392 BUFFALO LAND. ^ 



purloined greenbacks were probably scattered on the 

 ground, or fastened, for the sake of the pictures, on 

 Avigwam walls, instead of being put out at interest. 



Our little adventure gave rise to another evening 

 of "vagabondizing." Each one of our men, includ- 

 ing the Mexicans, had some Indian tale of thrilling 

 interest to relate, in which he had been the hero. 

 Jose, a cross-eyed child of our sister Republic, spun 

 the principal yarns of the occasion. He had com- 

 menced outwitting Death while yet an infant, being- 

 content to remain quiet under a baker's dozen of 

 murdered relations, that he might be rescued after 

 the paternal hacienda had taken fire, by somebody 

 who survived. 



After a careful analysis of several thousand re- 

 markable stories which were told to us first and last 

 during our journey, I have deemed it wise to repeat 

 only those which we were able to corroborate after- 

 ward. Among the latter is a narrative that was 

 given us by the guide on this occasion, having for 

 its text a side remark to the efi'ect that crazy Ann, 

 the wild huntress whom we met above Hays, was 

 not the first lunatic who had been seen wandering 

 upon the plains. About the close of 1867, a small 

 body of Kiowas appeared in the vicinity of Wilson's 

 Station, a few miles above Ellsworth, being first dis- 

 covered by a young man from Salina, who was herd- 

 ing cattle there. They rushed suddenly upon him, 

 and he fled on his pony toward the station, a mile 

 away. The chief's horse alone gained on him, and 

 the savage was just poising his spear to strike him 

 down, when the young man turned quickly in his sad- 



