On The Way

 I rode down and cut the west road from Ft. Smith not far from the stage stop.  I headed up that trail and pulled up and was confronted by a man with a shotgun who wanted to know who I was and what did I want.  While I was explaining myself the old woman came out and vouched for me.  I was allowed to get down and come in.  She said, "Don't mind my son, he quit the stage and took over this place.  He's a little touchy about strangers, you know." 

I went in and took off my hat, it being the polite thing to do, and sat down at the table which was laid out for anybody to eat.  I served myself up a plate of meat and potatoes and dug in.  Soon there was the sound of a coach arriving.

Home

When I got back to Ft. Smith I reported in and quit.  The judge wanted to know why, and I said I'd had enough for now.  He nodded, saying it wasn't unusual, and stood, reaching across his desk to shake my hand.  He said, "Keep your badge as proof of your devotion to duty, and come back if you can."  I was grateful for his comment and left. 

i stopped off at a bar and right away noticed an old man drinking alone .  He was wearing a a cavalry hat.  I slid into a seat opposite him and signaled for a drink for him.  He nodded appreciation at me , and I said I noticed he was a cavalry man. 

 " What does that mean to you?' he wanted to know.  ""I'm in the market for a certain kind of hat," I replied and said, "yours is exactly what I'm looking for, wide brimmed, keeps the rain off.  I like my old Derby, but it won't keep the rain from running down my neck.  Look, I'll pay your price if it's not too dear.  If you were to sell, what would you ask?"  "But it's my hat, he complained.  "I know," I said, "That's why I'm asking.  How much?"  

He took off his hat and turned it in his hands, looked up at me, and said kind of wistfully, "Two dollars?"  I shook my head.  "Not enough.  I'll pay you fifteen,"  Silently he passed it over, and I put the money in front of him.  I reached inside, unsnapped the butterfly clips and laid the cavalry emblem by the money, also the gold cord hatband, saying, "I didn't earn these."

He noticed my badge still pinned to my vest and asked, "You a lawman?"  "Just retired, " I replied.  "Heading home, and it's  long way.  I just know I'll get rained on."   He seemed to feel easier about the deal now, and wished me well.  I bought him another drink and headed out.  My next stop was the hat shop where I purchased a Cherokee beaded hat band, and being all set I headed out.  next stop Midland, Texas. 

Well not exactly.  I rode up to the Ozarks and found Adam's grave.  I kicked over the stob I'd planted there and unshipped the stone I'd had made for him and placed where I hoped it'd remain for all time.  It said "Adam Crow, and the date he died, and Faithful Scout  and best Friend and my name: Blackie Mack"  Honeybun was happy to be releaved of the extra weight and so was I.  After I meditated a moment, I rode  off , headed for Texas.

Coming Home

The rain was pouring down, and I rode of to the southwest, headed for  Tahlequah, my home away from home as I saw it.  I rode in on a sunny day and pulled up at the marshall's office and stepped down.  I was made welcome, the marshall saying he was pleasantly surprised to see me alive.  I gave him a brief on what I'd been up to, and he cackled and slapped his knee.  When he said, "You are a oner," I felt embarrassed, but I smiled and nodded.  I mean what can you say?   I asked about the bummers that had fled, and he told me that most had left after the cavalry had cleared them out.  It seems that the one who had tried to have me shot had gotten in a fire-fight and lost his life, to no ones regret.  I had to agree.  Anyway, I asked about any business I needed to tend to.  He said he had none, but I should check in with Ft. Smith, and there was a telegraph office now available.

 This was something I wasn't used to, but I immediately took advantage of it and sent my first official report of my activities.   It wasn't long before I had a reply and a new bunch of duties. It seems there's no chance of  being off the hook.  I read through the flimsies and set myself up for my next duties.  It seemed there was a bunch of hooraws depredating this territory, and they needed taking down.  According to my orders it was up to me.  Oh, well. 

