on the bridge of his nose, and the Mexican +had lost his front teeth?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly. What do you know about them, Brenda?"</p> + +<p>"They were here, but I did not see their ponies nearer than the +stable; they were black and cream color. The Mexican traded saddles +with uncle. You'll find the one he left in the lean-to, on a peg +beside the door."</p> + +<p>Both boys leaped to the ground and ran round the house to the lean-to, +and presently returned with Henry's neat McClellan saddle. It had been +stripped of its pouches and small straps, but was otherwise unharmed.</p> + +<p>"Well, when I come back with Chiquita, Mr. Arnold, I'd like to trade +saddles."</p> + +<p>"All right, youngkett, I'll trade, or you can take it now, and +welcome," replied the ranchman.</p> + +<p>"No; I'll leave it until I return."</p> + +<p>The saddle was taken back to the lean-to, and after a few more words +of leave-taking we started up the valley. A few miles of rapid +travelling brought us to a steep ascent into a mountainous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> range to +the right. We had proceeded but a short distance through a narrow and +rugged roadway when we were overtaken by the military expressman whom +we had left at Fort Whipple. He had come from Prescott to Skull Valley +by a short cut.</p> + +<p>"I have a letter for you, lieutenant," said he, approaching the +ambulance.</p> + +<p>Unfastening the mail-pouch, he turned its contents upon the back seat. +A heap of loose letters and three well-worn books strewed themselves +over the cushion. Frank picked up the books and examined their titles.</p> + +<p>"Xenophon's <i>Memorabilia</i>, Euripides' <i>Alcestis</i> and <i>Medea</i>, and a +Greek grammar!" exclaimed the astonished youngster. "What are you +doing with these college text-books on the La Paz trail?"</p> + +<p>"Making up conditions," replied the courier, a blush deepening the +brown of his face.</p> + +<p>"What are conditions?" asked Henry.</p> + +<p>"Oh, blissful ignorance! Why was I not spared the task of enlightening +it?" answered the courier. "Conditions are stumbling-blocks placed in +the way of successful trackmen, football players, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> rowing men by +non-appreciative and envious professors."</p> + +<p>"'Joseph Gould Hudson, University of Yalvard,'" read Frank from the +fly-leaf of the <i>Memorabilia</i>. "Is that your name, Mr. Hudson?"</p> + +<p>"I'm so borne on the Yalvard catalogue."</p> + +<p>"Please explain, Mr. Hudson," I said, "how a college boy happens to be +in Arizona running the gantlet of this mail-route and making up +conditions in Greek?"</p> + +<p>"I was stroke in the crew that won the championship for Yalvard at New +London one year ago, and got behind in these. I was conditioned, and +being ashamed to face an angry father, struck out for myself on the +Pacific coast. I drifted about from mining-camp to cattle-range until +I was dead broke; this place offered, and I took it because I could +find nothing else. I've had lots of opportunities for reflection on +the Xuacaxélla. I'm the repentant prodigal going home to his father."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are no prodigal, Mr. Hudson," observed Henry. "We've heard +all about you; you are too brave."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Sergeant Henry. No, I've not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> wasted my substance in +riotous living, nor have I eaten husks, but I've been prodigal in +wasting opportunities."</p> + +<p>"Lost a whole college year, haven't you?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I hope not. There is a German university man at La Paz who has been +coaching me. He thinks if I keep at work until after Christmas I can +go on with my old class. This is my last trip, and if I escape the +Apaches once more I'm going to lay off and work hard for a few months, +and then return to New Havbridge for examination. There's something in +that letter that concerns me."</p> + +<p>Opening the letter, I learned that Captain Bayard knew Mr. Hudson's +story. He said this was to be the last trip of the courier, but that +after his return to La Paz he would come out to meet me at Tyson's +Wells and report whether the horse-thieves were in town. He also +suggested that in establishing a transshipment storehouse at the +steamboat-landing I place Hudson in charge. The pay would be of use to +him while "making up."</p> + +<p>The courier wished us a pleasant journey, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> rode away at a +scrambling canter up the pass. He had been gone but a few moments when +I heard a shout, and, looking up, saw him standing on a pinnacle by +the way-side, on the summit of the ascent. He was looking in the +opposite direction, and I saw him fire three shots from his carbine in +rapid succession. Dismounting the men, I made rapid preparations to +meet an attack, and proceeded to work our way slowly up the height, +and when we reached the narrow level at the top we found Hudson and +the two soldiers that formed our advance occupying a shelter among the +rocks to the left, and gazing down the opposite slope.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Hudson?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"A party of Indians attempted to jump me here. There they go +now—across that opening in the sage-brush!"</p> + +<p>A dozen Indians dashed across an open space south of the road, but too +far away for effective shooting, and then two more passed over, +supporting a third between them.</p> + +<p>"You must have hit one of them."</p> + +<p>"I tried to. I think another was hurt more seriously, by the way he +acknowledged my shot."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"A slight scratch on the arm near the shoulder, and my horse is hurt."</p> + +<p>An examination of Hudson's arm proved that the scratch was not +serious, but I thought it best to exchange his horse for one belonging +to a soldier. We then went on, Frank and I walking in advance of the +ambulance mules.</p> + +<p>"There's something down there in the road by Ferrier's grave, sir," +said Corporal Duffey. "Looks like a dead man."</p> + +<p>"Is that where Ferrier was killed?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I was in command of the detail that came here to look him +up. He had built a little stone fort on that knoll up yonder, and kept +the redskins off three days. He kept a diary, you remember, which we +found. He killed six of them, and might as many more, but he couldn't +live without sleep or food, and the rascals got him. They scattered +the mail in shreds for miles about here."</p> + +<p>"Who was Ferrier?" Frank asked.</p> + +<p>"He was a discharged California volunteer, who rode the express before +Mr. Hudson."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you think Mr. Hudson knew his predecessor had been killed?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; the incident was much talked of at the time."</p> + +<p>We were nearing the object in the road. Suddenly the mules caught +sight of it, backed, and crushed the ten-gallon keg under the axle +against a bowlder—a serious mishap, as our after experience will +show. Walking on, we came to the mutilated bodies of two men, several +yards apart, whom we had no difficulty in recognizing to be the +tradesmen Bell and Sage. With axe, bayonets, and tin cups we dug a +shallow grave beside Ferrier's. We placed the bodies side by side, and +heaped a pyramid of stones above them.</p> + +<p>The courier again bade us good-bye, and we went on. The rest of the +ride through the mountain-pass was accomplished without adventure, and +evening found us encamped at Willow Springs. The boys shot a few quail +here, of the variety known as the California quail, distinguished by +an elegant plume of six feathers on the top of its head. Clary broiled +them for breakfast.</p> + +<p>The road on the following day was so rough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> that for much of the way +we were unable to move faster than a walk—the slow walk of draught +animals. When near a place called Soldiers' Holes, on account of some +rifle-pits sunk there, the corporal called my attention to a pool of +blood in the road.</p> + +<p>A close examination led us to believe that two men had fallen, that +one had been wounded, and that a second party had come and taken the +wounded man away. The locality was well adapted for a surprise. On the +left was a growth of dense shrubbery extending from the road to the +foot of the mountain-range. On the opposite side was an open plain.</p> + +<p>We were moving on again, when Frank remarked:</p> + +<p>"There seems to have been a big gathering of Apaches along this road."</p> + +<p>"Yes; a war-party bent on mischief. They have struck at two points, +and I fear a third—Date Creek—may have been attacked by this time. +That is where we are to pass the night." Then turning to Corporal +Duffey, I continued: "The road from here to the creek is soft and +loamy, and we are not likely to make much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> noise; caution the men to +be quiet and not show themselves outside the track. If the Indians are +at the ranch it will be best for us to appear there unexpectedly."</p> + +<p>"Do Indians never stand up like white men, and fight?" asked the +younger boy.</p> + +<p>"Frequently, but their system is different from ours; however, our +latest military tactics appear to be modelled on theirs."</p> + +<p>Although this section of our journey was but twenty-five miles long, +our rate of progress had been so slow that the day was nearly closed +when we came in sight of the lines of cottonwoods that bordered Date +Creek. We turned at last sharply to the left, and began a descent +through a narrow ravine towards the creek. We were nearing its +widening mouth when a half-dozen sharp reports of fire-arms broke upon +our ears. A halt was ordered and the men directed to prevent the +animals from betraying our presence by whinnying or braying. Telling +Sergeant Henry to remain behind and keep Vic with him, I went in +advance with Sergeant Frank.</p> + +<p>"What do you think is going on?" asked my companion, as several more +reports rang out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What I feared; the Apaches are attacking the men who went out to +bring in the dead and wounded men at Soldiers' Holes."</p> + +<p>"And if Mr. Hudson was not the wounded man there, I suppose he is sure +to be in this scrape. Why not rush in with the escort and frighten +them away?"</p> + +<p>"They may be too many for us," I answered, "and it will be prudent to +learn the situation at the ranch before we go nearer. I want to join +the white men without the Indians' knowledge, if possible."</p> + +<p>"If Mr. Hudson is not dead, he must know we are here."</p> + +<p>"He may be there, and the men may know we are on the road, but it +certainly does not look like it."</p> + +<p>"Can't Vic be sent with a message?"</p> + +<p>"No; she will not take a message to a stranger."</p> + +<p>We had now reached a point from which we could see a log cabin, a +stable, and an open shed or tool-house. On the side of the buildings +towards us, as if screening themselves from an enemy in the opposite +direction, were a few men.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If you would like me to, sir, I can crawl to the house without being +seen," said Frank. "That cart, wagon, oven, and stack will screen me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can do it easily. Tell Mr. Hopkins that we are +here—seventeen, counting you two boys—and to make no demonstration +when we close up. I will explain a plan to him which, I think, will +enable us to teach the Apaches a lesson. If you find Mr. Hudson there, +tell him to show himself at a window or door."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE BOY SERGEANTS DO GOOD SERVICE</h3> +<p>Frank dropped flat upon the earth and worked his way to the cabin +without being seen. Instantly I received a signal from Mr. Hopkins +through a back window, and a moment later Mr. Hudson looked out of a +back door and raised his hat. I was glad to see that his college +career was still a possibility.</p> + +<p>Hurrying back to the ambulance, I caused the animals to be grouped in +charge of the driver and two soldiers, and with the rest of the detail +moved in the direction of the ranch buildings.</p> + +<p>It had become so dark that we might possibly have passed over the open +space without being seen, but, for fear of accidents, we covered it, +as Frank had done, on all fours. The first persons I met when I rose +to a vertical position were Hudson and Frank, who took me to Mr. +Hop<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>kins. The ranchman greeted me with the assurance that the arrival +of my party was a godsend, and had probably saved their scalps.</p> + +<p>I learned that the men at Date Creek, including the mail-carrier, +numbered seven; that three were in the stable and four in the house. +These buildings were the same distance from the stream, and fifty feet +apart. The bank of the creek was perpendicular for a mile either way, +standing fully twelve feet above the surface of the water; but there +was a notch with a sloping descent, midway between the buildings, down +which the live-stock was driven to water. This slope offered the only +practicable point of attack, unless the Indians chose to move by one +of our flanks over a long level.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hopkins said he had crept out to the shrubbery on the edge of the +precipitous river-bank, to the left of the slope, just before my +arrival, and had seen on the opposite shore a small party of men +moving through the willow branches towards our left. He believed it +was a flanking-party, intending to make a feint from that direction +and enable the main body to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>charge through the notch in the bank. +Believing the repelling force to be but seven, the Indians were quite +sure of success.</p> + +<p>I was convinced that Mr. Hopkins's inferences were correct; but in +order that no mistake should be made, I sent two veterans in frontier +service, Privates Clary and Hoey, to reconnoitre both flanks. They +were gone half an hour, and returned with the information that no +demonstration was being made towards our right, but that a dozen or +more men had gathered on the opposite shore, at a point where they +could cross and turn our left flank.</p> + +<p>Preparations to meet this movement were begun at once. Sergeant Frank +was sent to the ambulance with orders for the men in charge to bring +in the animals, two at a time, and fasten them in the rear of the +stable and stack. This was easily accomplished in the darkness. The +ambulance was left in charge of Vic.</p> + +<p>While this was going on, and I was overlooking the construction of +rifle-shelters on the flanks, Sergeant Henry approached and asked if +he could not be of some use. Something in the tone of the boy's voice +showed me he felt he had been neglected, while his brother had been +kept busy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What would you like to do?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Does a soldier choose his duty, sir?" was the reply, uttered with +some dignity.</p> + +<p>"Not usually, sergeant, it is true. I have a very important thing for +you to do—something for which I was intending to look you up. Go and +find Private Clary, and tell him to help you carry several armfuls of +hay from the stack to the right of the slope. Make a heap, so that +when it is lighted it will illuminate the approach from the creek. Ask +Mr. Hopkins if he has any kerosene or other inflammable stuff to +sprinkle on the hay and make it flash up quickly and burn brilliantly. +Then throw up a shelter in which you can lie and be ready to light the +hay when signalled."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. Thank you. I'll attend to everything."</p> + +<p>Not more than fifteen minutes had elapsed when the boy sergeant +returned and informed me that the bundle of hay was prepared and a +shelter constructed.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hopkins has two gallons of axle-grease and two quarts of spirits +of turpentine."</p> + +<p>"Excellent. Mix them together and sprinkle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> the hay thoroughly. Then +place yourself in the shelter, and when you see a light flash from the +west window of the house light your bonfire."</p> + +<p>"I'll do so, sir," and the boy ran away in the darkness.</p> + +<p>An hour had passed when loud whoops gave us warning of the enemy's +approach. It was the war-cry of the terrible Apaches. Not a sound came +from the creek. I strained my eyes in that direction, but nothing was +visible in the black darkness beneath the pendulous branches of the +willows.</p> + +<p>At last I saw the fixed reflections of the stars in the surface of the +pool diffuse themselves into myriads of sparkling atoms. A +considerable body of Indians must be in the water, but none appeared +in sight. Yes, they were crossing in two columns, to the right and +left of the notch, concealed by the high shore, and would shortly +unite and charge up the slope. Baldwin ran to the stable to tell the +men there that the Apaches were coming, and to be on the alert.</p> + +<p>The whoops of the flanking party redoubled, and were accompanied by a +desultory firing, which the four men opposing them answered in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> the +same way. Then I saw the sparkling water of the pool cut off from my +sight, and knew that a body of men stood on the slope between us and +the creek.</p> + +<p>"Frank, show the light! Men, ready!"</p> + +<p>The lantern flashed from the window, quickly answered by a flash on +the bank, and a mass of red flame threw its luminous tresses skyward, +bathing the whole scene in light. In the notch, half-way up the slope, +stood a momentarily paralyzed group of nearly a hundred painted +warriors. Every rifle in the hands of the white men in the two +buildings spoke, and instantly the notch emptied itself pell-mell of +its living throng. Only a few prostrate bodies showed the Apaches had +been there.</p> + +<p>With the discharge of fire-arms a silence immediately fell upon the +scene, in marked contrast to the shrieking and yelling of a moment +before. The bonfire burned low, and went out. Once more we were in +darkness.</p> + +<p>We believed the Indians would make no further demonstration, and an +hour later a scouting party ascertained that they had gathered their +dead and departed. Sentinels were posted, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> ambulance run in by +hand, the stock fed, and a midnight meal cooked.</p> + +<p>While sitting by the camp-fire, listening to the sizzling of the bacon +and sniffing the aroma of the coffee, Mr. Hopkins introduced me to his +men and guests, and I heard an explanation of the tracks and blood at +Soldiers' Holes.</p> + +<p>Early that morning three gentlemen, who had passed the night at the +ranch, started for Prescott. They were a Mr. Gray, a Scotch merchant +at La Paz; Mr. Hamilton, a lawyer of the same place; and a Mr. +Rosenberg, a freighter. When near the Holes, Mr. Hamilton, who was +riding in advance, was shot by Indians concealed in the sage-brush. +Mr. Rosenberg's mule was wounded, and plunged so that his rider fell +to the ground. Mr. Gray, seeing the plight of the freighter, rode to +his side, seized him by the collar, and aided him to leap to a seat +behind him.</p> + +<p>It is probable that this act of generous daring might have ended in +the death of both men but for a diversion caused by the sudden and +unexpected appearance of the military expressman. He came up a slope +from a lower level, and, tak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span>ing in the situation at a glance, let fly +three shots from his breech-loading carbine that caused the Indians to +lie low. The three men rode to the ranch, and Mr. Hopkins and his +three workmen accompanied them to bring in the body of Mr. Hamilton. +The Indians did not begin to concentrate at the creek until after the +burial.</p> + +<p>Supper being over, the boys and I were getting into our blankets for +the rest of the night, when Mr. Hudson, who had been preparing to +depart, came to bid us good-bye.</p> + +<p>"I seem to take frequent leave of you, these times, lieutenant," he +said.</p> + +<p>"Yes; and your farewell ride with the Whipple mail so far seems to +have been anything but monotonous. I think the <i>Anabasis</i> would be a +more suitable subject of study on this route than the <i>Memorabilia</i>."</p> + +<p>"'Hence they proceeded one day's journey, a distance of five +parasangs, and fell in with the barbarians,' might well be said of +this trip, for a fact."</p> + +<p>"Hadn't you better travel with me the rest of the way?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think we have seen the last of the Apaches. They do not range south +and west of here. Good-bye, sir."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, until we meet at Tyson's Wells."</p> + +<p>The next morning, when the boys, Vic, and I were taking our places in +the ambulance, Mr. Hopkins and his men, Mr. Gray and Mr. Rosenberg, +approached us mounted. They informed me that they were going to La +Paz.</p> + +<p>"The Ingins are gettin' a little too thick here," observed the +ranchman. "I find it diffikilt to git proper rest after a hard day's +work. Think I'll stay away until Uncle Sam's boys thin 'em out a +little more."</p> + +<p>"Can I obtain a five or ten gallon keg of you, Mr. Hopkins?" I asked. +"Ours was accidentally smashed on the road."</p> + +<p>"Haven't a keg to my name, lieutenant. One way 'n' ernuther all's been +smashed, give away, or lent."</p> + +<p>The ride from the ranch to the edge of the desert plain was twelve +miles, a portion of it over a rugged ridge. To the point where we were +to ford the creek was two miles, and there the hired men, pack-mules, +and ranch cattle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> turned off on the Bill Williams Fork route to the +Rio Colorado.</p> + +<p>Once on the level of the Xuacaxélla our team broke into a brisk trot, +and we rolled along with a fair prospect of soon crossing the one +hundred miles between Date Creek and La Paz. Messrs. Gray, Rosenberg, +and Hopkins shortly turned into a bridle-path which led into a mine. +Before taking leave of us Mr. Gray told me that my camping-place for +the night would be at the point of the third mountain-spur which +jutted into the plain from the western range.</p> + +<p>We had not travelled long before we realized our misfortune in having +smashed our water-keg. Each individual in our party possessed a +three-pint army canteen, which had been filled when we forded the +creek in the early dawn. These were to last us until evening, through +an exceedingly sultry day. Frank, Henry, and I did our best to +overcome our desire for water, but the younger boy could not refuse +the appeals of Vic, when she looked up with lolling tongue and +beseeching eyes to the canteens.</p> + +<p>The men were the greatest sufferers, unless I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>except their horses. +Long before mid-day their canteens were empty and their mouths so dry +that articulation was difficult and they rarely spoke.</p> + +<p>At five we arrived opposite the third spur, where we found a wand +sticking in the ground and holding in its cleft end a slip of paper. +It proved to be a note from Mr. Hudson, saying that this was the place +to camp, and the Black Tanks were on the southern side of the spur, +three miles distant.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes, with the horses and mules divested of saddles, +bridles, and harnesses, leaving two men behind to guard the property +and collect fuel for a fire, we were on the way to water.</p> + +<p>Hurrying along, we saw before us a long, irregular range, apparently +three thousand feet in height, which had been cleft from summit to +base as if by a wedge. In this rent we found water—water deposited in +a natural reservoir by the periodical rainfalls in millions of +gallons, a reservoir never known to be dry.</p> + +<p>Climbing over the dike which enclosed the main deposit, we descended +to the cistern, filled our cups, and swallowed the contents without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +taking a breath. When we dipped up a second, Tom Clary looked into the +depths of his cup with knitted brows.</p> + +<p>"Whist, now, sergeant laddies!" he exclaimed. "Look into the wather! +It's aloive with wigglers of ivery variety. They're 's plinty as pays +in a soup."</p> + +<p>"Ugh! And we are full of them, too, Tom," said Henry, looking into his +cup with narrow-eyed anxiety.</p> + +<p>Pausing in the act of taking a second drink, I looked into my cup, and +saw that it contained myriads of animalcula and larvæ, which zigzagged +from side to side in the liveliest manner.</p> + +<p>"Will they hurt us, Tom?" questioned Henry.</p> + +<p>"I rickon they've got the worst of it, sergeant laddie; but I think +I'd fale a bit aisier if I was blindfolded or takin' a drink in the +dark. I prefer me liquid refrishment with a little less mate, not to +minshin its bein' less frisky."</p> + +<p>We had come to the Cisternas Negras with towels, intending to wash off +the dust of travel. We now used one of them to strain the water, and +were astonished to see that each gallon left <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>behind it a plump +spoonful of animalcula. The water was sweet, but, after discovering +the abundant life in it, we deferred drinking more of it until it had +been boiled.</p> + +<p>As we pursued the narrow path to camp in single file, we noticed Vic a +considerable distance to the right, scouting and nosing about in an +earnest manner. Evidently she thought she had made an important +discovery, for she several times paused and looked in our direction +and barked. But we were too hungry to investigate, and soon she +disappeared from our view.</p> + +<p>When we reached the ambulance the boys put a few cakes of hard bread +in their pockets, and, taking their shot-guns, went out to look for +some "cottontails" while supper was being prepared. Believing we were +well out of the range of hostile Indians, I did not object to their +going alone. They passed a considerable distance beyond the growth of +<i>Cereus giganteus</i>, over a level stretch covered with knee-high +bunch-grass and desert weeds, without seeing a hare. Pausing on the +brink of a shoal, dry ravine, they stood side by side, and rested the +butts of their guns upon the ground. Just then a shout of "Supper! +supper!" came from the group at the camp-fire.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hate to go back without anything," said Frank, so I afterwards heard. +"Strange we can't see a rabbit now, when we saw dozens on the way to +the Tanks."</p> + +<p>"That's because we didn't have a gun," said Henry.</p> + +<p>"You don't believe the rabbits knew we weren't armed then and know we +are now?"</p> + +<p>"Hunters tell bigger stories than that about 'Brer Rabbit.' Not one +has bobbed up since we got our guns."</p> + +<p>Suddenly from the flat surface of the plain, not twenty yards from +where the boys stood, where nothing but bunch-grass and low shrubbery +grew, sixteen Indians sprang up to full height, like so many +Jacks-in-a-box.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV</h2> + +<h3>ON THE DESERT WITHOUT WATER</h3> +<p>The boys were frightened. Their hearts leaped into their throats, and +it was difficult for them to restrain an impulse to turn and run; but +a soldierly instinct brought them to a "ready," with eyes fixed upon +the probable enemy.</p> + +<p>"Quick, Henry! shoot!" exclaimed Frank, intending to reserve his own +fire.</p> + +<p>The younger sergeant raised his double-barrelled shot-gun to his +shoulder and pulled both triggers. Down went the sixteen Indians as if +the bird-shot had been fatal to all. The plain became in an instant as +objectless as it was a moment before.</p> + +<p>"Load, Henry, and, backward, march!" said Frank, ready to fire +whenever a head showed above the grass, and at the same time moving as +rapidly as possible towards the camp-fire.</p> + +<p>"How! how! how!" was chorused from the di<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span>rection of the Indians, and +several naked brown arms were stretched upward, holding rifles +horizontally in the air.</p> + +<p>"That means peace," said Henry. "They aren't going to fire. Let's +answer. How! how! how!"</p> + +<p>"How! how! how!" Frank joined in, and at once the sixteen redmen +sprang to their feet, apparently none the worse for Henry's double +charge of bird-shot at short range. They held their weapons above +their heads, and continuing to utter their friendly "How!" rapidly +advanced towards the boys.</p> + +<p>"They aren't playing us a trick, are they, Frank?" asked Henry, in an +anxious tone.</p> + +<p>"No," replied the elder boy, after snatching a glance to the rear. +"The lieutenant and soldiers are saddling. The Indians dare not harm +us on an open plain in sight of a mounted force."</p> + +<p>The boys stopped, and the redmen came up and began shaking hands in a +most friendly manner, over and over again, repeating "How!" many +times. They were clad in loose and sleeveless cotton shirts, all +ragged and dirty, with no other clothing. The one who appeared to be +chief was distinguished by the possession of three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> shirts, worn one +above the other. Each man possessed several hares and field-rats, held +against his waist by tucking the heads under his belt.</p> + +<p>The boy sergeants and their strange guests reached the camp-fire, and +the hand-shaking and exchange of amicable civilities went on for some +time. The chief approached me and, placing a finger on one of my +shoulder-straps, asked, in mongrel Spanish:</p> + +<p>"Usted capitan?" (Are you the captain?)</p> + +<p>I replied in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>"Yo capitan, tambien; mucho grande heap capitan." (I'm a captain, too; +a very great heap captain.)</p> + +<p>He then asked where we were from and where we were going, and informed +us that they were Yavapais on a hunting expedition. We exchanged hard +bread with them for a few cottontails, and set Clary to making a +rabbit-stew, the boys and I deferring our supper until it should be +ready.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Duncan," shouted Henry from the direction of the Indians, a +few moments later, "come and see what these creatures are doing!"</p> + +<p>I left the ambulance and joined the group of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> soldiers who stood in a +circle about an inner circle of seated Indians. Each Yavapai had +selected a rat from the collection in his belt, and had laid it on the +coals without dressing it or in any way disturbing its anatomy. He +rolled the rat over once or twice, and took it up and brushed and blew +off the singed hair. He placed it again on the coals for a moment, +and, taking it up, pinched off the charred fore legs close to the body +and the hind legs at the ham-joint. Replacing it on the fire, he +turned it over a few more times. Picking it up for the third time, he +held it daintily in the palm of his left hand, and with the fingers of +his right plucked off the flesh and put it in his mouth.</p> + +<p>When we were making our beds ready for the night, Vic, whom we had +forgotten in the exciting events of the evening, trotted into camp and +laid a horseshoe in Henry's lap. The lad took it up, and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"One of Chiquita's shoes!—a left hind shoe!"</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Private Sattler always shaped the heel of the left shoe like this, to +correct a fault in her gait."</p> + +<p>"May I look at the shoe, sergeant?" asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> Corporal Duffey, +approaching from the group of men near the guard's fire. "Shoes are +like hand-writing—no two blacksmiths make them alike. I am a +blacksmith by trade, and know all the shoes made by the smiths of our +regiment. This," examining it, "is one of Sattler's. He put a +side-weight on it, and here is the bevel-mark of his hammer."</p> + +<p>"Then our ponies have certainly passed here, and Vic was on their +trail when we saw her coming from the Tanks," remarked Frank; "but +there could have been no scent after so long a time."</p> + +<p>"Oh, she knows Sancho's and Chiquita's tracks," asseverated Henry; +"she knows their halters, bridles, and will bring them when told to, +without mistake."</p> + +<p>The sentinel awakened us next morning at four o'clock, and informed us +that the Indians had left two hours before. The animals were again +driven to the Tanks, the vessels and canteens filled, and at six +o'clock we were on the road. Nearly all our water was used in the +preparation of breakfast, except that in the canteens. It would have +been better if we had made a third trip to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> cisterns and refilled +our coffee-pot and camp-kettles; but the delay necessary to do it, and +the assurance that there was water at Hole-in-the-Plain, determined me +to go on at once. The weather was a repetition of that of the previous +day—hot and windless.</p> + +<p>The road proved generally smooth, but there were occasional long +stretches over which it was impossible to drive faster than a walk. +About four in the afternoon we reached Hole-in-the-Plain, and found +nothing but a few hundred square yards of thin mud. The fierce rays of +the sun had nearly evaporated every vestige of the recent rainfall, +and in twenty-four hours more the mud would be baked earth.</p> + +<p>Vic, consumed with thirst and suffering in the extreme heat, waded +into the mud and rolled in it until she was the color of a fresh +adobe, and was, in consequence, made to ride thereafter in disgrace on +the driver's foot-board.</p> + +<p>We had intended to pass the night at the Hole, but want of water +compelled us to move on. Very gloomy and doubtful of the outcome, we +left the Hole-in-the-Plain. We were toiling slowly up a slope, nearly +a dozen miles on this third<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> stage of the desert route, when a +horseman overtook us, who proved to be Mr. Gray. He slowed up, +listened to my account of our perplexities, and after saying many +hopeful and cheering things, telling us that Tyson's Wells were now +not far ahead, he galloped swiftly away in the darkness.</p> + +<p>At midnight the road ascended to a considerably higher level and +became suddenly hard and smooth. The driver urged the team into a +series of brief and spasmodic trots, which lasted a couple of hours, +when we again descended to a lower level, where the wearily slow gait +was resumed. With the slower pace our spirits fell and our thirst +increased. As Private Tom Clary expressed it to the driver:</p> + +<p>"In a place like this a gallon of Black Tanks water would be +acciptible without a strainer, and no reflictions passed upon the +wigglers."</p> + +<p>"That's so, Tom," called Henry, from the depths of his blankets; "I +could drink two quarts of it—half and half."</p> + +<p>"Half and half—what do you mean?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Half water and half wigglers," was the answer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I thought you were asleep."</p> + +<p>"Can't sleep, sir; I'm too thirsty. Did drop off once for two or three +minutes, and dreamed of rivers, waterfalls, springs, and wells that I +could not reach."</p> + +<p>"I've not slept at all," said Frank; "just been thinking whether I +ever rode over a mile in Vermont without crossing a brook or passing a +watering-trough."</p> + +<p>"It's beginning to grow light in the east," observed the driver. "By +the time we reach the top of the next roll we can see whether we are +near the Wells."</p> + +<p>"You may stop the team, Marr," said I; "we will wait for the escort to +close up."</p> + +<p>We got out to stretch our legs, while the straggling soldiers slowly +overtook us. The man on the wounded bronco did not arrive until the +edge of the sun peeped above the horizon, and I ordered him to remove +the saddle and bridle, hitch the animal behind the ambulance, and take +a seat beside the driver.</p> + +<p>Just when we were about to start again, Frank asked permission to run +ahead with the field-glass to the rising ground and look for Tyson's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +Wells. I consented, and told him to signal us if he saw them, and that +if he did not we would halt, turn out, and send the least worn of the +escort ahead for relief.</p> + +<p>Frank started, and presently disappeared behind some brush at a turn +in the road. An instant later he shouted and screamed at the top of +his voice. Whether he was shouting with joy or terror, or had gone out +of his senses, we were unable to guess. It sounded like "Who-o-o-op! +water! water! water!"</p> + +<p>Had the boy seen a mirage and gone mad? We could see nothing but the +broad hollow about us, barren and dry as ever. But still the boy +continued to shout, "Water! water!" and presently he appeared round +the bend, running and holding up what appeared to be a letter. It was +a letter. When Frank reached the ambulance tears were in his eyes as +he handed me a yellow envelope.</p> + +<p>"Found it on the head of a barrel over there, with a stone on it to +prevent it from blowing away."</p> + +<p>Breaking open the envelope with trembling fingers, I read:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="sig">"<span class="smcap">Tyson's Wells.</span></p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Lieutenant.</span>—Please accept four barrels of water and +four bushels of corn, with my compliments.</p> + +<p class="sig2">"<span class="smcap">Gray.</span>"</p> +</div> + +<p>Need I confess the emotions with which we realized the service this +brave Arizona merchant had done us? or need I mention that Mr. +Gray—God bless him, wherever he may be!—is always remembered with +gratitude by me? for this is no idle incident invented to amuse a +reader, but an actual occurrence.</p> + +<p>Water!—four barrels!—one hundred and sixty gallons! That meant two +gallons for every man and boy, and eight gallons for each animal. It +meant rest, speed, safety.</p> + +<p>We moved across the ravine and found the four barrels by the +road-side. The animals were secured to the ambulance and the acacia +bushes, the heads of the barrels removed, and after each person had +satisfied his thirst the camp kettles were used, until horses and +mules had drunk the contents of one each. The stock was then turned +out to graze.</p> + +<p>When coffee was poured, Private Tom Clary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> arose, and, holding up his +tin cup, said to his comrades:</p> + +<p>"Here's a toast to be drunk standin', b'ys, and for many raysons, +which I think nade not be explained to this assimbly, I'm glad to +drink it in a decoction whose principal ingraydiant is wather. Here's +to Mr. Gray, whose conduct at Soldiers' Holes, at Date Creek, and on +the Walkerhelyer has won our admiration. May he niver lack for the +liquid he has so ginerously dispinsed, nor a soft hand to smooth his +last pillow, and plinty of masses for the repose of his sowl!"</p> + +<p>Frank and Henry sprang towards the circle of soldiers, raised their +cups as Clary finished his sentiment, and joined in the hearty +response when he closed.</p> + +<p>At one o'clock the animals were caught up, given the remainder of the +water and their portion of the corn, and got ready for the road. Once +up the slope Marr cracked his whip, the mules started into a trot, the +horses of the escort broke into a canter, and amid the cheerful +clatter of hoofs and the rattle of wheels we sped on our way as fresh +as if we were just leaving Fort <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span>Whipple. A ride of twenty miles +brought us to Tyson's Wells. These were two in number, sunk at an +intersection of several roads leading to settlements and mines, an +accommodation to trains, flocks, and herds, and a profit to the owner.</p> + +<p>I learned from Colonel Tyson that immediately upon his arrival Mr. +Gray had hired a wagon to take water and corn to us. He had bargained +for the driver to go until he met us, but the man being prepaid may +account for his not fulfilling his agreement to the letter.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day and night was spent at the Wells, the boys and I +taking our supper at the Desert Hotel, kept by the colonel. At the +table, Henry, in a tone of evident anxiety, asked if we should return +the way we came.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if we can find a few kegs in La Paz that will hold water," I +answered.</p> + +<p>"But we cannot haul kegs enough in the ambulance to supply the +animals."</p> + +<p>"It will not be difficult. We will follow the army custom in such +cases, and I will promise you that there will be no suffering from +thirst when we cross the desert again."</p> + +<p>Just as we were preparing for bed Mr. Hudson <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>arrived from La Paz. He +informed me that Texas Dick and Jumping Jack were there and in +possession of the ponies; that there was to be a horse-race the day +after to-morrow, and the ponies had been entered. At this news the boy +sergeants became much excited, and proposed a dozen impracticable ways +of going on at once and seizing their property.</p> + +<p>Hudson said he had talked the matter over with Mr. Gray, and the +merchant had advised that we give out a report in La Paz that we were +there on the transportation and storehouse business only, and make no +immediate attempt to capture the ponies. He said the town was full of +the friends of the horse-thieves, and that our movements would be +closely watched and reported to them. If they became alarmed they +would probably run across the Mexican boundary at once.</p> + +<p>"But why cannot we attend the race with the escort, as spectators, and +seize them?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"That is a move they will be sure to be looking for. If any of you go +to the race, I believe neither of those men nor the ponies will be +there."</p> + +<p>I told Hudson to return to La Paz before day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>light and circulate the +report that I was coming for the purpose he had mentioned. I also +requested him to watch Jack and Dick, and if he saw them making +preparations for flight to come and meet me. We were met on the +outskirts of the town by Mr. Gray, who told us we were to be his +guests during our stay, and that his corral and store-rooms were at +the service of my men and stock.</p> + +<p>Going directly to the house of the hospitable trader, we found it to +consist of well-furnished bachelor quarters, with several spare rooms +for guests. The boys were assigned a room by themselves, and I one +adjoining them, in which we found ample evidence that our host had +looked forward with pleasure to our visit and had fully understood +boyish needs and desires.</p> + +<p>Henry, after exchanging his travelling-dress for a neat uniform, +appeared upon the veranda with glowing face and shining hair.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Gray, how pleasant you have made our room for us! Have you any +boys of your own?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Only two nephews, Sandy and Malcolm, in the 'Land of Cakes,'" was the +reply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What a good uncle you must be to them!"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, laddie. I hope the bairns are as fine boys as you and your +brother."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind to say so, sir. May I ask you a question?"</p> + +<p>"A dozen, laddie. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"When you overtook us on the desert you said it was not far to Tyson's +Wells, and that we should soon be there."</p> + +<p>"Ah! then you thought it a long way, sergeant?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps my terrible thirst had something to do with it, but it seemed +more than twenty-five miles. I thought you had a queer notion of +distances."</p> + +<p>"Only a little deception to keep up your heart, laddie. I saw you were +in sad need of water, and I made a hard ride to send it to you, but I +wanted you to do your best to meet it. What do you think of the +shrinking properties of water when applied to a desert road?"</p> + +<p>"Wasn't it great, though! Those last twenty miles your four barrels +shrank into nothing but a pleasant three hours' ride."</p> + +<p>After dinner Mr. Hudson reported that he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> dropped information at +the hotels and business places that we were here to meet a director of +the Colorado Navigation Company. We also learned from him that the +steamer <i>Cocopah</i> had arrived that morning from up-river, and was now +lying at her landing, one mile below town, awaiting the return of the +director from Wickenburg. Both Mr. Gray and Hudson were of the opinion +that the horse-thieves were suspicious of our presence, for their +agents had been unable to locate the ponies at any stable in town. The +horse-race was advertised to come off on the afternoon of the +following day, half a mile below the steamboat-landing, and Texas Dick +and Juan Brincos had entered horses for the stakes.</p> + +<p>Mr. Gray thought the appearance of the ponies in the race would depend +entirely upon what course we pursued. If we attended the race the +ponies would not be there; if we stayed away he had no doubt they +would run.</p> + +<p>Believing the trader's convictions to be correct, I instructed the +escort not to go south of the town during the day of the races, and +told Frank and Henry to amuse themselves about the streets or in the +vicinity of Mr. Gray's residence. I then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> started with our host to +procure a building for a military storehouse.</p> + +<p>For the rest of the day the boys showed little disposition to wander +about; they spent most of their time lounging on their beds with a +book, or asleep.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV</h2> + +<h3>THE PONIES ARE FOUND</h3> +<p>The following day the boy sergeants rose from their beds fully +refreshed, and after breakfast began to explore the town. They made +some purchases in the stores, and found much amusement in watching a +bevy of Mojave Indian girls buying pigments to be used in adorning +their necks, arms, and faces. Following the bronze maidens to the +shore of a lagoon that backed up to the town from the river, they +seated themselves beneath a cottonwood and witnessed the designing of +tracings in many colors, made with endless and musical chatterings, +accompanied by an evident consciousness that they were objects of +interest to two pale-face boys.</p> + +<p>After completing the tinting the girls would walk about for a while +and display their work to admiring friends, and then plunge into and +swim about the lagoon with the ease and grace<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> of a lot of mermaids; +emerging with no trace left of their recent ornamentation, they would +proceed to renew it in different designs, and take another swim.</p> + +<p>"Quite like watering-place belles with extensive wardrobes," remarked +Frank.</p> + +<p>"And takes about as long to put on the paint as to put on a +fashionable dress," said Henry, "but not so long to remove it."</p> + +<p>Another thing that amused the boys was a <i>balsa</i>, or raft, made by the +Mojaves, of the cane-grass which grew in the river-bottoms to the +height of fifteen feet. A large bundle bound at the ends with grass +ropes would sustain two men. The boys borrowed one of an Indian girl, +who was sitting in the shade of some willows prinking herself +artistically with an original and intricate pigmentary pattern. +Stepping on board, they paddled about the lagoon for a considerable +period.</p> + +<p>Tiring at last of the sport, they separated, Frank saying that he was +going for his shot-gun, and perhaps shoot for some quail, and Henry +that he meant to find Tom Clary and set some lines for catfish.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + +<p>The younger sergeant failing to find the soldier, selected a line, +and, procuring some bait, returned alone to the lagoon. On his way he +met the Indian girl walking along the sidewalk, an object of +admiration and envy to the men and women of her people. Her bronze +flesh was adorned with a lacelike tracery of beautiful design, in many +tints.</p> + +<p>"How exceedingly pretty!" said Henry, in Spanish, a language fairly +well understood by the aborigines of the Southwest.</p> + +<p>"I, or my paint?" asked the girl, coquettishly.</p> + +<p>"The paint is well put on; but I think you prettiest just after a +swim."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, señor."</p> + +<p>"May I use the balsa again, Indita?"</p> + +<p>"Si, señor, and you may keep it, but return the paddle."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. I will leave the paddle on the shore where you were +sitting."</p> + +<p>With this exchange of civilities Henry walked down to the pool. An +idea had occurred to him. He wondered if he could not float down the +river to the racing-ground and get a peep at Sancho <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>and Chiquita, as +they came in victors. He felt sure no ponies in Arizona could outrun +them. But Mr. Duncan had told the escort not to go to the race. True; +but what harm could there be if he kept out of sight?</p> + +<p>Placing an empty box on the raft for a seat, he took Vic on board, and +began paddling out of the lagoon. Speed could not be made with such a +craft; it was simply a convenience for crossing or journeying down the +river. The Mojaves, whose village was five miles above La Paz, came +down on freshly made <i>balsas</i> every day, but walked home, carrying +their paddles.</p> + +<p>Once well out of the lagoon, and in the river-current, the boy and dog +were swept along at a swift rate.</p> + +<p>A mile down the shore he saw a crowd of men, mounted and on foot, +intently watching something inland. He was approaching the +race-course. He made a landing on a sand-spit that struck off from an +outward curve of the bank, and dragged the <i>balsa</i> out of the water.</p> + +<p>The shore rose abruptly from the bar to a height two feet above his +head. He lifted and boosted Vic up, and seizing the long tufts of +overhanging grass and thrusting his feet into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> the loops of willow +roots, drew himself to the higher level and crept into a screen of low +bushes.</p> + +<p>Peering through the branches, Henry saw a straight-away course, +parallel to the river, bordered for three hundred yards with the +motley crowd of a mining and Indian country. At the northern end of +the course was a group of ten ponies, out of which he found no +difficulty in discovering two, a black and a cream-color, and +recognizing in them the property of his brother and himself. In his +opinion they were the handsomest animals in the group.</p> + +<p>At the fourth signal—a pistol-shot—the ponies got away. Down the +three-hundred-yard track they sped, and over the last fourth the black +and cream-color led by a length, crossing the goal with Sancho half a +neck in advance. Of course the little sergeant knew they would beat, +and in spite of his sorrow at the loss of his ponies—intensified by +this stolen sight of them—he could not refrain from clapping his +hands and saying, aloud, "Bravo, Sancho! Bravita, Chiquita!"