Part 6 (2/2)

It is about two o'clock and we have been riding since half-past seven

I have had a first rate time but I do not see that there has been much in it to interest any one but entle reader” comes in, I am afraid I cannot see, and if I cannot see it I fear he will be in a bad way It has pleased and interestedunder difficult circumstances and with so much discomfort but as I say I was not sent out here to improve ood things in the East If we could have a fight or so that would excuse andand discomfort the story would have a suitable finale and a raison d'etre However, Iout of it if only to abuse the Govern a jack rabbit with a brass band or by praising thetheir duty when they know there is no duty to be done

This country iselse and drives one crazy with its monotony and desolation And to think ent to ith Mexico for it-- To-day is my tenth day with the troops in the camp and in the field and I will leave them as soon as this scout is over which will be in three days at the o to Corpus Christi and froet baths, hair cuts and a dinner and cool things to drink-- One thing has pleased me very much and that is that I, with Tyler and the Mexican Scoutrecord of the troop since they have been in the field this winter The others rode 115 eant, after revolutionists, and we made 110 miles in 33 hours The rest of the detach the extra thirty to our credit was an accident On the 31st Hardie sent out the scout and two troopers, of which Tyler was one, to get a trail and as I had been resting and loafing for three days, I went out with theht after breakfast and returned at seven, having ot in we found that a detach out on inforot fresh horses and put out at nine o'clock by ht That was to keep the people in the ranch fro out We rode until half-past three in theand then camped at the side of the road until half--past six, e rode on until five in the afternoon The rew more and eant was very fearful for his record for which he has been recommended for the certificate of merit The Captain was very much pleased and all the ood ride for Tyler who is a fifth year man was so tired that he paid a man to do his sentry duty We slept at Captain Hunter's ca thirty o on into the brush again I a record and of et near a post-office

dick

February 4th-- We rode fortyof Garza, as supposed to be in it But we captured 3 revolutionists, one of whoot him Hardie, Tyler, who is his orderly, and the scout and I took the in the rear and the Lieutenant got bally hooly for it Tyler disars Then we took a fourth in and let theo for want of evidence and after some of the ranch men had identified them

CORPUS CHRISTI, February 6

We ended our scout yesterday, and caht-- Mother can now rest her soul in peace as I have done with scoutings and have replaced the free and easy belt and revolver for the black silk suspenders and the fire badge of civilization I aood things to eat and drink and sht, where I will stay for two days I a splinters out of the telegraph poles from thein front and has a New York drumers last night as we cas yet They are just what I expected to find here and have not disappointedelse is either e know it to be and know all about or else is disappointingly cos are picturesque and I find them so but they have been ”done” to death and new material seems so scarce I am sometimes very fearful of the success of the letters-- However, the Rangers I sientle voiced and did not swear as the soldiers do and some of them were as handsome men as I ever saw and SO BIG And such children They showed me all their tricks at the request of the Adjutant General, who looks upon them as his special property They shot four shots into a tree with a revolver, going at full gallop, hit a mark with both hands at once, shot with the pistol upside down and the Captain put eight shots into a board with a Winchester, while I was putting two into the field around it We got along very well indeed and they were quite keen for o back and chase Garza They are sure they have hiave the Captain permission to put four shots into my white hel their reputations were at stake whipped out their guns and snatched up their rifles and blazed away until they danced the hat all over the ranch Then re up a collection to get one but I aain The last part of the ride was enlivened by the presence of three Mexican murderers handcuffed and chained with iron bands around the neck, that is Texas civilization isn't it--

I have had my dinner and a fine dinner it ith fresh fish and duck and oysters and segars which I have not had for a week I a this at Constantine's and will be here for two days to write things and will then go on to King's ranch and from there to San Antonio, where I will also rest a week I will just about get through ood tih it is lonely now and then-- Still, it is very interesting and if the stories a I will be pleased but I a how on earth Chas stood it as he did He is a hero toback and he had not-- He is a sport-- Hoill sleep to night--a real bed and sheets and pajaround and the same clothes for eleven days

of love

dick

While Richard was travelling in the West, his second volume of short stories, ”Van Bibber and Others,” was published The volu letter:

PHILADELPHIA, February 15, 1892

MY DEAR OWN dick:

I have not been the complete letter writer I should have been, as I told you on Saturday, but I know you will understand Your two good letters caood deal to us all, most, of course, to your dear mother and sister, who have a fond, foolish fancy or love for you--strange--isn't it?

