Jude, what you make of that stampede across the
river?
Jett had a heavy load, as the wheel tracks cut
deep.
An an equal or even strong force should be
leftbehind to protect these camp posts. Then he questioned the visitinghunters in
turn. It was a moment of excitement and suspense for the watching men. Plain trails
were left in severalcases, but these Bear Claws would not pay any attention to.
Reaching camp, Tom flung himself out of thesaddle. His scalp had beenliterally torn
off, his face gashed, and his abdomen ripped open.
He said thered be every outfit represented here
thismornin. It was significant tobehold these men all carrying their
rifles.
This was the first night he had been alone on the
Texas prairies.
Somebody hold Burn back, shouted Pilchuck, his
bronze faceflashing in the sunlight.
He neednt, far as Im concerned, spoke up Tom,
ringingly. Only theIndians know this plain well an they only run in heah to
hideawhile. Wal, Star, thats as we reckoned, declared the scout.
Then the earth wasfilled in and stamped down hard.
Yes, I saw miles of scattered herds as I rode up the river, saidTom.
Ory Tacks, the nearest to Tom, as he advanced
toward the men, wascrying.
Nature never constructed amore perfect animal. It
floatedacross the river from the south and steadily grew louder. Whereupon the
hunters grouped themselves in the shade of thecottonwoods, like Indians in Council.
Pilchuck observed this, also, for as he stoodbehind the Indian he watched him
steadily. All the same, Jett was gettin away from somethin. If we dont kill off the
buffalo therell never be anysettlin of northern Texas.
All the hunters gazed in silence down upon the
ghastly spectacle. Doan, reckon Im a blunt man, so get your nerve, he said, withhis
slits of piercing eyes on Tom.
An say, scout, spoke up Roberts, youre, shore
forgettin oneimportant fact.
Soon it showed to be canyon slope with brush on the
rim.
Weve got to KILL the Comanches, anlick the Kiowas,
Cheyennes, an Arapahoes. Thenthe Comanches came along, destroyed the camp, an
scalped the men. There was only twotrails across in them days an I reckon no more
now.
Weve got to KILL the Comanches, anlick the Kiowas,
Cheyennes, an Arapahoes.
Hardy rode twenty miles an more down the river,
gettin back latelast night.
It was novel, strange, somehow exhilarating, and
yet disturbing.
But if you was lookin fer hidethieves Id be damn
interested, replied the hunter. Small-bore guns, an I dontcalkilate hunters was
shootin rabbits for breakfast. Starwell, well plan to-morrow after we bury Hudnall,
said thescout.
Rumor of a fight reached Hudnalls camp that night,
but not untilnext day were the facts known.