Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-10-31
THE RATLESNAKE'S SON-IN~
LAW

LAW.
In the summer of 1850 FIVE sportsmen
started from San Antonio on hunting ex.
petition. The party consisted Of Rober,
Glendy, Thomas Smith, Johp Simpson
Enoch Stiles and Albert Mapes. | knew
only the latter. and had the following &C
count from his own lips In those days the
savages who roamed the plains had matters
pretty much their own way. The small
number of troops that were posted on the
frontier were wholly inadequate to furnish
protection Of those who won't any distance
beyond the settled parts of the country.
Our party arrived safely on the ground
and pitching their tent, began = to hunt with
excellent success. For week they camped
upon the same spot, until at length they be-
ganto eel that fancied security which springs
from disregard of danger
It was late one night when Mapes was
playing the violin and the others were en-
gagged 10 draw poker. that hound which
accompanied the party started from the buff
falo robe Oh which he was lying, and spring
ing to the front of the tent, began to utter
savage growls.
Mapes dropped his fiddle and the other
their cards, and catching up their rifles, all
went out into the night. The moon strug-
Cling family through the ritted clouds show
ed that the horses we're safely picketed =
This being sscertained, several of the party
made an examination OF the ground lying
about the camp, and discovering nothing
unusual, they went back to the tent.
II don't like the way old Hector behaved
Just now,'' remarked Simpson, placing the
butt of his rifle on the toe OF his heavy boot
and looking auxiously into the faces of his
companions.
s'Bah v' cried Glendy, picking up the
cards: ''come, put up your antes.'
..No, no." they replied. mo more cards
toni hit, Bob rather let US determine who
is to stan guard !"
Island guard ?" calculated Glendy.-
"Hello what's the matter ? Old Hector
has scared the whole party, Why, We
hav ut stood guard but three nights since
we've been out. and we still have the hair
on our heads But if you think it necessa-
ry," be continued. ''post me for any hour
you please"
II certainly consider it necessary re-
Piled Mapes 'As long as I have owned
that hound, | never knew him to show any
signs of uneasiness unless there was cause
for it. Before now be has got me out OF a
tight place, and would sooner trust to his
instinct than to the eyes aud ears of
most men. !"
The watches for the night we're thereup
on arranged, Gendy taking post for the first
hour, while Mapes was to 60 on guard at
ia the morning
The moor went down early in the night,
but there was bright starlight, and when
Mapes shouldered his rifle to watch, faint
streaks of coming day we're already visible
in the eastern horizon. His inseparable
companion, Hector, was at his side. First
he examined wagon at which couple Of
mules were munching corn, then he visited
the horses and stopped down and felt the
iron picket pins.
Satisfied that everything was correct, he
walked to the smouldering fire in front OF
the tent and sat down upon the end of log
Hector crouching at his feet. He had
scarcely taken bis seat when a low whistle
| like the note of curlew, struck his ear
Mapes was an old Texan hunter No man
knew better the stratag ems OF the Indian
than he. There was no bir! would utter
such cry to be found in that locality Ht
sprane to his feet, and tue hound at the samt
moment sprang in front of him with say
age growl. An instant more and Mape
was in the tent waking his sleeping compan
ions
"Quick. Quick F.; we haven't moment tt
lose," he cried.
Rifle in hand, the inmates of the ten
sprapg from their repose just in time to hea
their terrified horses (cut loose by the creep
ing Indians) madlJ dash acrrss the prairie
The whole party made rush for the wagol
intending to fight under that cover Fo
the next half hour all was quiet invent
Indians, mounted on ponies which had thei
tails tied up Gan unfailing sign that the.
were on the war path) were observed abou
mile TO the eastward
j ''In for it now. said Mapes, looking a
Bob Glendy I reckon you have som
faith in thr hound after all"
:'Tbere's only twenty Of them" answere
Glendy.
Il know it" replied Mapes in his quie
way, '''Tis not the first time I've had thi
thing to do / feel mad about the loss c
our horses. and | want the fight to begin Il
once I'll stop out as skirmisher and dra
them"
'sNo OCCASION" criad Enoch Stiles fo
here they come like very devils"
Nov, boys" said Mapes. ''evey ma
pick out his game y
The Indians came at full cash unit
within range, when they opened fire with RI
Aes while the whizz Of arrows proclaimed the
were not all provided with firearms.
The Texans returned the fire, but unfel
tunstely without success, and the Indian
deployed according to their customar
J mode.
"Aha y CALCULATED Mapes, picking up a
arrow from under the wagon and intent
: examining it. my old enemies the APP
$ ches Well, Plltry and wipe out old soor'
to-day. Hec., you know something abo'
these devils, don't you ~ he continued, Sc