</p> + +<p>The subdued cheer was promptly answered by a succession of barks at +the foot of the tree, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> Vic, interpreting the boy's clapping and +speech to mean that she was free to go, dashed off at the top of her +speed for the race-course, and to its southern end, where the victors +were now held by their dismounted riders. Vic bounded wildly about +them for a few moments, and then, standing still, Henry saw each horse +in turn place its nose to the dog's nose. One of the men struck the +dog sharply with the loop of his bridle-rein, and as she fled back in +the direction of the tree in which the boy was, he saw the riders hold +a brief consultation and then follow the dog.</p> + +<p>Henry, perceiving he was discovered, let himself down from the tree. +Texas Dick and Jumping Jack approached.</p> + +<p>"Ven acá, muchacho" (Come here, boy), said the Mexican.</p> + +<p>Henry did not stir, and Dick said to his companion, in Spanish: "He +does not understand your lingo. I will try him in English: Come here, +boy."</p> + +<p>Henry had not disregarded Juan's summons for any particular reason, +but the remark of Dick gave him an idea. By pretending igno<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span>rance of +Spanish he might learn something that would be of advantage to him. +Accordingly, he came forward when Dick spoke.</p> + +<p>"From Fort Whipple, ain't yer, sonny?"</p> + +<p>"I am."</p> + +<p>"D' ye know these critters?"</p> + +<p>"The black is my brother's, the light is mine."</p> + +<p>"Lookin' on 'em up, I s'pect?"</p> + +<p>"We shall take them, if we can."</p> + +<p>"You see, I was right," continued Dick to his companion, in Spanish. +"They came here to take these horses."</p> + +<p>"Then we better call for the prize, collect our stakes, and leave," +said Juan.</p> + +<p>"Where shall we go?" asked Dick. "Arizona's getting uncomfortable for +me, and your kin across the Mexican line don't love you."</p> + +<p>"Valgame Dios, no! Let's cross the river and go to San Diego or Los +Angeles."</p> + +<p>"Estar bueno. Come with us, youngster," he added, in English; "and +mind ye keep a quiet tongue in yer head or ye'll have no head to wag +it in after ye've spoke."</p> + +<p>Henry followed the men to the head of the race-course, where they +received their prizes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> and winnings, and withdrew to the river-bank. +There they divided the money and held a conference.</p> + +<p>"We'd better cross the river to-night and camp at El Rincon until +morning, and then strike for Dos Palmas and the coast."</p> + +<p>"Shall we leave our monte and other stuff in town?" asked Juan.</p> + +<p>"No; you stay here and take care of the boy, and I'll go back and sell +out. Anastacio Barela will buy. Look sharp that the young soldier does +not send a message by his dog. I heard lots of strange stories of her +performances in that line at Prescott. I will bring down something for +our supper and the road."</p> + +<p>Dick galloped away, leaving the Mexican and Henry to await his return. +As the twilight deepened into darkness the boy's thoughts grew more +and more despondent. He now fully and sadly realized that his +disobedience of orders had brought disgrace upon himself, and ruined +every chance of recovering the ponies, for once the thieves got well +away they were secure from capture.</p> + +<p>It was night when Dick returned and told the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> Mexican that he had made +an advantageous sale of their gambling outfit.</p> + +<p>"Now, kid, ye kin slope," he said, addressing the disheartened lad. +"Tell the lieutenant that he kin look for us at Hermosilla, on the +other side of the Mexican bound'ry. Good-bye."</p> + +<p>Henry hurried away towards La Paz, with Vic close at his heels. There +was no occasion for haste, for he felt that nothing in the town could +overtake the lost Sancho and Chiquita; still he hurried and stumbled +on in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Vicky," said the boy, in his misery, stooping to caress his +companion, "I ought to be court-martialled and dishonorably discharged +from the service for this. I have done very wrong. I have lost our +ponies for good."</p> + +<p>The dog licked his hand sympathetically, and then suddenly bounded +away, barking, and Henry heard Frank's voice say:</p> + +<p>"Why, Tom, here's Vic!"</p> + +<p>"Thin Sargint Hinery must be near," said the soldier.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm here, Frank—and oh, Frank, I'm <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>in such trouble!" And in a +curiously jumbled and half-incoherent manner Henry related his +afternoon's experience.</p> + +<p>At the conclusion of the recital the three held a consultation as to +what was best to be done. Time was precious, and the town was nearly +two miles distant.</p> + +<p>"Sargints," said Private Tom Clary, "I belave we can do bist by +oursilves. Me afthernoon's lave ixpires at tattoo, but if, as me +shuparior officers, ye'll allow me to be out of camp a bit longer, I +think we can sarcumvint the thaves."</p> + +<p>"We'll do our best to get you excused by the lieutenant," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sargint laddie. You say the grass-boat is near by, Sargint +Hinery?"</p> + +<p>"Not far from here, Tom. Just west of the middle of the race-course."</p> + +<p>"And the thaves are going to camp and cook their supper on the other +side?"</p> + +<p>"So they said."</p> + +<p>"Thin we'll attimpt to interfare with their arrangemints. I think the +liftinint will commind an 'absence without lave' if we bring in the +raskils and the ponies."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> + +<p>The soldier and boys turned, and, bidding Vic keep close to them, +hurried to the bar where Henry had left the gift of the Mojave belle. +As they were lifting the elastic raft into the water they heard the +voices of men on the river, accompanied by the splashing of water, and +knew that the horse-thieves were fording the stream.</p> + +<p>The Colorado was shoal, having an average autumnal depth of four feet +at La Paz. Clary secured two poles from the river débris lodged on the +bar, one for Frank and one for himself. Henry sat on the box in the +middle, holding his companions' guns across his lap with one hand, and +grasping Vic's collar with the other. The well-filled game-bags lay +between his feet.</p> + +<p>The <i>balsa</i> moved slowly towards the opposite shore and swiftly +down-stream, the stalwart Irish soldier's feet settling into the +loosely bound stems as he poled. Becoming alarmed when he found the +water standing above his ankles, he called, in a subdued undertone:</p> + +<p>"Sargint Frank, I belave I shall go through the bottom of this l'aky +craft before we git across."</p> + +<p>"Take Henry's paddle, Tom; it lies on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> right side of the box. Lay +it across the reeds and stand on it."</p> + +<p>"Ah, sure and that's betther. Kape yer ind a little more up-strame, +sargint. We'll steer by the avening star."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the <i>balsa</i> lodged against the shore in the still +water of a little cove. The boys and soldier were aware that they were +landing some miles below their starting-point, for the current was +strong and swift, while the horse-thieves had forded the river almost +in a direct line. They climbed the bank, and ordering Vic to keep +close by them, began to move as fast as possible up the shore.</p> + +<p>They had made their way for nearly an hour over a rough and miry +river-bottom when the setter showed sudden excitement and began +sniffing to the right and left.</p> + +<p>"She must have struck their path from the river to their +camping-place, Tom," said Frank. "Look sharp, Vicky, look sharp!"</p> + +<p>"But she seems to be working up-stream," said Henry. "I should think +they would have gone straight inland."</p> + +<p>"There's an excillint rayson for that, sargint<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> laddie," returned +Clary. "One of the routes t' th' coast begins exactly opposite th' +town, and they must go up-strame to foind it; El Rincon the +landing-place is called."</p> + +<p>"The Corner?"</p> + +<p>"Yis, Th' Corner. Th' shore binds out there a wee bit."</p> + +<p>Man and boys continued to struggle along, until across a level, +grassless plot they saw, near a clump of cottonwoods, a fire, where +Texas Dick and Jumping Jack were plainly visible, cooking their +supper. On the side of the fire opposite the river were two saddles, +upon which rested their rifles and revolvers. Still farther west the +two ponies were picketed and grazing.</p> + +<p>Clary told Henry to go to the ponies and stay there with Vic, while he +and Frank crept upon the thieves. Screening themselves behind tufts +and swells, and lastly behind the saddles, they worked across the +level, the sound of their moving being covered by the booming and +rushing of the mighty river. When within twenty yards of the fire and +five from the saddles, Private Tom Clary sprang to his feet, aimed his +double-barrelled shot-gun at the thieves, and shouted:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Throw up your arrums!"</p> + +<p>At the same instant Frank made a flying leap for the saddles, and +seized the rifles and revolvers. Henry ran forward and assisted his +brother in keeping Dick and Juan under the muzzles of their own +rifles, while Clary securely bound them. This accomplished, the boys +went back for a moment to renew their acquaintance with their horses. +Yes, the chase was over, and their favorites were again in their +possession; and it cannot appear strange that the young soldiers went +into boyish ecstasies of delight at their good-fortune, embracing, +patting, and talking to Sancho and Chiquita as if they understood all +that was said to them.</p> + +<p>But at last they joined Clary at the fire, and the three, while they +continued to carry on the interrupted cooking of their captives, +discussed ways and means of returning to La Paz, and it was decided to +send the setter with a message. A note was pencilled on a page of +Frank's diary, attached to Vic's collar, and she was taken to the +river-bank and given a stick, with orders to deliver it to her master. +With but little hesitation she plunged into the murky current, and +soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> disappeared in the darkness in the direction of the other shore.</p> + +<p>While the boy sergeants were going through these adventures I remained +in La Paz. At retreat and tattoo roll-calls Corporal Duffey had +reported Private Clary absent, adding the words "and unaccounted for," +and at Mr. Gray's table the boys were absent from supper.</p> + +<p>At first I gave myself no anxiety over the absentees, but at midnight, +becoming alarmed, I began a search for them. I soon learned that Henry +had been seen to paddle out of the lagoon on a Mojave <i>balsa</i>, +accompanied by Vic, and that Frank and Clary had gone quail-shooting. +I did not feel especially anxious about the older boy, for he was in +the company of one of the most trustworthy of our veteran soldiers, +and would probably soon turn up safe. But Henry—gone down the +turbulent river on a frail bundle of grass—what might I not fear?</p> + +<p>I led all the men of the detail—every one of them as anxious as +myself—on a long and fruitless search beside the river, without +coming upon a clew. Returning to Mr. Gray's, and dismissing the men, I +sat upon the veranda alone, sadly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> reflecting upon the absence of my +young companions and Vic.</p> + +<p>In the midst of my sad reflections there scrambled up the steps a wet +and bedraggled dog, who dropped at my feet a chip. Carrying her in my +arms to my room, I lighted a lamp and examined her collar, and found a +few leaves of a memorandum-book covered with Frank's hand-writing.</p> + +<p>The news of Vic's arrival with a message spread quickly, and soon the +household was gathered in my room and in possession of the news of the +exploit of the boys and Tom Clary.</p> + +<p>"Good! good!" exclaimed the director of the Navigation Company. "Come +with me to the <i>Cocopah</i>. We'll steam across and get the whole party."</p> + +<p>On the western shore of the Colorado, Private Tom Clary and the boy +sergeants sat by the fire broiling quail, which they seasoned from the +supplies of Texas Dick and Juan Brincos, and accompanied by slices of +toasted bread from the same source. In the midst of their enjoyment of +"quail on toast" a loud "who-o-of! who-o-of! who-o-of!" came across +the river.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hullo!" said Henry; "the old <i>Cocopah</i> is starting for the Gulf +mighty early. I should think the pilot would find it difficult to keep +off the shores when it is so dark."</p> + +<p>The boys could see by the boat's changing lights that her bow, which +had been headed up-stream, when she lay at the bank, was swinging +slowly out into the stream, and they expected shortly to see her +starboard lights as she headed downward. But she seemed to pause, with +her furnace fires and pilot lanterns pointing towards them.</p> + +<p>"Who-o-of! who-o-of! who-o-of!—patter, patter, patter." The noise of +the steamer grew louder and louder, until the boys rose from their +seats and stared in surprise at the rapidly growing lights.</p> + +<p>"I really believe she is coming here," said Frank.</p> + +<p>"She is, or she nades a dale of space to turn in," observed Private +Tom.</p> + +<p>Presently two tall smoke-stacks separated themselves from the darkness +and appeared high above their heads.</p> + +<p>"Ahoy there, boys!" shouted the captain's voice from the bridge.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir!" answered Frank.</p> + +<p>"Get ready to come on board! Below there—stand by to lower +gang-plank! Now!—lower away!"</p> + +<p>Down came the plank, and a joyous group of friends walked down to the +shore to greet the boys and the soldier.</p> + +<p>A few moments afterwards the boy sergeants led their ponies on board, +and Private Tom Clary escorted the prisoners. The <i>Cocopah</i> cleared +away and paddled back to the La Paz side, where Texas Dick and Juan +Brincos were turned over to the civil authorities, and Sancho and +Chiquita to the escort in Mr. Gray's corral.</p> + +<p>Three days later the boys and I took leave of Mr. Hudson, who was now +in charge of the government storehouse, and, accompanied by Mr. Gray, +started for Fort Whipple. Hanging under the hind axle of the ambulance +was a ten-gallon keg, and inside was another. We left La Paz early in +the morning and arrived at Tyson's Wells at nine o'clock. Remaining +there until six o'clock in the evening, we watered our animals, and +with freshly filled kegs started for Hole-in-the-Plain, where we +stayed until the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> following evening, the animals passing the day on +grass without water. A second night-drive brought us to Cisternas +Negras, and the third to Date Creek, from which last point we resumed +travelling by daylight.</p> + +<p>At Skull Valley, at the earnest request of Miss Brenda Arnold, Henry +was allowed to remain for a few days' visit. He promised to join the +next incoming mail-rider, and to ride back to the fort by way of the +mountain-trail.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI</h2> + +<h3>APACHES IN SKULL VALLEY</h3> +<p>It was near midnight, four days after my return from La Paz, that I +sat by my open fire, absorbed in a recently published popular novel. I +was suddenly aroused by a distant and rapid clatter of horse's feet. +The sound came distinctly through the loop-holes in the outer wall of +the room—loop-holes made for rifles and left open for ventilation. +Dropping my book upon the table, I listened intently to the +hoof-beats. Some one was riding from the direction of Prescott, +evidently in great haste; and Arizona being a country of alarms, I +surmised that the rider was coming to the fort. The horseman stopped +at the great gates.</p> + +<p>"Halt! Who comes there?" rang out the voice of Private Tom Clary, who +was sentinel <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>No. 1, stationed at the post entrance. "Sargint Hinery, +is it you, laddie?" the voice continued, in a lower and gentler tone.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Tom; and, oh, tell Mr. Duncan, quick, that—"</p> + +<p>"Whist! Take care, laddie! Howld on a bit!" and a rifle fell +clattering to the ground and two solid feet sprang forward with a +rush.</p> + +<p>Hearing this, I started for the secret postern, and as I opened my +door, heard the honest old soldier shout:</p> + +<p>"Corpril uv th' guard, No. 1!" and, in a lower and appealing tone: +"Liftinint, if ye hear me, come quick to the little sargint. I fear +th' dear b'y is dyin'."</p> + +<p>In an instant I was through the narrow gate-way, standing beside a +group of the guard that surrounded Clary, who, kneeling beside a +panting and reeking pony, held the inanimate form of Henry Burton in +his arms.</p> + +<p>"Corpril Duffey, will ye let one uv the b'ys walk me bate a minate +till I can take the laddie in?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Clary, go ahead, and stay as long as you're needed," was the +kindly answer.</p> + +<p>"Is it to your room I'll be takin' him, sor?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> asked Clary, rising and +holding his burden across his breast.</p> + +<p>"Of course, and place him on my bed. Corporal Duffey, send a man for +the surgeon and hospital steward, and send another with the pony to +the stable."</p> + +<p>It was too dark to take in details, but I noticed Chiquita was utterly +exhausted, and that she was covered with foam. Following Clary to my +room, I saw, when the light fell upon Henry's face, that his right +cheek and neck were bleeding, and that his left arm hung unnaturally +limp by the bearer's side.</p> + +<p>We placed him upon the bed, and Surgeon Coues, who had now arrived and +pronounced the boy to be simply in a faint from loss of blood and +over-exertion, applied restoratives and brought him back to +consciousness. As Henry's eyelids raised, and he recognized me, he +said, weakly:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Duncan, tell Captain Bayard the Indians have attacked Mr. +Arnold's ranch, and that Mrs. Arnold is dead!"</p> + +<p>"Indians attacked the ranch! When?"</p> + +<p>"About four o'clock."</p> + +<p>"How many?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't know. Seemed as if there were over a hundred. And don't stop to +worry over me. Don't stop an instant—these scratches are nothing—but +send the soldiers, quick, or Brenda and all will be killed!"</p> + +<p>"How did you get away from the ranch? But you are right, this is no +time for talk."</p> + +<p>I aroused the other officers instantly, and sent Frank to his brother. +All assembled in my quarters, and, while the surgeon dressed the +wounds in cheek and neck and set a fractured radius, orders for an +expedition to Skull Valley were issued, and Henry told his story.</p> + +<p>At the time this incident occurred the Californians had been mustered +out of service and returned to their distant homes, and the garrison +at Fort Whipple consisted of infantry only. But there were many +"dough-boys" who were good riders, and a number of excellent horses +were kept by the quartermaster for emergencies which required speed +and short service.</p> + +<p>Captain Bayard gave orders for a sergeant, three corporals, and +twenty-two privates to be got in readiness for mounted service, with +rations <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span>for five days. The command was given to me, and Private Tom +Clary immediately applied to be relieved from guard in order to +accompany me. His request was granted.</p> + +<p>Sergeant Frank concluded to remain with his brother.</p> + +<p>"I know it is rough on you, Frankie," said Henry, "not to have a +chance to win a few scars, too; but I should be dreadfully worried if +you were to go, and I'm worried enough about Brenda now. You must stay +with me."</p> + +<p>And so it was settled, and Frank remained behind, lending his pony +Sancho to Private Clary.</p> + +<p>During all this preparation, dressing of wounds, and setting of +fractures, Henry had managed to give us an account of what had +happened at Skull Valley before he left. I will, however, repeat it a +little more connectedly, with additions obtained later from other +parties.</p> + +<p>After I left Sergeant Henry in the valley, as I passed through there +from the Xuacaxélla, he had for three days devoted himself to the +amusement of his young hostess, Brenda, and her cousins.</p> + +<p>There were many reasons why the Arnolds were not fearing an attack at +the time, the prin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span>cipal one being that the Indians had recently been +defeated at Date Creek. With that affair they seemed to have +withdrawn, and no signs of them had been seen since.</p> + +<p>Near the close of the afternoon of the fourth day of Henry's visit a +party of forty-one Apaches had suddenly appeared, and had spent an +hour or more reconnoitring the valley and its approaches. Apparently +becoming satisfied that they would not be interrupted in their attack +by outside parties, they began active operations by collecting the +Arnold cattle and horses, and placing them in charge of two of their +number near the spring.</p> + +<p>Next they fired one of the out-buildings, and under cover of the smoke +gained entrance to a second, which stood less than a hundred feet from +the north side of the house. Knocking the mud and chips from between +the logs here and there, they were enabled to open fire upon the +settlers at short range.</p> + +<p>With the first appearance of the Indians, Mr. Arnold, assisted by two +travellers who had arrived that afternoon from Date Creek on their way +to Prescott, closed the windows and door<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span>ways with heavy puncheon +shutters, removed the stops from the loop-holes, directed the girls to +carry provisions and property into the earthwork, got the arms and +ammunition ready, and awaited further demonstrations.</p> + +<p>The available defensive force consisted of every member of the family, +including Sergeant Henry Burton and the two strangers. The mother and +daughters had been taught the use of fire-arms by the husband and +father, and Brenda had been taught by the boy sergeants. In an +emergency like the one being narrated, where death and mutilation were +sure to follow capture, the girls were nerved to do all that could +have been expected of boys at their ages.</p> + +<p>Until the Apaches gained possession of the second out-building, few +shots had been exchanged, and the besieged closely watched their +movements through the loop-holes. It was while doing this that a +bullet pierced the brain of Mrs. Arnold, and she fell dead in the +midst of her family.</p> + +<p>The body of Mrs. Arnold was borne to the cellar by the sorrowing +husband, accompanied <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span>by the weeping children. The firing became +desultory and without apparent effect. Ball and arrow could not pierce +the thick walls of the log-house; only through the loop-holes could a +missile enter, and by rare good-fortune none of the defenders, after +the first casualty, chanced to be in line when one did.</p> + +<p>The family again assembled in defence of their home and lives, the +grave necessity of keeping off the impending danger banishing, in a +measure, the thoughts of their bereavement. An ominous silence on the +part of the Indians was broken at last by the swish of a blazing arrow +to the roof. Mr. Arnold rushed to the garret, and with the butt of his +rifle broke a hole in the covering and flung the little torch to the +ground.</p> + +<p>But another and another burning arrow followed, and in spite of +desperate and vigilant action the pine shingles burst into flames in +several places. At this juncture Henry, whose station was on the south +side of the house, approached Mr. Arnold and said:</p> + +<p>"Sir, I see Chiquita grazing near the spring, close to the edge of the +willows, and the two Indians there with the herd keep well this way, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span>watching the fight. If you think best, I will creep through the +passage, mount, and ride to the fort for the soldiers."</p> + +<p>Mr. Arnold did not at once reply. He took a long look through a +loop-hole towards the spring, and Henry, misinterpreting his silence, +said:</p> + +<p>"Don't think I want to desert you, sir, and skip the ranch. I'll stay +here and do my best with the others, but I thought, perhaps, if I +could do it, I might save you all."</p> + +<p>"God bless ye, my boy; nobody can doubt yer fightin' 'bility; yer was +born a soldier. I was only thinkin' yer chance uv gittin' by them two +redskins at the spring's mighty small."</p> + +<p>"Then you think it a good plan?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I'd like to have ye do it, if ye can."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. I'll do my best."</p> + +<p>Then the lad passed around the rooms, taking the hand of each defender +in farewell until he reached Brenda. As he took her hand in his right +and fondly lay his left upon it, the young girl broke into +uncontrollable sobbing, and, throwing her disengaged arm over his +shoulder, said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Henry! what a dear, brave boy you are! You never think of +yourself, but always of your friends!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will bring the soldiers, Brenda, and you shall all be saved. Keep +up a good heart."</p> + +<p>"But it is such a long ride, and even if you do get away, you may find +us dead or captives when you return."</p> + +<p>"You must be brave, Brenda—no, not brave, for you are that already; +but be patient. We are sure to be here before those fellows can take +the little fort. That can be defended as long as the ammunition holds +out."</p> + +<p>Then the boy kissed the pretty Brenda and her cousins, and dropped +into the cellar. Passing into the earthwork, he selected his saddle +and bridle from a heap of others, buckled on his spurs, dropped with +bowed head upon his knees a moment, and crept into the passage leading +to the spring. Groping his way between the narrow walls, he presently +emerged through a natural crevice in a mass of bowlders near the +spring. Standing in the screen of willows, he parted the branches +cautiously in the direction of the two Indians, and saw them less than +a hundred yards distant, standing with their backs towards him +watching the Arnold house, the roof of which was now a roaring, +leaping mass of flame.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> + +<p>Closing the boughs again, Henry opened them in an opposite direction +and crept softly up to Chiquita, holding out his hand to her. The +docile pony raised her head, and, coming forward, placed her nose in +his palm, submitting to be saddled and bridled without objection or +noise.</p> + +<p>Leaping into the saddle, the boy drove his spurs into the animal's +flanks, and was off at a furious run in the direction of Whipple. +Startled by the hoof-beats, the Apaches looked back, and began running +diagonally across the field to try to intercept the boy before he +turned into the direct trail. Arrow after arrow flew after him, one +wounding him in the neck and another in the cheek, and when the +distance began to increase between him and his pursuers and they saw +the boy was likely to get away, one raised his rifle and sent a bullet +after him, which fractured the radius of his left arm.</p> + +<p>"Well, Chiquita," said Henry, as he turned fairly into the Prescott +trail and had realized the exact nature of his injuries, "you haven't +got a scratch, and are good for this run if I can hold out."</p> + +<p>It was dusk when Henry began his ride, and it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> rapidly grew darker as +he hurried along the trail. Neither he nor the pony had been over it +before. Twice he got off the trail, and long and miserable stretches +of time elapsed in regaining it; but the fort was reached at last and +the alarm given.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII</h2> + +<h3>PURSUIT OF THE APACHES</h3> +<p>With twenty-eight men, including two scouts picked up as we passed +through Prescott, and the post surgeon, I left for Skull Valley. The +night was moonless, but the myriad stars shone brilliantly through the +rarefied atmosphere of that Western region, lighting the trail and +making it fairly easy to follow. It was a narrow pathway, with but few +places where two horsemen could ride abreast, so conversation was +almost impossible, and few words, except those of command, were +spoken; nor were the men in a mood to talk. All were more or less +excited and impatient, and, wherever the road would permit, urged +their horses to a run.</p> + +<p>The trail climbed and descended rugged steeps, crossed smooth +intervals, skirted the edges of precipices, wound along borders of dry +creeks, and threaded forests of pine and clumps of sage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span>-brush and +greasewood. Throughout the ride the imaginations of officers and men +were depicting the scenes they feared were being enacted in the +valley, or which might take place should they fail to arrive in time +to prevent.</p> + +<p>It is needless to say, perhaps, that the one person about whom the +thoughts of the men composing the rescuing party centred was the +gentle, bright, and pretty Brenda. To think of her falling into the +hands of the merciless Apaches was almost maddening.</p> + +<p>On and on rode the column, the men giving their panting steeds no more +rest than the nature of the road and the success of the expedition +required. At last we reached the spur of the range behind which lay +Skull Valley. We skirted it, and with anxious eyes sought through the +darkness the place where the ranch buildings should be. All was +silence. No report of fire-arms or whoop of savages disturbed the +quiet of the valley.</p> + +<p>Ascending a swell in the surface of the ground we saw that all the +buildings had disappeared, nothing meeting our anxious gaze but beds +of lurid coals, occasionally fanned into a red glow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> by the +intermittent night breeze. But there was the impregnable earthwork; +the family must be in that. I dashed swiftly forward, eagerly followed +by my men. The earthwork was destroyed, nothing but a circular pit +remaining, in the bottom of which glowed the embers of the fallen +roof-timbers.</p> + +<p>A search for the slain was at once begun, and continued for a long +time. Every square rod of the valley for a mile was hunted over +without result, and we all gathered once more about the two cellars, +in which the coals still glowed.</p> + +<p>"It was in the cellar of the house that Sergeant Henry said the body +of Mrs. Arnold was laid, was it not?" asked Dr. Coues.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Then if all were killed after he left—shot from time to time—would +not their remains be likely to be beside hers?"</p> + +<p>"Not beside hers, I think. The last stand must have been made in the +fort."</p> + +<p>"Then the bodies, or what is left of them, must lie under that +circular bed of coals, Duncan, if they died here."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Probably, doctor. It's an uncanny thing to do, but we must stir the +coals and see."</p> + +<p>A thorough search revealed nothing.</p> + +<p>"Does th' liftinint moind that Sargint Hinery mintioned a covered way +that led from th' cellar to th' spring?" asked Private Tom Clary, who +wielded a rail beside me. "Perhaps th' pretty lassie and her frinds +are in that."</p> + +<p>"That is so, Clary; thank you for the suggestion," I answered. "Can +you make out the opening?"</p> + +<p>"Nothin' sure, sor. Behoind thim wagon-tires there sames to be a +natural slope of earth."</p> + +<p>"Tip the tires over, Clary," I ordered; and presently a number of +tires, from which the fire had burned the felloes, spokes, and hubs, +fell into the coals, disclosing a recently filled aperture.</p> + +<p>"Looks as if the end of a passage had been filled, doesn't it?" asked +the surgeon.</p> + +<p>"It certainly does," I answered. "Let us go to the spring and +examine."</p> + +<p>Accompanied by the doctor and several men, I rode to the spring. When +we arrived there we broke a way through the thick-set willows <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span>into an +irregular mass of small bowlders. Climbing over these, we found +ourselves at the mouth of a narrow passage about four feet high and +two feet wide.</p> + +<p>"This must be the entrance to the covered way," I remarked, and +placing my head in the crevice, I called: "Oh, Mr. Arnold, we are +here—your friends from Fort Whipple!"</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven!" in a man's tones, came clearly through the entrance, +accompanied by a sudden outburst of sobs in girlish voices.</p> + +<p>"We'll be there directly," spoke another man's voice—that of a +stranger. "We've heard your horses' hoofs jarring the ground for some +time, but we thought it safest to lay low until we were sure it wasn't +redskins."</p> + +<p>Then followed the sound of steps, accompanied by voices, sounding at +the entrance, as a voice spoken in a long tube appears to be uttered +at the listener's end. Some time elapsed before those who seemed so +near appeared; but at last there emerged from the passage Mr. Arnold, +two strange men, and three girls—but no Brenda.</p> + +<p>"Where is Brenda, Mr. Arnold?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Heaven only knows, lieutenant. She gave herself up to the Apaches."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Gave herself up to the Apaches! What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"That's precisely what she did, lieutenant," said one of the +strangers, adding: "My name is Bartlett, from Hassayampa, and this is +Mr. Gilbert, from Tucson. We were on our way from La Paz to Prescott +and stopped here for a meal, and got corralled by the Indians. But +about the girl Brenda: she took it into her head, after we got into +the little fort, that unless some one could create a diversion to +mislead the devils, we'd all lose our scalps."</p> + +<p>"That beautiful young girl! Gave herself up to certain torture and +death! Why did you allow it?"</p> + +<p>"Allow it!" exclaimed Mr. Bartlett, indignantly. "I hope, lieutenant, +you don't think so hard of me and my friend as to believe we'd have +allowed it if we'd suspected what the plucky miss meant to do!"</p> + +<p>"Tell me the circumstances, Mr. Bartlett," said I.</p> + +<p>The party moved slowly along the path from the spring to the fires, +and as they walked Mr. Arnold and the travellers gave an account of +all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> that had happened after Sergeant Henry left for Fort Whipple.</p> + +<p>The burning arrows sent to the pitch-pine roof became so numerous that +the besieged found it impossible to prevent the flames from catching +in several places. Henry was hardly out of sight before the house +became untenable, and the defenders were obliged to retire to the +fort. When the house was consumed, and its timbers had fallen into the +cellar a mass of burning brands, the space about the earthwork was +clear, and the rifles at its loop-holes kept the Indians close within +the out-building they had occupied since the attack began. No one +dared to show himself to the unerring marksmen, who watched every +movement.</p> + +<p>For a long time silence reigned among the Indians. The whites, +however, felt sure that plans were being matured which meant disaster +to them.</p> + +<p>At last these plans were revealed in a constant and rapid flight of +arrows, directed at a point between two loop-holes—a point which +could not be reached by the besieged, and where, if a considerable +collection of burning brands could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> be heaped against the logs, +between the earth and the eaves, the pine walls and rafters must take +fire. Walls and roof were too solid to be cut away, and water could +not reach the outside.</p> + +<p>The defenders, when they realized what the result of a fire would be, +held a consultation, and decided that in the event of the fire getting +control of the fort they should retire into the covered way, block up +the entrance with earth, and remain there until help should arrive. It +was thought the Indians would suppose all had perished in the flames.</p> + +<p>"But they know we came here by an underground passage from the house," +said Brenda; "will they not suspect we have entered another passage if +we all disappear?"</p> + +<p>"P'r'aps they may," answered Mr. Arnold; "I had not thought of that. +We'll have to take our chances."</p> + +<p>"If one of us was to appear to escape from here, and join them," +continued the girl, "I think they would suppose the others had +perished, and make no search."</p> + +<p>"That may be true, but I'll take my chances here," said Mr. Gilbert.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So will I," said his companion. "A fellow wouldn't last a minute +outside this fort. I prefer smothering to the death those devils will +give me."</p> + +<p>It soon became evident to the besieged that the outer wall was on +fire.</p> + +<p>The sun had gone down and darkness was deepening in the valley when +the first tongue of flame licked through a crevice in the roof and +showed that the fire had gained a foothold. Soon a hole appeared, +close to the eaves, which gradually enlarged towards the centre of the +roof and along the surface of the earth. With blankets the fire was +beaten out on the sides, but it crept insidiously along between the +timber and earth covering.</p> + +<p>In making the roof, branches of pine had been spread over the timber, +and the branches in turn covered with a thick layer of straw to +prevent the earth from filtering between the logs. This material was +as dry as tinder, and held the fire.</p> + +<p>The men stood at the loop-holes and compelled the savages to remain +under cover of the out-building, while the four girls exerted +themselves <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span>to keep the fire from showing inside. Delay until help +could arrive from Whipple was what all were struggling to gain; but +the increasing heat and smoke showed the defenders at last that they +could no longer put off retiring to the covered way.</p> + +<p>The word was given and all entered it, and the men with shovels began +to close the entrance. When it was a little more than half closed the +hole in the roof had become triangular, resembling the space between +two spokes and a felloe of a wheel. On the earth, or felloe side of +the triangle, there was no fire; but the other sides were burning +fiercely.</p> + +<p>Making a sudden dash, and before any one could realize her intention, +Brenda leaped past the shovellers, sprang over the embankment they +were throwing up, and by the aid of a bench sprang up the four-foot +wall, through the flame-bordered aperture, and disappeared, her +clothing apparently in a blaze. The war-whoops immediately ceased.</p> + +<p>No attempt at pursuit or rescue was made. The Arnolds and the +strangers felt that it would be useless, and only result in the death +of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span>pursuers. The work of closing the passage was resumed and +completed, and all sat down to await the slow flight of time and the +possible arrival of the soldiers.</p> + +<p>After listening to the story of the Arnolds I concluded that Brenda +had fallen a victim to the cruelty of the Apaches, and that we should +find her mutilated and disfigured body. A rapid and excited search was +at once began. Far and wide, over plain, through ravines, and into the +foot-hills rode the soldiers, leaving no part of the country for +several miles around unsearched; but not a trace of the missing girl +was discovered.</p> + +<p>Once more the detachment gathered near the ruins of the Arnold home, +and began preparations for returning to Whipple. The remains of the +dead wife and mother were lifted from beneath the charred timbers and +deposited in a grave near by. While the burial was taking place, the +two scouts, Weaver and Cooler, were absent, looking for the Apache +trail. Day was dawning, and as it was probable when they returned that +the command could start, I ordered the horses fed from the loose +forage scattered about, and the men to prepare their breakfast.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span></p> + +<p>The scouts returned as the men were dispersing from their meal, and +Cooler placed in my hand a dainty lock of flaxen hair, wound around +the middle with a strand of the same.</p> + +<p>"I found it," said the scout, "beside the ravine yonder, a little more +than two miles from here. The young miss is alive, and dropped it for +a 'sign.' The redskins all left in that direction."</p> + +<p>Whatever Brenda's three cousins may have lacked in education and +cultivation, they wanted nothing in affection. They gathered about the +little tress, took it daintily in their palms, kissed it again and +again, and moistened it with tears. Low sobs and endearing names for +the brave darling who had been willing to sacrifice her life to +preserve theirs fell from their lips. Poor, rude, frontier maids, they +had shown an equal bravery all through the defence, and proved +themselves to be worthy descendants of the race that lived through the +colonial struggles with the Indians of the Mohawk Valley. The three +girls gathered about me, and, clinging to my arms, besought me to go +to the rescue of their cousin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, girls," I replied; "everything shall be done that possibly +can be. We will start at once, and I hope to bring her back to you." +Turning to the father, I said, "Mr. Arnold, I will leave you a +luncheon for the road, and you must try to make the distance to +Prescott on foot."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; we can do it easy, thank you."</p> + +<p>"I would leave you some of the men as escort, but in such an +expedition I need more than I have."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Mr. Dunkin; 'f I had a beast I'd go with ye. +There'll be no Apaches round these parts agin for a considerable +spell," and his eyes ran sadly over the ruins of his home, the wreck +of his property, resting finally on the grave of his wife.</p> + +<p>Yes, Brenda was alive, and a prisoner of the Apaches, spared by them, +probably, as children sometimes are after such raids, for adoption. It +was plainly our duty to rescue her from the fate of a continued life +with her captors.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII</h2> + +<h3>ON THE TRAIL OF THE APACHES</h3> +<p>After a further delay, to allow the scouts and their broncos to +breakfast, the party mounted and turned to the west. Calling Paul +Weaver to ride by my side, I questioned him about the region before +us.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you are familiar with this part of the country, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Ought t' be. Trapped and hunted here since I was twenty, and I'm nigh +on to sixty-five now."</p> + +<p>"Have these Apaches a camping-place near here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; they spend a part of every year here-abouts, gatherin' mezcal. +From the direction they've took, I b'lieve they're goin' to Santy +Maree Creek."</p> + +<p>"That flows into Bill Williams Fork, does it not?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, an' 't has a northern and southern branch. One of th' favorite +campin'-places of th' Mezcalleros 's on th' southern branch."</p> + +<p>"How far is it from here?"</p> + +<p>"'Bout fifty mile."</p> + +<p>"Easy of approach?"</p> + +<p>"Toler'ble; good ridin' all th' way, 'cept a bit of bowlder country on +a divide."</p> + +<p>"Is the camp open to attack?"</p> + +<p>"Wide open arter yer git into th' valley. There's a waterfall, or, +rather, a piece of rips ther' that 'll drown th' n'ise of our comin'."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it strange Indians should camp in such a place?"</p> + +<p>"They're Mezcallero 'Paches, and the'r food, th' mezcal, grows thick +round ther'. 'Sides, ther's no other place on th' stream combinin' +grazin' and waterin', and they've never been hunted into that region +yit."</p> + +<p>"Well, Paul, they will be now."</p> + +<p>I urged the men on as fast as possible, taking care not to exhaust the +horses and unfit them for a long pursuit. The soldiers were animated +by a strong desire to punish the Indians for their treatment of the +family in Skull Valley, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> were excited by the fear that the gentle +and beautiful young girl in their hands might fall a victim to some +barbaric cruelty before they could be overtaken, so that the animals +were constantly urged close to their powers of endurance.</p> + +<p>Near the middle of the forenoon, as the soldiers were riding up a +cañon, on each side of which rose rugged sandstone precipices, we came +to a fork in the trail and the cañon. Not only the track parted, but, +judging from footprints, most of the captured stock had passed to the +right. Weaver said the right-hand path led to the northern branch of +the Santa Maria, and the left to the southern.</p> + +<p>I halted the detachment, perplexed. To divide my party of twenty-nine +in order to follow both trails seemed to me to be inviting disaster. +To take the whole number over a wrong trail and not rescue Brenda was +a course to be dreaded. I called up the scouts, Weaver and Cooler, for +a consultation.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think it is probable," I asked, "that a girl who was +thoughtful enough to drop a 'sign' to show she is alive and a captive, +would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> be likely to give a hint here as to which trail she was taken +over?"</p> + +<p>"That's prob'ble, liftinint," replied Weaver. "'F you'll hold th' boys +here a bit, George an' I'll ride up th' two trails a piece an' look +for signs."</p> + +<p>"Go quite a distance, too. She might not get an opportunity to drop +anything for some time after leaving the fork."</p> + +<p>"That's true, sir," said Cooler; "the redskins would naturally be +watching her closely. Which way will you go, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Let the liftinint say," answered the elder scout, tightening his belt +and readjusting his equipments for resuming his riding.</p> + +<p>"All ready, then," said I. "You take the right, Weaver, and George the +left. While you are gone we'll turn out the stock."</p> + +<p>The scouts departed, and a few moments later the horses of the command +were cropping the rich grass of the narrow valley, sentinels were +placed to watch them and look for the return of the guides, and the +rest of the men threw themselves upon the turf to rest.</p> + +<p>An hour passed away, when Weaver was seen <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span>returning from the northern +trail. As he approached he held something above his head. Directing +the horses to be made ready, I walked forward to meet him, and +received from his hand a small bow of blue ribbon, which I at once +recognized to be the property of Brenda.</p> + +<p>It now appeared certain the girl captive had been taken over the road +to the right; so, without waiting for the return of Cooler, the men +were ordered into their saddles, and we started along the northern +trail. Our march had not long continued, however, when Private Tom +Clary, who was riding in the rear, called to me. Looking back, I saw +the young scout galloping rapidly forward and waving his hat in a +beckoning manner.</p> + +<p>A halt was ordered, and Cooler rode up to me and placed in my hand <i>a +lock of flaxen hair, bound with a thread of the same</i>. Placed by the +other they were twin tresses, except that the last was slightly singed +by fire.</p> + +<p>Well, tears glistened on the eyelids of some of the bronzed veterans +at the sight of the tiny lock of hair. We had barely escaped taking +the wrong trail.</p> + +<p>"God bliss the darlint," said grizzled Tom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> Clary. "There's not a +ridskin can bate her with their tricks. We'll bring her back to her +frinds, b'ys, or it'll go hard wid us."</p> + +<p>Clary's remarks were subscribed to by many hearty exclamations on the +part of his fellow-soldiers. We had no difficulty in understanding +that the Apaches had expected to be pursued and had dropped the ribbon +to mislead us, and that Brenda had dropped her "sign" to set her +friends right.</p> + +<p>I asked the guides if it was not probable the Apaches had set a watch +on the overlooking heights to see which road we should take at this +point.</p> + +<p>"It's sartin', liftinint," answered Weaver; "they're watchin' us sharp +jest now."</p> + +<p>"Then we had better continue on the northern trail awhile and mislead +them, you think?"</p> + +<p>"That's it, liftinint. That's th' best thing to do. We needn't reach +their camp until after midnight, an' we might 's well spend th' time +misleadin' em."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and it'll be better to reach them a few hours after midnight, +too," added Cooler; "they sleep soundest then."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then we will go on as we began for some time longer," I replied, and +the soldiers again moved at a brisk canter over the northern trail.</p> + +<p>An hour passed, and a halt was made in a grassy nook, where the horses +were turned out to graze until dusk. Our route was then retraced to +the fork and the march resumed over the southern branch.</p> + +<p>Night overtook us on a high ridge covered with loose, rounded +bowlders, over which it was necessary to lead the horses slowly, with +considerable clatter and some bruises to man and beast. The rough road +lasted until a considerable descent was made on the western side, and +ended on the edge of a grassy valley.</p> + +<p>At this point Weaver advised that the horses should be left and the +command proceed on foot; for if the Indians were in camp at the rapids +it would be impossible to approach mounted without alarming them, +while if on foot the noise of the rushing water would cover the sound +of all movements.</p> + +<p>Six men were sent back to a narrow defile to prevent the attacking +party from being surprised by the detachment of Indians which had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +taken the northern trail, should they intend to rejoin their friends +at the rapids. Upon the recommendation of the scouts I determined to +defer making an attack until after three o'clock, for they assured me +that at that time the enemy would be feeling quite secure from pursuit +and be in their deepest sleep.</p> + +<p>The horses were picketed, guards posted, and a lunch distributed, and +all not on duty lay down to wait. Time dragged slowly. About one +o'clock a noise on the opposite side of the creek attracted attention, +and Cooler crept away in the darkness to ascertain its cause. In half +an hour he returned with the information that the party of Mezcalleros +who had taken the northern trail had rejoined their friends and turned +their animals into the general herd. Upon learning this I despatched a +messenger to call in the six men sent to guard the defile.