The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-06-18
VIZ Race for Life.
BY F. Il.

woe riding along the Tuo'umhe river
= We afternoon when / came upon
,.ar,n of Mcxicaps, some ten or aozen ~
ea .,,ar Tne day had been unusually warm.
NJ that Is not tie word IL was hot, sWelt-
- n,d, hot. and felt tired and worn out Win
nv long ride and hard exertions. In iact,
nv condition was such that Determined 70
accept the protlered hospitality of the Mex.
Itans rather than travel eight or ten mites
to town. So, taking the saddle off "Grlngo,
my tough little mustang, | stakcd him ouI
md rejoined the party, a portion OF whom
we're busi,y employed getting ready some
thing to cat. They did not appear to notice
ms presence particularly treating me, now
ever. with that marked politeness when
they generally show to a stranger. But one
among them could speak English, and from
him | learned that they were miners, VINO
| had come from an adjoining countyIn search
| of better diggings. On the way quarrel
| had arisen between two Of the party abou,
that fruitful cause Of man troubles rs wei
as bIessings--a woman.
Antoine. nv informant, stated to me th.l'
he had made every effort to stop the dif1cuity
without effect, and now it was proposed te
! tipbt it out the next morning with bowie.
knives. Ny arrival, Antoine stated, nae
caused them some uneasiness, as was looKeo
upon rs an officer of the law and they were
| even now undecided what 10 do, although
the general idea was 10 postpone the com Da
until after had taken my departure.
Here, thought /, is chance Tor me 10 play
the part of pcacelnakcr; and there anc
then, through the medium OF Antoine, q:
interpreter, my work began. The aggr1evec
| parties were brought. together, and the folly
and madness of proceeding to extremes
strongly represented. Ny eloquence pre-
! vailed, mutual explanations followed, the
| MeXicans shook hands, and friendship was
| apparently fully restored. After this we al
| felt in such good l,umor that the bottle passed
| freely. and fear that more than one OF oul
| number swallowed u little too much OF inc
| ardent. at all events, know thatmy head
iappcared to have attained most remarkable
| growth the next morning.
| During the evening, however, one OF tho
| Mexiclns-a big, swarthy fellow, with al
ugly scar on his chcck--cyinced rather al
unusual interest in a piece Of personal pro
perty belonging to lne--namely, large-slZec
| six-shooter, with white ivory handle, anc
| handsomely mounted. Twice he requested
| me to let him see it, and his eyes fairly dancec
| with pleasure while examining and handling
| the beautiful weapon. Time and again
| through the medium OF the interpreter, NJ
| wanted to know how much would sell il
for until, worn out with his opportunities
I at lust consented to trade the revolver fol
one that he had and six ounces Of gold dus
| into the bargain.
DESPITE the effects of the brandy, of which
| / had certainly got my full slnie; my sleer
| was disturbed and broken, and awcke early
next morning, Just as day was breaking, sick
! at stomach and with q racking headache.
Looking around l could sec my compan
ions of the night, whom / had left playing
monte, each wrapped in his blanket, and t.
Judge from their heavy breathing, all fast
asleep. Having Il long Gays ride before me-
and feeling ycXcd and Disguised with my.
self. quietly arose and went out to where
| "Gringo" was doing his best to get square
meal from the stuuted and scurchcd grass
within range of his teller. TO blanket and
| saddle him was the work Of q few minutes
and we were soon gaii0ping rapidly away
without es much as saying goodbye to sin
gle one Of the party.
I had not gone more than mile or two
however before | became conscious that
some one was riding hard in pursuit; or, at
least, coming at q furious gait from the direc'
| ton OF the camp. A sharp bend in The road
| brought the holseInan into tuli view, and q
glance served to show me it was none other
! than the iisiy-looking customer with whom
had snapped pistols the night before. My
first impulse was to draw my siX-shooter
But, horror l saw instantly it was moi
| loaded! The next movement was to strike
the spurs into the TANKS of poor "Gringo,'
determined on race for life. Looking back
the swaItlly Mexican could be plainly seer
urging his horse with lash and spur, while
to add to my terror he was brandishing ml
whitc-hnhtlIna revolver over his head in ;
most threatening manner.
At last, in utter despair of escape, threw
myself from the saddle and sought safety BY
taking to the brush. Too late! too late Tx
Mexican with the hideous scar, and his horse
covered with foam, was upon mh III an in
slant. But had 'setse enough left, and cou
! rage e!!5agh, too, not to give up life withou
| one desperate struggle. So, clubbing the ole
siA-shooter, raised my hand to strike jus
as the big Mexican rushed upon me. Whel
within a.tew feet OF, where stsodi However
he suddenly ierked his h5iSe back upon hi
haunchee, anu then q wild laugh rang through
tue woods, loud enough to be heard a mill
away. The fellows eyes fairly rolled in hi
head as he looked ut me, while he shouted
and laughed us if his sides would split.
A few minutes suiliced to put things il
( thoir l,rht ulfbnptrb I pni,tI not ,