I bade goodbye to the marshall and rode out on the west road just to look around.  Pretty soon I met an old friend if I could call him that.  It was Jim Crow.  I saluted him and asked how he was doing.  He said he had changed his name, said he'd learned Jim Crow was a bad term, so he decided to change.  "So who are you now?"" I am Adam Crow," he avowed.  "Pleased to meet you, Adam," I said, and he seemed to accept my recognition.  We rode on together companionally until we smelled smoke.  It was coming from a small farm house up ahead.  I jumped down and ran in, but there was nothing I could do.  When I came out I told Adam there were three bodies in there, a family it looked like, and they'd all been shot.  We left it burning and rode on, following the hoof tracks that led away from the scene.

Soon we came upon another farm, but this one wasn't afire.  Instead a man with a shotgun stood his ground in front of his door and wanted to know what we wanted.  I told him I wanted to know what had been going on, and told him about what had happened to his neighbors.  He shook his head and said,"It was the sound of shooting that alerted us, so when they got here I was ready.  I peppered them with one barrel, and they took off. They headed off up the hill there, if you're trying to catch them."

We were headed of when he hollered, "Is that an indian with you?"  I said '"so what/?  He said, "just keep an eye on him."  I pulled Piaono around and gave him the eye  saying, "you are living in Charokee territory You might show a little respect."  Then we rode on, and Adam Crow said no word.

It wasn't hard to follow the trail of the murderers up through the brush, and soon we looked down on a campsite below.  I told Adam to cover me as I intended to ride down into them.  I slung my rifle in place and headed down.

They didn't show any back-up as I approached, and I was on my guard.  I came up to them and told them I intended to arrest them as per the warrants I had and for the murders they had done.  A couple of them laughed, and gave me some lip which I wasn't surprised at, but the most seemed to be inclined to be reasonable, when it all went nuts.  That was when with a wild war-whoop Adam Crow came riding down on them.  Well they scattered and went to shooting, and I fired my rifle into one and let it hang, pulling out my 45 and firing right and left.  Getting a moment I pulled out my Schofield and began to shoot for effect.  Soon they were all down.  Looking around I saw Adam's horse standing with his head down.  I rode over and found him on the ground.

I jumped off Piano and ran to his side. It was obvious he'd been shot through the middle, and he grimaced at me, saying "they got me , take their hair for me."  I just looked at him and shook my head.  He smiled and said, "You owe me."  I nodded and he coughed and passed with a smile still on his lips.  I thought, "You old son of a bitch, you got me back for denying you those Sioux scalps before."

Without any thoght or hesitation I scalped the dead men laying about, except for the bald headed one which would have been insulting in many ways.  Then I went up on a nearby hill and dug a grave, and I carried Adam up there and put him in it with his scalps.  Then I covered him over and drove in a stob at the head of his grave so I could find it again.  Then, although I was worn out, I went down and found a gulley with an over-hanging bank and tumbled the rest of the bodies down and caved it in on them.

Down that valley I found a decent camp, made a fire, fed my mounts, and made some bacon and beans for me and Boot.  Then I rolled up in my blanket and slept like the dead.

When I awoke next morning I made coffee and packed up.  I set off for Tahlequah and on arrival there discovered the town marshall had retired, so I didn't know anybody.  I telegraphed Ft. Smith with my news and also to the fort where I'd first met Jim Crow letting the captain there know about Adam's honorable end.  All that being done, I rode out on the road to Ft. Smith. 



  `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````I

New Rifle

One of the first thing I did was go shopping for a rifle.  There were all kinds available, but I had been impressed by the troopers Springfield carbines.  True they were out of date and only single shot, but they had a real kick with a powerful cartridge.  I  settled on one at a shop for a good price as it was surplus and bought a box of 45-70 rounds.  Now I felt I was fully armed.  Next I re-provisioned my travelling kit and loaded up Honeybun, who naturally objected to any extra weight.  Well, here we went.

I rode off toward Burke and stopped of at the stage stop.  The old lady was still there and her son, who had quit the stage line to run the stop,  was well armed and suspicious until he knew who I was.  Then I was made welcome.  As they fed me, the son said he'd heard there was a bounty out on me.  Well, it wouldn't be the last time I heard that, and I said it just went with the job and I let it go.  They asked me to stay, but I said I had some orders to attend to and needed to talk to the sherrif in Burke before I'd know what to do next.  I stayed the night and left next morning, arriving in Burke about noon.