</p> + +<p>When the time for starting arrived one man only was left with the +picketed horses, and the rest of us slipped down the slope to the +river-bottom, taking care not to rattle arms and equipments, and began +a slow advance along a narrow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> pathway, the borders of which were +lined with the spiked vegetation of the country.</p> + +<p>Moving on for some time, I judged from the sound of flowing water that +we were nearing the camp, and, halting the party, sent the scouts to +reconnoitre. They returned with the information that the camp was +close at hand, and contained thirteen mat and skin covered tents, or +huts, and that the stolen stock and Indian ponies were grazing on a +flat just beyond. No guards were visible.</p> + +<p>The flat about the encampment was covered with Spanish-bayonet, +soapweed, and cacti, with here and there a variety of palmetto, which +attains a height of about twenty-five feet, the trunks shaggy with a +fringe of dead spines left by each year's growth. Cooler suggested +that at a given signal the trunks of two of these trees should be set +on fire to light up the camp, and enable the soldiers to pick off the +Apaches as they left their shelter when our attack should begin. He +also proposed that we yell, saying: "If you out-yell 'em, lieutenant, +you can out-fight 'em."</p> + +<p>Although I seriously doubted whether twenty-five white throats could +make as much noise as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> half a dozen red ones, I consented to the +proposition. I sent nine men to the flat upon which the ponies and +cattle were grazing, with orders to place themselves between the creek +and herd, and when the firing began drive the animals into the hills.</p> + +<p>When these instructions had been given, Surgeon Coues asked me if the +firing would be directed into the tents.</p> + +<p>"Yes, doctor," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Of course, Miss Brenda is in one of them," he observed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and if we shoot into them indiscriminately we are quite as +likely to hit her as any one."</p> + +<p>"Can you think of any way of locating her?"</p> + +<p>"No; I am at a dead loss. We will try Cooler's plan of yelling, and +perhaps that will bring the Indians out."</p> + +<p>I sent Clary, who had been directed to remain near me, for Sergeant +Rafferty, and when the sergeant appeared directed him to forbid any +one to fire a shot until ordered to do so.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE ATTACK ON THE APACHE CAMP</h3> +<p>Orders were passed and dispositions so made that one-half the force +was placed on each flank of the camp. All movements were made at a +considerable distance from the place to be attacked, and the utmost +care taken not to make a sound that would alarm the sleeping foe. Once +on the flanks, the men were to creep up slowly and stealthily to +effective rifle range. When the trunks of the palmettos were lighted +all were to yell as diabolically as possible, and fire at every Indian +that showed himself.</p> + +<p>The front of the camp looked towards the creek, which flowed over +bowlders and pebbles with a great rush and roar. The Indians were +expected in their flight to make a dash for the stream, and attempt to +pass through the shoal rapids to the wooded bluffs beyond. My +instructions were for the men to screen themselves on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> the flanks, +behind the yuccas, Spanish-bayonet, emole, and cacti. Accompanied by +Tom Clary and Paul Weaver, I selected a clump of vegetation on the +northern side, from which the front of the tents could be observed. +Sergeant Rafferty, with George Cooler, was on the opposite flank, and +the lighting of a tree on my side was to be the signal for one to be +lighted on the other, and for the yelling to begin.</p> + +<p>This plan was carried out. The flash of one match was followed +promptly by the flash of another. Two flames burst forth, and rapidly +climbed the shaggy trunks of the little palms, lighting up the whole +locality. At the same instant an imitation war-whoop burst from +vigorous lungs and throats.</p> + +<p>Every one held his rifle in readiness to shoot the escaping Apaches, +but not a redskin showed his jetty head. The soldiers yelled and +yelled, practising every variation ingenuity could invent in the vain +attempt to make their tame white-man utterances resemble the +blood-curdling, hair-raising, heart-jumping shrieks of their Indian +foes, now so strangely silent. Not a savage responded vocally or +otherwise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span></p> + +<p>But for the presence of the captive girl in one of the thirteen tents +the attack would have begun by riddling the thinly covered shelters +with bullets at low range.</p> + +<p>The two burning trees had gone out and two others had been lighted, +and it soon appeared evident that if something was not done to bring +out the foe the supply of torches would soon be exhausted and nothing +accomplished. In the darkness the advantage might even turn to the +side of the redman.</p> + +<p>Surgeon Coues, who reclined near me, asked: "Do you think any of those +fellows understand English?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps a few common phrases. They know Spanish fairly well from +living for some centuries near the Mexicans."</p> + +<p>"Are they quite as old as that, lieutenant?"</p> + +<p>"You know what I mean, doctor."</p> + +<p>"Why not speak to Brenda in English, and ask her to try to show us +where she is? The Apaches will not understand—will think you are +talking to your men."</p> + +<p>"An excellent idea, doctor. I'll try it."</p> + +<p>Private Tom Clary was sent along both flanks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> with orders for all +yelling to cease and for perfect quiet to be maintained. Then, acting +upon the surgeon's suggestion, I called, in a clear, loud voice:</p> + +<p>"Brenda, we are here—your friends from the fort. Your relatives are +safe. Try to make a signal, or do something by which we can learn +where you are. Take plenty of time, and do nothing to endanger your +life."</p> + +<p>A long silence ensued, during which two more pillars of fire burned +out. I was beginning to fear I should be obliged to offer terms to the +Indians, leaving them unhurt if they would yield up their captive and +the stolen stock; but before I had fully considered this alternative +Clary, who was returning along the rear of the line of tents from his +recent errand, approached and said: "Liftinint, as I was crapin' along +behoind th' wiggies I saw somethin' loike a purty white hand stickin' +out from undher th' edge of th' third from this ind."</p> + +<p>"Show it to me," said I. "I'll go with you."</p> + +<p>Making a slight détour to the rear, the soldier and I crept up to the +back of the tent indicated, pausing at a distance of twenty feet from +it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span></p> + +<p>Nothing definite could be made out in the darkness. A narrow, white +object was visible beneath the lower edge. Sending Clary back a few +yards to light up a palm, I fixed my eyes on the object mentioned, and +as the flames leaped up the trunk perceived by the flaring light a +small, white hand, holding in its fingers the loose tresses of +Brenda's hair. The question was settled. The captive girl was in the +third tent from the right of the line.</p> + +<p>Waiting until the fire went out, Clary and I made our way back to our +former station.</p> + +<p>"Go around the lines again, Clary, and tell Sergeant Rafferty to move +his men to a point from which he can cover the rear of the camp, and +open fire on all the tents except the third from the right."</p> + +<p>"All roight, sor; th' b'ys 'll soon mak' it loively for th' rids."</p> + +<p>"Tell the sergeant to light up some trees."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sor."</p> + +<p>I then crept slowly back to my own flank, and ordered a disposition of +my half of the party so as to command the space in front of the line +of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span>tents. In another instant the flames were ascending two +tree-trunks, and the rapid cracking of rifles broke our long reserve. +With the first scream of a bullet through their flimsy shelters the +Indians leaped out and ran for the river. Few fell. Rapid zigzags and +the swinging of blankets and arms as they ran confused the aim of the +soldiers. In less than five minutes the last Apache was out of sight, +and the firing had ceased.</p> + +<p>We dashed up to the tents, and I rushed to the one from which I had +seen the hand and tress thrust out, and called, "Brenda!" There was no +response or sound. Looking into the entrance, I saw in the dim light +of the awakening day the figure of a girl lying on her back, her feet +extended towards me, and her head touching the rear wall. The right +arm lay along her side, and the left was thrown above her head, the +fingers still holding her hair.</p> + +<p>A terrible fear seized my heart. I again called the girl by her name, +but received no answer. I went in, and with nervous fingers lighted a +match and stooped beside her. Horror-stricken, I saw a stream of blood +threading its way across the earthern floor from her left side. I +shouted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> for Dr. Coues, and the surgeon hurried in. From his +instrument-case he took a small, portable lamp, and, lighting it, fell +upon his knees beside the prostrate girl.</p> + +<p>During the following few moments, while the skilled fingers of the +firm-nerved surgeon were cutting away clothing to expose the nature of +the wound, my thoughts found time to wander to the distant family, on +its way to the fort, and to the boy sergeants there. I thought what a +sad message it would be my province to bear to them, should this dear +relative and cherished friend die by savage hands.</p> + +<p>There was little hope that the pretty girl could live. To me she +seemed already claimed by death. She who had made our long and weary +march from Wingate to Whipple so pleasant by her vivacity and +intelligence, and had latterly brightened our occasional visits to +Skull Valley, was to die in this wretched hole.</p> + +<p>But the <i>tactus eruditus</i> of the young surgeon was continuing the +search for some evidence that the savage stab was not fatal, and his +mind was busy with means for preserving life, should there <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span>be a +chance. I watched his motions, and assisted now and then when asked, +and waited with strained patience for a word upon which to base a +hope.</p> + +<p>At last the surgeon gently dropped the hand whose pulse he had long +been examining, and said: "She is alive, and that is about all that +can be said. You see, her hands, arms, and neck are badly scorched by +the dash she made through the fire at the ranch. Then this wicked +knife-thrust has paralyzed her. She has bled considerably, too, but +she lives. Press your finger upon this artery—here."</p> + +<p>"Can she be made to live, doctor?"</p> + +<p>"The knife has not touched a vital part, but it may have done +irreparable injury. I can tell more presently."</p> + +<p>Nothing more was said, except in the way of direction, for some time, +the surgeon working slowly and skilfully at the wound. At last, +rearranging the girl's clothing and replacing his instruments in their +case, he said: "If I had the girl in the post-hospital, or in a +civilized dwelling, with a good nurse, I think she might recover."</p> + +<p>"Can't we give her the proper attendance here, doctor?" I asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I fear not. She ought to have a woman's gentle care, for one thing, +and some remedies and appliances I haven't with me for such a delicate +case. It is the long distance between here and the fort, and the rough +road, that make the outlook hopeless. She cannot survive such a +journey."</p> + +<p>"Then we will remain here, doctor," said I. "Write out a list of what +you want, and I will send a man to Whipple for tents and supplies, a +camp woman, Frank, Vic, and the elder Arnold girl."</p> + +<p>"Duncan, you are inspired!" exclaimed the doctor. "I'll have my order +ready by the time the messenger reports, and then we'll make Brenda +comfortable."</p> + +<p>A letter was written to Captain Bayard, the surgeon's memoranda +enclosed, and a quarter of an hour afterwards fleet-footed Sancho was +flying over the sixty miles to Fort Whipple as fast as Private Tom +Clary could ride him. Three days later a pack-train arrived, with a +laundress from the infantry company, Frank Burton, and Mary Arnold, +and with stores and supplies necessary for setting up a sick-camp. The +wounded girl mended rapidly from the start.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span></p> + +<p>In due time Brenda recovered sufficiently to bear transportation to +Prescott, where she joined her uncle and cousins. Rapid changes +quickly followed. I received orders directing me to report for duty at +once at the Seabury Military School, and by the same mail came letters +from Colonel Burton directing his sons to accompany me. At the end of +the next fortnight, just as we were packed for a journey to the +Pacific coast, Brenda received instructions from her maternal +relatives to make the same journey, and joined us.</p> + +<p>Frank and Henry's project to transport their ponies East, and their +plans for Manuel and Sapoya, were also carried out. Boys and ponies +became a prominent contingent to the corps of cadets under my military +instruction during the following three years.</p> + +<p>Later, Henry went to West Point and became an officer of the army. +Frank and Manuel went to college, the former becoming a distinguished +civil engineer and the latter a prominent business man. Sapoya closed +his school career at Seabury, and rejoined his people in the Indian +Territory, becoming a valued and respected leader of his people.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span></p> + +<p>On a beautiful lawn before a fine mansion on the eastern shore of the +Hudson River, beneath the shade of a stately elm, stands a small +monument, upon the top of which rests a finely chiselled model of a +setter dog. Beneath, on a bronze tablet, is engraved:</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">"Beneath this stone lies Victoriana, the loved + <br /> + and esteemed friend +of</span></p> + +<p class="p1"><span class="smcap">Charles Alfred Duncan, +<br /> +</span><span class="smcap">Frank Douglas Burton, + <br /> + Brenda</span> <span class="smcap">Arnold Burton, + <br /> + Henry Francis Burton, + <br /> + Manuel Augustine Perea y Luna,<br /> + Sapoya Snoygon Perea."</span></p> + +<p> </p> +<h3>THE END</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Captured by the Navajos, by Charles A. 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Curtis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Captured by the Navajos + +Author: Charles A. Curtis + +Release Date: May 8, 2006 [EBook #18352] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTURED BY THE NAVAJOS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: "EVERY ONE HELD HIS RIFLE IN READINESS TO SHOOT THE + ESCAPING APACHES"] + + + + + CAPTURED + BY THE NAVAJOS + + + + BY + CAPTAIN CHARLES A. CURTIS + U.S.A. + + + + ILLUSTRATED + + + NEW YORK AND LONDON + HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS + + + Copyright, 1904, by HARPER & BROTHERS. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAP. + +I. INTRODUCES THE BOYS + +II. ATTACKED BY NAVAJOS + +III. WARLIKE PUEBLOS + +IV. IN A NAVAJO TRAP + +V. A SIEGE AND AN AMBUSCADE + +VI. CROSSING THE RIVER + +VII. A SWOLLEN STREAM AND STOLEN PONY + +VIII. OVER THE DIVIDE--A CORPORAL MISSING + +IX. THE RESCUING PARTY + +X. THE CORPORALS ARE PROMOTED + +XI. BOTH PONIES ARE STOLEN + +XII. INDIANS ON THE WAR-PATH + +XIII. THE BOY SERGEANTS DO GOOD SERVICE + +XIV. ON THE DESERT WITHOUT WATER + +XV. THE PONIES ARE FOUND + +XVI. APACHES IN SKULL VALLEY + +XVII. PURSUIT OF THE APACHES + +XVIII. ON THE TRAIL OF THE APACHES + +XIX. THE ATTACK ON THE APACHE CAMP + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +"EVERY ONE HELD HIS RIFLE IN READINESS TO +SHOOT THE ESCAPING APACHES" Frontispiece + +"MOUNTED, THE BOYS PRESENTED A WARLIKE +APPEARANCE" + +"CORPORAL HENRY ASKED CAPTAIN BAYARD TO +INQUIRE FOR MANUEL PEREA" + +"'GOD HAS GIVEN ME AMONG MANY FRIENDS, +TWO THAT ARE SOMETHING MORE'" + + + + +CAPTURED BY THE NAVAJOS + +I + +INTRODUCES THE BOYS + + +It was late in the fall of the second year of the civil war that I +rejoined my company at Santa Fe, New Mexico, from detached service in +the Army of the Potomac. The boom of the sunrise gun awoke me on the +morning after my arrival, and I hastened to attend reveille roll-call. +As I descended the steps of the officers' quarters the men of the four +companies composing the garrison were forming into line before their +barracks. Details from the guard, which had just fired the gun and +hoisted the national colors, were returning to the guard-house, and +the officers were hastening to their places. + +At the conclusion of the ceremony I turned again towards my quarters, +and noticed two handsome boys, evidently aged about fifteen and +thirteen, dressed in a modification of the infantry uniform of the +army, and wearing corporals' chevrons. They stood near the regimental +adjutant, and seemed to be reporting their presence to him. + +At breakfast, the adjutant chancing to sit near me, I asked him who +the youthful soldiers were. + +"They are the sons of Lieutenant-Colonel Burton, Corporals Frank and +Henry," he replied. "They hold honorary rank, and are attached to +head-quarters, acting as messengers and performing some light clerical +work." + +"How do they happen to be in Santa Fe?" + +"Mother recently died in the East, and the colonel had them sent here +in charge of a tutor who is to fit them for college, I believe." + +Later, on the same day, being desirous of looking over this ancient +Indian and Mexican town, I was making a pedestrian tour of its +streets, and chanced to be opposite San Miguel School in the eastern +section during the pupils' recess. Half a dozen boys were engaged in +throwing the lasso over the posts of the enclosing fence, when +suddenly from a side street appeared the young corporals whom I had +seen at reveille. + +The Mexican boys instantly greeted them with derisive shouts and +jeers. They called them little Gringos and other opprobrious names, +and one young Mexican threw the loop of his lasso over the smaller +corporal's head and jerked him off his feet. His companions laughed +loudly. The older corporal instantly pulled out his knife and cut the +rope. Then the two brothers stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the +crowd, quite ready to defend themselves. The young Mexicans, +gesticulating and shouting, crowded round the two brothers, and blows +appeared imminent. + +"Muchachos," suddenly cried a ringing voice from the rear, in Spanish, +"are you not ashamed? A hundred against two!" + +A handsome lad forced his way through the crowd, placed himself beside +the two corporals, and faced his young countrymen. Before the Mexicans +recovered from their surprise the bell of San Miguel summoned them to +school. They hurried away, leaving the two corporals with the young +Mexican who had come to their assistance. + +"My name is Frank Burton," said the older corporal, extending his +hand to the Mexican, "and this is my brother, Henry." + +The Mexican boy grasped the proffered hand, and said, "My name is +Manuel Perea, of Algodones." + +"We are the sons of the commanding officer at the fort. Can't you come +and see us next holiday?" + +"I should much like to; I will ask the fathers if I may." + +"Come over, and we will try to make your visit pleasant." + +"How well you speak Spanish! It will be a great pleasure to visit +American boys who can speak my language, for I know but few English +words." + +"Next Saturday, then?" + +"At ten o'clock, if the padres consent. Good-bye," and Manuel +disappeared into the school-room. + +The following Saturday I saw the two corporals and their newly +acquired companion at the post and at dinner in the mess-room, and a +friendship was then formed which was to continue for many years. + +One evening, nearly a month afterwards, I received an order to march +my company into the Jemez Mountains to co-operate with other detached +commands in a war being carried on against the Navajo Indians. Just as +I had laid aside the order after reading it, Colonel Burton entered, +and, taking a seat by my fireside, announced that he had been ordered +on detached service to northern Colorado, on a tour of inspection, +which would require him to be absent for a considerable period, and +that he had been thinking of allowing his sons to accompany me to my +camp at Los Valles Grandes. + +"The hunting and fishing are fine in those valleys, and Frank and +Henry would enjoy life there very much," he said. "They have done so +well in their studies that they deserve a well-earned recreation." + +"I should much like to have their company, sir," I replied, "but would +it not be exposing them to great danger from the Indians?" + +"The officer whom you are to relieve has been in the valleys nearly a +year, and he reports that he has not seen a Navajo in all that time. +Of course, it may be your fortune to meet them, but I do not think +so. If you do, then the boys must give a good account of themselves. +In any engagement that involves the whole command they must not forget +they are the sons of a soldier. Still, I do not want them needlessly +exposed. You are quite sure it will give you no trouble to take them?" + +"Few things could afford me greater pleasure on such isolated duty, +sir. They will be good company for me." + +"Thank you for your kindness. The lads will report to you to-morrow +morning. I will see that they are properly fitted out, and will write +you now and then during my absence, and as soon as I return to Santa +Fe they can be sent back." + +Colonel Burton then took his departure, and I turned to a local +history to learn from its pages something of the tribe with which I +might be brought in contact. + +The home of the Navajos lay between the Rio Grande del Norte on the +east, the Rio Colorado on the west, the Rio San Juan on the north, and +the Rio Colorado Chiquito on the south, but from time immemorial they +had roamed a considerable distance beyond these borders. + +They had always been known as a pastoral race, raising flocks and +herds, and tilling the soil. They owned, at the time we began war upon +them, sheep and ponies by the thousand, and raised large quantities of +corn, wheat, beans, and other products. + +They numbered between twelve and fifteen thousand, and could put three +thousand mounted warriors in the field. They were industrious, the men +doing all the hard work instead of putting it upon the women, as do +the Indians of the plains and all of the marauding tribes. They +manufactured their wearing apparel, and made their own weapons, such +as bows, arrows, and lances. They wove beautiful blankets, often very +costly, and knit woollen stockings, and dressed in greater comfort +than did most other tribes. In addition to a somewhat brilliant +costume, they wore numerous strings of fine coral, shells, and many +ornaments of silver, and usually appeared in cool weather with a +handsome blanket thrown over the shoulders. + +The Navajos and the New Mexicans were almost continually at war. +Expeditions were frequently fitted out in the border towns by the +class of New Mexicans who possessed no land or stock, for the sole +purpose of capturing the flocks and herds of the Navajos. The Indians +retaliated in kind, making raids upon the settlements and pasture +lands, and driving off sheep, horses, and cattle to the mountains. +Complaints were made by the property-holders, and war was declared +against the Indians. + +The military department of New Mexico was in fine condition to carry +on a successful war. Besides our regiment of regular infantry, it had +two regiments of California volunteer infantry and one regiment each +of California and New Mexican cavalry. + +The Navajo upon the war-path was terribly in earnest, and his methods +of waging war were like those of the redman everywhere. With the +knowledge that the American soldier was an ally of his old-time enemy, +and that the Mexican was wearing the uniform of the "Great Father," he +no longer hesitated to look upon us as his enemies also, and resolved +to combat us up to the very walls of our posts. + +No road in the Territory was safe to the traveller; no train dared +move without an escort. Towns were raided, and women and children +carried into captivity. Frightful cases of mutilation and torture were +constantly occurring in the mountain fastnesses. Troops took the +field, and prosecuted with vigilance a war in which there was little +glory and plenty of suffering and hard service. + +Every band of Indians captured was taken to the Bosque Rodondo, on the +Rio Pecos, where a large fort had been established. It was occupied by +a strong garrison of infantry and cavalry. + +I had found social life in Santa Fe very pleasant during my brief stay +there, so I was not overjoyed when I received the order to march my +company to Los Valles Grandes, there to relieve the California company +already referred to. But the order being peremptory, we packed our +baggage during the first hours of the night, and were on the road soon +after daybreak. + +It was the 3d of October when the boy corporals and myself, mounted on +sturdy Mexican ponies, rode out of Fort Marcy for our new station, one +hundred miles due west. The regimental band escorted the company +through the plaza and for a mile on our way, playing, after +immemorial custom, "The Girl I Left Behind Me," and adding, I thought +with a vein of irony, "Ain't Ye Glad You've Got Out th' Wilderness?" + +On the morning of the 8th, after four days of gradual and constant +ascent from the valley of the Rio Grande, which we had forded at San +Ildefonso, we began the slower ascent of the most difficult portion of +our march. + +The woods were full of wild turkeys and mountain grouse, made fat on +the pine-nuts, and Frank and Henry and the soldier huntsmen secured a +generous supply for our first meal in our new military home. + +It took us from early morning until noon of the last day's march to +reach the highest point of the road. What with the frequent halts for +the men to fasten a rope to the wagon-poles and aid the severely taxed +mules up the steepest places, to fill gullies and sloughs with stones +and brush, to pry mired wheels up to firm ground, and repair broken +harnesses and wagons, we were over half a day in going a distance +which could have been accomplished in two hours by soldiers +unencumbered with a baggage and supply train. + +The downward march on the western slope of the mountain-range was +rapidly made over a smooth road through a continuous avenue of +overarching forest trees, and without a halt. From the lower limit of +the forest we caught the first glimpse of the Great Valleys. The +valley before us was fourteen miles long, and of a nearly uniform +width of eight miles. It was almost surrounded by mountains; in fact, +while there were many trails leading out of it, there was but one +practicable wagon-road--that by which we had entered. But at the +southern extremity there was a precipitous canon, through which flowed +a considerable stream. To the west was another canon, a dry one, +called La Puerta--the doorway--which led into the second valley, +called the Valley of San Antonio. + +The Great Valley, on the eastern edge of which I had halted the +company for a few moments' rest and observation, was lower through the +centre than at the sides. It was not unlike an oblong platter, and was +absolutely treeless, except that opposite us a bold, pine-clad point +jutted out from the western mountain-range about three miles, like a +headland into the sea. + +The whole valley was verdant with thick grass. The two boys, sitting +on their ponies a few yards in advance of the company line, were in +raptures over the prospect. + +"This is the first bit of country I've seen in New Mexico that looks +like Vermont," said Frank. + +"Yes, and what a change in the space of a few miles!" observed Henry. +"On the opposite side of this range were only bunch-grass, cactus, and +sand, and here we have fine turf and waving grass. What are those +objects in that farther corner, sir?" he continued, turning to me and +pointing to the southwest. "Look like deer or grazing cattle." + +"There is a small herd of deer there, sure enough," I replied, after +making out the objects through my glass. "We shall not want for +venison if we have good luck with our rifles." + +"Deer, antelope, turkeys, ducks, geese, sand-hill crane, and trout!" +exclaimed Frank. "We've hit a hunter's paradise." + +"And bears and catamounts, too, I suspect," said Henry, looking a +little lugubrious. + +"My, but wouldn't I like to kill a bear!" said Frank. + +"Well, I don't believe I shall hunt for one, and I hope a bear won't +hunt for me," said the younger lad. "I'll be satisfied with turkeys, +grouse, ducks, and trout." + +Six miles due west, a little south of the wooded point, detached from +it about half a mile, we perceived a line of small cabins, which we +inferred was the volunteer encampment. They stretched across a little +level space, enclosed by a gently sloping ridge of horseshoe shape. +The ridge, in fact, proved to be of that shape when we examined it +later. The row of sixteen cabins stretched across the curve, and +looked out of the opening towards the eastern side of the valley. +Fifty yards in front of the cabins, running across the horseshoe from +heel to heel, flowed a crystal stream of water twenty feet wide and +two feet deep, which rose from forty-two springs near the northern end +of the valley. The ridge enclosing the encampment was nowhere more +than twenty-five feet above the level parade. + +The cabins were built of pine logs laid up horizontally, flanked on +the north by the kitchen and stable, and on the south by a storehouse. +Behind the cabins, at the centre of the horseshoe curve, two-thirds +the way up the slope of the ridge, and overlooking the encampment from +its rear, stood the guard-house, in front of which paced a sentinel. + +Resuming our march, a brisk step soon brought us to the encampment. At +the brook before the parade I was met by the volunteer officers, who +did not disguise their joy at the prospect of leaving what they +considered a life of unbearable exile. Even before the customary +civilities were passed, the captain asked me if my animals were in a +condition to warrant his loading the wagons with his company property +as soon as I unloaded mine, as he wished to make an evening's march +towards Santa Fe. + +I told him I thought they were, provided he took the two wagons +belonging to the camp in addition, so that the loads would be light. +He approved of my suggestion, and promised to send back the wagons as +soon as he reached Fort Marcy. + +The wood-yard being well supplied with fuel, I saw no reason why the +wagons and mules could not be spared the ten days necessary to make +the round trip. + +One reason for doing all I could to facilitate the immediate departure +of the Californians was that my men were anxious to move into the +cabins at once. + +With my first glance at the encampment, it had seemed to me too open +to surprise. The adjacent forest-clad point crept up near the left +flank, offering an effectual screen to an attacking party, and the +overlooking sentinel at the guard-house did not have a range of vision +to the rear of more than fifty yards. He was not on the summit of the +ridge by at least half that distance, and walked along the side of the +guard-house next the cabins. He could see nothing of the surface of +the valley to the west of the ridge, and when passing along the front +of the building, as he paced backward and forward, he saw nothing to +the rear of his beat. + +I expressed my opinion of the situation to the volunteer captain, but +he replied, "Pshaw! you might as well take the sentinel off, for all +the good he does as a lookout for Indians." + +"Have you seen none?" + +"Not a solitary moccasin, except an occasional Pueblo, since I've been +here--eleven months." + +"I suppose you have scouted the country thoroughly?" + +"There isn't a trail within thirty miles that I do not know. These +bundles of wolf-skins and other pelts you see going into the wagons +are pretty good evidence that my men know the country." + +We walked to the kitchen, and found, hanging on the walls of the +store-room, a dozen quarters of venison, the fat carcass of a bear, +and several bunches of fowl. + +"We are not obliged to kill our cattle to supply the men with meat," +added the captain. "We butcher only when we need a change from wild +meat." + +"I saw from the edge of the valley where I entered it that you have +deer." + +"Pretty much everything but buffalo is here." + +"I hear your brook is full of fish." + +"There's where you make a mistake," he replied. "There is not a fish +in this valley. The water is spring water, and must possess some +mineral property distasteful to trout, for they never run up here. In +San Antonio Valley, six miles to the west, in a brook less clear than +this, you can catch them by the cart-load." + +"I suppose you intend to take this venison with you?" + +"Not if you will accept the gift of all but a few quarters, which we +will take for friends in the city." + +"Thank you and your men. It will be a treat to us, and keep us going +until we can put in a hunt on our own account." + +We went back to the parade, and stood looking at the surrounding +mountains in the deepening twilight. + +"What other ways are there in and out of the valley, besides the one +which we entered?" I asked. + +"Well, on the east and south sides there is a trail between the peaks, +four in all, and one good bridle-path to the Pueblo of Jemez. That +descends from the valley level to the Jemez River bottom, a drop of +nearly three thousand feet, in a distance of three miles, zigzagging +twice that distance." + +"And to the west and north?" + +"To the north there is a trail to Abiquiu, rarely used, and to the +west there is only La Puerta, into which all the other trails from the +east and south concentrate. It is to watch La Puerta that this camp +was established." + +"And you say you have seen no Navajos or signs of them since you +came?" + +"Yes, plenty of signs, but no Indians. Parties have passed here in the +night, but none were driving stock." + +I learned all I could of the captain while his men hurried their +baggage into the wagons, but he was too much excited over the prospect +of leaving the Great Valleys, as well as curious to know of events in +Santa Fe, to give me much information. When the guard of regulars +relieved the volunteer guard, I placed my sentinel on a beat a dozen +yards in rear of the guard-house, which enabled him to see several +hundred yards back of the ridge, and yet not show himself prominently +to an approaching foe. + +The volunteers at last marched away, and I made a casual examination +of the cabins. I noticed that the inner surface of the log walls had +been hewn smooth, and the names, company, and regiment of the former +occupants had been carved with knives or burned in with hot pokers +along the upper courses. Each had a wide, open, stone fireplace and +chimney set in one corner, after the Mexican fashion. + +No uniform design had been observed in the construction of the cabins, +the occupants having followed their own ideas of what would prove +comfortable. Height, width, and depth were variable, but their fronts +were in perfect alignment. + +The hut which had been occupied by the officers and which fell to the +boys and myself was at the right of the line, next the storehouse, a +little removed from the others. It was twenty by twenty feet, +partitioned on one side into two alcoves in which were rude bedsteads, +one of which was assigned to the boys and one to myself. A door opened +on the south side, and a window, the only glass one in camp, looked +out upon the parade. Floors in all the cabins were of earth, raised a +foot higher than the outside surface of the ground, smoothed with a +trowel and carpeted with blankets, until later, when skins of wild +animals took their place. Doors were made of puncheons, swung on +wooden hinges and fastened with wooden latches operated by +latch-strings. + +Our first day in camp was principally spent in making ourselves +comfortable. The men were busy in filling bed-sacks from the +hay-stacks, and in repairing the cabins and articles of furniture. Ten +head of beef cattle had been turned over to me with the other property +of the camp. I had placed them in charge of a soldier, with orders to +herd them in the valley immediately in front of the opening, where +they could be plainly seen from the parade as well as the guard-house. + +At noon two Mexican hunters, father and son, rode up to my door, the +former mounted on a mule and the latter on a burro, or donkey. The +elder said their names were Jose and Manuel Cordova, of Canoncito, +that they were looking for deer, and would like permission to make the +camp their place of rendezvous. I gave them permission to do so, and +their animals were turned loose with our stock. + +About four o'clock in the afternoon the boy corporals and myself, +tired with our work of repairing and arranging quarters, sat down to a +lunch of broiled grouse. + +We were busily picking the last bones when we were startled by loud +shouts. Quickly running to the centre of the parade, where the men +were rapidly assembling with their arms, I saw the soldier-herdsman +coming towards camp as fast as he could run, waving his hat and +shouting. Behind him the steers were running in the opposite +direction, driven by six Indians on foot. They were waking the echoes +with their war-whoops. + + + + +II + +ATTACKED BY NAVAJOS + + +The six Navajos made no attempt to shoot the herder, although for some +time he was within easy rifle range. They contented themselves with +driving the cattle towards the southern section of the valley. + +At the first alarm Sergeant Cunningham got the men into line without a +moment's delay. He had hardly counted off when the report of the +sentinel's rifle was heard, followed by his shouting, excitedly, +"Indians! Indians! This way! This way!" + +In the direction of the guard-house I saw the sentinel and guard +getting into line with great rapidity. They were gesticulating wildly +to us. Frank Burton, who was standing near me, shouted, "Henry, get +your carbine and fall in with me on the left!" + +"Don't expose yourselves, boys," I said. "The colonel told me to keep +you out of danger." + +"We are needed, sir," answered Frank, promptly, and the two youngsters +instantly placed themselves on the left of the line. + +I broke the company to the rear through the intervals between the +cabins. The men had only the marching allowance of ten rounds of +ammunition, so I had a couple of boxes broken open with an axe, and +cartridges were distributed to them. The two Mexicans joined us, and +steadily and rapidly we advanced up the slope to unite with the guard. + +Scarcely two hundred yards distant we saw a compact body of over three +hundred Indians. They were charging down upon us, and with a general +and frightful war-whoop they began firing. + +We deployed as skirmishers. The men fired by volleys, sheltering +themselves behind bowlders, logs, and ridges. + +Instantly, at the head of the mounted column, there was an emptying of +saddles. The onset was suddenly checked, and the Indians broke into +two divisions. Part of the force swept along the outer side of the +horseshoe ridge to the south, and the other part wheeled round to the +north. + +I met the attack by dividing my men into two divisions. The men moved +along the interior slopes, firing as they ran, and kept pace with the +ponies running to the extremities. + +The Navajos had lost twenty men. A chief, who had been in the front of +the fight throughout, had the utmost difficulty in holding them in +close column. + +"That is the great chief, El Ebano," cried the elder Cordova, as he +put his gun to his shoulder. Taking careful aim at the gray-haired +leader, he fired, and one of the most famous chieftains of the Navajos +rolled from his saddle. The beautiful black horse he had been riding +ran on towards us. With El Ebano dead, the Indians were dismayed. A +moment later they were in full retreat, and joined their comrades who +had stolen our cattle. + + * * * * * + +Our casualties were few. Sergeant Cunningham's scalp had been grazed +along the left side, Private Tom Clary had the lobe of an ear cut, +Privates Hoey and Evans were wounded along the ribs, and Corporal +Frank Burton had a bullet wound in the right shoulder. + +The Indians had gathered in a compact body about three miles to the +southward, evidently holding a council of war. Reflecting that they +would not be likely to repeat their attack immediately, I walked out +with the first sergeant and a few of the men to note what casualties +had befallen the enemy, and learn if there were any wounded men in +need of assistance. + +As I neared the place where the charge had been checked, I met +Corporal Frank Burton leading a black pony, gently stroking his nose +and talking soothingly to him, while the animal seemed half divided +between fear and newly awakened confidence. + +"Oh, isn't he a beauty, sir!" exclaimed the boy--"isn't he just a +perfect beauty!" + +"He certainly is a very handsome horse," I answered, after walking +around him and taking in all his graces and points. "Take him to the +stable and we will see to what use we can put him." + +"Do you think it would be possible for me to own him, sir?" inquired +the boy, in an anxious voice. + +"As spoil of war, corporal?" + +"I suppose so, sir. I was first to capture him, you know." + +Before I could reply to this we were startled by a loud whinny, a +little to the north, which was promptly answered by the black, and, +looking in that direction, we saw a cream-colored pony, with +high-erected head, looking anxiously in the direction of our captive. + +"That seems to be a friend of your pony's," I said. + +"Another beauty, too, sir! Can't we catch it for Henry?" + +"Perhaps we can. It seems inclined to stay by this one. I see all the +other loose ponies have joined the Indians. But wait now until we look +over the field." + +We now turned our attention to the prostrate bodies of the fallen +enemy. All were dead. + +The body of El Ebano, clad in black buck-skin, ornamented with a +profusion of silver buttons, chains, and bracelets, lay face upward, +his resolute, handsome countenance still in the embrace of death. I +told the men we would give him and his comrades a warrior's burial on +the morrow, and returned to camp to make it defensible against a +possible night attack. + +The advantage of numbers was decidedly on the side of the Indians, and +I felt if they could show the firmness and dash of white men our +chances of repelling a resolute attack were small. Counting the +Mexicans and the boys, we numbered but forty-eight, to their three +hundred or more. + +We were in the centre of a large valley, with no knowledge of our +surroundings nor with any way out except the road by which we had +entered. Should we leave the protection of our ridge and cabins and +take to the open valley we should be at the mercy of our foes. + +Even supposing we could pass out of the valley unmolested, there were +the forests and defiles, filled with natural ambuscades. We could not +hope to pass them and reach the Rio Grande alive. + +Only a few hours of daylight remained. Whatever was to be done in +preparation for defence must be done at once. + +In the wood-yard there were tiers of dry pine-logs, many of them four +feet in diameter, and all about twenty feet long. With drag ropes and +by rolling we conveyed them to the points of the ridge and to each end +of the guard-house, and erected effective barricades. + +While this work was going on the two boys were busy in an attempt to +capture the cream-colored pony. Frank led the black towards it, while +Henry rattled the contents of a measure of corn and coaxed the +cream-color in a tongue foreign to that with which the animals were +familiar to approach and partake of it. Tired at last of what seemed a +vain attempt, the young corporal set the box before the black, which +at once began to munch the crackling corn, and the other pony, +attracted by the sound, trotted up and placed her nose beside her +friend's. Instantly its bridle-rein was seized, and the lads uttered a +shout of triumph and led the prizes to the stable. + +From the top of the ridge I looked occasionally through my field-glass +at the enemy. They still continued well to the south on the western +side of the brook. They had dismounted and appeared to be carrying on +an animated consultation. + +After a considerable interval of time, four of their number mounted, +and, collecting the ten beeves, mule, and burro, which had been +grazing near by, drove them up and down in front of the camp, beyond +rifle range. They made gestures for us to come and take them--an +invitation which, for obvious reasons, I declined to accept. I quite +agreed with Private Tom Clary, who, as he placed his brawny shoulder +to a big log to roll it up the slope, remarked to his "bunky," Private +George Hoey, "That's an invitation, begorra, I don't fale loike +acciptin'." + +"Ye'd niver make yer t'ilet for anither assimbly if ye did, Tom. I +don't think the lutinint will risk the comp'ny's hair in that way," +replied Hoey. + +To have attempted to recover our stock would have necessitated a +division of our force, and the main body of the Navajos stood ready to +dash in and cut off a party making such a reckless move. + +This was what they had originally attempted to accomplish, as I heard +years afterwards from a chief who took part in the raid. + +Failing to draw us out in pursuit of our lost stock, the Navajos moved +slowly away in the deepening dusk to a point close against the forest +on the eastern side of the valley and nearly opposite our camp. There +they built a row of five fires, which soon became, in the darkness, +the only evidence of their presence. + +I caused the sentinels to be increased, and, after dressing the wounds +of the men and removing a bullet from Frank's shoulder, went to bed +without undressing. After some half-hour of silence, Henry said: + +"Mr. Duncan." + +"Yes; what is it?" + +"I'm going to name my pony Chiquita." + +"And I'm going to name mine Sancho," added Frank. + +"What are you going to do with the animals you brought here?" I asked. + +"Turn them in in place of the two we captured," answered Henry. + +"All right; for general utility. Good-night." + +"Good-night. Thank you, sir." + +Half an hour before midnight the sergeant of the guard aroused me to +report that strange noises could be heard from the rear of the camp. + +I went to the top of the ridge and listened. A sound like the dragging +of branches over the ground, with occasional pauses, fell upon my +ears. I sent for the elder Cordova, and he listened long, with an ear +close to the ground. His opinion was that the Indians were creeping up +for another attack. + +Orders were sent to Sergeant Cunningham to wake the men without noise +and assemble them at the barricades. + +A little after midnight the moon rose over the mountains and bathed +the valley in a beautiful light. + +As the moon cleared herself from the summits of the range and her rays +fell upon the line of paling camp-fires of the Indians, my field-glass +revealed the fact that the raiders had departed. Ponies and riders +were gone. In the whole length and breadth of the Great Valley not a +living being was in sight outside the limit of our encampment. + +An inspection to the rear, to the scene of the late conflict, revealed +the fact that the body of El Ebano and the group of dead warriors +which lay about him at nightfall had been taken away. Their removal +had caused the rushing and creeping sounds we had heard. + +Mounting my horse, and accompanied by four men upon the four ponies, I +crossed the valley to the Indian fires, but found nothing there except +the horns, hoofs, and entrails of our captured cattle. The flesh had +probably been packed upon the Cordovas' mule and burro to ration a +raiding party into the valley of the Rio Grande. + +A well-defined trail went back through the forest, which Cordova +afterwards assured me led to the town of Pina Blanca. + +Returning to camp, I wrote a letter to the commanding general, giving +an account of the attack and its repulse, and despatched it by the +Mexicans, who, taking cut-offs with which they were acquainted, and +borrowing horses in relays at ranches on the way, delivered it next +evening at Santa Fe. + +The general sent a hundred troopers to Los Valles Grandes, where they +came galloping into camp two evenings afterwards. As Captain Wardwell +sprang from his saddle and wrung my hand, he exclaimed: + +"God bless you, Duncan! I came out expecting to bury the bones of you +and your men." + +I was glad to see the California cavalry officers, and, during the +three days of their stay in the valley for rest after a forced march, +did the honors to the best of my ability. On the day of their +departure the wagons returned loaded with supplies. Instructions were +received to send back all but one wagon and six mules. + +With the departure of cavalry and wagons, life in the valley settled +down to quiet routine. I spent some time in instructing my companions, +according to an agreement I had made with their father. Not being a +West-Pointer, but a college graduate with a fair knowledge of Greek +and Latin, and some other acquirements not considered of military +utility, I was able to carry out a desire of the colonel and assist +the boys in preparing themselves for college. + +We rarely received visits from the outside world. The nearest hamlet +was an Indian pueblo, twenty-six miles away, in the Rio Jemez Valley, +and representatives of the army seldom had occasion to visit our +outposts. The mail arrived from Santa Fe every Saturday afternoon, and +left every Monday morning in the saddle-bags of two cavalry +express-men. + +To the soldiers life in the valleys was very pleasant. Duty was light, +and there were no temptations to dissipation or to be out of quarters +at night, and there were no confinements to the guard-house for +disorder. Evenings were spent over books and papers and quiet games, +and the days in drill, repairing buildings, providing the fuel for +winter, hunting, and scouting. + +As previously referred to, we were in a region of abundant game. The +boy corporals accompanied the hunting-parties, and became skilled in +bringing down whatever they sighted. Henry, as well as Frank, shot his +bear, and soon our floor was covered with the skins of wolves, +coyotes, bears, and catamounts, skilfully dressed and tanned by the +Cordovas. + +And now I must introduce a principal character of my story, a valued +friend who took a conspicuous part in our scouting and hunting, and +who, later on, did valuable service to myself and my youthful +comrades. + +Just as I was about to leave Santa Fe for Los Valles Grandes, the +regimental adjutant--since a distinguished brigadier-general in the +war in the Philippines--gave me a beautiful young setter named +Victoriana, and called Vic for convenience. She was of canine +aristocracy, possessing a fine pedigree, white and liver-colored, with +mottled nose and paws, and a tail like the plume of Henry of Navarre. + +The boys, soon after our arrival in the valleys, carrying out a +conceit suggested by the letters "U.S." which are always branded upon +the left shoulder of all government horses and mules, marked with a +weak solution of nitrate of silver upon Vic's white shoulder the same +characters, and as long as she continued to live they were never +allowed to grow dim. + +Vic came to me with no education, but plenty of capacity, and the +corporals and I spent much time during the long evenings and on the +days when we did not accompany the scouting and hunting parties, in +training her. + +She learned to close the door if we simulated a shiver, to bring me my +slippers when she saw me begin to remove my boots, to carry messages +to the first sergeant or the cook, to return to the camp from long +distances and bring articles I sent for. + +Vic was an unerring setter and a fine retriever. She was taught not to +bark when a sound might bring an enemy upon us, and she would follow +patiently at my heels or those of either of the boys when told to do +so and never make a break to the right or left. + +Our repeated scoutings soon made us acquainted with every trail in and +out of the valley. I obtained permission from department head-quarters +to employ the elder Cordova as spy and guide, and he was of invaluable +use to us. He was able to show me a mountain-trail into the valley of +San Antonio besides the one through La Puerta, which I kept in reserve +for any desperate emergency which might make it necessary to use +another. We frequently went trout-fishing with an armed party, and +could pack a mule with fish in a few hours. + +One morning, near the close of October, Cordova left the camp before +reveille on a solitary hunting-trip in order to reach Los Vallecitos, +four miles to the south of our valley, before sunrise. + +He had gone but half an hour, and I was dressing after first +bugle-call for reveille, when I was startled by the rapid approach of +some one running towards my door. Presently the guide tumbled into the +cabin, gasping: + +"Muchos Navajos, teniente, muchos Navajos!" (Many Navajos, lieutenant, +many Navajos!) + +"Where are they, and how many?" I asked. + +"About half a league over the ridge," pointing to the south. "They +chased me from the Los Vallecitos trail. They number about a hundred." + +Without waiting for more definite information, I told the boys, who +were hastily getting into their clothes, to stay in the cabin, and, +going for Sergeant Cunningham, ordered him to parade the company under +arms without delay; then, taking my glass, I went to the top of the +ridge. Lying down before reaching the crest, I looked through the +screening grass and saw a party of eighty-three Indians, halted and +apparently in consultation. They were in full war costume, and were +painted and feathered to the height of Indian skill. + + + + +III + +WARLIKE PUEBLOS + + +The party of Indians halted for nearly ten minutes, evidently in +excited dispute, accompanying their talk with much gesticulation. I +had time to notice that the details of dress were not like those of +the Navajos with whom we had recently had a fight; but as the old +hunter Cordova had pronounced them Navajos, I gave the matter little +consideration. They did not seem to be aware of the existence of an +encampment of soldiers in the valleys, and after a brief delay moved +on towards La Puerta. + +Returning to the parade, I ordered the six mules and four ponies +brought to my door, saddled and bridled, and all the men not on guard +to assemble under arms with cartridge-boxes filled. Fortunately, the +mail-riders had arrived the previous evening from Santa Fe, so I +ordered them to form a part of the expedition, and placed the party +of thirteen under command of Sergeant Cunningham, mounted upon my +horse. + +The sergeant was directed to take the "reserved trail" through the +hills into the valley of San Antonio and bring his men into the +western end of La Puerta before the Indians could pass through it. I +impressed it upon him on no account to fire unless the redmen showed +fight, to leave his mules and horses concealed in the timber at the +entrance of the canon, and so dispose his men as to convey the +impression that thirteen was but a part of his force. + +Just before the horsemen were to start I overheard Private Tom Clary, +who was mounted on Frank's recent equine acquisition, Sancho, say to +the boy: + +"Corpril Frank, laddie, can ye give me the Naviho words for _whoa_ and +_get up_? I'm afeared the little baste 'll not understand me English, +and may attimpt to lave for his troibe." + +"You needn't speak to him, Tom. Use your reins, curb, and spurs," +replied the boy. + +"True for you, corpril; a pull to stop, and a spur to go ahead. That's +a language that nades no interpreter." + +For myself, I proposed to follow up the Navajos with the rest of the +company as soon as they were fairly within the canon, and I expected +to capture them without blood-shed. + +We started, the mounted men turning to the north of the wooded point +and entering the forest, and the footmen marching direct for La +Puerta. I kept my men out of sight under the rolls of the valley +surface, and moved at quick time. When the redmen were well within the +walls of the canon we deployed right and left, and closed up rapidly +behind them. + +The Indians showed perceptible astonishment when they perceived this +unexpected and warlike demonstration, but they soon recovered, and +then, feeling the superiority of the mounted man over the footman, +they broke into derisive shouts and made gestures conveying their +contempt for us. This continued for some time, when they suddenly +showed confusion. They dashed at a gallop to the north side of the +passage, and skirted it for a considerable distance, as if looking for +a place of escape. Failing to find one they dashed wildly to the other +side, where they met with no better success, and then they halted and +consulted. + +Presently one of their number rode out and waved a white cloth. Upon +this I approached alone and made signs for them to dismount and lay +down their arms. They did so, and at another sign withdrew in a body, +when my men picked up everything and collected their ponies. + +I was certainly surprised at such a bloodless result of my strategy, +and, after shaking hands with the chief, began my return march to +camp. + +We had gone but a short distance when I overheard Private Clary, one +of the mounted men, who was riding near me, say to Private Hoey beside +him. + +"D'ye moind the cut uv thim chaps' hair, Jarge?" + +"Indade I do that, Tom," replied George. + +"Thim's no Navihos!" + +"Not a bit uv it. I'd as soon expict to see one in currls!" + +I had a wholesome respect for the opinions of these old soldiers, for +they had campaigned against Indians in Texas, Utah, Colorado, and New +Mexico long before I had seen a more savage redman than the indolent, +basket-making descendants of the Passamaquoddies and Penobscots. +Accordingly, without appearing to notice their remarks, I approached +the chief, and said, interrogatively: + +"Apache?" + +A shake of the head. + +"Ute?" + +Another shake. + +"Navajo?" + +"Si, senor!" he said, with a bow of his head, and I moved triumphantly +on, satisfied that my eighty-three prisoners were Navajos. + +But presently I heard Clary ask, "Jarge, did ye iver see Navihos with +blankets like thim?" + +"Niver!" answered Hoey, emphatically. + +Evidently the two soldiers did not believe they were Navajos, and were +"talking at me." But if not Navajos, Apaches, or Utes, who were these +warriors? + +When we were near camp we were met by Cordova, who had remained behind +to recover from the fatigue of his early morning run. As soon as he +came up to the Indians there seemed to be an immediate recognition. He +and the chief met and embraced, and conversed for a few moments in a +language that was neither English nor Spanish. Then the hunter turned +to me, looking shamefaced, and said, in Spanish, "Lieutenant, these +Indians are Pueblos, of Santo Domingo." + +Whoever knows the character of the Pueblos will appreciate the joke I +had perpetrated upon myself. Many towns in New Mexico are inhabited by +these Indians--towns which stood on their present sites when Coronado +entered the country in 1541. They form an excellent part of the +population, being temperate, frugal, and industrious. They dress in +Indian style, and when at war paint and disfigure themselves like any +other of the red peoples, so that a green soldier would see no +difference between them and the wilder tribes. + +The Pueblos explained that they were in pursuit of a band of Navajos +who had stolen some of their cattle the previous night. When they +first saw Cordova they attempted to approach him to inquire if he had +seen any Navajo "signs." + +My appearance and warlike demonstrations they could not account for, +not knowing there was a camp of soldiers in the valley. When I put +the questions, Apache? Ute? Navajo? the chief thought I was asking him +if he was in pursuit of a party of one of those tribes. Being in +pursuit of Navajos, he answered yes to that name. + +A week after my captives had returned to their homes in Santo Domingo, +at the close of a long and fruitless search for their lost stock, a +gentleman and his servant, mounted on broncos and leading a pack-mule, +rode up to my cabin late in the afternoon. He introduced himself as a +government Indian agent for the Navajos, and handed me a letter from +the department commander. It stated that the bearer was on his way to +the Indian pueblo of Jemez, to prevent the massacre of a number of +Navajo women, children, and old men who had sought asylum there, and +authorized me to furnish him with all the aid in my power. + +After dismounting and entering my quarters, the agent stated that, the +Navajo country being over-run by national troops, many of the +principal men had sent their wives and children, with a few old men, +to Jemez for safety; that the party of Dominicans which had been +recently captured by us, being bitterly disappointed at their lack of +success in retaking their missing cattle, had determined to go to +Jemez and wreak vengeance upon the enemy. + +The Santo Dominicans had informed the people of Jemez that if they +interfered to prevent the slaughter of the Navajos they would be +considered by the military authorities as allies of that tribe, and +treated accordingly. + +Convinced, from what the agent told me, that I should act without +unnecessary delay, I proposed that we should start for Jemez at once, +but he declared himself too much fatigued by a long journey to +undertake a night ride of twenty-six miles. My instructions from the +general were to conform my movements to the wishes of the agent, so I +very reluctantly and much against my convictions concluded to wait +until morning. He strongly insisted there was no reason for haste, as +the Dominicans had not planned to leave their pueblo before noon. + +We set out, therefore, at four o'clock next morning. Sergeant +Cunningham asked permission to accompany the expedition, and I allowed +him to do so, leaving Sergeant Mulligan in charge until our return. + +We were a party of thirteen, mounted on every available animal in +camp. Henry was left behind, but Frank accompanied us, mounted on the +recently captured Sancho, proud of his horse and proud to be included +in the detachment. + +We passed through an interesting country, filled with wind-carven +pillars and minarets, eroded shelves and caverns, and lunched at +noonday beside a dozen boiling sulphur springs. We also passed +Canoncito, the little village which was the home of Jose Cordova. + +As we came in sight of the tinned spires of the church at Jemez, we +heard a distinct murmur, and halted at once. In a moment the murmur +swelled into an unmistakable Indian war-whoop. It was plainly evident +the Dominicans had arrived before us. + +As soon as I heard the war-whoop I told Sergeant Cunningham to bring +up the men as rapidly as possible, sticking to the travelled road, +and, accompanied by the agent and Corporal Frank, I put spurs to my +horse and dashed towards the town. + +Our route was through the cultivated land, while that of the soldiers +was on the hard ground along the foot-hills. Ours was in a direct +line, over deep, soft earth, frequently crossed by irrigating ditches, +while theirs, although nearly treble the distance, was over firm soil +without a break. We struck directly for the church spires, which I +knew rose from the central plaza. + +Often we plunged down the banks of _acequias_, carrying avalanches of +soil with us into two or three feet of water, to make a difficult +scramble up the crumbling wall of the opposite side; and as we neared +the pueblo, the louder grew the discordant yells of the Dominicans. + +As I reached the border of the plantation I found between me and the +road, which here entered the town, a cactus hedge about five feet +high, with no passage through it except at a considerable distance to +the right. The agent veered away to the opening, but Corporal Frank +kept Sancho close behind me, and I gave my good thoroughbred his head +and rode sharply at the hedge, cleared it at a bound, receiving but a +few scratches from the cactus spines. Turning my head as I came into +the road, I saw Frank come through like a trooper and join me. + +Clear of the hedge, I found myself at the foot of a narrow street +which passed between two tall adobe buildings and entered the plaza +near the centre of its western side. I took it at a run, and when +half-way through saw directly before its inner end, facing the north, +a group of old, gray-haired Navajos standing alone with their arms +folded, and holding their blankets firmly about their breasts, while +in their immediate front were some one hundred mounted Indians, +painted and ornamented in true aboriginal warrior style. + +On the terraced fronts of the houses and their flat roofs, and along +the three sides of the square, seemed to be gathered the entire +population of the town, looking passively on. + +Before I had more than taken in the situation, a rattling discharge of +rifles came from the direction of the Dominicans, and the old men fell +in a heap to the ground. Covered with dust and mud, our horses reeking +with foam, Corporal Frank and I burst through the crowd of spectators +on the west side of the plaza, and gained the open space just as the +firing-party was advancing with gleaming knives and wild yells to +complete the tragedy by scalping the slain. + +Raising my right hand I shouted, in Spanish, "Stop where you are!" + +Frank had unslung his carbine and was holding it by the small of the +stock in his right hand, the barrel resting in his left, looking +calmly and resolutely at the hesitating Indians. The blood of three +generations of soldierly ancestors was thrilling his veins with a +resolution to act well in any emergency which might arise. + +The Pueblos halted, and at the same moment a group of eighteen women +and nearly three times as many children, some of them in arms, who had +been reserved--as I afterwards learned--for later shooting, ran into +the space and clung to my feet, stirrups, and the mane and tail of my +horse, entreating with eyes and voices for protection. + +The war-cries had ceased and the Dominicans had gathered in an angry +and gesticulating group, when Sergeant Cunningham and the rest of the +men appeared on foot, running into the plaza from a side street, and +formed in line before us. + +The massacre ended with the death of the old men. Aided by the agent +and the Catholic priest of the pueblo I succeeded in impressing upon +the Jemez warriors that they must discountenance any further hostile +demonstrations of the Santo Dominicans, and told the latter that +unless they promptly withdrew and departed for their own reservation I +should punish them for their recent conduct. They at once sullenly +departed. + +That evening, by the light of a brilliant moon, the dead Navajos were +buried upon a hill-top overlooking the town, amid the wailing of their +women and much ceremonious demonstration by the Jemez people, and +Frank and I retired for the night to the house of the hospitable +priest. + +Early the following morning I held an inspection of the mules and +horses, and finding the wheel and swing spans were much exhausted by +the unaccustomed gait they had maintained in the forced march from the +valleys, I determined to give them a day's rest before making the +return trip. Finding Sergeant Cunningham's, Frank's, and my own horses +none the worse for their exertions, I concluded that we three would +return at once to camp. I placed Corporal Duffy in charge of the +party, and told him after one day had passed to return by way of the +hot springs. + +Instead of returning by the route we came, the sergeant, Frank, and I +were to take a shorter and rougher one pointed out to us by Padre +Gutierrez. This trail was almost as straight as an arrow, but led +through a section of the country over which we had not scouted. At +half-past nine o'clock the three of us started, Vic bounding and +barking at my horse's head. + + + + +IV + +IN A NAVAJO TRAP + + +Six miles from Jemez our road, which, after leaving the cultivated +valley of the Pueblos had narrowed to a path, entered the forest and +ran along the side of a small brook, which it continued to follow for +several miles, and then rose gradually to the side of a range of +hills. We were walking our animals along the side of this acclivity, +at a considerable distance above the brook on our left, their hoofs +making no noise in the soft, black earth, when I was startled by the +braying of an ass somewhere in the ravine. + +Sergeant Cunningham and Corporal Frank threw themselves quickly from +their saddles and held the horses by the bits to prevent them from +responding to the greeting, and I quickly sought a place from which I +could make an observation. + +We were in a clump of evergreen trees which commanded a view of the +ravine and obscured us from sight in all directions. Looking across +the ravine, I caught a glimpse of a party of Indians a little beyond +the brook. Through my glass I made them out to be a party of +twenty-seven Navajos, sitting about a camp-fire eating their dinner. + +As many ponies were grazing near, and a mule and burro. From certain +peculiar markings I had observed the day Cordova joined me in the +valleys, I had no difficulty in recognizing the last two animals to be +his property. Packs were lying near the fire, showing that the +captured animals were being used as beasts of burden. + +All this time I had entirely overlooked the presence of my dog Vic. +Had I thought of her in season, it would have been easy to have kept +her close at my heels; but I had left her free to wander, not thinking +of any threatening danger. + +Suddenly I heard a chorus of grunts from the Indians, and looking in +their direction I saw Vic stand for an instant with her forefeet on a +prostrate log, look questioningly at the savages, and then drop down +into the furze and disappear. + +The sight of a white man's dog, wearing a brilliant metallic collar, +produced an electrical effect. Instantly the redmen sprang to their +feet, seized their arms, and began saddling and bridling their ponies. + +"Vic has betrayed us, sergeant," I said. "We must get out of here as +quickly as possible." + +As we sprang into our saddles and regained the trail Vic came with a +bound before us, and I immediately gave her positive orders to keep +close at our heels. We rode as fast as it was possible to do without +making a noise, hoping that we might get a considerable distance away +before we were discovered. We had not proceeded far, however, when a +yell announced that we were seen. + +As we galloped on we saw that it was impossible for the Indians to +cross to our side of the ravine. Every mile we passed the path rose +higher and the sides of the stream grew more precipitous. The Indians +were pursuing a path parallel to ours and about half a mile in our +rear. What was the nature of the country ahead we did not know. The +fact that they were pursuing, and with such eagerness, seemed to +indicate they knew of some advantage to be gained farther on. + +On and on we rode, I in advance, the sergeant next, and Frank behind. +The trail wound through the trees and clumps of underbrush, with +occasional openings through which we could catch glimpses of our eager +pursuers. The prospect appeared exceedingly gloomy. + +As we galloped on I noticed at last, through a rift in the wood a +considerable distance in advance, an eminence or butte which lifted +its summit nearly three hundred feet skyward, and which presented on +the side towards us an almost perpendicular wall. When we approached +it we saw a neat log-cabin nestling under its overarching brow. We +dismounted, led our panting and utterly exhausted animals into the +cabin, closed the doors, and went to the windows with our rifles. + +The cabin was about thirty by twenty feet in area, and stood with its +northern end close against the perpendicular wall of the butte, with +an overhanging cliff a hundred feet above it. If a stone had been +dropped from the sheltering cliff it would have fallen several feet +away from the cabin's southern wall. + +At the end of the cabin farthest from the butte the ground upon which +it stood broke off perpendicularly twenty feet downward, to a +spring--the source of the brook we had been following since we left +Jemez. The only way to cross from one trail to the other, except by +going several miles down the brook or to the north end of the butte, +was, therefore, through the cabin, and for this purpose a door had +been placed in each side. The cabin could be approached only on the +east and west sides, and was unassailable at its north and south ends. + +Each wall contained a small window, except the one which rested +against the butte, and there a wide, stone fireplace had been built. +Three men with plenty of rations and ammunition could make a good +defence. Water could be had by lowering a bucket or canteen from the +southern window to the spring, twenty-four feet below its sill. + +The Indians had discovered that we had found shelter from their +pursuit and for the present were safe, and all but five, who soon +afterwards appeared in the edge of the forest to the east, had joined +the main party to the west of us. They showed great respect for our +place of refuge and rifles, and kept well out of range. The +sergeant's and my Springfield rifle could throw a bullet farther and +could be loaded more rapidly than any rifles in their possession, and +Frank with his Spencer could fire about twenty balls to our one. + +We removed the saddles and bridles from our animals, and, hitching +them in the corners each side of the fireplace, began a discussion of +our prospects. + +"If we could keep a couple of fires going before the doors during the +night, sir," said the sergeant, "we might keep them away." + +"I am afraid a fire would be of greater advantage to them than to us," +I replied; "we should have to expose ourselves every time we +replenished it. I wonder if the roof is covered with earth? It is +flat." + +"I'll tell you in half a minute, sir," said Frank, and entering the +fireplace he proceeded to ascend the wide-mouthed chimney by stepping +on projecting stones of which it was built. In a moment he called down +to me, "Yes, sir; it is covered with about two feet of earth." + +"All right then. If we can get pine enough to keep a blaze going then +we will have one. A fire on the roof will illuminate everything about +us and leave our windows and doorways in darkness. It will aid our aim +and confuse the Indians." + +We set to work at once and pulled down all the bunks, and with large +stones from the fireplace succeeded in breaking into fragments the +pine puncheons and posts of which they were made. Then Sergeant +Cunningham ascended the chimney and tore away one side of the part +which projected above the roof--the side looking in the direction +opposite the precipice. This would enable one of us to stand in the +top and replenish the fire, and at the same time remain concealed from +the enemy. As we could be fired upon from only two directions, the +fire tender would be safe. + +Fortunately, Padre Gutierrez's housekeeper had put up a lunch +sufficient to last us, including Vic, for three days, and water could +be drawn easily through the southern window with a canteen and lariat. + +"I'm afraid those chaps 'll get us in the end, sir," observed the +sergeant. "Of course we can eat horse-meat for a while after our +victuals are gone, but we are three and they are twenty-seven--we are +prisoners and they are free." + +"Very true, sergeant," I replied, "but something may turn up in our +favor. The Jemez party will reach camp day after to-morrow, and when +it learns we are not there we shall be looked up." + +"If another party of Navajos don't jump them, sir." + +"Of course, the chances are against us, sergeant, but let us keep up +our spirits and make a good fight." + +"I'll do my best, sir, as I always have done, but this is a beastly +hole to be caught in." + +"But why don't you send Vic for help, Mr. Duncan?" asked Frank. + +"Laddie, I believe you have saved us! Thank you for the suggestion. +We'll put the little girl's education to a practical test." + +"What! Going to send her to Jemez for the men?" asked Sergeant +Cunningham. + +"No; I hardly think I could make her understand our wishes in that +direction, but there is no doubt she can be sent to camp. She has done +that many times." + +"Yes, sir, she'll go to the valley," said Frank. "You know I sent her +with a message to you from San Antonio Valley, six miles. I wonder how +far camp is from here?" + +"'Bout nine miles," replied the sergeant; "but she'll do it, I think. +Look at her!" + +Vic had come forward, and sat looking intelligently from one to the +other of us while this discussion ran on. + +"All right, little girl," I said, patting and smoothing her silky +coat, "you shall have a chance to help us after dusk. Go and lie down +now." + +The dog went to a corner and, lying down on Frank's saddle-blanket, +appeared to sleep; and while Corporal Frank took my place at a window +I wrote a message to Sergeant Mulligan at the camp, describing our +desperate situation and requesting him to send a detachment to our +rescue. I also prepared a flat, pine stick, and wrote upon it, in +plain letters, "Examine her collar." I intended she should carry the +stick in her mouth, as she had hitherto carried articles and messages, +fearing she would not understand she was to go on an errand unless all +the conditions of her education were observed. + +During that day the Navajos simply showed their presence occasionally +among the trees, far away on either flank. We once heard the rapid +strokes of an axe, as of chopping, and wondered what it could mean. +Nothing further happened till dusk. Then I called Vic and attached the +note to her collar, wrapped in a piece of my handkerchief. + +"I think, sergeant," I said, "we had better send our message before it +gets darker and the Navajos close up nearer or the corporal lights his +fire." + +"Yes, she can't leave any too soon, sir, I think. It's going to be +pokerish work for us before morning, and I shall be mighty glad to see +a few of old Company F appear round that rock." + +After fastening the note securely in the dog's collar, I placed the +stick in her mouth and, opening the eastern door, said, "Now, little +Vic, take that stick to the sergeant--go!" + +She turned from the doorway, crossed the room, and dropped the stick +at Sergeant Cunningham's feet. The sergeant stooped, and placing his +hand under her chin raised her head upward and laid his bronze cheek +affectionately upon it. "Well, Vicky," he said, "there is but one +sergeant in the world to you, and he is here, isn't he?" + +"That's so, sir," exclaimed Corporal Frank, addressing me. "We never +sent her to anybody but you, the sergeant, and the cook." + +"True enough. I'll have to send her to the cook--the only one now in +camp to whom she has borne messages. As he is the dispenser of fine +bones and dainties, and she has had nothing to eat since morning, +perhaps it is as well he is to receive this message. Here, Vic," +placing the chip once more in her mouth, "take this stick to the +cook--go!" + +The setter looked at me an instant, then at the sergeant and corporal, +walked to the door, looked out, and then glanced questioningly at me. + +"Yes, little one; the cook--go!" + +She bounded through the doorway and turned the corner of the butte at +a run, bearing our summons to our comrades at Los Valles Grandes. + +For some time after the departure of Vic the sergeant and I stood at +our windows and gloomily watched the darkness deepen in the woods. +Frank looked out of the window above the spring and was also silent. +I was disposed to put off the lighting of our fire upon the roof as +long as it appeared safe to do so, in order to husband our fuel. The +animals, disappointed of the forage usually furnished them at this +hour, stamped impatiently and nosed disdainfully the stale straw and +pine plumes which we had emptied from the bunks and which were now +scattered over the floor. + +It was during a momentary lull of this continuous noise that I heard a +crushing sound as of a heavy wheel rolling over twigs and gravel, but +was unable to guess its meaning. + +Fearing that further delay to light our fire might bring disaster upon +us, I told Corporal Frank to kindle it. He ascended the chimney, +lighted a few splinters of pitch-pine and placed them upon the roof, +and as soon as they were well lighted added to them half a dozen +billets of wood which Sergeant Cunningham passed up to him. Soon a +brilliant blaze was leaping upward, and, being reflected strongly by +the white sandstone of the overhanging cliff, lighted the whole space +about the cabin. + +As soon as Frank descended to the floor we gazed long and anxiously +out of the windows. Everything about us was now plainly visible to our +eyes, and we felt sure our movements could not be seen by the Navajos. +To the east all was silent, and for a long while we saw nothing in +that direction to suggest a lurking foe. To the west we could see no +enemy, but the same mysterious sound of crushing and grinding came to +our ears. What could it be, and what did it threaten? Adjusting my +field-glass I looked from my window in the direction of the puzzling +sound, and on the farther edge of the opening, near the wood, saw a +log about three feet in diameter and twenty-five or more in length +slowly rolling towards us, propelled by some unseen force. + +Passing the glass to the sergeant, I said: "The Indians seem to be +rolling a log in our direction. What do you think of it?" + +"I think it's easy to understand, sir," replied the sergeant, after a +long look. "That log is a movable breastwork, which can be rolled to +our door." + +"True, sergeant. Probably a dozen or more warriors are lying behind it +and rolling it forward. Rather a black prospect for us if we cannot +stop it!" + +We all three gathered at the western window, and for some moments +watched the slow approach of the moving breastwork. + + + + +V + +A SIEGE AND AN AMBUSCADE + + +We continued to watch long and anxiously the slowly rolling log. Not a +glimpse of the motive power could be obtained, but it ground and +crushed its way along with ominous certainty, straight in our +direction. + +Just as I had come to the conclusion that assistance could not arrive +in time, the log stopped. I looked through my glass and saw the cause. + +"Sergeant," I exclaimed, "the log has struck a rock! Open the door and +draw a bead on it! Don't let a man leap over it to remove the stone! +Corporal, guard the east window!" + +The sergeant stood ready at the open door. All the efforts of the +prostrate men behind the log had no effect, except to swing the end +farthest from the obstacle slightly ahead. + +"There seems to be nothing for them to do but to remove the stone. +Keep a sharp eye on the log, sergeant!" + +I had hardly spoken when a sudden discharge of rifles ran irregularly +along the length of the log, and under cover of the fire and smoke a +stalwart warrior leaped over, raised the stone, and had borne it +nearly to the top, when Sergeant Cunningham's rifle spoke sharply. + +The stone dropped on our side; the Indian fell forward, with his arms +extended towards his friends, who pulled him over the log, and he was +screened from our sight. The volley of the Navajos did us no harm. + +Corporal Frank replenished the fire on our roof from time to time, and +our vigilant watch went on. At last the sergeant, who still stood at +the open door, exclaimed, "Lieutenant, the stone is moving! It's +dropping into the ground!" + +"It's gone, and here comes our fate," I said. "They must have dug +under the log with their knives and sunk the stone." + +"Yes, sir, and they're safe to reach the cabin door and roast us out." + +"If there were two or three more stones in the way, sergeant, the +delay they would cause might serve us until help comes." + +"I'll run out there with one, Mr. Duncan," said Frank. + +"No, laddie," replied the sergeant, "that's a duty for me. I'll drop a +couple there in a minute." + +"And when you return, sergeant, I will drop two more," said I. + +We went quickly to work to carry out our plan. The corporal once more +mended the fire, and then we selected from the loose rubbish which had +been torn from the top of the chimney several large-sized stones. + +Removing his shoes, the sergeant, with my assistance, raised two big +stones to his breast, and stood in the doorway with them clasped +firmly in his arms. I took the revolvers in my hands, whispered the +word, and he started out at a rapid walk, setting his feet down +carefully and without noise. He dropped the stones, one before the +other, without attracting attention, and regained the cabin without a +shot being fired on either side. + +Now it was my turn, and I went beyond the place where he had dropped +his last stone. + +At that instant an alarm was shouted from the distant wood, and an +Indian raised his head above the log and fired. The bullet struck the +falling rock, and sent a shower of stinging splinters into my face. I +turned and fled. + +With the discharge of the Indian's rifle Sergeant Cunningham and +Corporal Frank opened a rapid fusillade with the revolvers, which +successfully covered my retreat to the cabin; but we knew that our +last chance at stone-dropping was past. + +Several terribly long hours had crept past since we saw Vic turn the +butte on her errand to the valleys. Judging by the time it had taken +the Navajos to bore a tunnel under their log and undermine the first +trigging-stone, we estimated that two more hours must pass before the +four obstructions we had placed in their way could be removed, unless +they took some more speedy method. + +It was quite nine miles to camp, and the dog could easily reach it in +about an hour. If she had arrived, help should by this time be fairly +on the way; but if she had been killed by the besiegers before she +reached the north end of the butte, or had been torn in pieces by the +wolves! + +Should the log once reach our door, we could not hope to do more than +make the price of our lives dear to the enemy. + +While the sergeant and I stood at the door and window, speculating in +no very hopeful vein over these probabilities, there came a scratch at +the eastern door. Frank was at the window on that side, and, startled +by the sound, he called to us, "I'm afraid an Indian has sneaked up on +us, sir." + +Again the scratching was heard, this time accompanied by a familiar +whine, which presently swelled into a low bark. + +"Oh, Mr. Duncan, it's Vic! It's Vic!" shouted the boy, and, springing +to the door, he flung it wide open. + +In trotted Vic, and, coming up to me, she dropped a stick at my feet +bearing the words: "In the collar, as before." + +It took some little time for Corporal Frank to secure the messenger. +She capered about the room, licked our hands and faces, jumped up to +the noses of the ponies, and behaved as if she was conscious of +having performed a great feat and was overjoyed to have returned +safely. + +But Vic surrendered to the boy at last, and, submitting her neck for +inspection, he found attached to her collar a letter which read as +follows: + + "CAMP AT LOS VALLES GRANDES. + + "_November 20, 1863_. + + "Lieutenant,--Message received, and the messenger fed. + Corporal Coffey and eight men leave here at 10.15 P.M. + + "JAMES MULLIGAN, _Sergeant_." + +"Come here, little doggie," said Sergeant Cunningham. "If we get out +of this, the company shall pay for a silver collar and a medal of +honor for the finest dog in the army." + +"If that detail marches at the regulation gait of three miles an +hour," I said, "it should be here by a quarter-past one, and it is now +a quarter to twelve." + +My anxiety over our prospects was so great I neglected to show proper +gratitude to our devoted messenger. + +"The men will do better than that, sir, if they keep on the road. The +trouble will be in finding this trail. They have never been this +way." + +"I think the junction of this and the hot-springs trail cannot be far +from here. Let's take a shot at that log every three minutes from now +on, and the noise may attract our friends." + +We began firing at once, aiming at the under side of the log where it +touched the earth. I am confident this must have sent some sand and +gravel into the eyes of the rollers, if it did no other damage. + +Two of the trigging-stones we had dropped were soon undermined and +sunk, and the log had stopped at the third, less than a hundred yards +away. As it came on, the sergeant climbed to the top of the chimney, +and shortly afterwards returned with the report that he had seen the +prostrate body of a warrior revealed beyond--good evidence that his +first shot had been fatal. If the next two stones should be as rapidly +removed as the others, we feared the Indians would reach us, unless +the rescuing party prevented, at about half-past twelve. + +Marked by our periodical shots at the log, the time hurried all too +rapidly on, the Indians slowly and surely approaching the cabin. + +The third stone disappeared, and the log moved with a louder grating +over the gravelly soil to the fourth and last obstacle, about thirty +yards away, and paused. + +"I believe, lieutenant," said Cunningham, "I could hit those fellows' +legs now from the chimney." + +"All right, sergeant. Close your door and go up and try it," I +replied. "A redskin with a broken leg can do us as little injury as +one with a broken head." + +The words were hardly spoken and the sergeant had barely reached the +fireplace, when, as if in anticipation of this movement, two figures +leaped over the end of the log nearest the perpendicular rock, ran to +the corner formed by the cabin and the wall, and by the aid of the +dovetailed ends of the logs clambered quickly to the roof. I sent a +shot at them, but it had no effect. + +No sooner had they reached the roof than they threw the flaming brands +and coal of our bonfire down the chimney, where they broke into +fragments and rolled over the floor, setting fire to the scattered +straw and plumes. + +Busy putting stops into the windows, and fastening them and the doors, +we could do nothing to extinguish the fire before it got well under +way. + +A blanket was thrown over the top of the chimney to prevent a draught, +and soon the whole interior was thick with stifling smoke. + +The horses plunged frantically, sending the fire in every direction. +Our eyes began to smart painfully, and we felt ourselves suffocating +and choking in the thick and poisonous atmosphere. + +To remain in the house was to be burned alive; to leave it was to +perish, perhaps, in a still more horrible way. Just as I was on the +brink of despair, the sergeant gasped rather than spoke: + +"They are here, lieutenant. Hark! Hark!" + +Ping! Ping! We heard the sound of rifle-shots, accompanied by a good, +honest, Anglo-Saxon cheer. Was there ever sweeter music? + +The war-whoops ceased, the blanket was quickly withdrawn from the +chimney-top, and two thuds on the east side of the cabin showed the +Indians had left the roof. A general scurrying of feet and other thuds +down the perpendicular wall back of the spring were evidence that the +besiegers were in full and demoralized flight. + +We threw the doors open, and our friends rushed in, and before a +greeting was uttered feet and butts of rifles were sweeping brands and +straw into the fireplace, and the roaring draught was fast clearing +the air. + +Before I had fairly recovered my sight, and while still engaged in +wiping away the tears the smoke had excited to copious flow, I heard a +sobbing voice near me say: + +"Oh, Franky, brother, if it had not been for dear little Vicky what +would have happened to you?" + +Blinking my eyes open, I saw the boy corporals with their right arms +about each other's neck, holding their Spencers by the muzzles in +their left hands. + +"Why, Henry," I said, "you did not make that march with the men?" + +"Couldn't keep him back, sir," answered Corporal Coffey. "Said his +place was with his brother. Made the march like a man, and fired the +first shot when we turned the bluff." + +We shook hands all round, and then went out to see whether the volleys +of the rescuing party had inflicted any punishment upon the Navajos. +Two dead Indians lay near the cabin, and farther away the one that +had fallen when attempting to remove the obstacle before the log. +There were traces of others having been wounded. + +A fire was promptly kindled outside the cabin, and we sat about it for +a time to rest and enjoy a lunch. The horses had been somewhat singed +about the legs, but were not disabled. An hour afterwards Sergeant +Cunningham placed Corporal Henry on his pony, Chiquita, and we started +for the valleys. + +At daybreak the day after we left Jemez we reached camp, and on the +evening of the same day the detachment we had left behind for a rest +also arrived, without adventure on the march. Cordova and his son at +once set out on the trail of the Navajos, whom we reported to be in +possession of their animals, to ascertain why they were in our +vicinity. + +After four days' scouting the Mexicans returned with the information +that they found the Indians had left their camp on the Jemez road +after their defeat. They had struck straight through the hills for the +Rio Grande, where they joined the main body, the same which had +attacked us the day after our arrival in the valleys, and which had +recently made several successful raids on the flocks and herds near +Pena Blanca and Galisteo. + +It was the guide's opinion that the party which had besieged me in the +cabin had been to the valleys to see what chance there was of running +captured stock through there. Their report must have been favorable, +for Cordova said a detachment of forty-seven Navajos was now encamped +in Los Vallecitos, apparently intending to pass us the following night +with a large number of cattle, horses, mules, and sheep. + +I began at once to make preparations to retake the stolen stock and to +capture the Navajos. + +That the Navajos, if they were watching our movements, might not +surmise we knew of their presence near us, I ordered the scouting +party and huntsmen not to go out next morning, and all the men to keep +within the limits of the parade. + +The next evening I marched all the company, except the guard, +including the boy corporals, by way of the reserved trail into the +valley of St. Anthony, and entered La Puerta from the western end. +This was done for fear some advance-guard of the redmen might witness +our movement if we went by the usual way, and because so large a party +might leave a trail visible to the keenly observant enemy even by +starlight, and there would be moonlight before we could cross the +valley. + +It was my intention to make an ambush in La Puerta. In the narrowest +part of that canon, where it was barely fifty yards wide, the walls +rose perpendicularly on each side. A hundred yards east and west of +this narrowest portion of the pass were good places of concealment. I +placed Sergeant Cunningham and thirteen men at the western end, and +took as many and the boys with me to the eastern. + +The sergeant was instructed to keep his men perfectly quiet until the +head of the herd had passed their place of concealment, and then, +under cover of the noise made by the moving animals, to slip down into +the canon, and when the rear of the herd came up make a dash across +the front of the Indians and begin firing, taking care not to hit us. + +For myself, I intended to drop into the pass with my detachment when +the Navajo rear had passed, deploy, and bag the whole party and the +booty. + +It was a long and tiresome wait before the raiders appeared. The men +had been told that they might sleep, and many of them had availed +themselves of the permission. + +The moon rose soon after ten o'clock, and made our surroundings +plainly visible in the rarefied atmosphere peculiar to the arid region +of the plains and Rockies. I sat on a bowlder and watched through the +tedious hours until three o'clock, when Corporal Frank approached from +the direction of the place where his brother was sleeping. + +"What sound is that, Mr. Duncan?" he whispered. + +I listened intently, and presently heard the distant bleating of +sheep, and soon after the deeper low of an ox. + +"The Indians must be approaching," I replied. "You may stir up the +men. Be careful that no noise is made." + +I continued to listen, and after a long time noticed a sound like the +rushing of wind in a pine forest. It was the myriad feet of the +coming flocks and herds, hurrying along the grassy valley. The men +began to assemble about me, all preserving perfect silence, listening +for the approaching Indians. + +Another half-hour passed, and over a roll in the surface of the +valley, revealed against the sky, looking many times their actual size +in the uncertain perspective, appeared two tall figures, whose nearer +approach showed to be mounted Indians piloting the captured stock, +which followed close behind. + +"Corporal Henry," I said, "drop carefully down into the trail and +skirt closely along the wall until you come to Sergeant Cunningham's +position, and tell him the Indians are close by. Tell him also to +allow the two Indians in advance to pass unmolested." + +I sent this order by the younger boy because I suspected he was +feeling that Corporal Frank's expedition to Jemez, with the adventures +of the return trip, had given him a certain prominence to be envied. I +meant Henry should divide honors with his brother hereafter. + +The little corporal silently disappeared beneath the wall, and a few +minutes afterwards the two Indians entered the defile, and the goats +and sheep, which had been spread widely over the open valley, +scampered, crowded, and overleaped one another as they closed into the +narrow way. There seemed to be fully two thousand of them, +intermingled with a motley herd of horses, mules, asses, and kine of +all sizes and descriptions, numbering three hundred or more, all +driven by a party of seventy-three Indians. + +The cattle-thieves were evidently congratulating themselves upon +having run the gantlet of the military camp and being out of danger, +for they had abandoned the traditional reserve of the Indian race, and +were talking loudly and hilariously as they passed my wing of the +ambuscade. The Indians fell completely into the trap, and they and the +cattle with them were captured without any difficulty. + +During the winter our supply of grain ran short, and I sent a party, +with the Cordovas as guides, to Jemez. They were unable to get through +the snow, and the elder Cordova was so badly frost-bitten that in +spite of all we could do he died in the camp. + +Then I went with a larger party, and was successful. On June 1st +orders came to break up the camp, and on the 9th the accumulated +stores of nineteen months' occupation were packed, and with a train of +ten wagons we set out for Santa Fe. + + + + +VI + +CROSSING THE RIVER + + +Two days after my arrival at the Territorial capital I was ordered to +proceed alone to Los Pinos, a town two hundred miles south, in the +valley of the Rio Grande, and report to Captain Bayard, commanding +officer of a column preparing for a march to Arizona. + +On reaching Algodones, on the eastern bank of the great river, I was +visited by a Catholic priest. He told me that Manuel Perea, the +Mexican lad with whom the boy corporals were so friendly at Santa Fe, +was a prisoner in the hands of Elarnagan, a chief of the Navajos. He +begged me to assist in his release, and I promised to do all I could, +consistently with my military duty. Two days after arriving at Los +Pinos, where I found a troop of California volunteer cavalry and also +another troop of New Mexican volunteers, the boy corporals +unexpectedly arrived. Colonel Burton had changed his plans and had +allowed them to accompany me. They at once asked to be assigned to +duty, and I promised to consult with Captain Bayard. + +My interview with him concluded, I returned to my tent and found the +boys busy in fitting up two cot bedsteads, spreading mats before them, +hanging a small mirror to the rear tent-pole, and arranging their +marching outfit as they proposed to set it up at every encampment +between the Rio Grande and Prescott. + +"Did you have this tent pitched for our use, sir?" asked Henry. + +"I did not know you were coming, corporal, so that is impossible. Your +tent was placed here some days ago by the post commander, for the +accommodation of visiting officers who have since gone. Captain Bayard +has assigned it to you." + +"Then we are to have the tent to ourselves?" + +"Yes." + +"Isn't that just jolly, Frank?" + +"Fine. To-morrow we'll place a short rail across the back for our +saddles and saddle-blankets, two pegs in the tent-pole for bridles, +and raise a box somewhere for curry-combs and brushes." + +"Can't we have Vic here, too, sir?" asked Henry. + +"And leave me all alone?" I replied. + +"You wouldn't mind it, would you, sir?" + +"Well, I'll leave it to Vic. You may make a bed for her, and we'll see +which she will occupy--yours, or her old bed near mine." + +"All right, sir; we'll try it to-night." + +"Now something about yourselves, boys. Your tent is to be always +pitched on the left of mine; you are to take your meals with the +officers, and your ponies will be taken care of by one of the men +who--" + +"That will not do, sir," interrupted Frank. "Father has always +required us to take care of our arms, clothing, and horses like other +soldiers, just as we always did in the valleys, you know. He says an +officer who rides on a march, particularly an infantry officer, should +not require a soldier who has marched on foot to wait upon him." + +"Very well; do as you choose." + +I returned to my own tent and went to bed. Placing two candles on a +support near my pillow, I tucked the lower edge of the mosquito-bar +under the edge of my mattress, and, settling back comfortably, +proceeded to read the last instalment of news from "the States"--news +which had been fifteen days on the way from the Missouri. As I read of +battle, siege, and march I was conscious that the boys were having +some difficulty in inducing Vic to remain with them. When at last all +was quiet, except their regular and restful breathing, a soft nose was +thrust up to my pillow, and I opened an aperture in the netting large +enough to exchange affectionate greetings, and Vic cuddled down on her +bed beside mine and went to sleep. This was always her custom +thereafter. While she was very fond of the boys, and spent most of her +waking hours with them, no persuasion or blandishments could prevent +her, when she knew the boys had dropped into unconsciousness, from +returning to my tent, offering me a good-night assurance of her +unchanged affection, and going to sleep upon her old bed. + +The time had now come for us to begin our march to Arizona. Company F +had arrived, and the boy corporals were again in possession of their +beautiful horses. Grain, hay, and careful attendance had put new +graces into the ponies' shapes, and kind treatment had developed in +each a warm attachment for its young master. + +The first day of our march was spent in crossing the Rio Grande del +Norte and making camp four miles beyond the opposite landing. There +was a ferry-boat at Los Pinos, operated by the soldiers of the