| OCR Text |
Show FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. 29 1 son's horse, telling him to go back to the team. Brother Ivins and I rode on a short distance. The night was rather dark, but soon we saw a lot of what appeared to be savage- looking Indians coming. They were on foot and armed. They halted on seeing us. I told Brother Ivins to go back to the wagon and I would go and meet them, and if they shot me, he and the others must jump into the brush and try and save their lives as best they could. I got off from my horse and walked up to the Indians, who stood in a group, filling the road. As I approached alone they did not seem to make any move whatever. I spoke, saluting them in Spanish. They answered all right. I offered them my hand and they all shook hands with me. I asked them where they were going. They said down to their homes and asked where I was going. I told them I was going to my home a long way off in the northern country. Thus we kept asking and answering questions till one asked why we were travel-ing by night. I told them that my companions were afraid of them, but that I was not for I was a friend to the Indians and did not believe they would ever kill me. They began to laugh and asked me who I thought they were. I asked, " Are you not Apaches ? " " No, senor, we are not Apaches," they answered, " but like you we are traveling in the night because we are afraid of them." I now called to my companions who had been wait-ing in suspense. All my bravery and fortitude were wasted, further than to prove to myself that I was willing to stand the test. We had a good long talk with these Indians who |
