The Apache 1930
judge not
"Why, Nas Te Bega, I love your people.
I am no spy, have pity!" Rodney Laramer uttered these words despairingly.
"You must go," the stern Indian chief had
made his decision, therefore the boy was led out in the desert a short distance
and then left in the sweltering sun without a drop of water or a bite of food.
Rodney Laramer was a young missionary who had
been working among this tribe of Ute Indians for a year. He knew every
Indian by name.
There was a camp of Blackfeet Indians about
seventy-five miles from Nas Te Bega's band, and it was this tribe's greatest
desire to conquer the other.
During the entire time that Rodney had been
in the Indian camp, Nas Te Bega had been making plans to make war on the
Blackfeet Indians. he trusted Laramer so much that he had planned and
counseled with the Indians in his presence.
One day some engineers stopped at the camp to
buy horses. They were accompanied by a Blackfoot Indian who was acting as
their guide. The Ute Indians resented this Indian's presence. They
would not speak to him or sell the engineers any horses.
The Blackfoot became very angry and began
boasting of his tribes.
"We know all your plans and within a month
you will be our captives."
The Utes only laughed at this, but to their
great astonishment the Blackfoot began telling them all the plans they had
worked out. As soon as the Blackfoot had spoken he new he had acted
foolishly because the Utes would change their plans and he knew his life was in
great danger also. He leaped on a horse and was away before the Utes
recovered their chagrin and astonishment. Then with shouts and curses they
were after him. They pursued him hotly for two hours, but to no avail.
As they angrily returned to camp the first person they saw was Laramer. He
was standing contently in the sun. No Ute Indian would betray his friends.
Laramer was the only white man in camp therefore he had been the traitor.
In their anger, they didn't stop to reason, but grabbed him, shouting, "Traitor,
Spy, we shall kill you!"
Laramer was surprised, but he thought they
were jesting, however he soon discovered that they were in earnest as they began
kicking him and jabbing him with their knives. He pleaded and reasoned
with them in vain. They took him to Nas Te Bega, who questioned him
closely. Laramer had to admit that he had been near the Blackfoot camp a
week ago after supplies.
"You have been my friend so I cannot kill
you, but you must leave camp on foot and without food or water."
So Laramer was taken three miles from camp.
Mid threats and kicks, he moved away from the last hope of life.
Laramer was dazed from the shock and the
blows he had received. He walked aimlessly for several hours.
Finally he began to take notice of things.
It was quite dark, his eyes burned and his body ached in every muscle. He
lay down to rest and await until morning when he could decide which direction to
go.
Campdon, the nearest settlement, was sixty
miles west of the Indian camp. He was going to try and reach it before he
perished.
His tired body relaxed and he was soon
sleeping soundly. When he awoke the sun was high in the heavens.
At noon he began to get faint, his footsteps
lagged and he began to see mirages, which at first filled him with hope, only to
be disappointed in the end. At sundown he saw a camp just in front of him.
He hurried ahead, but the thought came to him that it was only another maddening
mirage and he fell back dispiritedly into his old slow pace. As he walked
on, the mirage became plainer. His head was dizzy and he dimly wondered
why the mirage didn't fade. Suddenly his head cleared and he knew it was a
camp and not a mirage, because he could smell the delicious odor of frying
bacon. With a horse cry he hurried on and fell into the arms of the two
engineers, who had visited the Indian camp. They had heard his cry and had
come to see what it was. After the Blackfoot had deserted them they had
lost their way and had been wandering around in a circle. Scott and Bell,
the two engineers revived Laramer and gave him a small amount of food and water.
He told Scott and bell his story and offered
to guide them to their destination. the gladly accepted his offer and were
soon on their way to Spring Fork. They arrived there three days after
Laramer had joined them.
After a week Laramer found a job on a ranch.
It was hard work, but he didn't complain. He slept in one of several
shacks which were all connected together. A Mr. Slone slept in the room
next to Laramer's
One night as Laramer entered his room two men
were talking in the next room Unconscious that he was eavesdropping he
listened.
"Nas Te Betga is a clever old Indian.
You will have to be careful."