post, +capable of taking over four wagons at a time. + +We rose at an earlier hour than usual, and by daybreak our train of +eighty-nine wagons, drawn by five hundred and thirty-four mules, was +on its way to the river. The two boy corporals joined me as I followed +the last wagon. Mounted on their handsome animals, with carbines on +their right hips, revolvers in their belts, portmanteaus behind their +saddles, and saddle-pouches on each side, they were, indeed, very +warlike in appearance. + +The two detachments of cavalry and their officers, accompanied by a +paymaster and a surgeon, proceeded at once to the river, crossed and +went into camp, leaving the infantry and its officers to perform the +labor of transferring, from one shore to the other, wagons and mules, +a herd of three hundred beef cattle, and a flock of eight hundred +sheep. The boy corporals also remained behind to act as messengers, +should any be required. + +Mules and oxen swam the stream, but the sheep were boated across. On +the last trip over our attention was attracted by a sudden shouting +up-stream, followed by a rapid discharge of fire-arms. In the river, +less than a quarter of a mile distant, were several objects making +their way towards the western shore. When near the bank, and in +shoaling water, we saw the objects rise, until three Indians and three +ponies stood revealed. As soon as they reached the shore the men +sprang into their saddles and rode rapidly away. + +A shout from our rear caused us to look towards the shore we had just +left, and we saw the post-adjutant sitting on his horse on the +embankment. He said: "Three Navajos have escaped from the guard. Send +word to Captain Bayard to try to recapture them. If they get away they +will rouse their people against you, and your march through their +country will be difficult." + +[Illustration: "MOUNTED, THE BOYS PRESENTED A WARLIKE APPEARANCE"] + +I wrote a brief message, handed it to Corporal Frank, and when the +boat touched the western landing he dashed off at full speed in the +direction of camp. + +The afternoon was well advanced when Henry and I, with the infantry, +entered the first camp of our march. We found Frank awaiting our +arrival, and learned from him that Captain Bayard had sent two +detachments of cavalry in pursuit of the Indians, and that they had +returned after a fruitless attempt to follow the trail. + +On our first evening in camp many of the officers and civilians +gathered in groups about the fires for protection against the +mosquitoes, to smoke, to discuss the route, and to relate incidents of +other marches. Captain Bayard took from his baggage a violin, and, +retiring a little apart, sawed desperately at a difficult and +apparently unconquerable exercise. There I found him at the end of a +tour of inspection of train and animals, and obtained his sanction to +a plan for the employment of the boy corporals. + +I proceeded to tell the boys what their duties would be. Corporal +Frank was to see to the providing of wood, water, and grass while we +were on the march. He was further instructed that he was to conform +his movements to mine, and act as my messenger between the train, the +main body, and the rear guard. These were to be his regular duties, +but he was to hold himself in readiness for other service, and be on +the alert for any emergency. + +The odometer with which to measure the distance to Prescott was placed +in charge of Corporal Henry, and he was told to strap this to the +spokes near the hub of the right hind wheel of the last wagon in the +train, taking care that the wagon should start from the same point +where it had turned from the main road into camp the previous day. He +was to report the distance we had marched to the commanding officer at +guard-mounting, which, on the march, always takes place in the evening +instead of morning, as at posts and permanent camps. After reaching +Fort Wingate, and taking up the march beyond, he would ride with the +advance, and act as messenger of communication with the rear; but +until then he would ride with his brother and me. + +The next morning found all ready for a start at three o'clock. The boy +corporals found it a hardship to be wakened out of a sound sleep to +wash and dress by starlight and sit down to a breakfast-table lighted +by dim lanterns. There was little conversation. All stood about the +camp-fires in light overcoats or capes, for Western nights are always +cool. + +When the boys and I started to ride out of camp we were, for a few +moments, on the flank of the infantry company. It was noticeable that +although the men were marching at "route step," when they are not +required to preserve silence, few of them spoke, and very rarely, and +they moved quite slowly. Corporal Henry, at the end of a prolonged +yawn, asked, "Are we going to start at this hour every morning, sir?" + +"Yes, usually," I replied. + +"How far do we go to-day, Frank?" + +"Eighteen miles is the scheduled distance," answered Frank. + +"How fast do men march?" + +"Three miles an hour," said I. + +"Then we shall be in camp by ten o'clock. I don't see the sense of +yanking a fellow out of bed in the night." + +"Of course, Henry, there's a good reason for everything done in the +army," observed Frank, with soldierly loyalty. + +"Where's the sense of marching in the dark when the whole distance can +be done in six hours, and the sun rises at five and sets at seven? I +prefer daylight." + +Evidently our youngest corporal had not had his sleep out, and was out +of humor. + +"Will you please explain, sir?" asked Frank. + +"With pleasure," I answered. "It is more comfortable to march in the +early morning, when it is cool. Marches rarely exceed fifteen or +twenty miles a day, except where the distance between watering-places +is more than that. Sometimes we are obliged to march forty miles a +day." + +"Seems to me the officers are very tender of the men," observed the +sleepy Henry. "Fifteen and twenty miles a day, and five or six hours +on the road, can't tire them much." + +"Why not try a march on foot, Henry?" suggested his brother. "It might +prove a useful experience." + +"Let me suggest something better," said I. "Tie your pony to the back +of that wagon, and crawl in on top of the bedding and have your nap +out." + +Henry disdained to reply, but with a long and shivering yawn relapsed +into silence. + +In a little more than six hours we reached the Rio Puerco, and forded +its roily, brackish current to a camping-place on the other side. +Harry, who with daylight and warmth had recovered his good-humor, +examined the odometer and reported the distance travelled to be 18.65 +miles. He entered in his note-book that the Spanish name Puerco meant, +as a noun, hog, and as an adjective, dirty. He thought the river well +named. He also mentioned that on the eastern side of the stream there +was an excellent camping-place, but that much pains had been taken to +ford it to a very poor one. After pondering this apparently +unreasonable movement he asked: "Why did we not camp on that grassy +park on the opposite side?" + +"I suppose it appears to you there can be no good reason for crossing +to this side?" I asked, in reply. + +"It does seem even more absurd than starting on a march just after +midnight--something like going into a wood-shed to rest on a wood-pile +when one could as well go into a parlor and rest on a divan." + +"And certainly," added Frank, "we have gained nothing in distance in +crossing. The march is to be short to-morrow." + +"Still, boys, there is quite as good a reason for doing this as for +starting early to avoid the heat of the day. These Far Western streams +have a trick of rising suddenly; very rarely, to be sure, but +frequently enough to cause commanding officers to be on their guard. A +rainfall fifty or seventy-five miles up-stream might send down a +volume of water that would make it impassable for several hours or +several days, according as the fall is large or small; so the rule in +the army is, 'cross a stream before camping.'" + +"Have you ever been caught by a rise, sir?" + +"Twice. Once on this very stream, near its mouth. I was in command of +a small escort to a train. The wagon-master advised me to cross, but I +was tempted by a fine meadow on the lower side, in contrast to a rough +place on the opposite side, to take my chances. I was compelled to +remain there five days. The other delay was on the Gallina; but that +was rising when we approached and we had no choice about crossing. We +were delayed that time but two days." + +"I heard the paymaster and surgeon grumbling about the folly of +crossing just now," said Frank. + +"Very likely; this is their first march in the Far West." + +"The captain and lieutenants heard them, but did not explain, as you +have. Why was that?" + +"There are two reasons. One is that in the army, as well as out of it, +'tenderfeet' are left to learn by experience; the other is that our +surgeon resents being cautioned or advised. Now, boys, after dinner +you had better take a _siesta_. By doing so you will find it less +difficult to make an early start to-morrow morning." + +"Thank you," replied Frank. "Tom Clary and George Hoey have told us +that a nap is the correct thing after dinner on the march. Henry and I +are going to try it." + +"I am sorry, sir," added Henry, "that I was so ill-humored this +morning. I will try to do as the soldiers do when they first start +out--say nothing till day breaks." + +"The early start was a surprise to you; you will be prepared for it +hereafter." + +A reverberating peal of thunder interrupted our conversation and +caused us to glance towards the west. There we saw a mass of dark +clouds rolling down upon us. Bolt after bolt of lightning zigzagged +across the sky and from sky to earth, and peal after peal of thunder +crashed upon our ears. + + + + +VII + +A SWOLLEN STREAM AND STOLEN PONY + + +It was our custom at all camps to park the supply-train in the form of +an oval, with the tongues of the wagons outward and the wheels locked. +An entrance, the width of a wagon, was left at one end. + +When, therefore, it became certain that a tempest was about to break +upon us, using the boy corporals as messengers, the chief wagon-master +received orders from me to drive up the mules and corral them within +the circle of wagons, and the commissary stock was hurried under the +shelter of a rocky mesa west of the camp. All this was to prevent a +stampede should the coming tempest be accompanied by wind and hail. + +Tent-pins were driven in deeper, guys tightened, cavalry horses driven +up, hobbled, and secured to picket ropes, loose articles thrown into +wagons, and every precaution taken to be in readiness for the storm. + +We had not long to wait before the rain came down in torrents. In an +incredibly short time the water was flowing swiftly down the slope to +the river. It gathered against our tent, and finding the frail +structure must go, we seized everything portable, dashed into the +furious downpour, and climbed to the tops of surrounding bowlders. + +Through the sheets of rain we could dimly see the cavalry horses +standing knee-deep in water, men looking out of the covered wagons, +into which they had crawled for shelter, or standing, like ourselves, +on the bowlders, their bodies covered with ponchos and gum blankets. +Wall-tents, the sides of which had been looped up when pitched, stood +with the flood flowing through them; cranes, upon which hung lines of +kettles in preparation for dinner, standing alone, their fires and +firewood swept away. The whole country as far as we could see was one +broad sheet of rushing water, and the river, which was little more +than a rill when we crossed it a few hours before, now rolled and +boomed, a torrent several fathoms deep and dirtier than ever. + +The storm continued little over half an hour, and with the return of +sunlight the surface water rapidly disappeared. Demoralized tents were +then set up, baggage and bedding examined, and the wet articles +exposed to the sun; and before night, except for the booming of the +river, little remained to remind us that we had been through a storm. + +Just before retreat, Frank, Henry, and I stood on the bank of the +river watching the trunks and branches of trees rush past, and the +occasional plunge of a mass of earth undermined by the current. + +"Well," said Frank, after silently contemplating the scene a few +moments, "what you told us about crossing a stream before camping upon +it has proved true, sir, and very quickly, too." + +"Yes; I think even the paymaster and surgeon must be congratulating +themselves they are on this side of that flood," I replied. + +Next morning we resumed our march at the usual hour, and passed over +23.28 miles to a deserted Mexican town and Indian pueblo. + +On the following day we crossed a chain of hills into the valley of +the Rio Gallo. As we debouched from a deep ravine we caught sight of +the pueblo of Laguna, illuminated by the sun, just rising, behind us. +The town stands upon a rocky eminence overlooking the river, which +waters, by irrigation, its large and well-cultivated valley. + +When within four miles of it I proposed to the boys that we should +hasten forward in advance of the wagons and visit the town. We +galloped on, and were hospitably received by the Indian governor, who +did the honors of the community in person. He showed us the interior +of the terraced buildings, and conducted us through the subterranean +_estufa_ where, for centuries before the invention of the +friction-match, the Indians kept their sacred fire--fire made sacred +through the difficulty of obtaining it or rekindling it when once +extinguished--and so watched day and night by sleepless sentinels. + +When we entered the town we left our horses hitched to the willows on +the bank of the irrigating ditch, near the wall of the first house, +and I ordered the dog Vic to remain with them. Three-quarters of an +hour afterwards Vic looked into the _estufa_ from above, gave three +sharp barks, and dashed away. + +We were so deeply interested in the examination of a lot of scalps, +quaint pottery, weapons of warfare, etc., that we paid no attention to +her. Presently she appeared a second time, repeated her barking, and +ran off again. A few moments later the dog again showed herself at the +sky-light, and thrusting her head downward continued to bark until I +approached the foot of the ladder. As I did so she uttered a sound of +anxiety, or distress, and disappeared. + +"Something must be the matter with our animals, boys," I remarked. +"Frank, go and see what has happened, while Henry and I take leave of +our host." + +Corporal Frank climbed the ladder two rungs at a step, while Henry and +I remained to thank the governor for his kindness and bestow some +trifling gifts upon the rabble of children that had followed us +closely throughout our visit. We then ascended the ladder and started +for the place where we had left our animals. + +Hurrying down the narrow alley we met Frank, who was nearly +breathless with exertion and excitement. While yet at a considerable +distance from us he shouted: + +"Chiquita's gone! Can't see her anywhere!" + +Hastening to the willows I found that Henry's pony was indeed missing. +I thought she had simply broken loose, and would be found somewhere in +the neighborhood, so mounted and made a hasty search. I saw our train +several miles away, toiling up a long ascent, but there was no sign of +a riderless pony on the road. On my return to the willows Henry said: + +"Chiquita did not break away, sir; her halter-strap was too strong, +and I tied it with a cavalry hitch. She must have been unfastened by +some one. Perhaps these Pueblos have stolen her." + +"She may have been stolen, as you suggest," I replied, "but not by the +Pueblos. We were their guests, and our property was sacred." + +The Indians, seeing our trouble, gathered about us, and among them I +saw the governor. Making my way to him, I explained what had happened. +He turned to his people and addressed them in his own tongue. A young +girl approached and said something, at the same time pointing to the +southwest. + +Looking in the direction indicated, over a long stretch of broken +country, bordered on the west by an irregular range of sandstone +mesas, I thought I saw a moving object near the foot of a rugged +bluff, several miles distant; but before I could adjust my field-glass +the object had turned the bluff and disappeared. One thing, however, I +did see--it was Vic, sitting on a knoll less than a mile from the +pueblo. + +"I wonder we have not thought of Vic's absence all this time," I said; +"there she is, on the trail of the thief, wondering why we do not +pursue." + +"The good doggie," said Henry. "She did her best to tell us Chiquita +was stolen, and she means to do her best to retake her." + +Turning to the governor, I asked, "Are there any Navajos about here?" + +"There is a large band in the _cienaga_, three leagues from here. The +lost pony will be found there." + +I directed Henry to run after the train and report what had happened. +"Wave your handkerchief," said I, "and some one will come to meet +you. If it should be a mounted man, take his animal, overtake Captain +Bayard, tell him all you know, and say that Frank and I have gone in +pursuit, and that I request him to send a detachment of cavalry to +look us up." + +Henry started off with a celerity begotten of his anxiety at the loss +of his pony and the fear that his brother might fall into danger +unless a body of troopers followed him closely. + +Frank and I then galloped towards Vic. As soon as the dog saw us +approaching she sprang into the air, shook herself in an ecstasy of +delight, then put her nose to the earth, and went steadily on in +advance, threading her way through clumps of sage-brush and greasewood +and along the ravines. + +The tracks of a shod pony satisfied us that we were on the trail of +Chiquita and her Navajo rider. The boy had kept well down in the +ravines and depressions, in order to screen himself from observation +and possible pursuers. We, however, were not obliged to follow his +tracks; Vic did that, and we took the general direction from her, +cutting across turnings and windings, and making much better progress +than the thief could have done. + +An hour's ride brought us to the bluff behind which I had seen an +object disappear. Vic turned it and began to ascend the almost dry bed +of the stream, in the bottom of which I could see occasional +depressions at regular distances, as if made by a horse at a trot. +Soon the brook enlarged, becoming a flowing stream, and the tracks +were no longer visible. + +That the brook flowed from the _cienaga_, or marsh, where the Navajos +were rendezvoused, was an easy inference. The Indian boy was +endeavoring to reach that place with the stolen pony. Directing Frank +to keep up the left side of the stream, and to look for tracks +indicating that Chiquita had left its bed, I took the right side and +hastened on. + +Willows now began to appear along the banks, showing that we had +reached a permanent flow of water. Twice we came to masses of bowlders +which made it impossible for a horse to travel in the stream, and we +found that the pony had skirted them. + +We had now reached a point where a small brook entered the larger one +from the right. We dismounted at the confluence to make an +observation. Vic suddenly began to bark furiously; then a yelp and a +continued cry of pain showed that the dog was hurt, and presently she +appeared with an arrow through the thick of her neck. + +Advancing cautiously I caught sight of Chiquita in a cleft of the rock +at my left, and an Indian boy standing behind her and aiming an arrow +over the saddle. A sharp twang, and the missile flew through my hair +between my right ear and my hat-rim. The boy then sprang forward, and +raised a knife as if to hamstring the pony. But it was not to be, for +a carbine spoke, and the raised arm of the Indian fell at his side. + +"Well done, Frank!" I called. + +We ran forward to capture the young Navajo, but he quickly disappeared +behind a large rock and was seen no more. Returning to the main brook +with Chiquita, we tied the horses to the willows and began a search +for Vic. I called her by all the pet names to which she was +accustomed, but received no response. I searched over as great a +distance as I dared, with a consciousness that a band of Navajos was +not far distant. + +Reluctantly abandoning our search, we were preparing to return to the +train and escort when we descried a large war-party of Indians riding +towards us from the direction of the _cienaga_. It was at once evident +they saw us, for, raising a terrific war-whoop, their irregular mass +broke for us in a furious charge. + +Death certainly awaited us if captured, and this thought prompted us +to leave our exposed position instantly. Leading Chiquita, and telling +Frank to follow, I dashed down the stream in the direction of the Fort +Wingate road. + +As we flew along, feeling positive that the Indians would overtake us, +I eagerly surveyed the rocky wall on our left, hoping to find a break +in which we could shelter ourselves and hold the enemy in check until +our friends arrived. But no opening appeared, and it seemed impossible +for us to reach Laguna alive. + +On we went into the dense bushes, a hail of bullets and a rush of +arrows about our ears. But at this moment the clear notes of a cavalry +trumpet sounded "deploy," and the California cavalry crashed through +the willows and we were saved. They broke into a skirmish-line behind +us, but only a few shots were fired and the Navajos were gone. + +Being an escort, we could not delay for further operations against the +enemy. Our duty was to return at once to the train. Frank and I were +both uninjured, but a bullet had raised the chevron on the boy's +sleeve, and another had shattered the ivory hilt of his revolver. + +The volunteers dismounted for a rest, and I took the opportunity to +make a further search for Vic, my faithful companion and friend. +Leaving my horse with Frank, I started towards the place where I had +last seen her. + +As I descended a shallow ravine to the willow-clad brook I came upon +an unexpected sight, and paused to witness it. On his knees, close to +the water, his back towards me, was Corporal Henry. Extended at his +left side was Vic, held closely under his left arm, her plumy tail +hanging dejectedly in my direction. An occasional dispirited wag +showed that she appreciated the kindness being shown her. The boy was +evidently busy at something that elicited from the animal, every now +and then, faint cries of pain. I heard something snap, and saw him lay +two parts of an arrow on the ground to his right; then he drew a +handkerchief from his pocket, dipped it in the brook, and apparently +washed a wound. + +All the time the boy could be heard addressing his patient in soothing +tones, occasionally leaning his face against her head caressingly. +"Poor little Vicky! Nice, brave doggie! There, there; I will not hurt +you more than I can help. They can't shoot you again, girlie, for lots +of your friends are here now. You shall ride back to the train on +Chiquita with me. We'll own Chiquita together after this." + +I felt a little delicacy about breaking in upon this scene and letting +the boy know I had overheard all his fond talk to Vic, so withdrew +into a clump of bushes and began calling the dog. + +Henry promptly answered: "Here she is, sir. This way. She wants to +come, but I think she had better not." + +"Is she much hurt?" I asked, approaching them. + +"Not dangerously, sir. This arrow passed through the top of her neck. +I notched it and broke it, so as not to be obliged to draw the barb or +plume through the wound. She is weak from her long run and loss of +blood. The wound might be bound up if her collar was off." + +"I will remove it and not put it on again until the sore heals," I +answered, and, taking a key from my pocket, I took off the collar and +assisted in dressing the wound. + +After petting Vic for a while, and using quite as much "baby talk" in +doing so as Henry had in dressing the wound, I asked the boy how he +came to return with the cavalry. + +"I ran ahead, as you told me to, sir, and the wagon-master came to +meet me. He lent me his mule, and I rode on to Captain Bayard and made +my report. The captain sent Lieutenant Baldwin and his men, and lent +me a spare horse to come along as guide." + +"Have you seen Chiquita?" + +"At a distance. Is she all right?" + +"Yes, but very tired. Let us join the troop, for it is time we were on +our way to the train." + +Our return ride was at a walk. Henry turned his cavalry horse over to +a trooper to be led, and mounted Chiquita with Vic in his arms. +Arrived in camp he took the dog to the surgeon for treatment, and in a +few days she was as lively as ever. + + + + +VIII + +OVER THE DIVIDE--A CORPORAL MISSING + + +Fort Wingate was reached in two more marches--six in all from the Rio +Grande--and we went into camp for two days for rest and some needed +repairs to wagons before undertaking the second and longer section of +our military journey--a section upon which at that time no white man +had set up a home. + +Recalling my promise to the priest who had interviewed me in behalf of +Senora Perea, I made inquiries of the Port Wingate officers concerning +her son. None of them had heard more than she already knew, but a +scout claimed he had recently seen a Mexican boy herding ponies for +the Navajo chief Elarnagan, thirty miles north of Zuni. + +The evening before resuming our march Captain Bayard informed me that +there was an emigrant family camped half a mile to the west of Fort +Wingate, which had been awaiting our arrival in order to travel to +Arizona under our protection. He told me to assign the family a place +in the train. + +I went to their camp, and found it located in a grove of cottonwoods a +short distance out, on the Arizona trail. Mr. Arnold, the head of the +family, never ceased his occupation while I was talking to him. He was +constructing a camp-table and benches of some packing-boxes he had +procured from the post trader. He was a tall, well-proportioned man, +of dark complexion and regular features, with black, unkempt hair and +restless brown eyes. He was clothed in a faded and stained butternut +suit of flannel, consisting of a loose frock and baggy trousers, the +legs of the trousers being tucked into the tops of road-worn boots. +His hat was a battered and frayed broad-brimmed felt. Mrs. Arnold sat +on a stool superintending the work, bowed forward, her elbows on her +knees, holding a long-stemmed cob-pipe to her lips with her left hand, +removing it at the end of each inspiration to emit the smoke, which +curled slowly above her thin upper lip and thin, aquiline nose. She +was a tall, angular, high-shouldered, and flat-chested woman, dark +from exposure to wind, sun, and rain, her hair brown in the neck, but +many shades lighter on the crown of her head. Her eyes were of an +expressionless gray. A brown calico of scant pattern clung in lank +folds to her thin and bony figure. + +The three daughters were younger and less faded types of their mother. +Each was clad in a narrow-skirted calico dress, and each was +stockingless and shoeless. Mother and daughters were dull, slow of +speech, and ignorant. + +After staying long enough to give the necessary instructions and +exchange civilities with each member of the family in sight, I was +riding slowly back to the roadway, intending to take a brisk canter to +the fort, when Corporal Henry's voice called from a clump of cedars at +the back of the Arnold family's wagons. + +"Oh, Mr. Duncan, may I speak to you a moment?" + +Turning my horse in the direction of the voice, I saw my young friend +approaching, switching a handsome riding-whip in his hand. + +"You haven't seen all the family, sir," he said. + +"I have seen Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and those the mother said were all +their children--the three barefooted girls." + +"But there is one more girl, sir, a very pretty one, too--a niece. +She's back of the wagons making friends with Vic and Chiquita. You +must not go without seeing her." + +I went back with Henry and saw a girl of about fourteen standing by +Chiquita, holding her by the bridle-rein and smoothing her neck, while +Vic nestled at her feet. She seemed very attractive at my first casual +glance, impressing me favorably. A blonde, possessed of abundant +flaxen tresses held in a band of blue ribbon, having a complexion +which her recent journey had tanned and sprinkled with abundant +freckles, but giving promise of rare beauty with added years and less +exposure to sun and wind. Her clothing was fashionably made and well +fitted, and her delicate feet were encased in neat boots and +stockings. + +"Miss Arnold," said Henry, "permit me to introduce our quartermaster, +Lieutenant Duncan--and Mr. Duncan," continued the boy, "it gives me +pleasure to present to you Miss Brenda Arnold." + +The quality, modulation, and refinement of the voice in which the girl +assured me of her pleasure in meeting me, confirmed my first +impression. + +"But how did you make the acquaintance of Corporal Henry Burton, Miss +Arnold?" I asked. + +"I was riding back from the fort, sir, where I had been to mail some +letters, and my pony, Gypsy, lost a shoe and came near falling. The +stumble caused me to drop a package, and Mr. Burton chanced to come up +and restore it to me, and he also picked up Gypsy's shoe. He +accompanied me to camp, and since we arrived has been giving me the +history of Vic, Sancho, and Chiquita." + +"And that, of course, included something of the history of their +devoted attendants?" + +"Yes, I have learned something of the gallant deeds of Corporals Frank +and Henry Burton and Lieutenant Duncan at Los Valles Grandes and on +the march here. When I meet Corporal Frank I shall know you all." + +"He will present himself to-morrow, no doubt," I observed. "But about +that pony's shoe; do you want it reset?" + +"Yes, but who can do it?" + +"At our next camp, to-morrow, our soldier-blacksmith shall set it." + +"But I do not belong to government, sir." + +"But part of this government belongs to you," replied Henry. "I'll +lead Gypsy to the forge for you, and Private Sattler shall shoe her as +he does Chiquita, and polish the shoes, too." + +The Arnold family history, gathered incidentally on the march, and at +a period later in my story, was briefly this: Brenda was the only +daughter of Mr. Arnold's only brother, and had been reared in a large +inland city of New York. Her father and mother had recently perished +in a yachting accident, and the young girl had been sent to her +paternal uncle in Colorado. There were relatives on the mother's side, +but they were scattered, two brothers being in Europe at the time of +the accident. Brenda had reached her Western uncle just as he was +starting on one of his periodical moves--this time to Arizona. + +The different social status of the families of the two brothers was +unusual, but not impossible in our country. One of the brothers was +ambitious, of steady habits, and possessed of a receptive mind; the +other was idle, impatient of restraint, with a disinclination to +protracted effort of any kind. + +The distance to the first camp beyond Fort Wingate where we were sure +to find water was twenty-two miles; and it being impossible for us to +leave the post before three o'clock in the afternoon, we determined to +make a dry camp five and a half miles out. + +When Frank and Henry learned that the start was not to be an early one +they rode out to the Arnold camp with the information, and the former +was duly presented to Miss Brenda. Gypsy was brought into the fort and +shod, and returned to her mistress in season for the march. + +The evening was well advanced when we pitched our tents at the dry +camp. Horses and mules were turned out to graze for the first time +without water, and although in this mountain region the grass was +abundant, they did not cease to whinny and bray their discontent +throughout the night. + +The sun dropped behind the mountain spurs, and we drew nearer and +nearer the fires, adding a thicker garment as the twilight deepened +into night. Frank expressed the trend of thought by asking, "We now +march into the heart of the Navajo country, do we not, sir?" + +"Not precisely through the heart, but along its southern border." + +"They'll try to make it lively for us, I suppose?" + +"They will certainly watch us closely, and will take advantage of any +carelessness on our part." + +"Do you think there is any chance of our finding Manuel Perea?" + +"Hardly; he is too far off our route. We cannot leave the train to +look him up." + +There was a suspicious choke in the voice of the little corporal when +he said: "It is awful to think we are going so near the dear old boy +and can do nothing for him. Only think of his poor mother!" + +"I was told at the fort that she has offered five thousand dollars to +the man who will bring Manuel to her," said Frank. "I wish I could +bring him in for nothing." + +"Brenda says she believes we shall find him somehow," Henry said. "I +hope she is right, for I saw his mother at Algodones and promised her +to rescue him or become a prisoner with him." + +"So she wrote me at Los Pinos," I replied. "Well, something may turn +up to enable us to serve his mother. Let us go to bed." + +Next morning we were again on the road by starlight. A march of +sixteen miles brought us to Agua Fria--cold water. Less than a hundred +yards west of the spring was a ridge which did not rise fifty feet +above it, and that was the "backbone" of the continent. The water of +Agua Fria flowed into the Atlantic; the springs on the other side of +the ridge flowed into the Pacific. + +The wagons of the Arnold family travelled between the rear-guard and +the government wagons. They consisted of two large "prairie +schooners," drawn by three pairs of oxen each, a lighter wagon, drawn +by four horses, beside which four cows, two ponies, and four dogs were +usually grouped. The father and eldest daughter drove the ox-teams, +the mother the horse-team, and two daughters rode the ponies. Brenda's +pony, Gypsy, was her own property, purchased soon after she joined +her uncle in Colorado. As my station and Frank's were with the +rear-guard, or along the flanks of the train, Miss Brenda commonly +rode with us after daylight. Henry, after leaving Fort Wingate, rode +with the advance. + +After supper at Agua Fria, Corporal Frank ordered all water-kegs to be +filled, for the water at El Morro, or Inscription Rock, our next +camping-place, was poor. The distance was seventeen and a half miles. +The next march was to the junction of the Rio Pescado and Otter Creek, +twenty-two miles, and the following to Arch Spring, nineteen miles. +This way took us through the ancient town of Zuni, an Indian community +described by the Spanish priest, Father Marco de Niga, in 1559. + +After leaving Zuni, a march of thirty-two miles brought us late in the +evening to a spring variously called by Mexicans, Indians, and +Americans, Ojo Rodondo, Wah-nuk-ai-tin-ai-z, and Jacob's Well. It is a +funnel-shaped hole in a level plain, six hundred feet in diameter at +the top, and one hundred and sixty feet deep. + +At the bottom of the hole is a pool of brackish, green water, reached +by a spiral track around the wall. Our cooks first procured a supply +of water, and then the animals were driven down in detachments. They +waded, swam, and rolled in the water until it was defiled for human +use. + +An hour after our arrival four Navajos appeared and were admitted to +an interview with Captain Bayard, of whom they asked information +concerning the terms offered their bands as an inducement to surrender +and go upon the reservation. In reply to our questions they told us we +would find plenty of water at Navajo Springs, seven miles from Jacob's +Well, and that there had been a heavy rainfall at the west. As the +Indians were preparing to leave, Corporal Henry came forward and asked +Captain Bayard to inquire for Manuel Perea. The captain thanked the +boy for the suggestion, and did so; and we learned that a Mexican boy, +answering the description given, was assisting in herding the ponies +of Elarnagan, north of the Twin Buttes, at the head of Carizo Creek. + +"Carizo Creek," said Frank, reflectively, turning over his schedule of +distances, "that is 19.05 miles from here." + +[Illustration: "CORPORAL HENRY ASKED CAPTAIN BAYARD TO INQUIRE FOR +MANUEL PEREA"] + +"Yes, and there are the Twin Buttes," said Henry, pointing to two +prominent peaks to the northwest. "Can't we go there, sir? It cannot +be more than thirty miles." + +"I would not be justified in leaving the road except upon an +extraordinary emergency," replied Captain Bayard. + +"Don't you suppose, sir, that Elarnagan would give Manuel up for the +large reward his mother offers?" asked Brenda Arnold, who stood by the +side of the boy corporals, an interested listener to all that had been +said. + +The captain asked her question of the Indians, and one of them replied +that the chief had refused large offers heretofore, and would +doubtless continue to do so. + +"Cannot you scare him by a threat?" asked Henry. + +"I will try it, corporal," answered the captain. Then, turning to the +Navajos, he continued: "Tell the chief, Elarnagan, that it is not the +part of a brave warrior to cause grief and sorrow to women and +children; tell him that the great chief at Santa Fe is fast bringing +this war to a close, and that two-thirds of his people are already on +the reservation at Bosque Rodondo; tell him that when he +surrenders--which will not be long from now--if the boy Manuel is not +brought in safe he will be severely punished." + +"Thank you," said Henry. + +The Indians left in a northerly direction. + +At guard-mounting Captain Bayard announced that, owing to the recent +fatiguing marches and the lack of good water, we would go no farther +than Navajo Springs the following day, and that we would not break +camp before eight o'clock. + +This announcement was received with pleasure; for since leaving Agua +Fria little water had been drunk, it being either muddy, stagnant, or +alkaline. The water at Navajo Springs was said to be pure. + +Ten o'clock next morning found us at the springs. They were fifteen in +number, clustered in an area of less than an acre. Each was of the +dimensions of a barrel set upon end in the ground, with a mere thread +of water flowing from it--a thread which the fierce sun evaporated +before it had flowed a rod from its source. It soon became plain to +every one that we could not long remain there. + +The Indians had said there had been a heavy rainfall at the west. Five +and one-twentieth miles over a rough, red, and verdureless country +brought us to the Rio Puerco of the West. There was not a drop of +water in it. + +The commanding officer ordered me to take ten cavalrymen, with +shovels, and go on to Carizo Creek, and, if I found no running water, +to sink holes in a line across its bed. The boy corporals were allowed +to go with me. + +The distance to Carizo was seven miles, over a high, intervening +ridge, and the creek, when we reached it, was in no respect different +from the one we had just left. We opened a line of holes six feet +deep, but found very little water. + +Sending Corporal Henry back with a message to Captain Bayard, we +pushed on to Lithodendron Creek, a distance of thirteen miles, and +found about an acre of water, four inches deep, in the bed of the +stream, under the shadow of a sandstone cliff. It was miserable +stuff--thick, murky, and warm--but it was better than nothing; I sent +a soldier back to the command, and sat down with Frank under the +cliff to wait. + +The march had lengthened into thirty-two miles, over an exceedingly +rough country, and it had been continuous, with no noonday rest, and +under a broiling sun. + +Frank and I sat a little apart from the soldiers, watching for the +arrival of the approaching wagons. + +Time dragged slowly on until after nine o'clock, when a faint +"hee-haw" in the far distance gave us the first hint that the train +was over the divide and that the unfailing scent of the mules had +recognized the vicinity of water. + +An hour more passed before Sergeant Cunningham and half a dozen +privates of the infantry company marched down to the roily pool and +stooped for a drink. The rest of the men were straggling the length of +the train, which arrived in sections, heralded by the vigorous and +continued braying of the mules. + +No one felt inclined to pitch a tent, partly on account of extreme +fatigue, but chiefly because the ground was rough and stony and cacti +in endless variety strewed the surface, branching and clustering +about the petrified trunks of giant trees which gave the creek its +name. + +There was no grass in the vicinity, and no grain on the train. The +animals when turned loose went to the pool and drank, and then +wandered about the wagons calling for forage. Lowing of cattle, +bleating of sheep, braying of mules, and whinnying of horses never +ceased as the suffering animals wandered in search of food. There was +no fuel for fires in the midst of this petrified forest of prostrate +trees, so hard bread and raw bacon made our supper. + +After a time I began to wonder why Vic had not come to greet me. She +had accompanied Henry when he went back with my message, and I knew +that if he had returned she would have looked me up immediately. I was +about to search for her, when Frank appeared, and asked, "Have you +seen my brother?" + +"No," I replied, "nor have I seen Vic. They must be with the rear +guard." + +"No, sir; they are not there. I have just seen the sergeant of the +guard." + +"Have you visited the Arnolds?" + +"Yes, sir; and Miss Brenda says they have not seen him since he came +back from you." + +"Is not Corporal Henry here?" asked Captain Bayard, who had approached +and overheard a part of our conversation. + +"No, sir," I answered. "I sent him to you at Carizo to say we had +found no water." + +"He reported to me," the captain replied, "and I sent him back at once +with orders for you to proceed to Lithodendron, as you have done." + +"He did not reach me. I came here because it seemed the only thing to +do." + +"Henry not here!" and the captain and all of us began moving towards +the train. "Cause an immediate search to be made for him. Examine +every wagon. He may have got into a wagon and fallen asleep." + +It is needless to say, perhaps, that this search was participated in +by nearly every individual in the command not too tired to stir. Henry +was known to all, and had in many gentlemanly and kindly ways acquired +the respect and affection of soldiers and civilian employes. + +Every wagon was examined, although from the first there was a general +presentiment that it would be useless. In the wagon assigned to the +use of the boy corporals and myself, Henry's carbine and revolver were +found, but Frank said his brother had not worn them during the day. + +The mule and cavalry herds were examined for the cream-colored pony, +but that also was missing. Then the thought suggested itself that the +lad might be wandering on the road we had just traversed; but an +examination of the sergeant of the guard showed that to be impossible. + +But one conclusion could be arrived at, and that was that Henry had +been picked up by the Navajos when returning from the command to my +detachment on the Carizo. + +At the conclusion of the search the officers gathered near their +wagons for a consultation. Frank remained apart, silent and miserable. + +Captain Bayard said: "It is impossible for us to make an immediate +pursuit with horses in such a condition as ours. To attempt a pursuit +over the barren region about us would be to invite failure and +disaster. If we had Mexican ponies, or Indian ponies like those of the +boys, we might start at once. The boy is probably a prisoner, and a +delay of one or two days can make little difference to him." + +"But can we go with any better prospect of success to-morrow or next +day?" I asked. + +"Yes, a march of sixteen miles and a half will bring us to the +Colorado Chiquito--a stream flowing at all times with pure water; +there, also, we shall find abundance of grass and a recently +established cavalry camp. I received a letter from the department +commander before I left Wingate, stating that Lieutenant Hubbell and +forty New Mexican cavalry had been ordered there three weeks ago. We +shall find an abundance of grain at the camp, and can put our animals +in good condition for an expedition into Elarnagan's country in a few +days. Now, gentlemen, let us get such rest as we can, and start at an +early hour in the morning." + + + + +IX + +THE RESCUING PARTY + + +At the close of the consultation I rejoined Corporal Frank, and we +went back to our former seat under the cliff. The boy was exceedingly +depressed, and I did my best to persuade him that all would end well +and his brother would be rescued. + +"But he may be dead, or dying," he answered to my arguments. + +"No; that is improbable. Had he been killed, the Indians would have +taken particular pains to mutilate and place his body where the +passing column would have seen it. That in itself is good evidence +that he is living. The worst that is likely to happen is that he may +be held for ransom or exchange." + +"But how _can_ I wait?" exclaimed Frank. "I feel as though I ought to +start now." + +"That would do no good," I replied. "You cannot find your brother's +trail, nor could you follow it in the night." + +"I cannot help thinking, sir, that Henry will send Vicky with a +message, and I fear that she cannot follow us so far. She must be +fearfully hungry and thirsty. I feel as if I ought to go and meet +her." + +"You may be right about the message. As Vic was without her collar, +she may not have been killed." + +The hours crept slowly on. The uneasy animals never ceased their walk +backward and forward between the water and the wagons, uttering their +discontent. Towards midnight, overcome by the fatigues of the day, I +fell into a doze, and did not wake until called at three. + +A breakfast similar to our supper was served, and we were ready for +the road. The mules were harnessed while vigorously braying their +protests against such ill usage, and, once under way, slowly drew the +wagons to the summit of the divide between the Lithodendron and the +Little Colorado, a distance of twelve miles. + +I did not see Frank while overlooking the drawing out of the train, +but gave myself no anxiety on his account, thinking he had +accompanied the advance. We had proceeded about a mile when a corporal +of the guard ran after me, and reported that the Arnolds were not +hitching up. Halting the train, I rode back and found Brenda sitting +by the road-side in tears. + +"What is the matter, Miss Arnold?" I asked. + +"Oh, it is something this time," she sobbed, "that even you cannot +remedy." + +"Then you think I can generally remedy things? Thank you." + +"You have always helped us, but I do not see how you can now." + +"What is the trouble, please?" + +"Our poor oxen have worn their hoofs through to the quick. They were +obliged to travel very fast yesterday, and over a flinty road, and +their hoofs are worn and bleeding. Uncle says we must remain behind." + +"Perhaps things are not as bad as you think," I said. "Let us go back +and see." + +Rising dejectedly, and by no means inspired by hope, Brenda led the +way to the Arnold wagons, where I found the father and mother on their +knees beside an ox, engaged in binding rawhide "boots" to the +animal's feet. These boots were squares cut from a fresh hide procured +from the last ox slaughtered by the soldier-butcher. The foot of the +ox being set in the centre, the square was gathered about the ankle +and fastened with a thong of buck-skin. + +"Are all of your cattle in this condition, Mr. Arnold?" I asked. + +"Only one other's 's bad's this, but all uv 'em's bad." + +"That certainly is a very bad-looking foot. I don't see how you kept +up, with cattle in that condition." + +"Had to, or git left." + +"That's where you make a mistake. We could not leave you behind." + +"I didn't think 'twould be uv any use t' say anythin'," said Mr. +Arnold. "You seem t' have all you can haul now." + +"We have over three hundred head of oxen in our commissary herd that +we purchased of a freighter. We can exchange with you. A beef is a +beef. Turn your cattle into our herd, and catch up a new lot. When we +get to Prescott you can have your old teams if you want them." + +"Thank you agin, sir. I shall want 'em. They know my ways an' I know +theirs." + +From the top of the divide the road, smooth and hard, descended to the +river, ten miles away. At nine o'clock the head of the column had +reached the banks, and a few moments later men and horses had partaken +of the clear, cool water. + +As the infantry and cavalry moved away from the shore the wagons came +down the decline, the mules braying with excitement at the sight of +the water gleaming through the green foliage of the cottonwoods and +the verdant acres of rich grass that stretched along the river-side. +Brakes were put on and wheels double-locked, until the harness could +be stripped off and the half-frantic animals set free to take a turn +in the river. + +Sheep and oxen plunged down the banks and stood leg-deep in the +current while they drank the grateful water. A few moments later all +the refreshed animals were cropping the generous grass. As I was going +to Captain Bayard I observed Brenda Arnold taking the odometer from +its wheel and making an entry in a note-book. Approaching her, I +asked: "Why are you doing that, Miss Brenda?" + +"I promised Mr. Frank I would do it until he and Mr. Henry return," +was her answer. + +"Promised Frank? Where has he gone?" + +"Gone to find his brother." + +"And you knew what you are telling me when we were exchanging oxen +this morning?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Why did you not tell me?" + +"Mr. Frank said I must not before we arrived here." + +"Have you no idea of the fearful danger in which he has placed +himself?" + +"I know he has gone to find Henry, and that he said he should find +him," and the pretty girl betrayed her lack of confidence in the boy's +project by sitting down in the grass and bursting into tears. + +"When did Corporal Frank start?" I asked. + +"Last night. He gave Sancho about a dozen pounds of hard bread, filled +his canteen with water which Aunt Martha had filtered through sand, +and asked me to attend to the odometer, and rode off in the darkness. +Don't you really believe the boys will return, sir?" + +"God grant they may," I answered; "but it is very doubtful." + +Here was fresh trouble--trouble the whole command shared, but which +rested heaviest upon Captain Bayard and myself. We were answerable to +Colonel Burton for the manner in which we executed his trust. + +"Ride down the valley," said the captain to me after I had concluded +my account of what Brenda had said, "and look for Lieutenant Hubbell's +camp. It cannot be far from here. Tell him to send me three days' +grain for forty animals. While you are gone I will select a camp +farther down stream, and within easy communication with him, park the +train, and establish order. We will remain here until we know what has +become of the boys." + +I found the New Mexican cavalry camp three miles down the river, and +obtained the desired forage. When I returned our new camp was +established, fires burning, and cooking well under way. + +Captain Bayard informed me that the detachment of Mexican cavalry +which had accompanied us thus far would leave at this point and not +rejoin us. "I have ordered Baldwin to grain his horses and be ready to +start in search of our boys at daybreak," continued the captain. "You +will accompany him. We shall be in no danger, with Hubbell so near. +You can take thirty pounds of grain on your saddles, and you will find +plenty of water on the Carizo where it breaks from the hills." + +"How many days are we to stay out?" + +"You are to take five days' rations. If the boys are not found in that +time I fear they will never be found." + +I went to bed early, and soon fell into a fitful slumber, which lasted +until an hour before midnight. I arose, dressed, and sat down by the +smouldering camp-fire, a prey to unpleasant reflections. + +Suddenly the sound of a cantering horse approaching from the north +fell upon my ears. What could it mean? I listened intently. The horse +slowed down to a walk. He entered the camp. The voice of Private Tom +Clary, who was posted as sentinel No. 1, challenged: "Halt!