302 ON THE FRONTIER 



only a few warriors should attend. When the visit did 

 take place, it was unfortunately discovered no one in the 

 prospecting camp was able to make himself well under- 

 stood by the Indians, or to do more than hazard wild 

 guesses at what they meant; so, after a short time the 

 Indians left without any definite conclusion being come to. 

 Shortly after the visit of the Indians, some of the pros- 

 pectors' horses "came up missing," and the late visitors 

 were of course suspected of having stolen them. * Their 

 peace talk was considered only a dodge to get into the 

 camp to take observations preparatory to making an 

 attack; and so the prospectors becoming alarmed, "raised 

 camp and dusted," returning to the neighbourhood of the 

 nearest military station, the district headquarters. Their 

 story soon reached the ears of the general in command^ 

 and he sent for the author and his old comrade and com- 

 panion to talk the matter over. Assisted by the weed of 

 wisdom and the drink of deliberation, and paying us the 

 compliment of saying he considered we knew more about 

 savages and their ways and turn of mind than any men 

 whose opinions he could get, the general laid his plans 

 before us. 



The general's idea was to send us two out with a strong 

 force of cavalry ; if possible, find the camp of the chief of 

 the Apache- Yumayas, obtain a parley with and persuade 

 him to come himself, or send a deputation to him (the 

 general), to open negotiations, or, failing that, to capture any 

 of the tribe we could lay hands on, and bring our temporary 

 prisoner back to the fort, there to have the general's views 

 and wishes thoroughly explained to him ; a place for and 





