Tom turned to an old Indian, who, he said, was next in rank to To hausen, and explained to him in Mexican who we were and the object of our visit. The old warrior then in a loud voice made an announcement to the camp in the Kiowa tongue, after which he repeated to Tom what he had told his people.
"This old fellow," explained Tom to the captain, "is named Lobo. He told the Indians that I said: 'These two white men are our good friends. One of them is a captain of soldiers from the fort. They heard that our chief was very sick and they have come all the way from the fort to bring some more good medicine for To hausen. They are good men an', Kiowas, you must be good to 'em. Our camp an' all that we have is at their service. Make them welcome, Kiowas.'
"Now," continued Tom, "as Lobo says, 'the camp is yours.' He has given orders to his women to unsaddle your horses an' unpack your mule, an' some of the youngsters will drive your animals out an' put 'em in the herd. He has also ordered the women to clear out one half of his lodge for your use, an' your saddles an' beddin' will be carried in an' placed there, where you are to sleep. You are at liberty to go where you please about the camp, enter any lodge you choose, an' you'll find 'em all friendly and agreeable; an' you an' everything you have will be perfectly safe so long as you are their guest. Now, you'll have to excuse me, for I must go to my patient."
"By the way, how is the old chief?" asked the captain.
"Pretty feeble. His age is against him, for he must be up in the seventies. I'm getting the fever pretty well under control, and if he gets no backset I think I can pull him through. I have my bed close by him an' I try to keep the lodge at as even a temperature as possible; but I have to do most everything myself, for these Injuns can't be made to savvy how to take care of the sick. Now, I must go."
After seeing our animals sent out to the herd and our saddles and bedding taken into Lobo's lodge, we went inside, spread our bed, and then took a stroll about camp. Everything here—the Indians, their dress and habits—was new, strange, and deeply interesting to Captain Saunders, who had never before seen a wild Indian.
Noticing To hausen's dilapidated old ambulance standing near his lodge, I said:
"Captain, do you see that old government ambulance?"
"Yes," he replied, "and I have been wondering at it and was going to ask you if many of the Indians have such vehicles?"
"No. I don't know of another Indian on the plains who sports an ambulance or any other wheeled vehicle to ride in. I must tell you how he came by this one. In the spring of '59 the Kiowas were becoming restless, and disregarding the warnings and advice of the old chief, who was always friendly to the whites, they were inclined to follow the lead of Satank, who is always unfriendly. They were threatening to go on the war-path. Our command of four companies of First Cavalry, under Major John Sedgwick, was sent out on the plains from Fort Riley with orders to range along the Arkansas River to try to keep the Indians in subjection. The Pike's Peak gold excitement was at its height then, and an outbreak of the Indians would be a serious affair. Old To hausen tried hard to keep the Kiowas peaceable, but succeeded in holding only this small band of about a hundred warriors, the rest of the tribe following Satank. To hausen often visited our camps and our officers often gave him and his adherents presents. Our quartermaster, Lieutenant James B. McIntyre, had this old ambulance on hand, and, as it was about played out, he got it condemned by a board and was thinking of burning it to get rid of the old trap, when it occurred to him to make a present of it to To hausen if he would accept it. The old fellow was very much pleased to think of riding about in such a rig as our commanding officer sometimes used. Lieutenant McIntyre had his blacksmith put the old rattletrap in serviceable shape; and then put harness on a pair of the old chiefs mustangs and had them broken to work by some of the soldiers and turned the outfit over to To hausen. But neither he nor any of his men could learn to use the lines and, after a few efforts they dispensed with the lines altogether, and, putting a boy on each bronco of the team, they have since navigated the ambulance in that shape. Indian-like, they generally travel at a gallop, whether the ground is smooth or rough, and often break something, but they tie it up with rawhide to hold the parts together till they can get to Fort Larned or Fort Lyon, and then the quartermasters have their men patch it up again for the old man."