IN THE PECOS COUNTRY

CHAPTER I. A WARNING

In the valley of the Rio Pecos, years ago, an attempt at founding a
settlement was made by a number of hardy and daring New Englanders,
whose leader was a sort of Don Quixote, who traveled hundreds of miles,
passing by the richest land, the most balmy climate, where all were
protected by the strong arm of law, for the sake of locating where the
soil was only moderate, the climate no better, and where, it may be
said, the great American government was as powerless to protect its
citizens as was a child itself. The Rio Pecos, running through New
Mexico and Texas, drains a territory which at that time was one of the
most dangerous in the whole Indian country; and why these score or more
of families should have hit upon this spot of all others, was a problem
which could never be clearly solved.

The head man, Caleb Barnwell, had some odd socialistic theories, which,
antedating as they did the theories of Bellamy, were not likely to
thrive very well upon New England soil, and he pursuaded his friends to
go with him, under the belief that the spot selected was one where they
would have full opportunity to increase and multiply, as did the Mormons
during their early days at Salt Lake. Then, too, there was some reason
to suspect that rumors had reached the ears of Barnwell of the existence
of gold and silver along this river, and it was said that he had hinted
as much to those whom he believed he could trust. Be that as it may, the
score of families reached the valley of the Upper Pecos in due time, and
the settlement was begun and duly christened New Boston.

"How long do yer s'pose you folks are goin' to stay yer? Why, just long
enough for Lone Wolf to hear tell that you've arriv, and he'll down here
and clear you out quicker'n lightning."

This was the characteristic observation made by the old scout, hunter
and guide, Sut Simpson, as he reined up his mustang to chat awhile with
the new-comers, whom he looked upon as the greatest lunk-heads that he
had ever encountered in all of his rather eventful experience. He had
never seen them before; but he did not care for that, as he had the
frankness of a frontiersman and never stood upon ceremony in the
slightest degree.

"Did you ever hear tell of Lone Wolf?" he continued, as a group,
including nearly the entire population, gathered about the veteran of
the plains. "I say, war any of you ever introduced to that American
gentleman?"

He looked around, from face to face, but no one responded. Whenever he
fixed his eye upon any individual, that one shook his head to signify
that he knew nothing of the Apache chief whose name he had just
mentioned.