OCR Text |
Show 144 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. the company we had traveled with, and a party had been sent out to meet them. The party had gone as far as the Dolores and returned. We had seen their tracks; I wanted to follow their trail, knowing it to be white men's tracks. Stith took them for Indians' and refused to follow me. On meeting the colonel, he, in a very pompous manner, asked me who I was. I replied, " Daniel W. Jones." " Where are you from? " " Salt Lake City, Utah." " How did you come here?" " On a mule." " What is your business in what capacity have you come?" He was now much excited and asked a series of questions before stopping. I then told him I was a guide in government employ. He asked, " Where are the troops; where is the command you are guiding?" " The last I saw of them they were about seventy miles back. The commander and most of the company drunk." " Why are you not with them?" " I don't like whisky," was my answer. I felt insulted by his manner in first speaking so abruptly to me, and was determined not to give him any satisfaction until he spoke to me in a respectable man-ner. This he seemed to see and commenced asking his questions more politely. I gave him all the information I could about the moves of the troops on the road. He now approved of my corning ahead. When Stith arrived he made out my account and as& ed me to sign the vouchers. I thanked him, telling him that I did not need any money and did not wish my |