Rae's Indians!" I said very little about what
I saw during the last day or two, for I felt that the constant teasing
must have become as wearisome to the others as it had to me. But I am
still positive that I saw the black heads of Indians on the top of
ever so many hills we passed. When they wish to see and not be seen
they crawl up a hill on the side farthest from you, but only far
enough up to enable them to look over, and in this position they will
remain for hours, perfectly motionless, watching your every movement.
Unless you notice the hill very carefully you will never see the black
dot on top, for only the eyes and upper part of the head are exposed.
I had been told all this many times; also, that when in an Indian
country to be most watchful when Indians are not to be seen.
Camp Supply is certainly in an Indian country, for it is surrounded by
Comanches, Apaches, Kiowas, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes--each a hostile
tribe, except the last. No one can go a rod from the garrison without
an escort, and our weekly mail is brought down in a wagon and guarded
by a corporal and several privates. Only last week two
couriers--soldiers--who had been sent down with dispatches from Fort
Dodge, were found dead on the road, both shot in the back, probably
without having been given one chance to defend themselves.
We are in camp on low land just outside the post, and last night we
were almost washed away again by the down-pouring rain, and this
morning there is mud everywhere.
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