--who comes +there?" + +"A friend--Corporal Frank Burton," was the answer. + +"Blest be the saints! Corpril Frank, laddie, is it you--and aloive?" +said the sentinel, forgetting in his joy to continue the usual +formality of the challenge or to call the corporal of the guard. + +Springing from my seat I walked towards the sentinel, and there, by +the light of the moon, I saw Frank, mounted upon Sancho, with Vic in +his arms. I reached up to take my dog, but the boy quickly exclaimed: + +"Be careful, sir, be careful! She's badly hurt. Here's the letter she +brought. Henry is alive." + +To attempt to relate all that now occurred would be impossible. In +some mysterious manner the news of Frank's arrival crept through the +camp, and half-dressed figures of officers and soldiers gathered about +the camp-fire, curious to listen to an account of the boy's adventure. +One little, blanketed figure ran out of the darkness, caught Vic's +face between her two palms, nestled her cheek against it, and with a +cheerful "good-night," disappeared as suddenly as she had come. + +I took Vic in my lap as I sat on the ground, and by the light of a +blazing pine-knot proceeded to examine her condition. I found the +mouth and feet of the poor animal full of the spines of the _cholla_ +cactus, a growth which is simply a mass of fine thorns. This cactus +grows in patches, and when the dead clusters fall to the ground the +spines stick to everything touching them. The dog had stepped into a +bed of these bunched needles, and filled her feet, and in trying to +remove them with her teeth had thrust them through cheeks, lips, and +tongue, literally closing her jaws. Her paws bristled with them like +pin-cushions. + +As to Frank's adventures: After leaving the Arnolds, as already +described by Brenda, he retraced the route to Carizo Creek and to the +Rio Puerco without seeing any sign of his brother. Returning to the +west he dismounted at the crossing of the Carizo. He felt sure that if +Henry had been captured by the Navajos he must have been taken in the +dry bed of that creek. + +A long and patient search resulted in the discovery of tracks made by +several ponies running along the eastern side of the Carizo to the +north and the hills. One of the set showed the print of iron shoes. +Frank mounted again and followed this trail up the valley for some +hours. He was thinking about returning, when he saw a white object +moving on a hill-side, far in advance. It seemed to tumble, rise, and +go in a circle, then tumble, rise, and circle again. Frank's curiosity +was aroused, and he rode on to examine the object. A few hundred yards +more revealed the fact that he had come upon the missing Vic, and that +something was seriously the matter with her. At first Frank thought +she was mad or in a fit, but as he came nearer she sat up and made +demonstrations of joy at his approach. He dismounted, and found her in +the condition already described. On the ground was a chip, neatly cut +and shaven, which she was in vain attempting to take between her +sealed jaws. Frank understood the matter at once. Whenever Victoriana +was sent on a message she was given a stick to deliver. It was plain +that some one had sent her to either Frank or me. Of course, it could +have been no one but Henry. She had come thus far, and had stepped +into a bed of _cholla_. In trying to remove the needles from her feet +she had absolutely sealed her mouth; in the attempt to recover the +chip she had made the movements that had attracted the boy's +attention. + +Nothing was written on the stick. Around the dog's neck was tied a +cravat of dirty buck-skin. Untying and opening it, Frank found the +inner surface covered with writing, evidently traced in berry-juice +with a quill or a stick. It read as follows: + + "Captured by the Navajos. Am herding ponies north of Twin + Buttes, at the head of Carizo. Come to butte with cavalry, + and wave handkerchief from left peak about noon. If I do not + come, look for me in plain north of butte. Don't worry; I'm + all right. + + "HENRY." + +I remained at the fire long after every one had returned to their beds +or duty, busy in extracting the _cholla_ spines from Vic's mouth and +feet. The dog seemed to understand the necessity of the treatment she +was receiving, and bore the pain submissively, with only occasional +moans and cries, until the operation ended. She then received a drink +of water, and went to bed with Frank. + +At daybreak the rescue detachment left camp, retraced our route to the +Carizo, where Corporal Frank put us upon the trail of the Indians. We +climbed to the highest point reached by the path, and saw it descend +on the opposite side to a brook, deep in the valley. Here we halted, +took the horses a short distance down the slope we had just ascended, +picketed them in a grassy nook, and Frank and I started to ascend the +left peak. + +"Mr. Baldwin," I said, as I moved away, "when you see us start to +return, saddle and bridle as rapidly as possible, so as to be ready +for emergencies." + +"I'll do so. You can depend upon us to be ready when wanted," was the +reply. + +We scrambled through a scattering growth of pinon and junipers for +several yards, and at last came to a perpendicular shaft of sandstone +twenty feet high, with a flat top. The diameter of the shaft was about +fifty feet. + +"Henry could not have come up here, or he never would have set us to +attempt an impossibility," said Frank, as his eyes ran up and down +the rock. + +"Perhaps it may not be so impossible as it appears," I replied. "Let +us walk round the butte." + +We passed to the right, and, having found a practicable place for +attempting the ascent, accomplished the feat in a few moments. + +On the flat summit we found the remains of former fires that had +undoubtedly been lighted as signals. The view was grand and extensive. +Directly to the north lay many verdant valleys--grazing-grounds of the +nomadic Navajos. One of these valleys lay at the foot of the mountain +upon which we stood, with a bright stream of water crossing its hither +border. Well out in the valley were several flocks of sheep and goats, +and close to the opposite side of the brook was a herd of ponies. + +After Frank had looked long and anxiously towards the flocks and +herds, he said: "Those specks near the ponies must be men, I suppose. +I wonder if Henry is among them? Shall I make the signal?" + +"Not yet. It is not yet noon. Let us lie down among these rocks, +where we shall be less conspicuous, and use the field-glass." + +"Tell me what you see, sir, if you please." + +"There are five large flocks of sheep in the charge of a lot of women, +some mounted and some on foot. The pony herd, which must number +several hundred, is in charge of three naked Indians--boys, I think. +There are no other persons in sight. Take a look for yourself." + +Frank accepted the glass and surveyed the valley. "I can see nothing +that looks like Henry," he said. "He certainly cannot be there. Why +are those boys so ghostly white?" + +"They are covered with yeso to protect them from sunburn." + +"Oh yes--whitewash." + +"Gypsum. The Mexicans use it for whitewash, and to preserve the +complexion." + +"Well, those boys must have plastered it on thick; they look like +living statues. Not a rag on them except 'breech-clouts.' Hello, there +comes a troop around that mound to the right. Must be two hundred +men." + +Taking the glass, I looked again. Coming into sight from the opposite +side of an elevation on the farther side of the valley was a party of +two hundred and fifteen Navajo warriors. They rode to each flock of +sheep in succession, stopped near the women a few moments, and then +came down to the pony herd. They approached the boys, and one large +Indian, who appeared to be the chief, lifted the smaller boy out of +his saddle, and, swinging him to his shoulder, dashed around the herd +at full speed, and then set him back in his own saddle, and patted him +approvingly on the back. + +The party next proceeded to exchange the ponies they were riding for +fresh ones from the herd, and then disappeared behind the trees which +bordered the brook to the west. + +"The pony that small boy rides looks like Chiquita," remarked Frank; +"but the saddle and bridle are different. Senora Perea said that +Manuel was herding ponies for the Navajos, and that he was naked." + +"Yes, I know; but the letter Vic brought from Henry made no mention of +another boy, and there are three with that herd. But let us make the +signal and see what will happen." + +Standing up and advancing to the edge of the butte's top, I waved my +handkerchief from side to side, keeping my eyes fixed upon the three +boys. They formed in line, facing us, looked long in our direction, +and then, as if started by a spring, they flew down the plain, leaped +the brook, and galloped up the long ascent towards the concealed +cavalrymen. + + + + +X + +THE CORPORALS ARE PROMOTED + + +The three Indian boys were doing their utmost to excite their ponies +to their greatest speed up the height. As they sped on they glanced +repeatedly backward, as if fearing pursuit. Higher and higher they +came up the steep until we could not doubt it was their intention to +reach the command. + +"What does it mean? What does it mean?" exclaimed Frank. "Why are +those Navajo boys running their horses in this direction? It can't +be--" + +"Never mind, Frank," I interrupted. "Let us get down to the men as +soon as we can. The Indian women are already riding after the +war-party." + +At considerable risk to life and limb we slid down the ragged angle +which we had ascended, and hurried to where Baldwin and the soldiers +stood beside their saddled steeds. + +We had barely reached the crest from which we could see the valley +when the three whitewashed boys appeared on their panting and foaming +animals, the little one on the buck-skin pony in the lead. + +"What in the world is this?" exclaimed Baldwin. "Three whitewashed +young redskins! What do they want of us?" + +"Here we are!" shouted a familiar voice, in excellent English. "Here +we are--Manuel, Sapoya, and I!" + +Before we could sufficiently recover from our surprise, or, rather, +calm our joyful realization of a hope born of the boys' start from the +valley below, they were among us, and Henry had sprung from his horse +and embraced his brother, leaving a generous coating of _yeso_ upon +the army blue. Tears of joy had ploughed two streaks through the +whiting on his face, and lent a comical effect to the boyish +countenance. A general handshake ensued, and Corporal Frank asked, +"Where are your clothes, Henry?" + +"Confiscated by the chief Elarnagan." + +"Not to wear?" + +"Well, no; I think they might prove baggy on his diminutive person." + +"Then why did he take them?" + +"He has a numerous progeny, and the young Elarnaganitos have an +article apiece. My saddle and bridle went to Mrs. Elarnagan. She rides +astride, you know." + +"When did the chief take your clothes?" + +"Just as soon as I arrived in the valley my horse and I were stripped +of--But hold on, Frank; what am I thinking of?" and Henry ran to one +of the other boys, a graceful youngster whose perfect limbs and +handsome face the _yeso_ could not mask, and who sat his horse as if +he were a part of the animal. Saying something to him in an undertone, +the boy dismounted and approached me with Henry, who said, in Spanish: +"This is Manuel Augustine Perea y Luna, of Algodones. It is he who +planned the escape when I told him there were soldiers near." + +I took the Mexican boy's hand and assured him of the great happiness +his escape afforded me, and the greater happiness it would afford his +mother and relatives. + +Frank approached, took Manuel's hand, and then dropped it to give him +a hearty and brotherly embrace. + +"Ah, Manuelito mio, I dreamed many dreams of rescuing you as we +marched through this country, but I never believed they would be +realized," he said. + +"But the little Enrique acted, and I am here," laughed Manuel. + +"And Frank acted, too," said I, "as you shall soon hear; and you will +learn that it took both boys to effect your rescue." + +"Pardon me," replied Manuel, "but it is not safe to remain here +longer. Elarnagan, whom you saw leaving the valley with his warriors, +is intending to move down the Lithodendron to attack your train +somewhere on the Colorado Chiquito." + +At the close of his remarks Manuel turned away, as if to mount his +horse, and then, as if correcting an oversight, he said, "Wait one +moment, sir." Going up to the third boy, he spoke a few words to him +in an unknown tongue. The boy sprang to the ground and came forward. +"This is Sapoya," continued Manuel, "a Cherokee boy, whom I found a +captive when I joined Elarnagan's band. He is my brother, and will go +with me and share my home." + +Sapoya extended his hand and clasped mine. He was a handsome Indian +boy, about the same age and height as his friend. He addressed me in +Navajo, which was interpreted by Manuel: "I am glad to meet one who +has helped to open the broad land again to my brother and me. But our +horses stand still, while those of our enemy fly to retake us." + +Evidently the Mexican and Cherokee boys had no desire to again fall +into the hands of the Navajo chief. We made no further delay, but +mounted and forced our animals down the mountain defiles as rapidly as +possible. As soon as the route would permit, Henry and Manuel rode on +each side of Frank, and I heard the former ask about Vic. Frank +answered in Spanish, so that the Mexican boy might understand. Such +expressions as "La perra brava!" "La fina perrita Vic!" from time to +time showed they were hearing of Vic's adventures. + +[Illustration: "'GOD HAS GIVEN ME, AMONG MANY FRIENDS, TWO THAT ARE +SOMETHING MORE'"] + +Finding that Corporal Frank was not doing himself justice in his +narration, I drew alongside the boys and related what I knew of +Frank's midnight ride and rescue of Vic, an event which, had it not +occurred, would have left Henry and his friends still in captivity. At +the conclusion of my tale Manuel changed his position from the flank +to one between the brothers, and, taking a hand of Frank in his left, +and one of Henry's in his right, rode on a few moments in silence. +Then he said: "God has given me, among many friends, two that are +something more. But for your brave acts I should still be a captive. +Thank you for myself, my dear mother, and Sapoya." + +Having reached the wagon-road crossing of the Carizo, we turned at a +canter over the divide between it and the Lithodendron. As we rose +above a terrace our attention was attracted to two mounted Indians +scurrying off into the broken and higher country on our right. + +"Ah, look!" shouted Manuel; "they expected to stop three naked, +unarmed boys, and they are surprised to meet a troop of cavalry! Viva +los Estados Unidos! Run, you sheep-stealers, we are safely out of your +hands!" + +Upon reaching the summit of the divide the whole war-party stood +revealed, far to our right, out of rifle-shot. Plainly, our presence +was a great surprise to them. Although they greatly outnumbered us, +the country was too open for their system of warfare, and they were +poorly armed. They stood sullenly aloof, and allowed us to canter past +unmolested. + +Just as our rear was passing them we noticed a solitary warrior +advance and show a white cloth. + +"That is Elarnagan," said Manuel. "He wants to speak with you." + +Accompanied by the Mexican boy to act as interpreter, I advanced to +the chief. He took my hand with dignity, and said he accepted the loss +of his pale-faced captives as the fortune of war, but he demanded the +return of Sapoya. He said that in a fight with the Utes, ten years +before, his people had captured a Cherokee chief, who was visiting +that tribe with his wife and child. The chief and his wife had died, +and he, Elarnagan, had brought up the child as his own. He asked that +Sapoya be restored to him. + +I called the Indian lad to me and, repeating the words of the chief, +said, "You may answer for yourself." + +"Sapoya says to the bravest warrior of the Navajos, that he is +grateful for all the favors that he has received, and that he thinks +he has returned by hard service ample payment for all. He brought +parents, three horses, and ample clothing to the Navajos; he takes +nothing away but the pony he rode. He has shared his blanket and food +with his brother, Manuel, for these many moons, undergoing fatigue and +exposure with him, until his heart beats as one with his comrade's, +and he desires to go with him to his home and become one of his +people." + +The chief said nothing in reply, but advancing gave his hand in amity +to both boys, and rode back to his people. + +"He is a good chief and a brave one," said Manuel, as we rejoined the +command, "but I should cherish kindlier memories of him if he had +given us some clothing and an extra blanket." + +Later, as we were riding slowly out of the bed of Lithodendron, Frank +said, "I do not see how the Indians came to spare Vic." + +"One of them did attempt to kill her, but I threw my arms about her +and the chief patted her head and gave orders that she should not be +hurt. I think if her collar had not been taken off at Laguna she would +have been killed in a scramble to possess it. Even Elarnagan would +have considered her life worthless compared with the possession of +such a beautiful trinket." + +"The chief seems to have taken quite a liking to Corporal Henry," I +remarked. + +"Not enough to allow him to retain his clothing," said Manuel; "but he +would not permit him to be deprived of his pony. Perhaps you saw him, +when you were on the butte, dash round the herd with Henry on his +shoulder?" + +"Frank and I saw it," I answered. + +"He said, when he placed Henry back upon Chiquita, 'He will make a +brave chief.'" + +Camp was reached a little after dark, and the boys plunged into the +river to remove the _yeso_, and then dressed themselves in civilized +garments, Henry drawing on his reserve, and the others from the +quartermaster's stores. + +Had not Victoriana been a modest doggie, the amount of praise and +attention she received from the four boys would have turned her head; +and the boys themselves had no reason to complain of the kindly +congratulations they received from the infantry company. + +Word was sent to Lieutenant Hubbell that Manuel Perea had been +rescued, and the following morning all the New Mexicans not on duty +rode into camp to congratulate the boy upon his escape. Spanish cheers +and Spanish felicitations filled the air for an hour. + +When the volunteers had gone and quiet was resumed, Brenda came, and +her delight at seeing the boys again showed itself in ceaseless +caressings of Vic and many requests for a repetition of the account of +their flying ride when the signal was waved from the butte. When she +at last withdrew, to repeat the story to her relatives, the corporals +and I wrote a letter to Senora Perea, to be delivered by her son. In +my portion I related the circumstances attending his recovery, +detailing the part taken by the boy corporals, the dog, and the troop. +I said no one desired to claim the generous reward she had offered, +since no one in particular had rescued Manuel; many things had +combined to enable him to escape. If the lady insisted upon paying +the reward, we all desired that it should be devoted to the education +of Sapoya. + +Frank added a few lines, and Henry closed the letter. The younger +corporal wrote: + + "I've laughed with the rest over my two days' captivity + among the Navajos, and made light of it. I don't mind + telling you that after shivering through two nights without + clothes and without enough blankets, being bitten by + mosquitoes and flies, and scorched daytimes by the sun, I + begin to think Manuel a great hero. + + "You know when I saw you I told you I was going to bring + back Manuel or be a prisoner with him. That, of course, was + all foolish talk, for I planned nothing. To be sure, I was a + prisoner with him for two days and had something to do about + bringing him back, but it all happened without planning. It + seems as if God directed us all through. Frank, Vic, the + soldiers, officers, and myself--even the dry time from + Jacob's Well to the Lithodendron--all had something to do + with finding Manuel. + + "About the reward the lieutenant speaks of, we think none of + us deserve it. We've talked it over, and we think if you + would give Sapoya a chance at school, and if you cannot make + a white boy of him make him an educated man, that would be + the best reward. He's very intelligent, and if he can have a + good chance will learn fast. + + "Frank and I have a scheme we hope you will approve of. Mr. + Duncan has secured a detail from the War Department to a + boys' military school in the States as instructor in + tactics, and will probably go in November. We are intending + to ask papa to let us join that school after the Christmas + holidays. We want you to send Manuel and Sapoya there. Won't + you, please? Be sure and say yes. Think what a fine chance + it will be for Sapoya. + + "You know we boys feel something more than a friendship for + one another. I suppose it is like the comradeship of + soldiers who have stood shoulder to shoulder in battle. + There is a tie uniting us that is closer and firmer than + friendship; we feel more like brothers. + + "We will write often. Hoping Manuel will arrive home safe, + and that he may never again be a captive, + + "I remain your friend, + + "HENRY BURTON." + +Our letters were despatched by Manuel and Sapoya to Lieutenant +Hubbell's camp, where Captain Bayard directed the boys to await the +detachment of New Mexican cavalry which had accompanied us from the +Rio Grande and which was shortly to return there. + +We resumed our march the following day at a very early hour, and as we +passed the cavalry camp two half-dressed boys came bounding out to the +road-side to once more repeat their affectionate good-byes and renew +their promises to meet in the future. + +The march continued for a week longer, through a region over which the +Pullman car now rushes with the modern tourist, but through which we +moved at the gait of infantry. The boy corporals and Brenda Arnold +climbed eminences, looked through clefts in precipices into the +sublime depths of the great canon, stood on the edge of craters of +extinct volcanoes, penetrated the mysterious caverns of the +cliff-dwellers, fished for trout in a mountain lake, caught axolotl in +a tank at the foot of San Francisco Mountain, shot turkeys, grouse, +and antelope, and enjoyed the march as only healthy youngsters can. +Brenda became a pupil of the boys in loading and firing their +revolvers, carbines, and fowling-pieces, and made many a bull's-eye +when firing at a mark, but invariably failed to hit anything living. +Henry said she was too tender-hearted to aim well at animals. That she +was no coward an incident to be told in a future chapter will prove. + +When our train and its escort reached Fort Whipple, or, rather, the +site of that work--for we built it after our arrival--the Arnolds +caught up their cattle from our herd, and after a two weeks' stay in +Prescott removed to a section of land which they took up in Skull +Valley, ten miles to the west by the mountain-trail, and twenty-five +miles by the only practicable wagon-road. This place was selected for +a residence because its distance from Prescott and its situation at +the junction of the bridle-path and wagon-road made it an excellent +location for a way-side inn. + +At a dress-parade held the evening before the family's departure for +their new home, Brenda sat on her pony, Gypsy, near Captain Bayard, +and heard an order read advancing her young friends from the grade of +corporal to that of sergeant, "for soldierly attention to duty on the +march, gallant conduct in the affair at Laguna, and meritorious +behavior in effecting the rescue of captive boys from the Navajos at +Carizo Creek; subject to the approval of Colonel Burton." + + + + +XI + +BOTH PONIES ARE STOLEN + + +"Here, Frank, come and help push this gate, I can't start it alone." + +"Don't be in such a hurry, Henry. Wait just a moment. I think I hear a +horse coming down the Prescott road. I want to see if it is the +express from La Paz." + +The younger boy ceased his efforts to close the gates, and advancing a +few steps before the entrance of the fort, looked up the valley to +where the road from Prescott appeared from behind a spur of the +foot-hills. The two boys had mounted their sergeant's chevrons and +adopted white stripes down the legs of their trousers. As they stood +side by side Vic approached and placed herself between them, nestling +her delicate muzzle against the younger boy's hip and responding to +his caresses with waves of her plumy tail. + +"Do you think we shall hear from father, Frank?" + +"We ought to; you know he said in his last letter he was getting +settled at the Presidio, and would soon send for us." + +"Takes twelve days to bring a letter from San Francisco. I suppose +it'll take us longer to go there; seems to me he might get ready for +us while we are on the road," said Henry, lugubriously. "I'm getting +mighty tired of opening and shutting these gates." + +"You forget father has to visit all the posts where companies of his +regiment are stationed. That will probably take him all of a month +longer." + +"And we must go on opening and closing gates and running errands in +Arizona? But come; let's get a swing on 'em and watch for the +expressman afterwards. We haven't much time before retreat." + +The gates closed a fort which we had built since our arrival in +Arizona. Peeled pine logs, ten feet long, had been set up vertically +in the ground, two feet of them below the surface and eight above, +enclosing an area of a thousand square feet, in which were +store-rooms, offices, and quarters for two companies of soldiers and +their officers. At corners diagonally opposite each other were two +large block-house bastions, commanding the flanks of the fort. The +logs of the walls were faced on two sides and set close together, and +were slotted every four feet for rifles. At one of the corners which +had no bastions were double gates, also made of logs, bound by cross +and diagonal bars, dovetailed and pinned firmly to them. Each hung on +huge, triple hinges of iron. + +The two boys returned to the gates, and, setting their backs against +one of them and digging their heels in the earth, pushed and swung it +ponderously and slowly, until its outer edge caught on a shelving log +set in the middle of the entrance to support it and its fellow. Then, +as the field-music began to play and the men to assemble in line for +retreat roll-call, they swung the second gate in the same way, and +braced the two with heavy timbers. The boys then reported the gates +closed to the adjutant. + +As the companies broke ranks and dispersed the boy sergeants went to +the fifth log, to the left of the gates, and swung it back on its +hinges. This was one of two secret posterns. On the inside of the +wall, when closed, its location was easily noticeable on account of +its hinges, latches, and braces; on the outside it looked like any +other log in the wall. Their work being completed, the boys asked +permission of the adjutant to stand outside the wall and watch for the +mail. + +"All right, sergeants," said the adjutant; "there is no further duty +for you to perform to-day." + +Frank and Henry ran through the postern, and arrived on the crest of +the bluff overlooking the Prescott road just as a horseman turned up +the height. The news that the La Paz courier had arrived spread +rapidly through the quarters, and every man not on duty appeared +outside the walls. + +Joining the boy sergeants, I said, "Boys, if you want to drop the job +of opening and closing the gates, it can hereafter be done by the +guard." + +"Thank you, sir. We took the job, and we'll stick to it," replied +Sergeant Frank. + +"I wonder if Samson could lift those gates as easily as he did the +gates of Gaza?" questioned Henry, seating himself on a log which had +been rejected in the building and taking Vic's head in his lap and +fondling her silken ears. + +"We can't remain here much longer," said Frank; "I think this express +will bring an order for us to go to San Francisco." + +"Very likely. No doubt life here is not very enjoyable for boys." + +"I should say not," said Henry, "for we can't look outside the fort +unless a dozen soldiers are along for fear the Apaches 'll get us." + +"But you can go to Prescott." + +"Prescott!" in a tone of great contempt; "twenty-seven log cabins and +five stores, and not a boy in the place--only a dozen Pike County, +Missouri, girls." + +"And we can't go there with any comfort since Texas Dick and Jumping +Jack stole Sancho and Chiquita," added Frank. + +Further conversation on this subject was temporarily interrupted by +the arrival of the expressman. A roan bronco galloped up the slope, +bearing a youthful rider wearing a light buck-skin suit and a soft +felt hat with a narrow brim. He was armed with a breech-loading +carbine and two revolvers, and carried, attached to his saddle, a roll +of blankets, a haversack, and a mail-pouch. + +Dismounting, he detached the pouch, at the same time answering +questions and giving us items of news later than any contained in his +despatches. + +After handing his pouch to the quartermaster-sergeant, his eyes fell +upon the boy sergeants. + +"I saw Texas Dick and Juan Brincos at Cisternas Negras," he said, +addressing them. + +"My! Did you, Mr. Hudson?" exclaimed Henry, springing to his feet and +approaching the courier. "Did they have our ponies?" + +"You know I never saw your ponies; but Dick was mounted on a black, +with a white star in his forehead, and Juan on a cream-color, with a +brown mane and tail." + +"Sancho!" said Frank. + +"Chiquita!" said Henry. + +"Do you know where they were bound?" asked Captain Bayard. + +"I did not speak to them, nor did they see me; I thought it would be +better to keep out of the way of such desperate characters in a +lonely place. I learned from a friend of theirs at Date Creek that +they intend to open a monte bank at La Paz." + +"Then they are likely to remain there for some time." + +"Can't something be done to get the ponies back, sir?" asked Frank. + +"Perhaps so. I will consider the matter." + +The mail was taken to my office and soon distributed through the +command. Among my letters was one from Colonel Burton, the father of +the boy sergeants. He said he had been expecting to send for his sons +by this mail, but additional detached service had been required of him +which might delay their departure from Whipple for another month, if +not longer. He informed me that a detail I had received to duty as +professor of military science and tactics in a boys' military school +had been withheld by the department commander until my services could +be spared at Fort Whipple, and that he thought the next mail, or the +one following it, would bring an order relieving me and ordering me +East. This would enable me to leave for the coast about the first week +in November. + +Frank and Henry shared my quarters with me, and that evening, seated +before an open fire, I read their father's letter, and remarked that +perhaps I should be able to accompany them to San Francisco, and, if +the colonel consented to their request to go to the military school +with me, we might take the same steamer for Panama and New York. + +"Oh, won't that be too fine for anything!" exclaimed the younger +sergeant. "Then I'll not have to leave Vicky here, after all." + +Vic, upon hearing her name called, left her rug at my feet and placed +her nose on Henry's knee, and the boy stroked and patted her in his +usual affectionate manner. + +"Then you have been dreading to leave the doggie?" I asked. + +"Yes; I dream all sorts of uncomfortable things about her. She's in +trouble, or I am, and I cannot rescue her and she cannot help me. +Usually we are parting, and I see her far off, looking sadly back at +me." + +"Henry is not the only one who dreads to part with Vic," said Frank. +"We boys can never forget the scenes at Los Valles Grandes, Laguna, +and the Rio Carizo. She saved our lives, helped recover Chiquita, and +she helped rescue Manuel, Sapoya, and Henry from the Navajos." + +"Yes; but for her I might have lost my brother at La Roca Grande," +remarked Henry. "That was probably her greatest feat. Nice little +doggie--good little Vicky--are you really to go to San Francisco and +the East with us?" + +"I believe if I only had Sancho back, and Henry had Chiquita, I should +be perfectly happy," observed the elder brother. + +After a slight pause, during which the boy seemed to have relapsed +into his former depression, Henry asked: + +"Do they have cavalry drill at that school?" + +"Yes, the superintendent keeps twenty light horses, and allows some of +the cadets to keep private animals. All are used in drill." + +"And if we get our ponies back, I suppose we shall have to leave them +here. Do you think, sir, there is any chance of our seeing them +again?" asked Frank. + +"Not unless some one can go to La Paz for them. Captain Bayard is +going to see me after supper about a plan of his to retake them." + +"I wonder what officer he will send?" + +"Perhaps I shall go." + +"Father could never stand the expense of sending them to the States, I +suppose," said Henry, despondently. + +"They could easily be sent to the Missouri River without cost," I +observed. + +"How, please?" + +"There is a quartermaster's train due here in a few weeks. It would +cost nothing to send the ponies by the wagon-master to Fort Union, and +then they could be transferred to another train to Fort Leavenworth." + +"Frank, I've a scheme!" exclaimed the younger boy. + +"What is it?" + +"If Mr. Duncan finds Sancho and Chiquita, let's send them to Manuel +Perea and Sapoya on the Rio Grande. When they go to the military +school they can take our horses and theirs, and we'll join the +cavalry." + +"That's so," said Frank. "Manuel wrote that if he went to school he +should cross the plains with his uncle, Miguel Otero, who is a +freighter. He could take the whole outfit East for nothing. There +would remain only the cost of shipping them from Kansas City to the +school." + +"Yes, but before you cook a hare you must catch him," said I. + +"And our two hares are on the other side of the Xuacaxella[1] Desert," +said Frank, despondently. "I suppose there is small chance of our ever +seeing them again." + +[Footnote 1: Pronounced Hwar-car-hal-yar.] + +Our two boy sergeants had found life in Arizona scarcely monotonous, +for the hostile Apaches made it lively enough, compelling us to build +a defensible post and look well to the protection of our stock. A few +years later a large force, occupying many posts, found it difficult to +maintain themselves against those Indians, so it cannot seem strange +to the reader that our small garrison of a hundred soldiers should +find it difficult to do much more than act on the defensive. Close +confinement to the reservation chafed the boys. + +A ride to Prescott, two miles distant, was the longest the boys had +taken alone. Two weeks before this chapter opens they had been invited +to dine with Governor Goodwin, the Governor of the Territory, and he +had made their call exceedingly pleasant. When, at an advanced hour in +the evening, the boys took leave of their host and went to the stable +for their horses, they found them gone, with their saddles and +bridles. + +Inquiries made next day in town elicited the information that two +notorious frontier scamps, Texas Dick and Juan Brincos, an American +and Mexican, were missing, and it was the opinion of civil and +military authorities that they had stolen the ponies. The boys took +Vic to the Governor's, and, showing her the tracks of her equine +friends, she followed them several miles on the Skull Valley trail. It +was plainly evident that the thieves had gone towards the Rio +Colorado. + +After supper I accompanied the commanding officer to his quarters. He +told me that the express had brought him a communication from the +department commander, stating that, since Arizona had been transferred +to the Department of the Pacific, our stores would hereafter be +shipped from San Francisco to the mouth of the Rio Colorado, and up +that stream by the boats of the Colorado Steam Navigation Company to +La Paz. He said he had decided to send me to La Paz to make +arrangements with a freighter for the transportation of the supplies +from the company's landing to Fort Whipple. + +"And while you are in La Paz," said the captain, "look after those +horse-thieves, and turn them over to the civil authorities; but, +whether you capture them or not, be sure to bring back the boys' +ponies." + +"What do you think about allowing the boys to go with me?" + +"No doubt they would like it, for life has been rather monotonous to +them for some time, especially since they lost their horses. Think it +would be safe?" + +"No Indians have been seen on the route for some time." + +"The 'calm before the storm,' I fear." + +"The mail-rider, Hudson, has seen no signs for a long time." + +"So he told me. The excursion would be a big treat to the lads, and, +with a good escort and you in command, Duncan, I think they will be +in no danger. Tell the adjutant to detail a corporal and any twelve +men you may select, and take an ambulance and driver." + +"Shall I go by Bill Williams Fork or across the Xuacaxella?" + +"The desert route is the shortest, and the courier says there is water +in the Hole-in-the-Plain. There was a rainfall there last week. That +will give you water at the end of each day's drive." + +I returned to my rooms and looked over an itinerary of the route, with +a schedule of the distances, and other useful information. After +making myself familiar with all its peculiarities, I told Frank and +Henry that if they desired to do so they might accompany me. + +They were overjoyed at the prospect. Henry caught Vic by the forepaws +and began to waltz about the room. Then, sitting down, he held her +head up between his palms and informed her that she was going to bring +back Sancho and Chiquita. + +"I do not intend to take Vic, Henry," I said. + +"Not take Vic? Why not, sir?" + +"The road is long and weary--six days going and six returning, over a +rough and dry region--and she will be in the way and a constant care +to us." + +"But how are we going to find our horses without her? She always helps +whenever we are in trouble, and she will be sure to assist us in this +if we take her," said Sergeant Henry, emphatically. + +"She need be no care to you, sir," said the elder boy; "Henry and I +will look after her." + +"I am sorry to disappoint you, boys, but I cannot take the dog. She +will be left with Captain Bayard." + +This decision made the boys somewhat miserable for a time. They +commiserated the dog over her misfortune, and then turned their +attention to preparations for the journey. + +"Have you ever been to La Paz?" asked Frank. + +"I have never been beyond Date Creek in that direction," I replied. + +"Is the Xuacaxella really a desert?" + +"Only in the rainless season. Grasses, cacti, and shrubbery not +needing much moisture grow there. One of the geological surveys calls +it Cactus Plain. It is one hundred miles long. There is water in a +fissure of a mountain-spur on one side called the Cisternas Negras, +or Black Tanks, but for the rest of the distance there was formerly no +water except in depressions after a rainfall, a supply that quickly +evaporated under a hot sun and in a dry atmosphere. A man named Tyson +has lately sunk a well thirty miles this side of La Paz." + +"It was at Black Tanks the expressman saw Texas Dick and Juan Brincos +with our ponies," said Henry. "What a queer name that is!--Juan +Brincos, John Jumper, or Jumping Jack, as nearly every one calls him." + +"He is well named; he has been jumping stock for some years." + +"I thought Western people always hanged horse-thieves?" + +"Not when they steal from government. Western people are too apt to +consider army mules and horses common property, and they suppose your +ponies belong to Uncle Sam." + +"Frank," said Henry, just before the boys fell asleep that night, "I +felt almost sure we should recapture the ponies when I thought Vic was +going, but now I'm afraid we never shall see them again." + + + + +XII + +INDIANS ON THE WAR-PATH + + +The following day we were so delayed by several minor affairs that we +did not begin our journey until the middle of the afternoon. + +At the time of which I write there were but two wagon-roads out of +Prescott--one through Fort Whipple, which, several miles to the north, +divided into a road to the west, the one over which we had marched +from New Mexico, and a second which left in a northwesterly direction. +We took the latter, pursuing it along the east side of Granite Range +for eight miles, when we passed through a notch in the range to Mint +Creek, where the road made an acute angle and followed a generally +southwesterly course to La Paz. + +We halted for the night at the creek, eight miles from the fort. Our +ambulance was provided with four seats--one in front for the driver, +fixed front and rear seats in the interior, with a movable middle +seat, the back of which could be let down so that it fitted the +interval between the others and afforded a fairly comfortable bed. On +the rack behind were carried the mess chest, provisions, and bedding, +and inside, under the seats, were the ammunition and some articles of +personal baggage. Beneath the axle swung a ten-gallon keg and a nest +of camp kettles. + +While supper was being prepared the boys wandered about the reed-grass +in a fruitless search for some ducks they had seen settle in the +creek. Private Tom Clary, who was acting as our cook, having spread +our meal of fried bacon, bread, and coffee upon a blanket to the +windward of the fire, called them to supper. While sugaring and +stirring our coffee, the cook stood by the fire holding two long rods +in his hands, upon the ends of which were slices of bacon broiling +before the glowing coals. Suddenly he exclaimed: + +"Look there, sergeant laddies! look there!" raising and pointing with +both sticks and the rashers of bacon towards the reed-grass behind +us. + +There in its very edge sat Mistress Vic, winking her eyes and +twitching her ears deprecatingly, plainly in doubt as to her +reception. + +"Stop, boys! keep quiet!" I said, to prevent a movement in her +direction. "Vic, you bad girl, how dared you follow me?" + +No reply, only a slow closing and opening of the eyes and an +accompanying forward and backward movement of the ears. + +"Go home! Go!" + +The setter rose, dropped her head, and, turning dejectedly, +disappeared with drooping tail into the tall grass. Both boys +exclaimed at once: + +"Don't drive her off, sir! Poor little Vic!" + +"Well, go and see if you can coax her back. If she returns with you +she may go to La Paz." + +The boys ran eagerly into the grass, and soon I heard them soothing +and pitying the dog, telling her that it was all right, and that she +could go. But it was evident she doubted their authority to speak for +me, for Henry presently came running towards me. + +"She won't come, sir. Keeps moving slowly back in the direction of the +fort. She looks so sorry and so tired. Only think how badly she feels, +and it is a long distance to Whipple! Can't she stay with us until +morning?" + +"Then she will not come with you?" + +"No. She is your dog, and knows it. She never disobeys you." + +"But she followed me here; that looks very much like disobedience." + +"But you did not tell her not to come." + +"I believe you are right. I forgot to tell her to stay." + +"And she did not hear you tell the corporal to tie her, sir. You told +him in your room, and she was outside." + +"Then you think she is not to blame for following us?" + +"Of course not. She's a military dog, and always obeys orders." + +"But how guilty she looked." + +"It was not guilt made her look so, sir; it was disappointment." + +"Yes, I think you are right, Henry. I'll let her go with us. Let us +try an experiment, and see if she understands ordinary conversation. +You know some people think dogs do." + +"Yes, sir; I know Vic does." + +"I'll speak to her without altering my tone of voice. Now watch. +'Here, Vicky, little girl, it's all right; you may go with us.'" + +Out of the reeds, bounding in an ecstasy of delight, came Vic. She +sprang about me, then about the boys, the soldiers, and animals, and +then approaching the fire, sat down and looked wistfully at the +rashers of bacon Clary was still broiling. It was settled in her dog +mind that she was now a recognized member of our party. + +We resumed our journey with the first break of dawn and rode to Skull +Valley. The first section of the road passed through a rough, +mountainous, and wooded country; but at the end of thirteen miles it +entered a level valley, which gradually broadened into a wide plain +that had been taken up by settlers for farms and cattle ranges. Being +well acquainted, I made several calls at the log-cabins which skirted +the road. At the Arnold house we were made very welcome, and after a +generous dinner were escorted through the house and stables by the +entire family. I had visited the valley many times when on scouting +or escort duty, and had seen the Arnold cabins gradually substituted +for their tents, and their acres slowly redeemed from grazing ground +to cultivated fields; but since my last visit Mr. Arnold had adopted +an ingenious means of defence in case of an Indian attack. + +The house and stables from the first had been provided with heavy +shutters for windows and doorways, and loop-holes for fire-arms had +been made at regular four-foot intervals. These the proprietor had not +considered ample, and had constructed, twenty yards from the house, an +ingenious earthwork which could be entered by means of a subterranean +passage from the cellar. This miniature fort was in the form of a +circular pit, sunk four feet and a half in the ground, and covered by +a nearly flat roof, the edges or eaves of which were but a foot and a +half above the surface of the earth. In the space between the surface +and the eaves were loop-holes. The roof was of heavy pine timber, +closely joined, sloping upward slightly from circumference to centre, +and covered with two feet of tamped earth. To obtain water, a second +covered way led from the earthwork to a spring fifty yards distant, +the outer entrance being concealed in a rocky nook screened in a thick +clump of willows. + +As we were climbing into our ambulance, preparatory to resuming our +journey, Brenda said: + +"If you had reached here three hours earlier you might have had the +company of two gentlemen who are riding to La Paz." + +"Sorry I did not meet them. Who were they?" + +"Mr. Sage and Mr. Bell from Prescott. They are going to purchase goods +for their stores; and that reminds me that not one of you has +mentioned the object of this journey of yours." + +"That is really so," I replied. "You have made every minute of our +call so interesting in showing us your improvements and the fort, and +in doing the hospitable, that we have not thought of ourselves. Frank, +tell her about the ponies." + +Sergeant Frank, aided by Sergeant Henry, told in full of the loss of +their animals, and said we intended to try to capture Texas Dick and +Juan Brincos and recover Sancho and Chiquita. + +At the end of the boys' story, Brenda asked: "The thieves were a +Mexican and an American?" + +"Yes." + +"The American had a scar on the bridge of his nose, and the Mexican +had lost his front teeth?" + +"Exactly. What do you know about them, Brenda?" + +"They were here, but I did not see their ponies nearer than the +stable; they were black and cream color. The Mexican traded saddles +with uncle. You'll find the one he left in the lean-to, on a peg +beside the door." + +Both boys leaped to the ground and ran round the house to the lean-to, +and presently returned with Henry's neat McClellan saddle. It had been +stripped of its pouches and small straps, but was otherwise unharmed. + +"Well, when I come back with Chiquita, Mr. Arnold, I'd like to trade +saddles." + +"All right, youngkett, I'll trade, or you can take it now, and +welcome," replied the ranchman. + +"No; I'll leave it until I return." + +The saddle was taken back to the lean-to, and after a few more words +of leave-taking we started up the valley. A few miles of rapid +travelling brought us to a steep ascent into a mountainous range to +the right. We had proceeded but a short distance through a narrow and +rugged roadway when we were overtaken by the military expressman whom +we had left at Fort Whipple. He had come from Prescott to Skull Valley +by a short cut. + +"I have a letter for you, lieutenant," said he, approaching the +ambulance. + +Unfastening the mail-pouch, he turned its contents upon the back seat. +A heap of loose letters and three well-worn books strewed themselves +over the cushion. Frank picked up the books and examined their titles. + +"Xenophon's _Memorabilia_, Euripides' _Alcestis_ and _Medea_, and a +Greek grammar!" exclaimed the astonished youngster. "What are you +doing with these college text-books on the La Paz trail?" + +"Making up conditions," replied the courier, a blush deepening the +brown of his face. + +"What are conditions?" asked Henry. + +"Oh, blissful ignorance! Why was I not spared the task of enlightening +it?" answered the courier. "Conditions are stumbling-blocks placed in +the way of successful trackmen, football players, and rowing men by +non-appreciative and envious professors." + +"'Joseph Gould Hudson, University of Yalvard,'" read Frank from the +fly-leaf of the _Memorabilia_. "Is that your name, Mr. Hudson?" + +"I'm so borne on the Yalvard catalogue." + +"Please explain, Mr. Hudson," I said, "how a college boy happens to be +in Arizona running the gantlet of this mail-route and making up +conditions in Greek?" + +"I was stroke in the crew that won the championship for Yalvard at New +London one year ago, and got behind in these. I was conditioned, and +being ashamed to face an angry father, struck out for myself on the +Pacific coast. I drifted about from mining-camp to cattle-range until +I was dead broke; this place offered, and I took it because I could +find nothing else. I've had lots of opportunities for reflection on +the Xuacaxella. I'm the repentant prodigal going home to his father." + +"Oh, you are no prodigal, Mr. Hudson," observed Henry. "We've heard +all about you; you are too brave." + +"Thank you, Sergeant Henry. No, I've not wasted my substance in +riotous living, nor have I eaten husks, but I've been prodigal in +wasting opportunities." + +"Lost a whole college year, haven't you?" I asked. + +"I hope not. There is a German university man at La Paz who has been +coaching me. He thinks if I keep at work until after Christmas I can +go on with my old class. This is my last trip, and if I escape the +Apaches once more I'm going to lay off and work hard for a few months, +and then return to New Havbridge for examination. There's something in +that letter that concerns me." + +Opening the letter, I learned that Captain Bayard knew Mr. Hudson's +story. He said this was to be the last trip of the courier, but that +after his return to La Paz he would come out to meet me at Tyson's +Wells and report whether the horse-thieves were in town. He also +suggested that in establishing a transshipment storehouse at the +steamboat-landing I place Hudson in charge. The pay would be of use to +him while "making