The sherrif  was glad to see me and filled me in on the local news. He said, "We blasted open Old Charlies safe out back to see if there was anything in there , but there was nothing but the deed to his store and about fifty dollars. Nothing for him to die over." I shook my head. what could I say.  Then I asked if there had been any unusual activity.  He told me that a crowd of yahoos had riden through a week before, but they didn't stop, being in somewhat of a hurry.  They'd headed out to the north, declaring that they would set up in the Ozarrks and damn the US government.  Since they went out of his jurisdiction he just let it go.  He added that they had left with threats against me personally which in light of recent experience I found as no surprise.  I thanked him and set out the next morning for Indian territory once again.

Crossing the Arkansas brought me into Osage country, and though I camped several nights I had no strange dreams and rode on up to Tahlequa in the Cherokee land.

There I checked in with the sherrif, a town marshal now, who was glad to see I was still alive.  He had more news for me, "You might like to know the bummers you helped run off have a bad case against you, blaming you for everything, including the success of the cavalry", he said.  "Well, I replied," it's not unusual for cowards to avoid a fight with the cavalry.  I s'pose they have to pin their failures on one man."  We both grinned, and he told me the last they were seen they were headed up into the Ozarks to hide out.  I showed him my writs, and he urged me to take care, because there were many of them, and even offered to form a posse to accompany me.  It was tempting, but I had to turn him down.  I had one more stop to make before I turned up country.

Two days later I rode in at the fort I'd stopped at before.  It was almost deserted.  The captain in charge was still there and happy to see me.  I felt I owed him a report and gave it.  I asked after Jim Crow, but he had no recent news.  "I gather Jim Crow isn't exactly happy with you", he said.  I told him that was because I wouldn't let him scalp the Souix we killed.  He shook his head, "You may have made an enemy; that's an ongoing blood-feud, and you told him no,  If you meet him again, be careful , my friend."  I told him my intention to head up into the hills after a bunch of yahoos for whom I had warrants, and he offered me a squad of troopers as an escort.  I had to refuse, because it was unlikely I'd slip up on anybody in the company of mounted troopers.

The next morning I headed uphill.  I rode up the line of the stream I'd originally come down to the fort, nut soon I found a way to the east and away from the stream.  Riding up the hills I soon toipped out on a rise where I could get a look around.  Down below was a valley and beyond was a monument of  hills.  Looked like a trap to me.

I jumped down from Piano and slapepd him  on the butt.  Boot as usual was right under my feet.  Then I heard a loud bray, and Honeybun took of across the valley.  The best I could do was set up with my rifle, and I saw a man aiming at my mule so I shot him.  He flipped off his rock , and I mounted  Piano  and rode like hell to where they were.

I arived in the midldle of a fire fight and pulled out my Colt  and fired left and right.  then I pulled out my Schofield and fired for effect.  Pretty soon there were no others on the ground.  I counted six down and at least two had been stomped by Honeybun.  I deprived the bodies of there weapons and ammunition and loaded it all on Honeybun who complained.  I gave her a hug and a word, so that she felt appreciated, then I did the same for Piano and Boot, 'cause they had done their part.  Then I reloaded and set out to track down the rest of my enemies.

The hills of the Ozarks had a lot of ups and downs, so I constantly had to be aware of what was next.  Pretty soon I came out under some oak trees over a shallow valley and spied some campfire smoke.  Easing down through the woods, I could see a large camp of men below.  It occurred to me that I was outnumbered, so I laid low for a while.

I tied my mounts and told Boot to lay low and took my rifle into the trees.  I found a good place to watch the camp and settled down.  I decided I could stir them up without to much risk so i blew their coffee pot off the fire.  Well, that started a hooraw.  Everybody headed for the woods and started shooting in every direction.

I might mention that I had swapped over to smokeless  powder several years before, because it doesn't give you away.
you wouldn't believe some of these idiots were still firing black powder.  All I had to do was fire into their smoke.  After a couple of shots I moved my position so they'd have no idea.

Pretty soon I heard some crashing in the brush and soon saw a somebody poke his head up to look around.  It was too easy, I shot him.  Then I moved again.  After a while nobody came looking, and I heard horses riding out.

