| OCR Text |
Show 148 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. the public with great favor; his skillful management of the Indians, his bravery, energy and sagacity, distinguished him above all others as one pre-eminently qualified to rescue the captive women without bloodshed, which was understood to be his chief mission. He spent the whole night in arranging his affairs for the long and perilous journey, and on the morning of the 14th he left Denver for Los Pinos, having telegraphed his wife, who was at Colorado Springs, to meet him at the depot. She said, "you are not a soldier, why do you go?" " Why do I go ?" said he. " Because the State of Colorado can not afford to have those women in the hands of the Indians. I would consider it just as much a shame and disgrace to refuse my influence in rescuing them as if»I should desert in the hour of battle. You would not have me stay ? " " No, thinking of it in that way, she would not," yet it was a bitter struggle. A sad good-bye, and the iron horse sped away, bearing the brave and noble husband from her sight, perhaps forever. She stood paralyzed with grief and dismal forebodings. Thoughts of Canby and others, who had fallen victims to Indian snares, crowded her brain and made her sick at heart. General Adams arrived at Ouray's camp on the night of the 18th, and the chief of the Utes confirmed his reputation as a friend of the white man, by giving his aid and advice in perfecting the plans for the trip to the Grand River, one hundred miles north, where the captives were then known to be. The following morning, the General started on his journey, accompanied by three chiefs, ten Indians and Count |