up." + +The courier wished us a pleasant journey, and rode away at a +scrambling canter up the pass. He had been gone but a few moments when +I heard a shout, and, looking up, saw him standing on a pinnacle by +the way-side, on the summit of the ascent. He was looking in the +opposite direction, and I saw him fire three shots from his carbine in +rapid succession. Dismounting the men, I made rapid preparations to +meet an attack, and proceeded to work our way slowly up the height, +and when we reached the narrow level at the top we found Hudson and +the two soldiers that formed our advance occupying a shelter among the +rocks to the left, and gazing down the opposite slope. + +"What is it, Hudson?" I asked. + +"A party of Indians attempted to jump me here. There they go +now--across that opening in the sage-brush!" + +A dozen Indians dashed across an open space south of the road, but too +far away for effective shooting, and then two more passed over, +supporting a third between them. + +"You must have hit one of them." + +"I tried to. I think another was hurt more seriously, by the way he +acknowledged my shot." + +"Are you hurt?" + +"A slight scratch on the arm near the shoulder, and my horse is hurt." + +An examination of Hudson's arm proved that the scratch was not +serious, but I thought it best to exchange his horse for one belonging +to a soldier. We then went on, Frank and I walking in advance of the +ambulance mules. + +"There's something down there in the road by Ferrier's grave, sir," +said Corporal Duffey. "Looks like a dead man." + +"Is that where Ferrier was killed?" I asked. + +"Yes, sir; I was in command of the detail that came here to look him +up. He had built a little stone fort on that knoll up yonder, and kept +the redskins off three days. He kept a diary, you remember, which we +found. He killed six of them, and might as many more, but he couldn't +live without sleep or food, and the rascals got him. They scattered +the mail in shreds for miles about here." + +"Who was Ferrier?" Frank asked. + +"He was a discharged California volunteer, who rode the express before +Mr. Hudson." + +"Do you think Mr. Hudson knew his predecessor had been killed?" + +"Yes; the incident was much talked of at the time." + +We were nearing the object in the road. Suddenly the mules caught +sight of it, backed, and crushed the ten-gallon keg under the axle +against a bowlder--a serious mishap, as our after experience will +show. Walking on, we came to the mutilated bodies of two men, several +yards apart, whom we had no difficulty in recognizing to be the +tradesmen Bell and Sage. With axe, bayonets, and tin cups we dug a +shallow grave beside Ferrier's. We placed the bodies side by side, and +heaped a pyramid of stones above them. + +The courier again bade us good-bye, and we went on. The rest of the +ride through the mountain-pass was accomplished without adventure, and +evening found us encamped at Willow Springs. The boys shot a few quail +here, of the variety known as the California quail, distinguished by +an elegant plume of six feathers on the top of its head. Clary broiled +them for breakfast. + +The road on the following day was so rough that for much of the way +we were unable to move faster than a walk--the slow walk of draught +animals. When near a place called Soldiers' Holes, on account of some +rifle-pits sunk there, the corporal called my attention to a pool of +blood in the road. + +A close examination led us to believe that two men had fallen, that +one had been wounded, and that a second party had come and taken the +wounded man away. The locality was well adapted for a surprise. On the +left was a growth of dense shrubbery extending from the road to the +foot of the mountain-range. On the opposite side was an open plain. + +We were moving on again, when Frank remarked: + +"There seems to have been a big gathering of Apaches along this road." + +"Yes; a war-party bent on mischief. They have struck at two points, +and I fear a third--Date Creek--may have been attacked by this time. +That is where we are to pass the night." Then turning to Corporal +Duffey, I continued: "The road from here to the creek is soft and +loamy, and we are not likely to make much noise; caution the men to +be quiet and not show themselves outside the track. If the Indians are +at the ranch it will be best for us to appear there unexpectedly." + +"Do Indians never stand up like white men, and fight?" asked the +younger boy. + +"Frequently, but their system is different from ours; however, our +latest military tactics appear to be modelled on theirs." + +Although this section of our journey was but twenty-five miles long, +our rate of progress had been so slow that the day was nearly closed +when we came in sight of the lines of cottonwoods that bordered Date +Creek. We turned at last sharply to the left, and began a descent +through a narrow ravine towards the creek. We were nearing its +widening mouth when a half-dozen sharp reports of fire-arms broke upon +our ears. A halt was ordered and the men directed to prevent the +animals from betraying our presence by whinnying or braying. Telling +Sergeant Henry to remain behind and keep Vic with him, I went in +advance with Sergeant Frank. + +"What do you think is going on?" asked my companion, as several more +reports rang out. + +"What I feared; the Apaches are attacking the men who went out to +bring in the dead and wounded men at Soldiers' Holes." + +"And if Mr. Hudson was not the wounded man there, I suppose he is sure +to be in this scrape. Why not rush in with the escort and frighten +them away?" + +"They may be too many for us," I answered, "and it will be prudent to +learn the situation at the ranch before we go nearer. I want to join +the white men without the Indians' knowledge, if possible." + +"If Mr. Hudson is not dead, he must know we are here." + +"He may be there, and the men may know we are on the road, but it +certainly does not look like it." + +"Can't Vic be sent with a message?" + +"No; she will not take a message to a stranger." + +We had now reached a point from which we could see a log cabin, a +stable, and an open shed or tool-house. On the side of the buildings +towards us, as if screening themselves from an enemy in the opposite +direction, were a few men. + +"If you would like me to, sir, I can crawl to the house without being +seen," said Frank. "That cart, wagon, oven, and stack will screen me." + +"Yes, you can do it easily. Tell Mr. Hopkins that we are +here--seventeen, counting you two boys--and to make no demonstration +when we close up. I will explain a plan to him which, I think, will +enable us to teach the Apaches a lesson. If you find Mr. Hudson there, +tell him to show himself at a window or door." + + + + +XIII + +THE BOY SERGEANTS DO GOOD SERVICE + + +Frank dropped flat upon the earth and worked his way to the cabin +without being seen. Instantly I received a signal from Mr. Hopkins +through a back window, and a moment later Mr. Hudson looked out of a +back door and raised his hat. I was glad to see that his college +career was still a possibility. + +Hurrying back to the ambulance, I caused the animals to be grouped in +charge of the driver and two soldiers, and with the rest of the detail +moved in the direction of the ranch buildings. + +It had become so dark that we might possibly have passed over the open +space without being seen, but, for fear of accidents, we covered it, +as Frank had done, on all fours. The first persons I met when I rose +to a vertical position were Hudson and Frank, who took me to Mr. +Hopkins. The ranchman greeted me with the assurance that the arrival +of my party was a godsend, and had probably saved their scalps. + +I learned that the men at Date Creek, including the mail-carrier, +numbered seven; that three were in the stable and four in the house. +These buildings were the same distance from the stream, and fifty feet +apart. The bank of the creek was perpendicular for a mile either way, +standing fully twelve feet above the surface of the water; but there +was a notch with a sloping descent, midway between the buildings, down +which the live-stock was driven to water. This slope offered the only +practicable point of attack, unless the Indians chose to move by one +of our flanks over a long level. + +Mr. Hopkins said he had crept out to the shrubbery on the edge of the +precipitous river-bank, to the left of the slope, just before my +arrival, and had seen on the opposite shore a small party of men +moving through the willow branches towards our left. He believed it +was a flanking-party, intending to make a feint from that direction +and enable the main body to charge through the notch in the bank. +Believing the repelling force to be but seven, the Indians were quite +sure of success. + +I was convinced that Mr. Hopkins's inferences were correct; but in +order that no mistake should be made, I sent two veterans in frontier +service, Privates Clary and Hoey, to reconnoitre both flanks. They +were gone half an hour, and returned with the information that no +demonstration was being made towards our right, but that a dozen or +more men had gathered on the opposite shore, at a point where they +could cross and turn our left flank. + +Preparations to meet this movement were begun at once. Sergeant Frank +was sent to the ambulance with orders for the men in charge to bring +in the animals, two at a time, and fasten them in the rear of the +stable and stack. This was easily accomplished in the darkness. The +ambulance was left in charge of Vic. + +While this was going on, and I was overlooking the construction of +rifle-shelters on the flanks, Sergeant Henry approached and asked if +he could not be of some use. Something in the tone of the boy's voice +showed me he felt he had been neglected, while his brother had been +kept busy. + +"What would you like to do?" I asked. + +"Does a soldier choose his duty, sir?" was the reply, uttered with +some dignity. + +"Not usually, sergeant, it is true. I have a very important thing for +you to do--something for which I was intending to look you up. Go and +find Private Clary, and tell him to help you carry several armfuls of +hay from the stack to the right of the slope. Make a heap, so that +when it is lighted it will illuminate the approach from the creek. Ask +Mr. Hopkins if he has any kerosene or other inflammable stuff to +sprinkle on the hay and make it flash up quickly and burn brilliantly. +Then throw up a shelter in which you can lie and be ready to light the +hay when signalled." + +"Yes, sir. Thank you. I'll attend to everything." + +Not more than fifteen minutes had elapsed when the boy sergeant +returned and informed me that the bundle of hay was prepared and a +shelter constructed. + +"Mr. Hopkins has two gallons of axle-grease and two quarts of spirits +of turpentine." + +"Excellent. Mix them together and sprinkle the hay thoroughly. Then +place yourself in the shelter, and when you see a light flash from the +west window of the house light your bonfire." + +"I'll do so, sir," and the boy ran away in the darkness. + +An hour had passed when loud whoops gave us warning of the enemy's +approach. It was the war-cry of the terrible Apaches. Not a sound came +from the creek. I strained my eyes in that direction, but nothing was +visible in the black darkness beneath the pendulous branches of the +willows. + +At last I saw the fixed reflections of the stars in the surface of the +pool diffuse themselves into myriads of sparkling atoms. A +considerable body of Indians must be in the water, but none appeared +in sight. Yes, they were crossing in two columns, to the right and +left of the notch, concealed by the high shore, and would shortly +unite and charge up the slope. Baldwin ran to the stable to tell the +men there that the Apaches were coming, and to be on the alert. + +The whoops of the flanking party redoubled, and were accompanied by a +desultory firing, which the four men opposing them answered in the +same way. Then I saw the sparkling water of the pool cut off from my +sight, and knew that a body of men stood on the slope between us and +the creek. + +"Frank, show the light! Men, ready!" + +The lantern flashed from the window, quickly answered by a flash on +the bank, and a mass of red flame threw its luminous tresses skyward, +bathing the whole scene in light. In the notch, half-way up the slope, +stood a momentarily paralyzed group of nearly a hundred painted +warriors. Every rifle in the hands of the white men in the two +buildings spoke, and instantly the notch emptied itself pell-mell of +its living throng. Only a few prostrate bodies showed the Apaches had +been there. + +With the discharge of fire-arms a silence immediately fell upon the +scene, in marked contrast to the shrieking and yelling of a moment +before. The bonfire burned low, and went out. Once more we were in +darkness. + +We believed the Indians would make no further demonstration, and an +hour later a scouting party ascertained that they had gathered their +dead and departed. Sentinels were posted, the ambulance run in by +hand, the stock fed, and a midnight meal cooked. + +While sitting by the camp-fire, listening to the sizzling of the bacon +and sniffing the aroma of the coffee, Mr. Hopkins introduced me to his +men and guests, and I heard an explanation of the tracks and blood at +Soldiers' Holes. + +Early that morning three gentlemen, who had passed the night at the +ranch, started for Prescott. They were a Mr. Gray, a Scotch merchant +at La Paz; Mr. Hamilton, a lawyer of the same place; and a Mr. +Rosenberg, a freighter. When near the Holes, Mr. Hamilton, who was +riding in advance, was shot by Indians concealed in the sage-brush. +Mr. Rosenberg's mule was wounded, and plunged so that his rider fell +to the ground. Mr. Gray, seeing the plight of the freighter, rode to +his side, seized him by the collar, and aided him to leap to a seat +behind him. + +It is probable that this act of generous daring might have ended in +the death of both men but for a diversion caused by the sudden and +unexpected appearance of the military expressman. He came up a slope +from a lower level, and, taking in the situation at a glance, let fly +three shots from his breech-loading carbine that caused the Indians to +lie low. The three men rode to the ranch, and Mr. Hopkins and his +three workmen accompanied them to bring in the body of Mr. Hamilton. +The Indians did not begin to concentrate at the creek until after the +burial. + +Supper being over, the boys and I were getting into our blankets for +the rest of the night, when Mr. Hudson, who had been preparing to +depart, came to bid us good-bye. + +"I seem to take frequent leave of you, these times, lieutenant," he +said. + +"Yes; and your farewell ride with the Whipple mail so far seems to +have been anything but monotonous. I think the _Anabasis_ would be a +more suitable subject of study on this route than the _Memorabilia_." + +"'Hence they proceeded one day's journey, a distance of five +parasangs, and fell in with the barbarians,' might well be said of +this trip, for a fact." + +"Hadn't you better travel with me the rest of the way?" + +"I think we have seen the last of the Apaches. They do not range south +and west of here. Good-bye, sir." + +"Good-bye, until we meet at Tyson's Wells." + +The next morning, when the boys, Vic, and I were taking our places in +the ambulance, Mr. Hopkins and his men, Mr. Gray and Mr. Rosenberg, +approached us mounted. They informed me that they were going to La +Paz. + +"The Ingins are gettin' a little too thick here," observed the +ranchman. "I find it diffikilt to git proper rest after a hard day's +work. Think I'll stay away until Uncle Sam's boys thin 'em out a +little more." + +"Can I obtain a five or ten gallon keg of you, Mr. Hopkins?" I asked. +"Ours was accidentally smashed on the road." + +"Haven't a keg to my name, lieutenant. One way 'n' ernuther all's been +smashed, give away, or lent." + +The ride from the ranch to the edge of the desert plain was twelve +miles, a portion of it over a rugged ridge. To the point where we were +to ford the creek was two miles, and there the hired men, pack-mules, +and ranch cattle turned off on the Bill Williams Fork route to the +Rio Colorado. + +Once on the level of the Xuacaxella our team broke into a brisk trot, +and we rolled along with a fair prospect of soon crossing the one +hundred miles between Date Creek and La Paz. Messrs. Gray, Rosenberg, +and Hopkins shortly turned into a bridle-path which led into a mine. +Before taking leave of us Mr. Gray told me that my camping-place for +the night would be at the point of the third mountain-spur which +jutted into the plain from the western range. + +We had not travelled long before we realized our misfortune in having +smashed our water-keg. Each individual in our party possessed a +three-pint army canteen, which had been filled when we forded the +creek in the early dawn. These were to last us until evening, through +an exceedingly sultry day. Frank, Henry, and I did our best to +overcome our desire for water, but the younger boy could not refuse +the appeals of Vic, when she looked up with lolling tongue and +beseeching eyes to the canteens. + +The men were the greatest sufferers, unless I except their horses. +Long before mid-day their canteens were empty and their mouths so dry +that articulation was difficult and they rarely spoke. + +At five we arrived opposite the third spur, where we found a wand +sticking in the ground and holding in its cleft end a slip of paper. +It proved to be a note from Mr. Hudson, saying that this was the place +to camp, and the Black Tanks were on the southern side of the spur, +three miles distant. + +In a few minutes, with the horses and mules divested of saddles, +bridles, and harnesses, leaving two men behind to guard the property +and collect fuel for a fire, we were on the way to water. + +Hurrying along, we saw before us a long, irregular range, apparently +three thousand feet in height, which had been cleft from summit to +base as if by a wedge. In this rent we found water--water deposited in +a natural reservoir by the periodical rainfalls in millions of +gallons, a reservoir never known to be dry. + +Climbing over the dike which enclosed the main deposit, we descended +to the cistern, filled our cups, and swallowed the contents without +taking a breath. When we dipped up a second, Tom Clary looked into the +depths of his cup with knitted brows. + +"Whist, now, sergeant laddies!" he exclaimed. "Look into the wather! +It's aloive with wigglers of ivery variety. They're 's plinty as pays +in a soup." + +"Ugh! And we are full of them, too, Tom," said Henry, looking into his +cup with narrow-eyed anxiety. + +Pausing in the act of taking a second drink, I looked into my cup, and +saw that it contained myriads of animalcula and larvae, which zigzagged +from side to side in the liveliest manner. + +"Will they hurt us, Tom?" questioned Henry. + +"I rickon they've got the worst of it, sergeant laddie; but I think +I'd fale a bit aisier if I was blindfolded or takin' a drink in the +dark. I prefer me liquid refrishment with a little less mate, not to +minshin its bein' less frisky." + +We had come to the Cisternas Negras with towels, intending to wash off +the dust of travel. We now used one of them to strain the water, and +were astonished to see that each gallon left behind it a plump +spoonful of animalcula. The water was sweet, but, after discovering +the abundant life in it, we deferred drinking more of it until it had +been boiled. + +As we pursued the narrow path to camp in single file, we noticed Vic a +considerable distance to the right, scouting and nosing about in an +earnest manner. Evidently she thought she had made an important +discovery, for she several times paused and looked in our direction +and barked. But we were too hungry to investigate, and soon she +disappeared from our view. + +When we reached the ambulance the boys put a few cakes of hard bread +in their pockets, and, taking their shot-guns, went out to look for +some "cottontails" while supper was being prepared. Believing we were +well out of the range of hostile Indians, I did not object to their +going alone. They passed a considerable distance beyond the growth of +_Cereus giganteus_, over a level stretch covered with knee-high +bunch-grass and desert weeds, without seeing a hare. Pausing on the +brink of a shoal, dry ravine, they stood side by side, and rested the +butts of their guns upon the ground. Just then a shout of "Supper! +supper!" came from the group at the camp-fire. + +"Hate to go back without anything," said Frank, so I afterwards heard. +"Strange we can't see a rabbit now, when we saw dozens on the way to +the Tanks." + +"That's because we didn't have a gun," said Henry. + +"You don't believe the rabbits knew we weren't armed then and know we +are now?" + +"Hunters tell bigger stories than that about 'Brer Rabbit.' Not one +has bobbed up since we got our guns." + +Suddenly from the flat surface of the plain, not twenty yards from +where the boys stood, where nothing but bunch-grass and low shrubbery +grew, sixteen Indians sprang up to full height, like so many +Jacks-in-a-box. + + + + +XIV + +ON THE DESERT WITHOUT WATER + + +The boys were frightened. Their hearts leaped into their throats, and +it was difficult for them to restrain an impulse to turn and run; but +a soldierly instinct brought them to a "ready," with eyes fixed upon +the probable enemy. + +"Quick, Henry! shoot!" exclaimed Frank, intending to reserve his own +fire. + +The younger sergeant raised his double-barrelled shot-gun to his +shoulder and pulled both triggers. Down went the sixteen Indians as if +the bird-shot had been fatal to all. The plain became in an instant as +objectless as it was a moment before. + +"Load, Henry, and, backward, march!" said Frank, ready to fire +whenever a head showed above the grass, and at the same time moving as +rapidly as possible towards the camp-fire. + +"How! how! how!" was chorused from the direction of the Indians, and +several naked brown arms were stretched upward, holding rifles +horizontally in the air. + +"That means peace," said Henry. "They aren't going to fire. Let's +answer. How! how! how!" + +"How! how! how!" Frank joined in, and at once the sixteen redmen +sprang to their feet, apparently none the worse for Henry's double +charge of bird-shot at short range. They held their weapons above +their heads, and continuing to utter their friendly "How!" rapidly +advanced towards the boys. + +"They aren't playing us a trick, are they, Frank?" asked Henry, in an +anxious tone. + +"No," replied the elder boy, after snatching a glance to the rear. +"The lieutenant and soldiers are saddling. The Indians dare not harm +us on an open plain in sight of a mounted force." + +The boys stopped, and the redmen came up and began shaking hands in a +most friendly manner, over and over again, repeating "How!" many +times. They were clad in loose and sleeveless cotton shirts, all +ragged and dirty, with no other clothing. The one who appeared to be +chief was distinguished by the possession of three shirts, worn one +above the other. Each man possessed several hares and field-rats, held +against his waist by tucking the heads under his belt. + +The boy sergeants and their strange guests reached the camp-fire, and +the hand-shaking and exchange of amicable civilities went on for some +time. The chief approached me and, placing a finger on one of my +shoulder-straps, asked, in mongrel Spanish: + +"Usted capitan?" (Are you the captain?) + +I replied in the affirmative. + +"Yo capitan, tambien; mucho grande heap capitan." (I'm a captain, too; +a very great heap captain.) + +He then asked where we were from and where we were going, and informed +us that they were Yavapais on a hunting expedition. We exchanged hard +bread with them for a few cottontails, and set Clary to making a +rabbit-stew, the boys and I deferring our supper until it should be +ready. + +"Oh, Mr. Duncan," shouted Henry from the direction of the Indians, a +few moments later, "come and see what these creatures are doing!" + +I left the ambulance and joined the group of soldiers who stood in a +circle about an inner circle of seated Indians. Each Yavapai had +selected a rat from the collection in his belt, and had laid it on the +coals without dressing it or in any way disturbing its anatomy. He +rolled the rat over once or twice, and took it up and brushed and blew +off the singed hair. He placed it again on the coals for a moment, +and, taking it up, pinched off the charred fore legs close to the body +and the hind legs at the ham-joint. Replacing it on the fire, he +turned it over a few more times. Picking it up for the third time, he +held it daintily in the palm of his left hand, and with the fingers of +his right plucked off the flesh and put it in his mouth. + +When we were making our beds ready for the night, Vic, whom we had +forgotten in the exciting events of the evening, trotted into camp and +laid a horseshoe in Henry's lap. The lad took it up, and exclaimed: + +"One of Chiquita's shoes!--a left hind shoe!" + +"How do you know?" I asked. + +"Private Sattler always shaped the heel of the left shoe like this, to +correct a fault in her gait." + +"May I look at the shoe, sergeant?" asked Corporal Duffey, +approaching from the group of men near the guard's fire. "Shoes are +like hand-writing--no two blacksmiths make them alike. I am a +blacksmith by trade, and know all the shoes made by the smiths of our +regiment. This," examining it, "is one of Sattler's. He put a +side-weight on it, and here is the bevel-mark of his hammer." + +"Then our ponies have certainly passed here, and Vic was on their +trail when we saw her coming from the Tanks," remarked Frank; "but +there could have been no scent after so long a time." + +"Oh, she knows Sancho's and Chiquita's tracks," asseverated Henry; +"she knows their halters, bridles, and will bring them when told to, +without mistake." + +The sentinel awakened us next morning at four o'clock, and informed us +that the Indians had left two hours before. The animals were again +driven to the Tanks, the vessels and canteens filled, and at six +o'clock we were on the road. Nearly all our water was used in the +preparation of breakfast, except that in the canteens. It would have +been better if we had made a third trip to the cisterns and refilled +our coffee-pot and camp-kettles; but the delay necessary to do it, and +the assurance that there was water at Hole-in-the-Plain, determined me +to go on at once. The weather was a repetition of that of the previous +day--hot and windless. + +The road proved generally smooth, but there were occasional long +stretches over which it was impossible to drive faster than a walk. +About four in the afternoon we reached Hole-in-the-Plain, and found +nothing but a few hundred square yards of thin mud. The fierce rays of +the sun had nearly evaporated every vestige of the recent rainfall, +and in twenty-four hours more the mud would be baked earth. + +Vic, consumed with thirst and suffering in the extreme heat, waded +into the mud and rolled in it until she was the color of a fresh +adobe, and was, in consequence, made to ride thereafter in disgrace on +the driver's foot-board. + +We had intended to pass the night at the Hole, but want of water +compelled us to move on. Very gloomy and doubtful of the outcome, we +left the Hole-in-the-Plain. We were toiling slowly up a slope, nearly +a dozen miles on this third stage of the desert route, when a +horseman overtook us, who proved to be Mr. Gray. He slowed up, +listened to my account of our perplexities, and after saying many +hopeful and cheering things, telling us that Tyson's Wells were now +not far ahead, he galloped swiftly away in the darkness. + +At midnight the road ascended to a considerably higher level and +became suddenly hard and smooth. The driver urged the team into a +series of brief and spasmodic trots, which lasted a couple of hours, +when we again descended to a lower level, where the wearily slow gait +was resumed. With the slower pace our spirits fell and our thirst +increased. As Private Tom Clary expressed it to the driver: + +"In a place like this a gallon of Black Tanks water would be +acciptible without a strainer, and no reflictions passed upon the +wigglers." + +"That's so, Tom," called Henry, from the depths of his blankets; "I +could drink two quarts of it--half and half." + +"Half and half--what do you mean?" I asked. + +"Half water and half wigglers," was the answer. + +"I thought you were asleep." + +"Can't sleep, sir; I'm too thirsty. Did drop off once for two or three +minutes, and dreamed of rivers, waterfalls, springs, and wells that I +could not reach." + +"I've not slept at all," said Frank; "just been thinking whether I +ever rode over a mile in Vermont without crossing a brook or passing a +watering-trough." + +"It's beginning to grow light in the east," observed the driver. "By +the time we reach the top of the next roll we can see whether we are +near the Wells." + +"You may stop the team, Marr," said I; "we will wait for the escort to +close up." + +We got out to stretch our legs, while the straggling soldiers slowly +overtook us. The man on the wounded bronco did not arrive until the +edge of the sun peeped above the horizon, and I ordered him to remove +the saddle and bridle, hitch the animal behind the ambulance, and take +a seat beside the driver. + +Just when we were about to start again, Frank asked permission to run +ahead with the field-glass to the rising ground and look for Tyson's +Wells. I consented, and told him to signal us if he saw them, and that +if he did not we would halt, turn out, and send the least worn of the +escort ahead for relief. + +Frank started, and presently disappeared behind some brush at a turn +in the road. An instant later he shouted and screamed at the top of +his voice. Whether he was shouting with joy or terror, or had gone out +of his senses, we were unable to guess. It sounded like "Who-o-o-op! +water! water! water!" + +Had the boy seen a mirage and gone mad? We could see nothing but the +broad hollow about us, barren and dry as ever. But still the boy +continued to shout, "Water! water!" and presently he appeared round +the bend, running and holding up what appeared to be a letter. It was +a letter. When Frank reached the ambulance tears were in his eyes as +he handed me a yellow envelope. + +"Found it on the head of a barrel over there, with a stone on it to +prevent it from blowing away." + +Breaking open the envelope with trembling fingers, I read: + + "TYSON'S WELLS. + + "DEAR LIEUTENANT.--Please accept four barrels of water and + four bushels of corn, with my compliments. + + "GRAY." + +Need I confess the emotions with which we realized the service this +brave Arizona merchant had done us? or need I mention that Mr. +Gray--God bless him, wherever he may be!--is always remembered with +gratitude by me? for this is no idle incident invented to amuse a +reader, but an actual occurrence. + +Water!--four barrels!--one hundred and sixty gallons! That meant two +gallons for every man and boy, and eight gallons for each animal. It +meant rest, speed, safety. + +We moved across the ravine and found the four barrels by the +road-side. The animals were secured to the ambulance and the acacia +bushes, the heads of the barrels removed, and after each person had +satisfied his thirst the camp kettles were used, until horses and +mules had drunk the contents of one each. The stock was then turned +out to graze. + +When coffee was poured, Private Tom Clary arose, and, holding up his +tin cup, said to his comrades: + +"Here's a toast to be drunk standin', b'ys, and for many raysons, +which I think nade not be explained to this assimbly, I'm glad to +drink it in a decoction whose principal ingraydiant is wather. Here's +to Mr. Gray, whose conduct at Soldiers' Holes, at Date Creek, and on +the Walkerhelyer has won our admiration. May he niver lack for the +liquid he has so ginerously dispinsed, nor a soft hand to smooth his +last pillow, and plinty of masses for the repose of his sowl!" + +Frank and Henry sprang towards the circle of soldiers, raised their +cups as Clary finished his sentiment, and joined in the hearty +response when he closed. + +At one o'clock the animals were caught up, given the remainder of the +water and their portion of the corn, and got ready for the road. Once +up the slope Marr cracked his whip, the mules started into a trot, the +horses of the escort broke into a canter, and amid the cheerful +clatter of hoofs and the rattle of wheels we sped on our way as fresh +as if we were just leaving Fort Whipple. A ride of twenty miles +brought us to Tyson's Wells. These were two in number, sunk at an +intersection of several roads leading to settlements and mines, an +accommodation to trains, flocks, and herds, and a profit to the owner. + +I learned from Colonel Tyson that immediately upon his arrival Mr. +Gray had hired a wagon to take water and corn to us. He had bargained +for the driver to go until he met us, but the man being prepaid may +account for his not fulfilling his agreement to the letter. + +The rest of the day and night was spent at the Wells, the boys and I +taking our supper at the Desert Hotel, kept by the colonel. At the +table, Henry, in a tone of evident anxiety, asked if we should return +the way we came. + +"Yes, if we can find a few kegs in La Paz that will hold water," I +answered. + +"But we cannot haul kegs enough in the ambulance to supply the +animals." + +"It will not be difficult. We will follow the army custom in such +cases, and I will promise you that there will be no suffering from +thirst when we cross the desert again." + +Just as we were preparing for bed Mr. Hudson arrived from La Paz. He +informed me that Texas Dick and Jumping Jack were there and in +possession of the ponies; that there was to be a horse-race the day +after to-morrow, and the ponies had been entered. At this news the boy +sergeants became much excited, and proposed a dozen impracticable ways +of going on at once and seizing their property. + +Hudson said he had talked the matter over with Mr. Gray, and the +merchant had advised that we give out a report in La Paz that we were +there on the transportation and storehouse business only, and make no +immediate attempt to capture the ponies. He said the town was full of +the friends of the horse-thieves, and that our movements would be +closely watched and reported to them. If they became alarmed they +would probably run across the Mexican boundary at once. + +"But why cannot we attend the race with the escort, as spectators, and +seize them?" asked Frank. + +"That is a move they will be sure to be looking for. If any of you go +to the race, I believe neither of those men nor the ponies will be +there." + +I told Hudson to return to La Paz before daylight and circulate the +report that I was coming for the purpose he had mentioned. I also +requested him to watch Jack and Dick, and if he saw them making +preparations for flight to come and meet me. We were met on the +outskirts of the town by Mr. Gray, who told us we were to be his +guests during our stay, and that his corral and store-rooms were at +the service of my men and stock. + +Going directly to the house of the hospitable trader, we found it to +consist of well-furnished bachelor quarters, with several spare rooms +for guests. The boys were assigned a room by themselves, and I one +adjoining them, in which we found ample evidence that our host had +looked forward with pleasure to our visit and had fully understood +boyish needs and desires. + +Henry, after exchanging his travelling-dress for a neat uniform, +appeared upon the veranda with glowing face and shining hair. + +"Mr. Gray, how pleasant you have made our room for us! Have you any +boys of your own?" he asked. + +"Only two nephews, Sandy and Malcolm, in the 'Land of Cakes,'" was the +reply. + +"What a good uncle you must be to them!" + +"Thank you, laddie. I hope the bairns are as fine boys as you and your +brother." + +"You are very kind to say so, sir. May I ask you a question?" + +"A dozen, laddie. What is it?" + +"When you overtook us on the desert you said it was not far to Tyson's +Wells, and that we should soon be there." + +"Ah! then you thought it a long way, sergeant?" + +"Perhaps my terrible thirst had something to do with it, but it seemed +more than twenty-five miles. I thought you had a queer notion of +distances." + +"Only a little deception to keep up your heart, laddie. I saw you were +in sad need of water, and I made a hard ride to send it to you, but I +wanted you to do your best to meet it. What do you think of the +shrinking properties of water when applied to a desert road?" + +"Wasn't it great, though! Those last twenty miles your four barrels +shrank into nothing but a pleasant three hours' ride." + +After dinner Mr. Hudson reported that he had dropped information at +the hotels and business places that we were here to meet a director of +the Colorado Navigation Company. We also learned from him that the +steamer _Cocopah_ had arrived that morning from up-river, and was now +lying at her landing, one mile below town, awaiting the return of the +director from Wickenburg. Both Mr. Gray and Hudson were of the opinion +that the horse-thieves were suspicious of our presence, for their +agents had been unable to locate the ponies at any stable in town. The +horse-race was advertised to come off on the afternoon of the +following day, half a mile below the steamboat-landing, and Texas Dick +and Juan Brincos had entered horses for the stakes. + +Mr. Gray thought the appearance of the ponies in the race would depend +entirely upon what course we pursued. If we attended the race the +ponies would not be there; if we stayed away he had no doubt they +would run. + +Believing the trader's convictions to be correct, I instructed the +escort not to go south of the town during the day of the races, and +told Frank and Henry to amuse themselves about the streets or in the +vicinity of Mr. Gray's residence. I then started with our host to +procure a building for a military storehouse. + +For the rest of the day the boys showed little disposition to wander +about; they spent most of their time lounging on their beds with a +book, or asleep. + + + + +XV + +THE PONIES ARE FOUND + + +The following day the boy sergeants rose from their beds fully +refreshed, and after breakfast began to explore the town. They made +some purchases in the stores, and found much amusement in watching a +bevy of Mojave Indian girls buying pigments to be used in adorning +their necks, arms, and faces. Following the bronze maidens to the +shore of a lagoon that backed up to the town from the river, they +seated themselves beneath a cottonwood and witnessed the designing of +tracings in many colors, made with endless and musical chatterings, +accompanied by an evident consciousness that they were objects of +interest to two pale-face boys. + +After completing the tinting the girls would walk about for a while +and display their work to admiring friends, and then plunge into and +swim about the lagoon with the ease and grace of a lot of mermaids; +emerging with no trace left of their recent ornamentation, they would +proceed to renew it in different designs, and take another swim. + +"Quite like watering-place belles with extensive wardrobes," remarked +Frank. + +"And takes about as long to put on the paint as to put on a +fashionable dress," said Henry, "but not so long to remove it." + +Another thing that amused the boys was a _balsa_, or raft, made by the +Mojaves, of the cane-grass which grew in the river-bottoms to the +height of fifteen feet. A large bundle bound at the ends with grass +ropes would sustain two men. The boys borrowed one of an Indian girl, +who was sitting in the shade of some willows prinking herself +artistically with an original and intricate pigmentary pattern. +Stepping on board, they paddled about the lagoon for a considerable +period. + +Tiring at last of the sport, they separated, Frank saying that he was +going for his shot-gun, and perhaps shoot for some quail, and Henry +that he meant to find Tom Clary and set some lines for catfish. + +The younger sergeant failing to find the soldier, selected a line, +and, procuring some bait, returned alone to the lagoon. On his way he +met the Indian girl walking along the sidewalk, an object of +admiration and envy to the men and women of her people. Her bronze +flesh was adorned with a lacelike tracery of beautiful design, in many +tints. + +"How exceedingly pretty!" said Henry, in Spanish, a language fairly +well understood by the aborigines of the Southwest. + +"I, or my paint?" asked the girl, coquettishly. + +"The paint is well put on; but I think you prettiest just after a +swim." + +"Thank you, senor." + +"May I use the balsa again, Indita?" + +"Si, senor, and you may keep it, but return the paddle." + +"Thank you. I will leave the paddle on the shore where you were +sitting." + +With this exchange of civilities Henry walked down to the pool. An +idea had occurred to him. He wondered if he could not float down the +river to the racing-ground and get a peep at Sancho and Chiquita, as +they came in victors. He felt sure no ponies in Arizona could outrun +them. But Mr. Duncan had told the escort not to go to the race. True; +but what harm could there be if he kept out of sight? + +Placing an empty box on the raft for a seat, he took Vic on board, and +began paddling out of the lagoon. Speed could not be made with such a +craft; it was simply a convenience for crossing or journeying down the +river. The Mojaves, whose village was five miles above La Paz, came +down on freshly made _balsas_ every day, but walked home, carrying +their paddles. + +Once well out of the lagoon, and in the river-current, the boy and dog +were swept along at a swift rate. + +A mile down the shore he saw a crowd of men, mounted and on foot, +intently watching something inland. He was approaching the +race-course. He made a landing on a sand-spit that struck off from an +outward curve of the bank, and dragged the _balsa_ out of the water. + +The shore rose abruptly from the bar to a height two feet above his +head. He lifted and boosted Vic up, and seizing the long tufts of +overhanging grass and thrusting his feet into the loops of willow +roots, drew himself to the higher level and crept into a screen of low +bushes. + +Peering through the branches, Henry saw a straight-away course, +parallel to the river, bordered for three hundred yards with the +motley crowd of a mining and Indian country. At the northern end of +the course was a group of ten ponies, out of which he found no +difficulty in discovering two, a black and a cream-color, and +recognizing in them the property of his brother and himself. In his +opinion they were the handsomest animals in the group. + +At the fourth signal--a pistol-shot--the ponies got away. Down the +three-hundred-yard track they sped, and over the last fourth the black +and cream-color led by a length, crossing the goal with Sancho half a +neck in advance. Of course the little sergeant knew they would beat, +and in spite of his sorrow at the loss of his ponies--intensified by +this stolen sight of them--he could not refrain from clapping his +hands and saying, aloud, "Bravo, Sancho! Bravita, Chiquita!" + +The subdued cheer was promptly answered by a succession of barks at +the foot of the tree, and Vic, interpreting the boy's clapping and +speech to mean that she was free to go, dashed off at the top of her +speed for the race-course, and to its southern end, where the victors +were now held by their dismounted riders. Vic bounded wildly about +them for a few moments, and then, standing still, Henry saw each horse +in turn place its nose to the dog's nose. One of the men struck the +dog sharply with the loop of his bridle-rein, and as she fled back in +the direction of the tree in which the boy was, he saw the riders hold +a brief consultation and then follow the dog. + +Henry, perceiving he was discovered, let himself down from the tree. +Texas Dick and Jumping Jack approached. + +"Ven aca, muchacho" (Come here, boy), said the Mexican. + +Henry did not stir, and Dick said to his companion, in Spanish: "He +does not understand your lingo. I will try him in English: Come here, +boy." + +Henry had not disregarded Juan's summons for any particular reason, +but the remark of Dick gave him an idea. By pretending ignorance of +Spanish he might learn something that would be of advantage to him. +Accordingly, he came forward when Dick spoke. + +"From Fort Whipple, ain't yer, sonny?" + +"I am." + +"D' ye know these critters?" + +"The black is my brother's, the light is mine." + +"Lookin' on 'em up, I s'pect?" + +"We shall take them, if we can." + +"You see, I was right," continued Dick to his companion, in Spanish. +"They came here to take these horses." + +"Then we better call for the prize, collect our stakes, and leave," +said Juan. + +"Where shall we go?" asked Dick. "Arizona's getting uncomfortable for +me, and your kin across the Mexican line don't love you." + +"Valgame Dios, no! Let's cross the river and go to San Diego or Los +Angeles." + +"Estar bueno. Come with us, youngster," he added, in English; "and +mind ye keep a quiet tongue in yer head or ye'll have no head to wag +it in after ye've spoke." + +Henry followed the men to the head of the race-course, where they +received their prizes and winnings, and withdrew to the river-bank. +There they divided the money and held a conference. + +"We'd better cross the river to-night and camp at El Rincon until +morning, and then strike for Dos Palmas and the coast." + +"Shall we leave our monte and other stuff in town?" asked Juan. + +"No; you stay here and take care of the boy, and I'll go back and sell +out. Anastacio Barela will buy. Look sharp that the young soldier does +not send a message by his dog. I heard lots of strange stories of her +performances in that line at Prescott. I will bring down something for +our supper and the road." + +Dick galloped away, leaving the Mexican and Henry to await his return. +As the twilight deepened into darkness the boy's thoughts grew more +and more despondent. He now fully and sadly realized that his +disobedience of orders had brought disgrace upon himself, and ruined +every chance of recovering the ponies, for once the thieves got well +away they were secure from capture. + +It was night when Dick returned and told the Mexican that he had made +an advantageous sale of their gambling outfit. + +"Now, kid, ye kin slope," he said, addressing the disheartened lad. +"Tell the lieutenant that he kin look for us at Hermosilla, on the +other side of the Mexican bound'ry. Good-bye." + +Henry hurried away towards La Paz, with Vic close at his heels. There +was no occasion for haste, for he felt that nothing in the town could +overtake the lost Sancho and Chiquita; still he hurried and stumbled +on in the darkness. + +"Oh, Vicky," said the boy, in his misery, stooping to caress his +companion, "I ought to be court-martialled and dishonorably discharged +from the service for this. I have done very wrong. I have lost our +ponies for good." + +The dog licked his hand sympathetically, and then suddenly bounded +away, barking, and Henry heard Frank's voice say: + +"Why, Tom, here's Vic!" + +"Thin Sargint Hinery must be near," said the soldier. + +"Yes, I'm here, Frank--and oh, Frank, I'm in such trouble!" And in a +curiously jumbled and half-incoherent manner Henry related his +afternoon's experience. + +At the conclusion of the recital the three held a consultation as to +what was best to be done. Time was precious, and the town was nearly +two miles distant. + +"Sargints," said Private Tom Clary, "I belave we can do bist by +oursilves. Me afthernoon's lave ixpires at tattoo, but if, as me +shuparior officers, ye'll allow me to be out of camp a bit longer, I +think we can sarcumvint the thaves." + +"We'll do our best to get you excused by the lieutenant," said Frank. + +"Thank you, sargint laddie. You say the grass-boat is near by, Sargint +Hinery?" + +"Not far from here, Tom. Just west of the middle of the race-course." + +"And the thaves are going to camp and cook their supper on the other +side?" + +"So they said." + +"Thin we'll attimpt to interfare with their arrangemints. I think the +liftinint will commind an 'absence without lave' if we bring in the +raskils and the ponies." + +The soldier and boys turned, and, bidding Vic keep close to them, +hurried to the bar where Henry had left the gift of the Mojave belle. +As they were lifting the elastic raft into the water they heard the +voices of men on the river, accompanied by the splashing of water, and +knew that the horse-thieves were fording the stream. + +The Colorado was shoal, having an average autumnal depth of four feet +at La Paz. Clary secured two poles from the river debris lodged on the +bar, one for Frank and one for himself. Henry sat on the box in the +middle, holding his companions' guns across his lap with one hand, and +grasping Vic's collar with the other. The well-filled game-bags lay +between his feet. + +The _balsa_ moved slowly towards the opposite shore and swiftly +down-stream, the stalwart Irish soldier's feet settling into the +loosely bound stems as he poled. Becoming alarmed when he found the +water standing above his ankles, he called, in a subdued undertone: + +"Sargint Frank, I belave I shall go through the bottom of this l'aky +craft before we git across." + +"Take Henry's paddle, Tom; it lies on the right side of the box. Lay +it across the reeds and stand on it." + +"Ah, sure and that's betther. Kape yer ind a little more up-strame, +sargint. We'll steer by the avening star." + +In a few minutes the _balsa_ lodged against the shore in the still +water of a little cove. The boys and soldier were aware that they were +landing some miles below their starting-point, for the current was +strong and swift, while the horse-thieves had forded the river almost +in a direct line. They climbed the bank, and ordering Vic to keep +close by them, began to move as fast as possible up the shore. + +They had made their way for nearly an hour over a rough and miry +river-bottom when the setter showed sudden excitement and began +sniffing to the right and left. + +"She must have struck their path from the river to their +camping-place, Tom," said Frank. "Look sharp, Vicky, look sharp!" + +"But she seems to be working up-stream," said Henry. "I should think +they would have gone straight inland." + +"There's an excillint rayson for that, sargint laddie," returned +Clary. "One of the routes t' th' coast begins exactly opposite th' +town, and they must go up-strame to foind it; El Rincon the +landing-place is called." + +"The Corner?" + +"Yis, Th' Corner. Th' shore binds out there a wee bit." + +Man and boys continued to struggle along, until across a level, +grassless plot they saw, near a clump of cottonwoods, a fire, where +Texas Dick and Jumping Jack were plainly visible, cooking their +supper. On the side of the fire opposite the river were two saddles, +upon which rested their rifles and revolvers. Still farther west the +two ponies were picketed and grazing. + +Clary told Henry to go to the ponies and stay there with Vic, while he +and Frank crept upon the thieves. Screening themselves behind tufts +and swells, and lastly behind the saddles, they worked across the +level, the sound of their moving being covered by the booming and +rushing of the mighty river. When within twenty yards of the fire and +five from the saddles, Private Tom Clary sprang to his feet, aimed his +double-barrelled shot-gun at the thieves, and shouted: + +"Throw up your arrums!" + +At the same instant Frank made a flying leap for the saddles, and +seized the rifles and revolvers. Henry ran forward and assisted his +brother in keeping Dick and Juan under the muzzles of their own +rifles, while Clary securely bound them. This accomplished, the boys +went back for a moment to renew their acquaintance with their horses. +Yes, the chase was over, and their favorites were again in their +possession; and it cannot appear strange that the young soldiers went +into boyish ecstasies of delight at their good-fortune, embracing, +patting, and talking to Sancho and Chiquita as if they understood all +that was said to them. + +But at last they joined Clary at the fire, and the three, while they +continued to carry on the interrupted cooking of their captives, +discussed ways and means of returning to La Paz, and it was decided to +send the setter with a message. A note was pencilled on a page of +Frank's diary, attached to Vic's collar, and she was taken to the +river-bank and given a stick, with orders to deliver it to her master. +With but little hesitation she plunged into the murky current, and +soon disappeared in the darkness in the direction of the other shore. + +While the boy sergeants were going through these adventures I remained +in La Paz. At retreat and tattoo roll-calls Corporal Duffey had +reported Private Clary absent, adding the words "and unaccounted for," +and at Mr. Gray's table the boys were absent from supper. + +At first I gave myself no anxiety over the absentees, but at midnight, +becoming alarmed, I began a search for them. I soon learned that Henry +had been seen to paddle out of the lagoon on a Mojave _balsa_, +accompanied by Vic, and that Frank and Clary had gone quail-shooting. +I did not feel especially anxious about the older boy, for he was in +the company of one of the most trustworthy of our veteran soldiers, +and would probably soon turn up safe. But Henry--gone down the +turbulent river on a frail bundle of grass--what might I not fear? + +I led all the men of the detail--every one of them as anxious as +myself--on a long and fruitless search beside the river, without +coming upon a clew. Returning to Mr. Gray's, and dismissing the men, I +sat upon the veranda alone, sadly reflecting upon the absence of my +young companions and Vic. + +In the midst of my sad reflections there scrambled up the steps a wet +and bedraggled dog, who dropped at my feet a chip. Carrying her in my +arms to my room, I lighted a lamp and examined her collar, and found a +few leaves of a memorandum-book covered with Frank's hand-writing. + +The news of Vic's arrival with a message spread quickly, and soon the +household was gathered in my room and in possession of the news of the +exploit of the boys and Tom Clary. + +"Good! good!" exclaimed the director of the Navigation Company. "Come +with me to the _Cocopah_. We'll steam across and get the whole party." + +On the western shore of the Colorado, Private Tom Clary and the boy +sergeants sat by the fire broiling quail, which they seasoned from the +supplies of Texas Dick and Juan Brincos, and accompanied by slices of +toasted bread from the same source. In the midst of their enjoyment of +"quail on toast" a loud "who-o-of! who-o-of! who-o-of!" came across +the river. + +"Hullo!" said Henry; "the old _Cocopah_ is starting for the Gulf +mighty early. I should think the pilot would find it difficult to keep +off the shores when it is so dark." + +The boys could see by the boat's changing lights that her bow, which +had been headed up-stream, when she lay at the bank, was swinging +slowly out into the stream, and they expected shortly to see her +starboard lights as she headed downward. But she seemed to pause, with +her furnace fires and pilot lanterns pointing towards them. + +"Who-o-of! who-o-of! who-o-of!