When things got quiet I saddled up and rode down to their campsite.  No one was around.  I dismounted and looked around.  There was nothing to see.  I looked in the trees and found a couple of bodies where I had shot.  It seemed like I'd whittled down my opposition.  I followed on. 

It began to rain, so I broke out my slicker and my wide-brim hat.  Boot got up under his tarp on Honeybun's back, and we proceeded through the woods.  It wasn't long before I spied a group of wet and cold troublers trying to light a fire without much success.  I rode in among them with my rifle covering them.  They wanted to know what I wanted, so I said, "your  surrender.  I have warrants for your arrest."  They looked thunderstruck, and one of them said, "what if we won't?"  So I pointed my rifle at him, and said, "say the word." 

I told them to saddle up and ride to Ft. Smith where they were to turn themselves into the judge there, and to tell him they were doing so at my direction.  They did that, and that was the end of this nonsense.  There I sat in the rain all alone in the middle of the Ozarks. 

Down the River

I stuck my jack of clubs in my hatband and sauntered into the main salon.  It didn't take long for me to get involved in a game, and I did alright.  That marked me as someone to pay attention to.  After that I had no trouble finding a game, and so I eased on down the river making a little and losing a little to keep everything sort of even.  This kept everything easy until one night I came up against  a sharper.  I couldn't catch him at it, but I'm sure he had something up his sleeve.  Nevertheless I beat him on a bluff, and he called me out as a cheat.  I had my Colt in my waist band as a belly gun, and I pulled it.  "Say you're sorry'" I said, and he backed down.  After that I only played with gentlemen.

It was a pleasant journey, but after a while it got boring.  When we finally got to Memphis I was ready to disembark.  I got my mounts and got on a ferry for the Arkansas side of the river.  they were fat and lazy and needed some riding, so off we went toward Ft. Smith.  It was a pleasant journey through the piney woods and hills, and we camped where we wanted to and I even fished from time to time.  On the third day out we rode into a peaceful looking valley, and I decided to stop for a while.  Nothing could have been more pleasant.  Going down to the stream for water I heard  Honeybun bray and I pulled my Colt.  Climbing back, I saw a couple of men messing with my mounts, so I fired a round at them.  when I ran into our campsite they all turned on me, and I got shot.  several times.  As I lay there I heard one say '"is he dead?" The other said '"not yet", but then I heard a lot of gunshots before I faded away.

I awoke to the face of a black  man with sargents stripess on his arm asking me  could I hear him.  Then I faded out again.  Next I woke up and was being levered over by a fire, and I faded out again. Then I woke up to a white officer telling me I was lucky to be alive, which made me comfortable , and I faded out again.

When I finally woke up I was aware of my surroundings, but not of my when-dings as it were. A black NCO sat me up and gave me a cup of coffee . I was appreciative.  "What am I doing alive?' I asked , said I.  "Wait on the captain, " said my minister.  So I had to be content to wait.

Soon the captain came and  filled me in.  He said, "It's not really an accident that we came upon you; but the timing was fortunate, for you.  You see, we were actually looking for you."  I was surprised and showed it,  He said, "My regiment, the 9th cavalry, passed through Ft. Smith in pursuit of a band of bummers we were chasing after they fled from Cherokee territory.  Your office new of your activities in Tahlequa and learned that said bummers were hunting for you."  "Me, why?"  I wanted to know. "Well," he answered, "the operation you broke up was backed by some influential people, and we figure revenge was the motive.  It was a good thing your telegram revealed your plans."  "Damn," I said, "I sent no wire.  The sherrif must have."  "Good thing he did, then.  My Colonel told off my company to ride like hell down the Memphis road.  Seems like we were in time.  The rest of the regiment is headed up to the Missouri to embark for Montana where we are ordered to round up the Cree.  By the way, you're welcome, he grinned.  " I'm sorry if I seemed ungrateful," I said, "I'm just now getting my mind around all this."

i seemed to recuperate well over the next day or two, and soon I was ready to ride.  The captain introduced mr to his  company. "These gentlemen are known as 'buffalo soldiers" said he."  "They fight against indian foes of the United States and any others who fight against our laws." I raised my hat to them, and they gave me a hurrah.  We rode out toward Ft. Smith, and I felt as safe as I've ever been.

