Sut Simpson was thoroughly impatient and angry. Knowing, as well as he
did, the dangerous character of Arizona, New Mexico, Northwestern Texas
and Indian Territory, he could not excuse such a foolhardy proceeding as
that of a small colony settling in the very heart of that section. The
nearest point where they could hope for safety was Fort Severn, fifty
miles distant. There was a company of soldiers under command of an
experienced United States officer, and they knew well enough to
keep within the protection of their stockades, except when making
reconnoissances in force.
All those who were acquainted with the veteran scout were accustomed to
defer to his judgment, where Indians were concerned, and he was so used
to receiving this deference, that when he was contradicted and gainsayed
by these new settlers, he lost his patience, and started to leave them
in a sort of mild passion.
The place fixed for the location of New Boston was in a gently sloping
valley, with the Rio Pecos running on the right. The soil was fertile,
as was shown in the abundance of rich, succulent grass which grew about
them, while, only a few hundred yards up the river, was a grove of
timber, filled in with dense undergrowth and brush--the most favorable
location possible for a band of daring red-skins, when preparing to make
a raid upon the settlement. The hunter turned the head of his mustang in
the direction of this wood, and rode away at a slow walk. He had nearly
reached the margin, when some one called to him:
“Hist, there, ye spalpeen! Won't ye howld on a minute?”
Turning his head, he saw the Irishman walking rapidly toward him, after
the manner of one who had something important to say. He instantly
checked his horse, and waited for him to come up.
“Do you know,” struck in Mickey, “that I belaved in Misther Barnwell
till we reached Kansas City? There we met people that had been all
through this country and that knew all about it, and every one of the
spalpeens told us that we'd lose our sculps if we comed on. I did n't
consider it likely that all of them folks would talk in that style
unless they meant it, and half a dozen of us made up our minds that the
best thing we could do was to go back, or stop where we was. We wint
to Misther Barnwell and plaided with him, and I was ready to break a
shillalah over his head by way of convincin' him of the truth of me
remarks, but it was no use. He just grinned and shook his head. The
folks all seem to be afeard of him, as though he were St. Patrick or
some other sensible gintleman, and so we comed on.”
“What made _you_ come?” asked Sut, throwing his knee upon the saddle and
looking down upon the Irishman. “You could do as you choosed.”
“No, I could n't. I hired out to Mr. Moonson for a year, and there ain't
half a year gone yet, and I've got to stick to him till the time is up.”
“Whose little boy is that I seed standing by you?”
“That's Mr. Moonson's boy, Fred, one of the foinest, liveliest lads ye
ever sot eyes on, and I'm much worried on his account.”
“Are his parents with you?”
“Naither of 'em.”
The hunter looked surprised, and the Irishman hastened to explain.
“I never knowed his mother--she havin' been dead afore I lift owld
Ireland--and his father was taken down with a sort of fever a week ago,
when we was t'other side of Fort Aubray. It was n't anything dangerous
at all but it sort of weakened him, so that it was belaved best for him
to tarry there awhile until he could regain his strength.”
“Why did n't you and the younker stay with him?”
“That's what orter been done,” replied the disgusted Irishman. “But
as it was n't, here we are. The owld gintleman, Mr. Moonson, had
considerable furniture and goods that went best with the train, and he
needed me to look after it. He thought the boy would be safer with the
train than with him, bein' that when he comes on, as he hopes to do, in
the course of a week, be the same more or less, he will not have more
than two or three companions. What I wanted to ax yez,” said Mickey,
checking his disposition to loquacity, “is whether ye are in dead
airnest 'bout saying the copper-colored gentleman will be down here for
the purpose of blotting out the metropolis of New Boston?”
“Be here? Of course they will, just as sure as you're a livin' man. And
you won't have to wait long, either.”
“How long?”
“Inside of a week, mebbe within three days. The last I heard of Lone
Wolf, he was down in the direction of the Llano Estaeado, some two or
three hundred miles from here, and it won't take him long to come that
distance.”
“Is he the only Indian chief in this country, that ye talk so much about
him?”
“Oh, no! there are plenty of 'em, but Lone Wolf has a special weakness
for such parties as this.”
“When he does come, what is best for us to do?”
“You'll make the best fight you can, of course, and if you get licked,
as I've no doubt you will, and you're well mounted, you must all strike
a bee-line for Fort Severn, and never stop till you reach the stockades.
You can't miss the road, for you've only got to ride toward the setting
sun, as though you meant to dash your animal right through it.”
“Where will the spalpeen come from?”
The hunter pointed toward the woods before them.
“That's just the place the varmints would want--they could n't want any
nicer. You may be lookin' at that spot, and they'll crawl right in afore
you'r eyes, and lay thar for hours without your seein' 'em. You want to
get things fixed, so that you can make a good fight when they do swoop
down on you. I guess that long-legged chap that I was talkin' to knows
enough for that. You seem to have more sense than any of 'em, and I'll
give you a little advice. Let's see, what's your name?”
The Irishman gave it, and the hunter responded by mentioning his own.
“Do you put some one in here to keep watch night and day, and the minute
you see the redskins comin' give the signal and run for your friends
there. Then if the red-skins foller, you must let 'em have it right and
left. If you find you can't hold your own agin 'em, you must make all
haste to Fort Severn, as you heard me say a while ago. Aim for the
setting sun, and after you've gone fifty miles or so you'll be thar.
Good by to you, now; I'm watching the Injin movements in these parts,
and, if the signs are bad, and I have the chance, I'll give you notice;
but you must n't depend on me.”
The hunter leaned over the saddle, and warmly shook the hand of the
Irishman, the two having conceived a strong liking for each other.
Then he wheeled his mustang about, and gave him a word that caused him
at once to break into a swift gallop, which quickly carried him up the
slope, until he reached the margin of the valley, over which he went at
the same rate, and speedily vanished from view.
The Irishman stood gazing at the spot where he had vanished, and then he
walked thoughtfully back toward the settlement, where all were as busy
as beavers, getting their rude huts and homes in condition for living.
In doing this Caleb Barnwell was guided by a desire to be prepared for
the Indian visitation, which he knew was likely soon to be made. They
had gathered an immense quantity of driftwood along the banks of the Rio
Pecos, and the other timber that they needed had already been cut and
dragged from the woods, so that about all the material they needed was
at hand.
Even with their huts a third or a half finished, they would be in a much
better condition to receive the attack of the Apaches than if compelled
to place their heavy luggage-wagons in a semi-circle and fight from
behind them.
“The gentleman spakes the thruth,” muttered Mickey, as he walked along,
“and I'm not the one to forgit such a favor, when he took so much pains
to tell me. I'll remember and fix a watch in the wood.”