--patter, patter, patter." The noise of +the steamer grew louder and louder, until the boys rose from their +seats and stared in surprise at the rapidly growing lights. + +"I really believe she is coming here," said Frank. + +"She is, or she nades a dale of space to turn in," observed Private +Tom. + +Presently two tall smoke-stacks separated themselves from the darkness +and appeared high above their heads. + +"Ahoy there, boys!" shouted the captain's voice from the bridge. + +"Ay, ay, sir!" answered Frank. + +"Get ready to come on board! Below there--stand by to lower +gang-plank! Now!--lower away!" + +Down came the plank, and a joyous group of friends walked down to the +shore to greet the boys and the soldier. + +A few moments afterwards the boy sergeants led their ponies on board, +and Private Tom Clary escorted the prisoners. The _Cocopah_ cleared +away and paddled back to the La Paz side, where Texas Dick and Juan +Brincos were turned over to the civil authorities, and Sancho and +Chiquita to the escort in Mr. Gray's corral. + +Three days later the boys and I took leave of Mr. Hudson, who was now +in charge of the government storehouse, and, accompanied by Mr. Gray, +started for Fort Whipple. Hanging under the hind axle of the ambulance +was a ten-gallon keg, and inside was another. We left La Paz early in +the morning and arrived at Tyson's Wells at nine o'clock. Remaining +there until six o'clock in the evening, we watered our animals, and +with freshly filled kegs started for Hole-in-the-Plain, where we +stayed until the following evening, the animals passing the day on +grass without water. A second night-drive brought us to Cisternas +Negras, and the third to Date Creek, from which last point we resumed +travelling by daylight. + +At Skull Valley, at the earnest request of Miss Brenda Arnold, Henry +was allowed to remain for a few days' visit. He promised to join the +next incoming mail-rider, and to ride back to the fort by way of the +mountain-trail. + + + + +XVI + +APACHES IN SKULL VALLEY + + +It was near midnight, four days after my return from La Paz, that I +sat by my open fire, absorbed in a recently published popular novel. I +was suddenly aroused by a distant and rapid clatter of horse's feet. +The sound came distinctly through the loop-holes in the outer wall of +the room--loop-holes made for rifles and left open for ventilation. +Dropping my book upon the table, I listened intently to the +hoof-beats. Some one was riding from the direction of Prescott, +evidently in great haste; and Arizona being a country of alarms, I +surmised that the rider was coming to the fort. The horseman stopped +at the great gates. + +"Halt! Who comes there?" rang out the voice of Private Tom Clary, who +was sentinel No. 1, stationed at the post entrance. "Sargint Hinery, +is it you, laddie?" the voice continued, in a lower and gentler tone. + +"Yes, Tom; and, oh, tell Mr. Duncan, quick, that--" + +"Whist! Take care, laddie! Howld on a bit!" and a rifle fell +clattering to the ground and two solid feet sprang forward with a +rush. + +Hearing this, I started for the secret postern, and as I opened my +door, heard the honest old soldier shout: + +"Corpril uv th' guard, No. 1!" and, in a lower and appealing tone: +"Liftinint, if ye hear me, come quick to the little sargint. I fear +th' dear b'y is dyin'." + +In an instant I was through the narrow gate-way, standing beside a +group of the guard that surrounded Clary, who, kneeling beside a +panting and reeking pony, held the inanimate form of Henry Burton in +his arms. + +"Corpril Duffey, will ye let one uv the b'ys walk me bate a minate +till I can take the laddie in?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, Clary, go ahead, and stay as long as you're needed," was the +kindly answer. + +"Is it to your room I'll be takin' him, sor?" asked Clary, rising and +holding his burden across his breast. + +"Of course, and place him on my bed. Corporal Duffey, send a man for +the surgeon and hospital steward, and send another with the pony to +the stable." + +It was too dark to take in details, but I noticed Chiquita was utterly +exhausted, and that she was covered with foam. Following Clary to my +room, I saw, when the light fell upon Henry's face, that his right +cheek and neck were bleeding, and that his left arm hung unnaturally +limp by the bearer's side. + +We placed him upon the bed, and Surgeon Coues, who had now arrived and +pronounced the boy to be simply in a faint from loss of blood and +over-exertion, applied restoratives and brought him back to +consciousness. As Henry's eyelids raised, and he recognized me, he +said, weakly: + +"Oh, Mr. Duncan, tell Captain Bayard the Indians have attacked Mr. +Arnold's ranch, and that Mrs. Arnold is dead!" + +"Indians attacked the ranch! When?" + +"About four o'clock." + +"How many?" + +"Don't know. Seemed as if there were over a hundred. And don't stop to +worry over me. Don't stop an instant--these scratches are nothing--but +send the soldiers, quick, or Brenda and all will be killed!" + +"How did you get away from the ranch? But you are right, this is no +time for talk." + +I aroused the other officers instantly, and sent Frank to his brother. +All assembled in my quarters, and, while the surgeon dressed the +wounds in cheek and neck and set a fractured radius, orders for an +expedition to Skull Valley were issued, and Henry told his story. + +At the time this incident occurred the Californians had been mustered +out of service and returned to their distant homes, and the garrison +at Fort Whipple consisted of infantry only. But there were many +"dough-boys" who were good riders, and a number of excellent horses +were kept by the quartermaster for emergencies which required speed +and short service. + +Captain Bayard gave orders for a sergeant, three corporals, and +twenty-two privates to be got in readiness for mounted service, with +rations for five days. The command was given to me, and Private Tom +Clary immediately applied to be relieved from guard in order to +accompany me. His request was granted. + +Sergeant Frank concluded to remain with his brother. + +"I know it is rough on you, Frankie," said Henry, "not to have a +chance to win a few scars, too; but I should be dreadfully worried if +you were to go, and I'm worried enough about Brenda now. You must stay +with me." + +And so it was settled, and Frank remained behind, lending his pony +Sancho to Private Clary. + +During all this preparation, dressing of wounds, and setting of +fractures, Henry had managed to give us an account of what had +happened at Skull Valley before he left. I will, however, repeat it a +little more connectedly, with additions obtained later from other +parties. + +After I left Sergeant Henry in the valley, as I passed through there +from the Xuacaxella, he had for three days devoted himself to the +amusement of his young hostess, Brenda, and her cousins. + +There were many reasons why the Arnolds were not fearing an attack at +the time, the principal one being that the Indians had recently been +defeated at Date Creek. With that affair they seemed to have +withdrawn, and no signs of them had been seen since. + +Near the close of the afternoon of the fourth day of Henry's visit a +party of forty-one Apaches had suddenly appeared, and had spent an +hour or more reconnoitring the valley and its approaches. Apparently +becoming satisfied that they would not be interrupted in their attack +by outside parties, they began active operations by collecting the +Arnold cattle and horses, and placing them in charge of two of their +number near the spring. + +Next they fired one of the out-buildings, and under cover of the smoke +gained entrance to a second, which stood less than a hundred feet from +the north side of the house. Knocking the mud and chips from between +the logs here and there, they were enabled to open fire upon the +settlers at short range. + +With the first appearance of the Indians, Mr. Arnold, assisted by two +travellers who had arrived that afternoon from Date Creek on their way +to Prescott, closed the windows and doorways with heavy puncheon +shutters, removed the stops from the loop-holes, directed the girls to +carry provisions and property into the earthwork, got the arms and +ammunition ready, and awaited further demonstrations. + +The available defensive force consisted of every member of the family, +including Sergeant Henry Burton and the two strangers. The mother and +daughters had been taught the use of fire-arms by the husband and +father, and Brenda had been taught by the boy sergeants. In an +emergency like the one being narrated, where death and mutilation were +sure to follow capture, the girls were nerved to do all that could +have been expected of boys at their ages. + +Until the Apaches gained possession of the second out-building, few +shots had been exchanged, and the besieged closely watched their +movements through the loop-holes. It was while doing this that a +bullet pierced the brain of Mrs. Arnold, and she fell dead in the +midst of her family. + +The body of Mrs. Arnold was borne to the cellar by the sorrowing +husband, accompanied by the weeping children. The firing became +desultory and without apparent effect. Ball and arrow could not pierce +the thick walls of the log-house; only through the loop-holes could a +missile enter, and by rare good-fortune none of the defenders, after +the first casualty, chanced to be in line when one did. + +The family again assembled in defence of their home and lives, the +grave necessity of keeping off the impending danger banishing, in a +measure, the thoughts of their bereavement. An ominous silence on the +part of the Indians was broken at last by the swish of a blazing arrow +to the roof. Mr. Arnold rushed to the garret, and with the butt of his +rifle broke a hole in the covering and flung the little torch to the +ground. + +But another and another burning arrow followed, and in spite of +desperate and vigilant action the pine shingles burst into flames in +several places. At this juncture Henry, whose station was on the south +side of the house, approached Mr. Arnold and said: + +"Sir, I see Chiquita grazing near the spring, close to the edge of the +willows, and the two Indians there with the herd keep well this way, +watching the fight. If you think best, I will creep through the +passage, mount, and ride to the fort for the soldiers." + +Mr. Arnold did not at once reply. He took a long look through a +loop-hole towards the spring, and Henry, misinterpreting his silence, +said: + +"Don't think I want to desert you, sir, and skip the ranch. I'll stay +here and do my best with the others, but I thought, perhaps, if I +could do it, I might save you all." + +"God bless ye, my boy; nobody can doubt yer fightin' 'bility; yer was +born a soldier. I was only thinkin' yer chance uv gittin' by them two +redskins at the spring's mighty small." + +"Then you think it a good plan?" + +"Yes; I'd like to have ye do it, if ye can." + +"Thank you, sir. I'll do my best." + +Then the lad passed around the rooms, taking the hand of each defender +in farewell until he reached Brenda. As he took her hand in his right +and fondly lay his left upon it, the young girl broke into +uncontrollable sobbing, and, throwing her disengaged arm over his +shoulder, said: + +"Oh, Henry! what a dear, brave boy you are! You never think of +yourself, but always of your friends!" + +"I will bring the soldiers, Brenda, and you shall all be saved. Keep +up a good heart." + +"But it is such a long ride, and even if you do get away, you may find +us dead or captives when you return." + +"You must be brave, Brenda--no, not brave, for you are that already; +but be patient. We are sure to be here before those fellows can take +the little fort. That can be defended as long as the ammunition holds +out." + +Then the boy kissed the pretty Brenda and her cousins, and dropped +into the cellar. Passing into the earthwork, he selected his saddle +and bridle from a heap of others, buckled on his spurs, dropped with +bowed head upon his knees a moment, and crept into the passage leading +to the spring. Groping his way between the narrow walls, he presently +emerged through a natural crevice in a mass of bowlders near the +spring. Standing in the screen of willows, he parted the branches +cautiously in the direction of the two Indians, and saw them less than +a hundred yards distant, standing with their backs towards him +watching the Arnold house, the roof of which was now a roaring, +leaping mass of flame. + +Closing the boughs again, Henry opened them in an opposite direction +and crept softly up to Chiquita, holding out his hand to her. The +docile pony raised her head, and, coming forward, placed her nose in +his palm, submitting to be saddled and bridled without objection or +noise. + +Leaping into the saddle, the boy drove his spurs into the animal's +flanks, and was off at a furious run in the direction of Whipple. +Startled by the hoof-beats, the Apaches looked back, and began running +diagonally across the field to try to intercept the boy before he +turned into the direct trail. Arrow after arrow flew after him, one +wounding him in the neck and another in the cheek, and when the +distance began to increase between him and his pursuers and they saw +the boy was likely to get away, one raised his rifle and sent a bullet +after him, which fractured the radius of his left arm. + +"Well, Chiquita," said Henry, as he turned fairly into the Prescott +trail and had realized the exact nature of his injuries, "you haven't +got a scratch, and are good for this run if I can hold out." + +It was dusk when Henry began his ride, and it rapidly grew darker as +he hurried along the trail. Neither he nor the pony had been over it +before. Twice he got off the trail, and long and miserable stretches +of time elapsed in regaining it; but the fort was reached at last and +the alarm given. + + + + +XVII + +PURSUIT OF THE APACHES + + +With twenty-eight men, including two scouts picked up as we passed +through Prescott, and the post surgeon, I left for Skull Valley. The +night was moonless, but the myriad stars shone brilliantly through the +rarefied atmosphere of that Western region, lighting the trail and +making it fairly easy to follow. It was a narrow pathway, with but few +places where two horsemen could ride abreast, so conversation was +almost impossible, and few words, except those of command, were +spoken; nor were the men in a mood to talk. All were more or less +excited and impatient, and, wherever the road would permit, urged +their horses to a run. + +The trail climbed and descended rugged steeps, crossed smooth +intervals, skirted the edges of precipices, wound along borders of dry +creeks, and threaded forests of pine and clumps of sage-brush and +greasewood. Throughout the ride the imaginations of officers and men +were depicting the scenes they feared were being enacted in the +valley, or which might take place should they fail to arrive in time +to prevent. + +It is needless to say, perhaps, that the one person about whom the +thoughts of the men composing the rescuing party centred was the +gentle, bright, and pretty Brenda. To think of her falling into the +hands of the merciless Apaches was almost maddening. + +On and on rode the column, the men giving their panting steeds no more +rest than the nature of the road and the success of the expedition +required. At last we reached the spur of the range behind which lay +Skull Valley. We skirted it, and with anxious eyes sought through the +darkness the place where the ranch buildings should be. All was +silence. No report of fire-arms or whoop of savages disturbed the +quiet of the valley. + +Ascending a swell in the surface of the ground we saw that all the +buildings had disappeared, nothing meeting our anxious gaze but beds +of lurid coals, occasionally fanned into a red glow by the +intermittent night breeze. But there was the impregnable earthwork; +the family must be in that. I dashed swiftly forward, eagerly followed +by my men. The earthwork was destroyed, nothing but a circular pit +remaining, in the bottom of which glowed the embers of the fallen +roof-timbers. + +A search for the slain was at once begun, and continued for a long +time. Every square rod of the valley for a mile was hunted over +without result, and we all gathered once more about the two cellars, +in which the coals still glowed. + +"It was in the cellar of the house that Sergeant Henry said the body +of Mrs. Arnold was laid, was it not?" asked Dr. Coues. + +"Yes," I replied. + +"Then if all were killed after he left--shot from time to time--would +not their remains be likely to be beside hers?" + +"Not beside hers, I think. The last stand must have been made in the +fort." + +"Then the bodies, or what is left of them, must lie under that +circular bed of coals, Duncan, if they died here." + +"Probably, doctor. It's an uncanny thing to do, but we must stir the +coals and see." + +A thorough search revealed nothing. + +"Does th' liftinint moind that Sargint Hinery mintioned a covered way +that led from th' cellar to th' spring?" asked Private Tom Clary, who +wielded a rail beside me. "Perhaps th' pretty lassie and her frinds +are in that." + +"That is so, Clary; thank you for the suggestion," I answered. "Can +you make out the opening?" + +"Nothin' sure, sor. Behoind thim wagon-tires there sames to be a +natural slope of earth." + +"Tip the tires over, Clary," I ordered; and presently a number of +tires, from which the fire had burned the felloes, spokes, and hubs, +fell into the coals, disclosing a recently filled aperture. + +"Looks as if the end of a passage had been filled, doesn't it?" asked +the surgeon. + +"It certainly does," I answered. "Let us go to the spring and +examine." + +Accompanied by the doctor and several men, I rode to the spring. When +we arrived there we broke a way through the thick-set willows into an +irregular mass of small bowlders. Climbing over these, we found +ourselves at the mouth of a narrow passage about four feet high and +two feet wide. + +"This must be the entrance to the covered way," I remarked, and +placing my head in the crevice, I called: "Oh, Mr. Arnold, we are +here--your friends from Fort Whipple!" + +"Thank Heaven!" in a man's tones, came clearly through the entrance, +accompanied by a sudden outburst of sobs in girlish voices. + +"We'll be there directly," spoke another man's voice--that of a +stranger. "We've heard your horses' hoofs jarring the ground for some +time, but we thought it safest to lay low until we were sure it wasn't +redskins." + +Then followed the sound of steps, accompanied by voices, sounding at +the entrance, as a voice spoken in a long tube appears to be uttered +at the listener's end. Some time elapsed before those who seemed so +near appeared; but at last there emerged from the passage Mr. Arnold, +two strange men, and three girls--but no Brenda. + +"Where is Brenda, Mr. Arnold?" I asked. + +"Heaven only knows, lieutenant. She gave herself up to the Apaches." + +"Gave herself up to the Apaches! What do you mean?" + +"That's precisely what she did, lieutenant," said one of the +strangers, adding: "My name is Bartlett, from Hassayampa, and this is +Mr. Gilbert, from Tucson. We were on our way from La Paz to Prescott +and stopped here for a meal, and got corralled by the Indians. But +about the girl Brenda: she took it into her head, after we got into +the little fort, that unless some one could create a diversion to +mislead the devils, we'd all lose our scalps." + +"That beautiful young girl! Gave herself up to certain torture and +death! Why did you allow it?" + +"Allow it!" exclaimed Mr. Bartlett, indignantly. "I hope, lieutenant, +you don't think so hard of me and my friend as to believe we'd have +allowed it if we'd suspected what the plucky miss meant to do!" + +"Tell me the circumstances, Mr. Bartlett," said I. + +The party moved slowly along the path from the spring to the fires, +and as they walked Mr. Arnold and the travellers gave an account of +all that had happened after Sergeant Henry left for Fort Whipple. + +The burning arrows sent to the pitch-pine roof became so numerous that +the besieged found it impossible to prevent the flames from catching +in several places. Henry was hardly out of sight before the house +became untenable, and the defenders were obliged to retire to the +fort. When the house was consumed, and its timbers had fallen into the +cellar a mass of burning brands, the space about the earthwork was +clear, and the rifles at its loop-holes kept the Indians close within +the out-building they had occupied since the attack began. No one +dared to show himself to the unerring marksmen, who watched every +movement. + +For a long time silence reigned among the Indians. The whites, +however, felt sure that plans were being matured which meant disaster +to them. + +At last these plans were revealed in a constant and rapid flight of +arrows, directed at a point between two loop-holes--a point which +could not be reached by the besieged, and where, if a considerable +collection of burning brands could be heaped against the logs, +between the earth and the eaves, the pine walls and rafters must take +fire. Walls and roof were too solid to be cut away, and water could +not reach the outside. + +The defenders, when they realized what the result of a fire would be, +held a consultation, and decided that in the event of the fire getting +control of the fort they should retire into the covered way, block up +the entrance with earth, and remain there until help should arrive. It +was thought the Indians would suppose all had perished in the flames. + +"But they know we came here by an underground passage from the house," +said Brenda; "will they not suspect we have entered another passage if +we all disappear?" + +"P'r'aps they may," answered Mr. Arnold; "I had not thought of that. +We'll have to take our chances." + +"If one of us was to appear to escape from here, and join them," +continued the girl, "I think they would suppose the others had +perished, and make no search." + +"That may be true, but I'll take my chances here," said Mr. Gilbert. + +"So will I," said his companion. "A fellow wouldn't last a minute +outside this fort. I prefer smothering to the death those devils will +give me." + +It soon became evident to the besieged that the outer wall was on +fire. + +The sun had gone down and darkness was deepening in the valley when +the first tongue of flame licked through a crevice in the roof and +showed that the fire had gained a foothold. Soon a hole appeared, +close to the eaves, which gradually enlarged towards the centre of the +roof and along the surface of the earth. With blankets the fire was +beaten out on the sides, but it crept insidiously along between the +timber and earth covering. + +In making the roof, branches of pine had been spread over the timber, +and the branches in turn covered with a thick layer of straw to +prevent the earth from filtering between the logs. This material was +as dry as tinder, and held the fire. + +The men stood at the loop-holes and compelled the savages to remain +under cover of the out-building, while the four girls exerted +themselves to keep the fire from showing inside. Delay until help +could arrive from Whipple was what all were struggling to gain; but +the increasing heat and smoke showed the defenders at last that they +could no longer put off retiring to the covered way. + +The word was given and all entered it, and the men with shovels began +to close the entrance. When it was a little more than half closed the +hole in the roof had become triangular, resembling the space between +two spokes and a felloe of a wheel. On the earth, or felloe side of +the triangle, there was no fire; but the other sides were burning +fiercely. + +Making a sudden dash, and before any one could realize her intention, +Brenda leaped past the shovellers, sprang over the embankment they +were throwing up, and by the aid of a bench sprang up the four-foot +wall, through the flame-bordered aperture, and disappeared, her +clothing apparently in a blaze. The war-whoops immediately ceased. + +No attempt at pursuit or rescue was made. The Arnolds and the +strangers felt that it would be useless, and only result in the death +of the pursuers. The work of closing the passage was resumed and +completed, and all sat down to await the slow flight of time and the +possible arrival of the soldiers. + +After listening to the story of the Arnolds I concluded that Brenda +had fallen a victim to the cruelty of the Apaches, and that we should +find her mutilated and disfigured body. A rapid and excited search was +at once began. Far and wide, over plain, through ravines, and into the +foot-hills rode the soldiers, leaving no part of the country for +several miles around unsearched; but not a trace of the missing girl +was discovered. + +Once more the detachment gathered near the ruins of the Arnold home, +and began preparations for returning to Whipple. The remains of the +dead wife and mother were lifted from beneath the charred timbers and +deposited in a grave near by. While the burial was taking place, the +two scouts, Weaver and Cooler, were absent, looking for the Apache +trail. Day was dawning, and as it was probable when they returned that +the command could start, I ordered the horses fed from the loose +forage scattered about, and the men to prepare their breakfast. + +The scouts returned as the men were dispersing from their meal, and +Cooler placed in my hand a dainty lock of flaxen hair, wound around +the middle with a strand of the same. + +"I found it," said the scout, "beside the ravine yonder, a little more +than two miles from here. The young miss is alive, and dropped it for +a 'sign.' The redskins all left in that direction." + +Whatever Brenda's three cousins may have lacked in education and +cultivation, they wanted nothing in affection. They gathered about the +little tress, took it daintily in their palms, kissed it again and +again, and moistened it with tears. Low sobs and endearing names for +the brave darling who had been willing to sacrifice her life to +preserve theirs fell from their lips. Poor, rude, frontier maids, they +had shown an equal bravery all through the defence, and proved +themselves to be worthy descendants of the race that lived through the +colonial struggles with the Indians of the Mohawk Valley. The three +girls gathered about me, and, clinging to my arms, besought me to go +to the rescue of their cousin. + +"Yes, yes, girls," I replied; "everything shall be done that possibly +can be. We will start at once, and I hope to bring her back to you." +Turning to the father, I said, "Mr. Arnold, I will leave you a +luncheon for the road, and you must try to make the distance to +Prescott on foot." + +"Yes, sir; we can do it easy, thank you." + +"I would leave you some of the men as escort, but in such an +expedition I need more than I have." + +"That's all right, Mr. Dunkin; 'f I had a beast I'd go with ye. +There'll be no Apaches round these parts agin for a considerable +spell," and his eyes ran sadly over the ruins of his home, the wreck +of his property, resting finally on the grave of his wife. + +Yes, Brenda was alive, and a prisoner of the Apaches, spared by them, +probably, as children sometimes are after such raids, for adoption. It +was plainly our duty to rescue her from the fate of a continued life +with her captors. + + + + +XVIII + +ON THE TRAIL OF THE APACHES + + +After a further delay, to allow the scouts and their broncos to +breakfast, the party mounted and turned to the west. Calling Paul +Weaver to ride by my side, I questioned him about the region before +us. + +"I suppose you are familiar with this part of the country, Paul?" + +"Ought t' be. Trapped and hunted here since I was twenty, and I'm nigh +on to sixty-five now." + +"Have these Apaches a camping-place near here?" + +"Yes; they spend a part of every year here-abouts, gatherin' mezcal. +From the direction they've took, I b'lieve they're goin' to Santy +Maree Creek." + +"That flows into Bill Williams Fork, does it not?" + +"Yes, an' 't has a northern and southern branch. One of th' favorite +campin'-places of th' Mezcalleros 's on th' southern branch." + +"How far is it from here?" + +"'Bout fifty mile." + +"Easy of approach?" + +"Toler'ble; good ridin' all th' way, 'cept a bit of bowlder country on +a divide." + +"Is the camp open to attack?" + +"Wide open arter yer git into th' valley. There's a waterfall, or, +rather, a piece of rips ther' that 'll drown th' n'ise of our comin'." + +"Isn't it strange Indians should camp in such a place?" + +"They're Mezcallero 'Paches, and the'r food, th' mezcal, grows thick +round ther'. 'Sides, ther's no other place on th' stream combinin' +grazin' and waterin', and they've never been hunted into that region +yit." + +"Well, Paul, they will be now." + +I urged the men on as fast as possible, taking care not to exhaust the +horses and unfit them for a long pursuit. The soldiers were animated +by a strong desire to punish the Indians for their treatment of the +family in Skull Valley, and were excited by the fear that the gentle +and beautiful young girl in their hands might fall a victim to some +barbaric cruelty before they could be overtaken, so that the animals +were constantly urged close to their powers of endurance. + +Near the middle of the forenoon, as the soldiers were riding up a +canon, on each side of which rose rugged sandstone precipices, we came +to a fork in the trail and the canon. Not only the track parted, but, +judging from footprints, most of the captured stock had passed to the +right. Weaver said the right-hand path led to the northern branch of +the Santa Maria, and the left to the southern. + +I halted the detachment, perplexed. To divide my party of twenty-nine +in order to follow both trails seemed to me to be inviting disaster. +To take the whole number over a wrong trail and not rescue Brenda was +a course to be dreaded. I called up the scouts, Weaver and Cooler, for +a consultation. + +"Don't you think it is probable," I asked, "that a girl who was +thoughtful enough to drop a 'sign' to show she is alive and a captive, +would be likely to give a hint here as to which trail she was taken +over?" + +"That's prob'ble, liftinint," replied Weaver. "'F you'll hold th' boys +here a bit, George an' I'll ride up th' two trails a piece an' look +for signs." + +"Go quite a distance, too. She might not get an opportunity to drop +anything for some time after leaving the fork." + +"That's true, sir," said Cooler; "the redskins would naturally be +watching her closely. Which way will you go, Paul?" + +"Let the liftinint say," answered the elder scout, tightening his belt +and readjusting his equipments for resuming his riding. + +"All ready, then," said I. "You take the right, Weaver, and George the +left. While you are gone we'll turn out the stock." + +The scouts departed, and a few moments later the horses of the command +were cropping the rich grass of the narrow valley, sentinels were +placed to watch them and look for the return of the guides, and the +rest of the men threw themselves upon the turf to rest. + +An hour passed away, when Weaver was seen returning from the northern +trail. As he approached he held something above his head. Directing +the horses to be made ready, I walked forward to meet him, and +received from his hand a small bow of blue ribbon, which I at once +recognized to be the property of Brenda. + +It now appeared certain the girl captive had been taken over the road +to the right; so, without waiting for the return of Cooler, the men +were ordered into their saddles, and we started along the northern +trail. Our march had not long continued, however, when Private Tom +Clary, who was riding in the rear, called to me. Looking back, I saw +the young scout galloping rapidly forward and waving his hat in a +beckoning manner. + +A halt was ordered, and Cooler rode up to me and placed in my hand _a +lock of flaxen hair, bound with a thread of the same_. Placed by the +other they were twin tresses, except that the last was slightly singed +by fire. + +Well, tears glistened on the eyelids of some of the bronzed veterans +at the sight of the tiny lock of hair. We had barely escaped taking +the wrong trail. + +"God bliss the darlint," said grizzled Tom Clary. "There's not a +ridskin can bate her with their tricks. We'll bring her back to her +frinds, b'ys, or it'll go hard wid us." + +Clary's remarks were subscribed to by many hearty exclamations on the +part of his fellow-soldiers. We had no difficulty in understanding +that the Apaches had expected to be pursued and had dropped the ribbon +to mislead us, and that Brenda had dropped her "sign" to set her +friends right. + +I asked the guides if it was not probable the Apaches had set a watch +on the overlooking heights to see which road we should take at this +point. + +"It's sartin', liftinint," answered Weaver; "they're watchin' us sharp +jest now." + +"Then we had better continue on the northern trail awhile and mislead +them, you think?" + +"That's it, liftinint. That's th' best thing to do. We needn't reach +their camp until after midnight, an' we might 's well spend th' time +misleadin' em." + +"Yes, and it'll be better to reach them a few hours after midnight, +too," added Cooler; "they sleep soundest then." + +"Then we will go on as we began for some time longer," I replied, and +the soldiers again moved at a brisk canter over the northern trail. + +An hour passed, and a halt was made in a grassy nook, where the horses +were turned out to graze until dusk. Our route was then retraced to +the fork and the march resumed over the southern branch. + +Night overtook us on a high ridge covered with loose, rounded +bowlders, over which it was necessary to lead the horses slowly, with +considerable clatter and some bruises to man and beast. The rough road +lasted until a considerable descent was made on the western side, and +ended on the edge of a grassy valley. + +At this point Weaver advised that the horses should be left and the +command proceed on foot; for if the Indians were in camp at the rapids +it would be impossible to approach mounted without alarming them, +while if on foot the noise of the rushing water would cover the sound +of all movements. + +Six men were sent back to a narrow defile to prevent the attacking +party from being surprised by the detachment of Indians which had +taken the northern trail, should they intend to rejoin their friends +at the rapids. Upon the recommendation of the scouts I determined to +defer making an attack until after three o'clock, for they assured me +that at that time the enemy would be feeling quite secure from pursuit +and be in their deepest sleep. + +The horses were picketed, guards posted, and a lunch distributed, and +all not on duty lay down to wait. Time dragged slowly. About one +o'clock a noise on the opposite side of the creek attracted attention, +and Cooler crept away in the darkness to ascertain its cause. In half +an hour he returned with the information that the party of Mezcalleros +who had taken the northern trail had rejoined their friends and turned +their animals into the general herd. Upon learning this I despatched a +messenger to call in the six men sent to guard the defile. + +When the time for starting arrived one man only was left with the +picketed horses, and the rest of us slipped down the slope to the +river-bottom, taking care not to rattle arms and equipments, and began +a slow advance along a narrow pathway, the borders of which were +lined with the spiked vegetation of the country. + +Moving on for some time, I judged from the sound of flowing water that +we were nearing the camp, and, halting the party, sent the scouts to +reconnoitre. They returned with the information that the camp was +close at hand, and contained thirteen mat and skin covered tents, or +huts, and that the stolen stock and Indian ponies were grazing on a +flat just beyond. No guards were visible. + +The flat about the encampment was covered with Spanish-bayonet, +soapweed, and cacti, with here and there a variety of palmetto, which +attains a height of about twenty-five feet, the trunks shaggy with a +fringe of dead spines left by each year's growth. Cooler suggested +that at a given signal the trunks of two of these trees should be set +on fire to light up the camp, and enable the soldiers to pick off the +Apaches as they left their shelter when our attack should begin. He +also proposed that we yell, saying: "If you out-yell 'em, lieutenant, +you can out-fight 'em." + +Although I seriously doubted whether twenty-five white throats could +make as much noise as half a dozen red ones, I consented to the +proposition. I sent nine men to the flat upon which the ponies and +cattle were grazing, with orders to place themselves between the creek +and herd, and when the firing began drive the animals into the hills. + +When these instructions had been given, Surgeon Coues asked me if the +firing would be directed into the tents. + +"Yes, doctor," I replied. + +"Of course, Miss Brenda is in one of them," he observed. + +"Yes, and if we shoot into them indiscriminately we are quite as +likely to hit her as any one." + +"Can you think of any way of locating her?" + +"No; I am at a dead loss. We will try Cooler's plan of yelling, and +perhaps that will bring the Indians out." + +I sent Clary, who had been directed to remain near me, for Sergeant +Rafferty, and when the sergeant appeared directed him to forbid any +one to fire a shot until ordered to do so. + + + + +XIX + +THE ATTACK ON THE APACHE CAMP + + +Orders were passed and dispositions so made that one-half the force +was placed on each flank of the camp. All movements were made at a +considerable distance from the place to be attacked, and the utmost +care taken not to make a sound that would alarm the sleeping foe. Once +on the flanks, the men were to creep up slowly and stealthily to +effective rifle range. When the trunks of the palmettos were lighted +all were to yell as diabolically as possible, and fire at every Indian +that showed himself. + +The front of the camp looked towards the creek, which flowed over +bowlders and pebbles with a great rush and roar. The Indians were +expected in their flight to make a dash for the stream, and attempt to +pass through the shoal rapids to the wooded bluffs beyond. My +instructions were for the men to screen themselves on the flanks, +behind the yuccas, Spanish-bayonet, emole, and cacti. Accompanied by +Tom Clary and Paul Weaver, I selected a clump of vegetation on the +northern side, from which the front of the tents could be observed. +Sergeant Rafferty, with George Cooler, was on the opposite flank, and +the lighting of a tree on my side was to be the signal for one to be +lighted on the other, and for the yelling to begin. + +This plan was carried out. The flash of one match was followed +promptly by the flash of another. Two flames burst forth, and rapidly +climbed the shaggy trunks of the little palms, lighting up the whole +locality. At the same instant an imitation war-whoop burst from +vigorous lungs and throats. + +Every one held his rifle in readiness to shoot the escaping Apaches, +but not a redskin showed his jetty head. The soldiers yelled and +yelled, practising every variation ingenuity could invent in the vain +attempt to make their tame white-man utterances resemble the +blood-curdling, hair-raising, heart-jumping shrieks of their Indian +foes, now so strangely silent. Not a savage responded vocally or +otherwise. + +But for the presence of the captive girl in one of the thirteen tents +the attack would have begun by riddling the thinly covered shelters +with bullets at low range. + +The two burning trees had gone out and two others had been lighted, +and it soon appeared evident that if something was not done to bring +out the foe the supply of torches would soon be exhausted and nothing +accomplished. In the darkness the advantage might even turn to the +side of the redman. + +Surgeon Coues, who reclined near me, asked: "Do you think any of those +fellows understand English?" + +"Perhaps a few common phrases. They know Spanish fairly well from +living for some centuries near the Mexicans." + +"Are they quite as old as that, lieutenant?" + +"You know what I mean, doctor." + +"Why not speak to Brenda in English, and ask her to try to show us +where she is? The Apaches will not understand--will think you are +talking to your men." + +"An excellent idea, doctor. I'll try it." + +Private Tom Clary was sent along both flanks with orders for all +yelling to cease and for perfect quiet to be maintained. Then, acting +upon the surgeon's suggestion, I called, in a clear, loud voice: + +"Brenda, we are here--your friends from the fort. Your relatives are +safe. Try to make a signal, or do something by which we can learn +where you are. Take plenty of time, and do nothing to endanger your +life." + +A long silence ensued, during which two more pillars of fire burned +out. I was beginning to fear I should be obliged to offer terms to the +Indians, leaving them unhurt if they would yield up their captive and +the stolen stock; but before I had fully considered this alternative +Clary, who was returning along the rear of the line of tents from his +recent errand, approached and said: "Liftinint, as I was crapin' along +behoind th' wiggies I saw somethin' loike a purty white hand stickin' +out from undher th' edge of th' third from this ind." + +"Show it to me," said I. "I'll go with you." + +Making a slight detour to the rear, the soldier and I crept up to the +back of the tent indicated, pausing at a distance of twenty feet from +it. + +Nothing definite could be made out in the darkness. A narrow, white +object was visible beneath the lower edge. Sending Clary back a few +yards to light up a palm, I fixed my eyes on the object mentioned, and +as the flames leaped up the trunk perceived by the flaring light a +small, white hand, holding in its fingers the loose tresses of +Brenda's hair. The question was settled. The captive girl was in the +third tent from the right of the line. + +Waiting until the fire went out, Clary and I made our way back to our +former station. + +"Go around the lines again, Clary, and tell Sergeant Rafferty to move +his men to a point from which he can cover the rear of the camp, and +open fire on all the tents except the third from the right." + +"All roight, sor; th' b'ys 'll soon mak' it loively for th' rids." + +"Tell the sergeant to light up some trees." + +"Yes, sor." + +I then crept slowly back to my own flank, and ordered a disposition of +my half of the party so as to command the space in front of the line +of tents. In another instant the flames were ascending two +tree-trunks, and the rapid cracking of rifles broke our long reserve. +With the first scream of a bullet through their flimsy shelters the +Indians leaped out and ran for the river. Few fell. Rapid zigzags and +the swinging of blankets and arms as they ran confused the aim of the +soldiers. In less than five minutes the last Apache was out of sight, +and the firing had ceased. + +We dashed up to the tents, and I rushed to the one from which I had +seen the hand and tress thrust out, and called, "Brenda!" There was no +response or sound. Looking into the entrance, I saw in the dim light +of the awakening day the figure of a girl lying on her back, her feet +extended towards me, and her head touching the rear wall. The right +arm lay along her side, and the left was thrown above her head, the +fingers still holding her hair. + +A terrible fear seized my heart. I again called the girl by her name, +but received no answer. I went in, and with nervous fingers lighted a +match and stooped beside her. Horror-stricken, I saw a stream of blood +threading its way across the earthern floor from her left side. I +shouted for Dr. Coues, and the surgeon hurried in. From his +instrument-case he took a small, portable lamp, and, lighting it, fell +upon his knees beside the prostrate girl. + +During the following few moments, while the skilled fingers of the +firm-nerved surgeon were cutting away clothing to expose the nature of +the wound, my thoughts found time to wander to the distant family, on +its way to the fort, and to the boy sergeants there. I thought what a +sad message it would be my province to bear to them, should this dear +relative and cherished friend die by savage hands. + +There was little hope that the pretty girl could live. To me she +seemed already claimed by death. She who had made our long and weary +march from Wingate to Whipple so pleasant by her vivacity and +intelligence, and had latterly brightened our occasional visits to +Skull Valley, was to die in this wretched hole. + +But the _tactus eruditus_ of the young surgeon was continuing the +search for some evidence that the savage stab was not fatal, and his +mind was busy with means for preserving life, should there be a +chance. I watched his motions, and assisted now and then when asked, +and waited with strained patience for a word upon which to base a +hope. + +At last the surgeon gently dropped the hand whose pulse he had long +been examining, and said: "She is alive, and that is about all that +can be said. You see, her hands, arms, and neck are badly scorched by +the dash she made through the fire at the ranch. Then this wicked +knife-thrust has paralyzed her. She has bled considerably, too, but +she lives. Press your finger upon this artery--here." + +"Can she be made to live, doctor?" + +"The knife has not touched a vital part, but it may have done +irreparable injury. I can tell more presently." + +Nothing more was said, except in the way of direction, for some time, +the surgeon working slowly and skilfully at the wound. At last, +rearranging the girl's clothing and replacing his instruments in their +case, he said: "If I had the girl in the post-hospital, or in a +civilized dwelling, with a good nurse, I think she might recover." + +"Can't we give her the proper attendance here, doctor?" I asked. + +"I fear not. She ought to have a woman's gentle care, for one thing, +and some remedies and appliances I haven't with me for such a delicate +case. It is the long distance between here and the fort, and the rough +road, that make the outlook hopeless. She cannot survive such a +journey." + +"Then we will remain here, doctor," said I. "Write out a list of what +you want, and I will send a man to Whipple for tents and supplies, a +camp woman, Frank, Vic, and the elder Arnold girl." + +"Duncan, you are inspired!" exclaimed the doctor. "I'll have my order +ready by the time the messenger reports, and then we'll make Brenda +comfortable." + +A letter was written to Captain Bayard, the surgeon's memoranda +enclosed, and a quarter of an hour afterwards fleet-footed Sancho was +flying over the sixty miles to Fort Whipple as fast as Private Tom +Clary could ride him. Three days later a pack-train arrived, with a +laundress from the infantry company, Frank Burton, and Mary Arnold, +and with stores and supplies necessary for setting up a sick-camp. The +wounded girl mended rapidly from the start. + +In due time Brenda recovered sufficiently to bear transportation to +Prescott, where she joined her uncle and cousins. Rapid changes +quickly followed. I received orders directing me to report for duty at +once at the Seabury Military School, and by the same mail came letters +from Colonel Burton directing his sons to accompany me. At the end of +the next fortnight, just as we were packed for a journey to the +Pacific coast, Brenda received instructions from her maternal +relatives to make the same journey, and joined us. + +Frank and Henry's project to transport their ponies East, and their +plans for Manuel and Sapoya, were also carried out. Boys and ponies +became a prominent contingent to the corps of cadets under my military +instruction during the following three years. + +Later, Henry went to West Point and became an officer of the army. +Frank and Manuel went to college, the former becoming a distinguished +civil engineer and the latter a prominent business man. Sapoya closed +his school career at Seabury, and rejoined his people in the Indian +Territory, becoming a valued and respected leader of his people. + +On a beautiful lawn before a fine mansion on the eastern shore of the +Hudson River, beneath the shade of a stately elm, stands a small +monument, upon the top of which rests a finely chiselled model of a +setter dog. Beneath, on a bronze tablet, is engraved: + + "BENEATH THIS STONE LIES VICTORIANA, THE LOVED + AND ESTEEMED FRIEND OF + CHARLES ALFRED DUNCAN, + FRANK DOUGLAS BURTON, + BRENDA ARNOLD BURTON, + HENRY FRANCIS BURTON, + MANUEL AUGUSTINE PEREA Y LUNA, + SAPOYA SNOYGON PEREA." + + +THE END + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Captured by the Navajos, by Charles A. 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