"Never fear, I want that pretty daughter of his. The
chief of the Blackfeet is willing to pay a good piece for her and that's what
I'm after. Chief Kaleg will surely have his revenge on Nas te Bega."
The man who had been visiting Slone left, and all was quiet.
Laramer realized that the Blackfeet Indians had hired Slone
to steal Nas te Bega's beautiful daughter, Mescal, in order to get revenge on
the old chief, who had recently spoiled the Blackfeet's plans. A white man
would not be suspected of stealing an Indian girl so that was the reason the
Blackfeet didn't kidnap.
"But what do I care," thought Laramer, I am only glad, after
Nas te Bega has treated me so unjustly." Laramer got into bed and tried to
sleep, but he kept think9ing of the conversation he had overheard. He
reasoned with himself, what was the chief or his daughter to him. he
remembered how Nas te Bega had taken care of him last winter when he was ill.
Mescal had also helped nurse him back to health. But it did look
suspicious. Suddenly he determined to save Mescal, but how? He had heard
Slone leave a half hour ago. Where was he now?
Laramer dressed quickly and went to the stable. One
horse was gone. So he knew Slone was ahead of him. There was no time
to wake up the boss and ask permission to go so he saddled a horse and was off
in the direction of the Ute camp.
Laramer didn't let his horse go at a full speed because he
knew a long, hard ride was before him. He was filled with remorse for not
starting as soon as he realized what Slone was going to do.
Laramer rode steadily through the long night. At
daybreak horse and rider began to droop, but still he pushed on. Could he
make it? He must try to his utmost ability, these thoughts kept running
through Laramer's mind as he scanned the desert. No one was in sight.
He urged his tired beast on. The only chance of saving Mescal was to reach
the camp first and be must do it.
Laramer had thought he hated all the Ute Indians in Nas te
Bega's band, but now he know he loved them all. And it would only
grieve every one of them if Mescal were to be taken away.
At noon there was still on sign of life in sight.
Laramer's tired head ached. Maybe there was no use to go on, Mescal was
probably stolen by now, however he kept on doggedly. Suddenly his horse
stumbled and fell flinging him into the soft sand. The horse had stepped
in a hole and broken his leg. There was nothing to do but kill the horse
and try to reach camp on foot.
He plodded through the sand what seemed an eternity.
Night came and he still went on.
All at once heard a thump, thump, just in front of him.
He stepped to one side and waited, lying very still in the sand. soon
Slone passed with Mescal in his arms. She was evidently gagged and her
hands were tied. Laramer knew he could not stop Slone but gathering all
his strength, he ran the rest of the way into the Indian camp.
"Hurry, for heaven's sake, get your horses and go after
Mescal!"
The Indians didn't understand. They grabbed Laramer and
were about to beat him when Nas te Bega came by and asked the trouble.
After some delay, while Laramer was frantically trying to
tell them Mescal was gone, they understood him. They all ran to Mescal's
tent and sure enough she was gone. In a few minutes twenty men were
mounted. Laramer had secured a horse and was at their lead. They
rode silently for two hours. The silence was maddening. Laramer
could have screamed. the old chief looked so sad and lonely that Laramer
was wrung with pity. At last by the light of the moon they sighted Slone
far ahead. The Indians and Laramer urged their houses on still faster.
They slowly gained on him as his horse was carrying a double burden. When
they were near enough, Nas te Bega threatened Slone and called for him to stop.
Slone paid no heed but kept spurring his horse.
Nas te Bega was afraid to shoot Slone for fear of hitting
Mescal so he only wounded Slone's horse. Slone at once jumped to the
ground, dropping Mescal. He began to run wildly pleading for mercy at
every jump. No one bothered to chase him. They all ran to see if
Mescal was all right. she was badly frightened and a little bruised , but
otherwise unhurt. Nas te Bega lifted her to his horse and the party
hastened back to camp to relieve the other Indians' anxiety. Then they all
shook hands with Laramer and begged his pardon.
"No one who would come this far to save my daughter would
betray my trust," Nas te Bega said clasping Laramer's hand.
Laramer forgave the Indians and stayed visiting with them
several days before returning to his work.
Years later a dying Indian confessed that he had told the
Blackfeet Indians Nas te Bega's plans for a small amount of money.