Adjutant. He will surely give them a fight if he catches them. That is just what he intends to do.
Mr. B. I am really sorry ; I thought I would be able to arrange some kind of terms for peace, in a day or two. [Rising to go.] I will be over again, and see what will have to be done. [Exit.
Enter Captain Winecoop, officer of the day. •
Adjutant. Well, Captain Winecoop, how is the garrison this morning ? All quiet since the raid on the mules ?
Capt. TV. Well, if I don't think that was the finest piece of strategy that I have seen in a long time. It was a most successful game played on the part of the red-skins.
Adjutant. What was it, Captain? let us hear.
Capt. W. Why, don't you know the Broadbrim agent held
a sort of a peace council yesterday, over oh the Washita Biver, and all the while he was entertaining them, and making propositions for peace with old Satanta, their young warriors were getting ready to steal the mules.
Adjutant I am satisfied in my own mind, and I think all of our military men are of the same opinion, that we never will have any peace until we give those warriors amp; good whipping, and make them stay on a reservation, and take their ponies away from them.
Capt. W. That is just what we have got to do. That is General Van Couvner's plan, and he openly and boldly says so. [Enter Mb. Littlejohn, a citizen of Texas.] Be seated, sir; what is the news down in Texas ?
Mr. L. We have had plenty of news down thar; an' most horrid news it is for us citizens: The young Kiowas war down thar yesterday, mounted on theer fleetest ponies, an' run off a lot uv fine blooded horses, an' killed one honest settler, an' tuk his wife an' two children, an' tied all three of 'em on a mule tha'd stole uv nabor Peppersnapps, an' then put 'em 'tween two big buck Injuns, who'd whip the mule first from one side an' then from tuther, an' kep' the mule a kickin', an' a snortin', an' a howlin' as if the hid Texas cavalry wer' arter 'em. They kep' up a big laugh an' a hollerin' all the while, an' thur fleet ponies was a runnin' thur best speed, an' I can tell yer, Capt'in, 'twas a horrid sight to look on-to.
Adjutant. It seems as though the Indians selected yesterday and last night to make their raid. They run off sixty-five mules from our herd last night, and the General is out after them now. You can see him when he returns, and he will render you and your citizens in Texas all the assistance in his power.
Mr. L. [rising to go.] I cen tell yer, Mr. Capt'in, if sum-thin' ain't done to keep them ar savages away from our settlers in Texas, we'll turn our Bangers on-to 'em with our shot-guns, and we'll pepper'em clean through the Brazos tu the Gulf of Mexico, an' will niver let one on 'em cum back here alive; now you may 'pend on thai Good- bye; I'll see the Gin'ral when he comes. [Exit Mb. L.
Enter General.
Adjutant Well, General, what success?
General. Not any success; the pesky red-skins had too much the start of us.
Adjutant. A citizen from Texas came in to-day and reported the Kiowas had been down there and killed one man and captured his wife and two children, and tied them on a mule, and forced it to run and keep up with their fleet ponies, and also stole a lot of fine blooded horses.
General. I heard they had made a raid there. The fact is, the whole Kiowa tribes have got to be surrounded, and the leading chiefs and warriors have got to be whipped. They may have peace councils, and smooth talk, and build school-houses; but I can tell them the warriors have got to be made to stay on their reservations, and stop this murdering and horse-stealing. [Enfer Mr. Broadbrim.] Good morning, Mr. Broadbrim. How are your pet Indians progressing in the way of farming and going to school ?
Mr. B. Well, I don't know why we can't make a complete success of it. The leading chiefs were at the council yesterday, and expressed a very strong desire to settle on farms and have their children go to school.
General Did you hear about the raid they made in Texas yesterday ?
Mr. B. Yes, sir. I hardly know what to do in the premises. Could thee make some suggestions in the case ?
General. Yes, sir; when my cavalry returns I will go out and surround the whole tribe, and make them surrender that woman and her two children, or else whip them right then and there, on the ground.
Mr. B. But you know it would be cruel for thee to bring a on a war!
General. We either want to do that, or take six leading chiefs and hold them as hostages, and then, if they refuse to surrender the captives, we will hang three of the chiefs, and make the warriors select which three they prefer to have hung. That is my way of handling Indians when they commence murdering men and capturing women and children.
Mr. B. But, G-eneral, I believe I can persuade them to bring in the captives for a small sum of money, or some goods in lieu thereof.
General. You may possibly ransom them for a good round price ; but it is a dangerous policy to pursue. My plan is, subjugation by whipping them-that is, if they persist in going on the war-path.
Mr. B. I will talk with the three leading chiefs when they come for rations, and see what can be done.
[Exit Mr. Broadbrim.
Enter General's Wife.
Wife. What pleases you, my dear ? How is it that you are so good-natured all at once ? Have the Kiowas done something to please you ?
General. No; but their school-teacher has. He is beginning to teach school among them before we can stop them from murdering and horse-stealing.
Adjutant [laughingly]. I think Mr. Broadbrim is a good man, and means all for the best; and will, in the outcome, make a very good Indian agent.
Wife. Why, yes; you know he has been here but a few weeks, and has had very little opportunity to get acquainted with them. You officers that have been in the service here for years, have learned their ways, and know better how to manage them.
General. I think he is making splendid progress with his new acquaintances. As Governor Wise would say, ' I don't think he has been properly introduced.' While he was introducing himself among the leading war chiefs at the council, the young .warriors were on one of their regular tours of rapine and murder. Their system of brigandage has been tolerated too long, and they must be made to desist. The fact is, I will have to take the cavalry and give them a good thrashing.
Enter Mr. Broadbrim.
Mr. B. General, Satanta, Lone Wolf, and Kickingbird are at the agency, for the purpose of drawing their rations, and I think it will be well to make them a proposition to bring
SUBJUGATING
in that woman and her two children they hold as captives ; also, to bring in those mules. What dost thee think about it ?
General. All the proposition you want to make to them is, that they will get no more rations for themselves nor their tribes, and they may look for a fight at any time, if they refuse to surrender that woman and her children, and drive back those mules they stole. Tell them you will withhold their rations until they comply with your demands. You never want to propose to the Indians; you must always make a formal demand, and then make them comply. That is the easiest and the quickest way to settle matters with them.
Mr. B. Dost thee think, General, I had better have the leading chiefs come in and talk with thee ? Dost thee think thee can have a better impression upon their untutored minds ?
General. We don't want to simply make an impression, we must make them comply with every demand that we may be pleased to make upon them. That policy rigidly enforced will soon settle the Indian troubles. They never will want whipping but once, you may depend.
Mr. B. All right. I will go and invite the chiefs here, to confer with thee. [Exit
General. Now we shall have a renewal of the farce. But I, for one, am resolved upon stern measures to force complete compliance on the part of the Indians with our demands.
CHAPTEE III
General Van Couvnor's Headquarters – Conference with leading
