Page:The Overland Monthly Volume 5 Issue 3.djvu/23



persecutor, tired of the cdéntest, bows him down in gradual humility; and then our Gila, curving around in triumphant rush, with accelerated impetus, seeks his normal course, first by the due north, then westing gradually—thus making and leaving a large tract of fertile land, inclosed by its own banks on three sides. The large tongue of land thus formed has been made very productive by the river's Meanderings and overflowings; and here one of those speculations, of doubtful use and beneficence —an Apache reservation—has been located.

The location of the post was wisely taken, and in accordance with the views of former military men who had operated in this country: being well placed for easy communication with the many valuable mining-camps of the region—a region in which the tradition of the Red Man and experience of the White have concurred, even to the present day, to describe as unsurpassed in mineral wealth.

It was also well adapted for the recruiting of animals, broken down by service in this sterile country —having good and abundant grass, so that cavalry could be effectively maintained, and ready for instant service against the Apaches, whose favorite country this was. It was here, too, that the warrior, so well known and dreaded—Mangas Colorado, or Red-Sleeve, a name significant of his bloody renown—rode his fierce raids of plunder and death; and here, but a short time after the establishment of the post, and previous to that scout forming the heading of this paper, that he of the red-sleeve met his fate from the bullet of a cavalry Sergeant; not such as such a warrior might be expected to meet, but while drunk, and a prisoner in the guard-house. A

wonderful man was Mangas: a mind of steel in a body of iron; a giant, mentally and physically, with all the devilish propensities that giants in all ages have been accredited with.

Six feet four inches in his moccasins; square of shoulder; broad of chest; Jong of limb; bright of eye; quick of movement—all these told concord with the square, massive jaw, always indicative of immovable resolution.

You should have heard him laugh.

No pleasant risibility, like that which used, in Florida, to make Billy Bowlegsaudible smiles the heartiest and merriest noise in our camp, was his: it was a guttural, short bark, of great depth and volume, as though there was much savage oxygen in the caverns whence those portentous sounds issued. Was it that even in a jocular mood, the animus of his race mingled with the softer emotions, and thus he laughed as one who "scorned himself that he could laugh;" or that he had a presentiment of evil, even from the hospitality of the White Man, and his laugh was a protest and warning from the spirit-land? Be that as it may, he died here an ignoble death, and he died thus: The white flag had hung amicably from the garrison, visible to a great distance, for several days, before any of the Indians came into camp, from their hiding- places in the surrounding mountains. A squaw came in first—came with great trepidation; she was well-treated, and told to bring others in; next day came men, women, and children; they were fed, and given small presents; but at last came him for whom all the display had been made, the planet of these lesser lights—Mangas, the great.

A few interviews wore off the shyness and suspicion which our visitors habitually indulged in; and they no longer seemed like wild beasts furtively glancing at every movement of our people. Yet neither they nor we relaxed proper vigilance, and it needed no twice telling them to leave camp at sunset. Every morning they would return, eat all they could get, squat on the ground, smoke continually, take all your presents with