When we arrived at Ft. Smith I bade goodbye to my rescuers and reported in.  The judge wasn't happy with me and gave me down the road about my not staying in touch.  I had to agree that I hadn't been keeping him up with my activities, but I pointed out I hadn't any other duties ordered.  This didn't make any difference to him, and he read me out for my lack of  intrerest.  Then he gave me a whole bunch of writs to take care of , which at least meant I still had a job.  I went out and waved goodbye to the buffaloe soldiers who rode out whooping behind their proud captain, and then they were gone.  I took a turn down the street thinking about how my life had been changed lately.  It looked like to me that I as going to have to be more careful.

Ozark adventure

I headed out of Cherokee territory and leaned in toward the foothills of the Ozarks.  I climbed into the foothills and felt as free as a bird.  All my responsibilities had been taken care of.  For a change I didn't have anything to do.  I was free.  It was nice while it lasted.

We rode along easy for several days fording creeks and camping where it felt comfortable.  I had picked up a couple of boxes of Schofield rounds before I left and tossed the idea around again of using them in my Colt army, but I still had a belt full of the longer 45's for it so it didn't seem like anything urgent.  I do favor the Schofield, because it's more accurate, what with its 7 inch barrel and being quicker to load, but the Colt is useful up close and it's quick.  Oh, well, maybe someday they'll make a Schofield with a cylinder long enough for the bigger loads.  Just dreaming.  Anway, of an evening I'd sit by the fire and clean and oil my guns.  Always wished I had learned to play a banjo or a mouth harp. Maybe when we get to the Missouri I can buy one.

Late one afternoon as I prepared to cros another of the main streams that drained the hills I spied off in the flats below a small fort, maybe an army post.  It looked inviting since I was getting bored, so I turned us down -slope and came to the gate which was open about sunset.  Riding in I was made welcome and given a bunk and supper and slept the night indoors.

In the morning a corporal asked me to follow him to the commanders office where a captain inquired about m business.  I identified myself and stated my business had been completed, and I was on my own time 'till I got back, which I was in no hurry to do.

He laughed at that and told me he wished he could say the same.  Then he asked me if I was open to anything interesting.  I hated it, but I had to ask what he meant.  It seemed there had been some "incidents" as he put it locally; murders, scalpings, burnings, and such.  Settlers mostly.  I had a bad feeling.

"What do you want from me" I asked.  It seemed he wanted me to look into his problems.  I could only say that i'd keep my eyes open.  "Fair is fair" he replied., leaving me obligated.  As a sop he offered me the assistance of a scout in his employ, a Crow indian.

I met Jim Crow that morning as I mounted up and he  named hinself.  That  self nameing
seemrd like  a smartaleck way of takeing a name, but I went along with it.  Who knows.  He had that look about him that said screw you, and I appreciated it.  It sang to me. "Come on ,then", I said, and then we mounted up and rode out.

We made our way down the valley, looking for signs of trouble until Jim Crow said ' "look there".  There was a plume of smoke.  So w rode there. It was a settlers farm house in flames.  I dismounted and ran inside, but there wasn't anything I could do.  Beating the sparks off my clothes, I came out and cussed, "there're people in there, dammit."  Jim Crow nodded from his mount as if he wasn't surprised.  I cried out, "who could have done this?"  "Oglala," said Jim Crow in a calm manner.
"Why them?," I wanted to know.  "Because they hate their lose up in the Dakotas," said he.

"Lets go'"  I said , and we rode off.  I quartered back and forth tracking the pony prints until I got a trail and set out to follow.  Then we  dogged the trail until we ran it to the ground.

It was late that night when we came up on them.  We could here all kinds of whooping from down below.  Easing down through the woods, we found a scene of murder;  three men had been killed and scalped in their sleep around their campfire . 

We carefully checked the bodies and found they had been killed in their sleep.  I made sure Jim Crow was silent , and we moved on down through the woods. After a while we just sat and held our horses by their reins untl the noise died down.  Finally we got up and went down to the campsite of the renegades.  They were laid out drunk from the whisky they had looted from their victims, just snoring away peacefully.  I pulled my knife, an Arkansas toothpick,  and Jim Crow pulled his.  I knelt down and put my left hand over the mouth of the man I attacked and stabbed him in the heart..  He groaned and died..  Looking up I saw Jim Crow had cut the throats of the other two and was preparing to take their hair.  I put a stop to that.  Why, he wanted to know.

