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Show TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO 297 they encountered a Spanish force by which the Pawnees were utterly defeated, Merriwether taken prisoner, carried to Santa Fé and placed in confinement in the military carcel. When he arrived at Santa Fé to assume duties of executive of the territory, the roof of the room in which he had been confined many years before fell in. This the people interpreted as a favorable omen. days across the mountains that lie on the eastern confines of New Mexico, in constant fear of being attacked, and suffering from the cold, they reached the place of rendezvous, and found three Pawnee Indians waiting for them. The meeting “was pleasant to all parties, and they remained there a few days making the necessary preparations for the continuance of their journey. They resolved to seek some good location upon the headwaters of the Arkansas where they could remain until spring and then return to the settlements. They took up the line of march from the rendezvous and after traveling in 4 northerly direction for several days they came to a cave upon the headwaters of the Arkansas that promised to answer their purpose of a winter residence. It was a large cavern in the side of a hill and the rocks from above projected over somewhat in the shape of a portico. They set to work and made the place as comfortable as possible. Their greatest fear was in being discovered by hostiles and they took constant precautions to prevent their whereabouts being known. Time hung heavily upon their hands, as they were afraid to venture from the mouth of the cave unless they were compelled to do so in search of food. Among other expedients to kill time Merriwether amused himself in fashioning a stone to represent a man’s face and upon which he stretched a piece of skin. When the skin was dried he took it off, cut holes for the eyes, nose and mouth and thus had a respectable looking mask. When finished he laid it away in the cave, without imagining the valuable service It would be able to render him before the winter was passed. One day nine strange Indians came to the cave, whom they suspected hostile intention, and were therefore uneasy while they anxious to look at everything in and about the premises everything there was in the outer apartment, one of them very strongly of remained. They and after having desired to know some were seen what was behind the curtain. It was desirable to preserve the inner part of the Cave from the eyes of the strangers, and, as they were not able to do so by Merriwether now thought of his mask ‘orce, they had to resort to strategem. and feeling certain that he would be able to make it serve him a good purpose in the emergency, replied to the inquiry Great Medicine behind the curtain. the more and they demanded to see whether he looked like their of the Indians that they kept their This excited the curiosity of the visitors him right away, as they wanted to know medicine-man. He endeavored to satisfy their curiosity in various ways but nothing would do but a sight of him. Finally he told the Indians that he would go in and consult with the Great Medicine, and if he should be willing to see strangers he would return and admit them. nce behind the screen he arranged his plans to give the Indians a good fright. He fixed the skin-mask upon the point of a rock, and putting a lighted candle within it, returned to the outer apartment. He told them that if they should See fire and smoke coming out of his eyes, nose and mouth it was a sure sign that the Great Medicine was very angry and they must look out for themselves. hey were to be admitted one at a time. The skin screen was carefully drawn aside to let one in, who entered; but seeing the fire and smoke streaming out of the holes in the mask, he took it for granted that the Great Spirit was in a towering rage, and was about to devour the whole of them, and therefore took |