Even the few small
windows had iron bars across. They could have killed every one of us,
and ridden far away before anyone in the sleepy town found it out.
Well, when those inside had been given, or had helped themselves to,
whatever they wanted, out they all marched again, quickly and
silently, just as they had come in. They instantly mounted their
ponies, and all rode down the street and out of sight at race speed,
some leaning so far over on their little beasts that one could hardly
see the Indian at all. The pony that was ridden into the store door
was without a bridle, and was guided by a long strip of buffalo skin
which was fastened around his lower jaw by a slipknot. It is amazing
to see how tractable the Indians can make their ponies with only that
one rein.
The storekeeper told us that those Indians were Utes, and were greatly
excited because they had just heard there was a small party of
Cheyennes down the river two or three miles. The Utes and Cheyennes
are bitter enemies. He said that the Utes were very cross--ready for
the blood of Indian or white man--therefore he had permitted them to
do about as they pleased while in the store, particularly as we were
there, and he saw that we were frightened. That young man did not know
that his own swarthy face was a greenish white all the time those
Indians were in the store! Not one penny did they pay for the things
they carried off.
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