Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: September 15, 2025
It was a square fort of adobe, with circular bastions at the corners, no part of the walls being more than eight feet high. Around the inside of the plaza, or corral, were half a dozen small rooms inhabited by as many Indian traders and mountain-men. One of the earlier Indian agents, Mr. Fitzpatrick, in writing from Bent's Fort in 1847, thus describes the old Pueblo:
The day after he and his company departed from Goldburg toward the mountains, which they passed unfought and unwaylaid: partly because they were a band of stout men, and partly because a little before there had been a great overthrow of the wild men of those mountains at the hands of the men of Goldburg and the Chapmen; so that now the mountain-men lay close, and troubled none that rode with any force.
Nevertheless, unmoved by its influences except in so far as it suited their dark designs the Raturans chose it for the fell purpose of invading their neighbours' lands, and exterminating their ancient foes; for, driven to desperation by the taunts and scorn of the Mountain-men, they felt that nothing short of extermination would suffice. And they were right.
The mountain-men had done a most notable deed. They had shown in perfection the best qualities of horse-riflemen. Their hardihood and perseverance had enabled them to bear up well under fatigue, exposure, and scanty food. Their long, swift ride, and the suddenness of the attack, took their foes completely by surprise.
It was during one of Zeppa's occasional absences that the Ratura tribe of natives, as before mentioned, decided to have another brush with the Mountain-men, as they styled their foes.
Perhaps had we continued them, we might have escaped a misfortune that soon after befell us; and the tale of which is now to be told. Having passed Bent's Fort of wide celebrity in trapper lore whilom the scene of many a wild revel of the "mountain-men," but now abandoned and in ruins we arrived at the confluence of the Huerfano.
But Wapoota did not feel quite so easy, for in their mad race they had outstripped the flying enemy, bands of whom were constantly passing them in their flight before the Mountain-men.
And lay you down in a fair abode Till the midday sun is broad and high; Then unto you shall we come aback, And lead you forth to the Mountain-men, To note their plenty and their lack, And have true tidings there and then. 'Tis over the hill and over the dale They ride from the mountain fast and far; And now have they learned a soothfast tale, True tidings of the host of war.
But he heeded my words little, and led her away, she riding on a horse and he going afoot beside her; for the mountain-men be no horsemen." Said Ralph: "Dost thou know at all whither he will have led her?"
The chief and prime minister of the Mountain-men were there because, being large-minded, they wished to travel and see the world; and Lippy was there because Zeppa liked her; while the mother was there because she liked Lippy and refused to be parted from her. Great was the change which had come over Zeppa during his convalescence.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking