.WEST SHORE.
871
A NEZ PERCE EPISODE.
ONE evening in the summer of 18 I camped at
Colonel Craig's ranch, on the Nez Perce reser
vation. The kind old man, after looking at my
jaded animals, asked me to remain with him
for a week and recruit my Btock. The bunch graps
was waving knee high on every hill and the pretty
valley of the Sweetwater was lovely in its wealth of
verdure. My horses were turned out to be herded by
the Indians and I was, by virtue of the social standing
of my host, tendered the freedom of the land of the
red men.
The Nez Perce tribe at that time was a strong
nation and their long pursued peace-policy in relation
to the white men was universally extolled. Their
smoke-stained tents of pyramid shape fairly dotted
every smiling glade between the grass covered hills
and the rippling creek that zigzags through the nar
row valley. The willows waved in refreshing breezes
and the stately cottonwood trees shaded the lawns
about the lodges where the rollicking children played
horse and bear and wolf like white boys and their idle
parents watched with pride their antics like white
men and women.
A favorite saddle horse which had served me faith
fully on my journeys was looked upon covetously by
the observing young vaqueros. Every proposition to
trade other horses for my good Banquo was refused.
I had been offered, before the end of the week, as
many as six good Indian horses for the one. I firmly
refused to part with my favorite saddle horse. From
that moment I had enemies among the peaceable Nez
Perces whom I avoided, for I believed the offense of
refusing to trade horses with them was regarded as
one to be resented. However, my timo to depart had
arrived. I so informed the good hearted colonel, and
he forthwith ordered the Indian herders to bring in
. my horses. After an hour a long line of dust far up
the mountain informed us that the herd was on the
way to the corrals. They came at full run down the
steep, rocky hill with a rush as irresistible as an ava
lanche. They spread out over the narrow valley and
whirled about like an eddy in a swollen torrent. A
thousand head of wild horses were surging back and
forth, trying to escape the vigilant herders, who sat
like centaurs upon bare-backed, foaming, gnashing,
Colonel William Craig wai an Amerloan trapper of the early time,
Who wai to pleased with this region that he lottled among the Net Fercee
in 1840, where he wai living at the time of the Whitman matitacre, in 1848,
hia influence being mott valuable at that crifia, at it wai during the groat
war of KM and 18M, when the Nei Peroei not only remained the firm
friend of the whitei bnt aided them materially. In the tummer campaign
of 18S0 Colonel Craig Joined the volunteer! with a company of liily Net
Peroee; led by Spotted Eaglo, and wu ehoeen Lieutenant Colonel of the
regiment commanded by Colonel D. F. Bbaw. He wu Indian agont for
many yean at the Lapwai agenoy.-Eo.
eager horses. The horses and riders were white with
foaming sweat tossed about by fretful heads. The
dexterous reinmen fairly lifted their hurrying horses
from side to Bide, swinging their riatas at tho samo
time, so that they moved the surging mass with com
plete control toward a narrowing alley between hedges
of wild thorns and willows. They passed into a
thicket of tangled briars, and the thunder of many
hoofs was heard no more. The herd was in a corral
securely enclosed by woven brush and briars. They
could stampede and surge against the hedge fence, but
all their wild fury could not break it down.
One by one five of my gentle horses were led out,
but Banquo, my favorite, was not forthcoming. I
observed some confusion among the little knot of
Indians gathered at the corral, but still suspected no
treachery, as my friend Craig had restored my confi
dence in the queer people he knew so well. Young
Joe Craig, a burly half breed, stood by my sido and
he, having noticed the absence of the favorito steed,
demanded an explanation from ono of tho frowning
herders. Immediately a terrible rage possessed tho
young son of the good colonel. After ho realized that
I did not know tho nature of tho embarrassment he
explained that tho Indian had told him in his nativo
language that my horse was missing and most proba
bly stolen. After it was established that such was tho
case, I was compelled to remain to give time for tho
thief to be captured and tho horHo returned, it de
volved upon young Craig to play tho part of tho
detective. He possessed enough of the Indian char
acteristics to make him a veritable sleuth hound. At
the end of three days Banquo wus returned to me.
He was lame and I could not proceed on my way. I
questioned the successful trailer about tho incidents
attending the recovery of tho horso. Ho simply told
me that he had run tho thief down and brought back
the horse. Even when questioned about tho treatment
of the offender ho simply informed mo that my horses
were safe thereafter on tho Nez Perco reservation so
far as Indian thieves wero concerned, implying that I
should accept that fact without enquiring into details.
Two days after tho return of the stolen horse young
Joo Craig was arrested. A sheriff's posso came to the
house disguised as prospectors and engaged tho young
man to act as interpreter. They pretended to bo in
need of a horso and wanted the accommodating half
breed to assist in buying one from tho Indians. Tho
young man went along and was soon in irons on his
way to jail. Ono of tho officers told me tho charge
was murder.
A few minutes after tho depurturo of tho officers
and their prisoner mounted messengers rode tho length
of that pretty valley, and the idle, peaceful red men of
an hour before were in war paint. Colonel Craig, bent