The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-08-13
Uhe Albang Register.
a Night Attack.

than boy, in fact, when 1 left England |
10 become the partner of my old school
mate, Dick Merton, who had settled down
Us sheep-farmer in South America Our
Joint and rather modest capital was in
league of land near Santa Fe, on the
Paraaa, bought "for song" on account
OF some defect in the title; also in few
sheep, having tho lathy appearance, and
almost the speed, of greyhounds; and,
lastly, In the materials for our house, of
which, as We had ourselves had been the
architects, builders, and clerks of the
work, We were not little proud. 1t was
built Of sun baked bricks, and consisted
of one tolerably large room, with fat
roof and parapet, accessible from the in
side by means of ladder. Around it, at
about thirty yards distance, we had dug
q deep dry ditch, crossed by 4 draw
bridge, and intended as a protection
against surprise by our enterprising
ueighbors. the Indians. The latter dusky
gentlemen had hitherto behaved them
selves very much as such, and had con-
fined their throat-cutting propensities to
certain stray sheep, instead of gratifying
;henl at the expense of the owners. But
,riv tales were still told of their doings
rn;.ni about us-of white men taken
while riding in sight of home, and tor
;ured of cattle driven off, aud sheep
>peared in very wautonness of mischief
which were not reaSsurlng, and which
caused US to keen particularly sharp
lookout, especially when, as now, the
Indian moon (theif favorite time of at
tack gave light enough to point the way
70 plunder, but not 10 guide the aim Of
the defenders
Dick Merton, changed indeed since the
DAYS when his word was law among a
select circle of Pail Mall dandies, lounged
up to where was standing. His cos
tune was simple in the extreme, and
consisted merely of sufficiently aged
rair of leather unmentionables and a red
flannel shirt--the whole being surmounted
and relieved by a very long, black beard,
and very short but equally black pipe !;
but through rough attire and surround
ings, the inde6nable .je ma sais quoi of
gentility was as clearly recognizable as
when he was sowing his rather extensive
crop of wild oats upon home soil, and be-
fore that memorable Derby which induced
him, after settling with duns of every
description, to embark himself and the
leavings of his property, and dwell among
SBNcp anu say ages Until uC
with fresh grist to carry on the civilized
mill
''Can you see anything stirring in the
camp ?" said he, as he came up. "Those
horses arc making a confounded row in
the corrall 1 saw johnson the Yankee
this morning, and he said that indians
had crossed the river, and he guessed
we'd better keep our wits well lied, that
the dusty vermin didn't look ia when we
warn't ready +, r visitors"
Now, horses were our surest safeguards
against surprise. Dogs we had too, but
they reused us up so frequently by bark
ing at nothing more formidable than q
stray deer or fox, that-reminded of the
gentleman whose amusement was to cry
"wolf we lost all faith in them but
cur little half wild Pampa horse had a
truer instinct, and their warnings, given
by stamping upon the ground, were not
to be disregarded with safety.
Il can make out some objects moving
about half mile to the southwark" said
|. after long look out on the plains.
"They are mounted men, by Jove p
exclaimed my companion and riding
hard this way too Stand here. with your
rife, Alfred, while slip cartridges into
my others. At that pace they will be
here directly"
And SO they were Almost before
Dick had reached my side again, two
"Guachos," their usually swarthy faces
lvid with fear, sprung from their horses
which. covered with blood, sweat and
foam, showed how sharp had been the
ride, and rushed over the draw-bridge
They told u, as soon as terror would al
low them, that three hundeed Indian.
vere in hot pursuit, and would soon be OF
the spot, and besought u.s. for the love Of
the Virgin, to give them shelter, as t.
ride again into the camp upon Their
foundered horses, would be ceratair
death.
Dick, rather to my surprise-for l die
not then know what distinguished liar
the natives as rule are-calmly lit hi.
pipe, and then ordered our visitors, in
somewhat doubtful Spanish idiom, t.
make themselves scarce"
Unless" he said politely, "you car
tell plain tale, senors, without lies
and odtos
Upon this we learned, after mucl
cross-questioning, that they had been t.
buy horses (''To steal them, more likely
lnterjected Dick) at the station of ricl
Spaniard, Don Ramon Garcia, who live,
about four leagues from US; and tha
when they reached the top of a gentl
rise in the ground and had view Of tn
house, they had seen, to their horror an
dismay, large body of the dreaded In
dians, who We're attacking-for the
heard shots-Don Ramon's estaacia.
'.Whereupon," said the spokesman
with teeth chattering, ''we rode hard /
your abode, well knowing that the brav
Englishmen would not deliver us up. Bu
let us mount your feetest horses, senore
and ride for life. Soon they will be her,
and who can Withstand the fierce broyo. 2
eff this be true" said Dick, turning
me-"and Z believe it is, for these Gov
ardly scoundrels' faces are proof th,
they have seen something-the sooner y
prepare to fight, the better. Of cour,
they were not attacking Ramon's place
he has a fort strong enough to resist
thousand of them, and plenty of men ar