The Apache evidently appreciated the horse, for he had stained only
his face, but this had been made quite as frightful as that of the
Indian. The pony was of a bright cream color, slender, and with a
perfect head and small ears, and one could see that he was quick and
agile in every movement. He was well groomed, too. The long, heavy
mane had been parted from ears to withers, and then twisted and roped
on either side with strips of some red stuff that ended in long
streamers, which were blown out in a most fantastic way when the pony
was running. The long tail was roped only enough to fasten at the top
a number of strips of the red that hung almost to the ground over the
hair. Imagine all this savage hideousness rushing upon you--on a
yellow horse with a mane of waving red! His very presence on an
ordinary trotting pony was enough to freeze the blood in one's veins.
That he was a spy was plainly to be seen, and we knew also that his
band was probably not far away. He seemed in very good spirits, asked
for "tobac," and rode along with us some distance--long enough to make
a careful estimate of our value and our strength. Finally he left us
and disappeared over the hills. Then the little escort of ten men
received orders from Faye to be on the alert, and hold themselves and
their rifles ready for a sudden attack.
We rode on and on, hoping to reach the Cimarron Redoubt before dark,
but that had to be given up and camp was made at Snake Creek, ten
miles the other side.
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