Yes, dear boy, I liked the new story very, very much It was in your best book and in fine spirit, and I liked, too, the dedication of the book--its lad to be associated with my dear boy and with his work even in that brief way You ht about it after this fashi+on, but I have thought a good deal about it Reports coood, and they all reflect honor uponready to salute the world, as our French friends say It is very pleasant to me as I think it over to feel and to know that ood and useful in the world and for the world I have sorateful to you If this is a little prosie, dear old fellow, forgive it It is late at night and I a tired stupid You saw The Atlantic notice of your work I wish you could have heard Nora on the author of it, ould not have been happy in his mind if he had unhappily heard her She went for that Heathen Chinee like a wild cat No disrespect to her, but, all the saree with it, but here and there I saw the flash of truth even in the adverse praise I should have had more respect for the author's opinion if he had liked that vital speck, Raegen If he could not see the divine, human spark in that--a flash froreatest pride in you, that which has added sonition that soiven you, and that your voice rang out sweet and pure at a ti the fascinations of iht huht ”fresh,” fear to be thought ”knowing” Life isn't ood be done in it---the more, the better Don't o, but after a fashi+on that will bring no reproach to your manhood Don't be afraid to preach the truth and above all the religion of huht With great love,

DAD

ANADARKO--February 26th, 1892

DEAR FAMILY:--

I could not write you before as I have been traveling froht and day I went to Fort Reno from Oklahoma City where they drove me crazy als It was all raw and reedy for money and a man is much better off in every way in a tenement on Second Avenue than the ”owner of his own home” in one of these e and it seemed to me that I was really in the West for the first time-- The rest has been aselse But here there are rolling prairie lands with s and deep canons and bluffs of red clay that stand out as clear as a razor hollowed and carved away by the water long ago And the grass is as high as a stirrup and the trees very plentiful after the plains of Texas The men at Fort Reno were the best I haveto talk of things of interest to the Second Lieutenant's intellect But I had to leave there because I had missed the beef issue and had to see it and as it was due here I pushed on

This post is very beautiful but theand civil appointments mainly, which means that they have not been to West Point but had fathers and have friends with influence and they are fresh

But the scenery around the post is delightfully wild and big and there is an Indian camp at the foot of the hill on which the fort is stuck

Mother, instead of going to Europe, should co a dozen or htest spot in et them to play with me

They are very shy and pretty and beautifully barbaric and wear the liest women I ever saw But the ive to the landscape and one always thinks they have dressed up just to please you I have spent s fro to h times lately but I think I would be content to remain in the west sixplaces I like and pushi+ng on to places I don't, I dislike Reno was fine with a band and lots of fine fellows This post is not so queer but they are so young-- It h with the yellow capes of the cavalry and the soldiers aging red and white flags at other soldiers eight miles away on other mountains and the Indians in yellow buckskin and blankets and their faces painted too I went to the beef issue to-day--it was not a pretty sight and most barbarous and cruel I also went to a council at which the chiefs were protesting against the cutting down of their rations which is Co and which it is expected will lead to war-- We went in out of curiosity and without knowing it was a Council and were very lad to see the officers present as they were the best friends the Indians had and the only men they could respect in times of peace as a friend, or in times of war as an eneh Mother's blood would rise if she could hear the stories they tell, and they are so dignified and polite They have an Indian troop here, like the one described in The Weekly, which you should read and the Captain told thereat Chief from the East, whereat all the soldiers ere of noble lineage clai hands witheffect upon the formation and the white privates were either convulsed with nation But you cannot treat them like white men who do not know their ancestors-- Dad's letter was the best I have ever got from him and he had always better write when he is tired I will always keep it