Cauldron of Violence by E. C. Tubb

Author:E. C. Tubb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Spencer Ltd
Published: 1957-04-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

In 1867 Indian Territory, or the Nations as it was popularly called, was largely unsurveyed prairie and as yet unexplored wilderness. Within certain defined boundaries were tribes of Indians who had been given that area as their own. But no one quite knew just where the Indian Territory began and Indians roamed from the Red River to the Arkansas, their only restraint being a small cavalry attached to one of the scattered forts. These detachments were supposed to maintain law and order, protect the white man and enforce peace on the Indians. They failed because they could do nothing else.

The white men themselves did not help matters. Word and rumor had spread that the Indian Territory contained great riches in minerals, soil and gold. The State of Texas had already claimed a slice of the Nations and was ready to fight for it. Kansas, New Mexico, and Colorado were eager to follow the example of the Lone Star State and had sent small parties of surveyors into the Nations in an effort to both map the territory and to gain some idea of the wealth contained within it.

The Indians, Seminoles, Choctaws, Chickasaws and their tribal brothers the Sioux had resisted such excursions and the scalps of many white men hung from the coup poles of the lodges. The neighboring states resented this rough justice and demanded that the cavalry afford a greater degree of protection. The Indian Office in charge of Indian Affairs replied with the accusation that any white men entering the Nations were doing so at their own risk and must accept responsibility. The Indians, convinced that they were in the right, unrestrained or angered by the cavalry, took reprisals wherever and whenever they could. In short the Indian Territory was a simmering cauldron of violence with murder, torture and sudden death waiting for anyone fool enough to enter into it without taking full precautions.

Into this area Colin led his train of twelve ill-equipped wagons.

He was uneasy, alert, ready for any trouble which might come, but as he rode his horse he seemed wholly at ease. At first the journey had been without incident, his insistence on lightening the loads had enabled the oxen to haul the wagons without strain to themselves or the vehicles. So the spirits of the wagon folk rose, as day followed day and Independence fell far behind.

"Colin!"

He turned at the call and reined in as Julia rode up beside him. Now that they had left civilization she had donned a pair of her father's jeans, a garb which would have earned her hoots of derision in any town, and rode her horse with an ease which betrayed her skill in the saddle.

"Hello Julia, your Pa know where you are?"

"Of course." She guided her horse beside his own. "Ma didn't like it but then Ma's old fashioned. What's the harm in me riding out with you on a hunt?"

"Plenty." Colin knew the strict code of the West as applied to women-folk. "You want

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