"Because," I said they don't deserve the honor.  "They are murderers, and don't deserve to be left as warriors on the field."  "Wait a minute," I said and went to the edge of the clearing and cut a sapling.  I trimmed it and sharpened it and drove it into the ground.  Then I took a couple of piggen strings from my saddle and tied the scalps they'd taken to the sapling.  "Now,," I said," when their friends find them they'll get the message that they are dishonored, and this is what they can expect for any more such behavior, understand?" Jim  Crow didn't understand, but he damn sure didn't argue. 

We rode on down through the pines into the breaks of the Missouri, and finally came out on the banks of the Big Muddy.  There we parted company.  Jim Crow took his pay without any thanks and rode off.  I guess he was dissatisfied with me.  Oh, well.  I rode on down to a landing and sat in to wait on a riverboat.  Pretty soon one came along and we got on board.  Once I'd got my mounts taken care of, Boot and I got a cabin on the main deck and settled in.  After that it was easy times from then on.

 

Cherokee warrants

It was pleasant riding by farms and homesteads that looked like normal  places.  Soon I came to a regular town with proper houses and stores,so I asked where the sherrif's office was at and got directed.  I pulled up there and got down and went in and introduced myself to the man who was there.  He was a full blooded Cherokee wearing the badge of office and asked me what I wanted.. I introduced myself and laid my warrants on his desk.  He perused them for a moment and said, "
well, you have got a row to hoe."  "Where do I start?", I asked. He replied, "in the saloon across the street, but be careful."  I nodded and left.

I left Piano and Honeybun tied at the sherifs ofice and headed out across the street saying,"come on Boot."

Stepping up on the boardwalk I noticed a couple of hardcases whom I ignored , and I went on in.  The bartender said."Hey, no dogs alowed,"  Which I ignored.  Looking around I saw a man playing solitaire at a table. I approached him and made myself known to him.  Very calmly he made it plain that he had no worrries about me.  At which point I commanded him to accompany me to the bank.

At that point one of his hoodlums pulled a  gun and Boot took him down .  I said"I repeat come on along."  We walked over to the bank.

At the bank I spoke to the manager, demanding his records of my companions business.  He objected until he saw my warrants and produced them.  As I had expected they showed that the properties of many native Cherokees had been taken illegally.  I put these under government seal.

My  companion raised a cry,"You can't do this,  I have friends in high places."   I said, "call your friends," and walked out.
\
Out on the street I saw some of the hardcases moving about.  I walked over to Piano and retieved my Schofield from its saddle holster and shoved it in my belt.

As I moved out I heard  the tinhorn cry, "Take him!", at which point things got busy.  The gunny nearest the saloon door pulled his belt gun and I shot him.  Suddenly whoosh-boom my hat flew off, and I knelt and fired at that shooter.  He slammed up against a wall and dropped. I looked carefully up and down the street, and seeing no more threats picked up my hat and dusted it off.  I put it on, holes and all.  Continuing on, I crossed over and entered the bar.  With Boot.  The bartender was backed up against his bottle display with both his hands in sight.  I looked around and saw nobody.

Out on the street I saw no one, so I went over to the sheriff's office He was still sitting there.  "I see you're still alive," he commented laconically. "Is there a good hatter in town?", I responded.  He looked at my hat and chuckled, "Either your're very lucky or very good.  Maybe both.  Yeah, there's a tailor who can patch your hat.  What have you got for me?"

I gave him the documents from the bank , and he said he'd see to it that the rightful owners were reimbursed.  "What about that tinhorn who called for my shooting?", I asked.  " I heard he saddled up and rode like the wind down the west road," the sheriff replied.  "You know he'll pop up again somewhere, and you'll have to do this all again don't you?"  I eyeballed him for a minute and said'"sufficient to the day."  He laughed and said, "It's been a pleasure meeting you.  Oh, by the way my people are already clearing up the mess out there.  Go get your hat fixed and ride on.  Godspeed.

s








a