Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-03-02

"Ouiu hot hofo hHNVitu WV" A"' '"N
world. Very greatly 10 my hosts aston.
ishment. called for my horse, and rode
of at mid. day more nervous on the score
OF my possible companions than oi any
roadside enemies.
got on very well that day. and slept
at house where had stopped on my
upward journey. The citizens who dwelt
there seemed glad TO see me. after the
apathetic fashion of these western people,
but seemed aslonished too, | thought, and
when was going away. he. in his rude
way. complimented me on my courage;
he said had more grit in me than any
down. easter he had ever seen. "ln fact,
boss, there's many western man would
be skeary at riding alone through this
locality now the Utes is back so thick.
and so nasty IS they are too; but. he
went on, you have The real grit. | can
see" | rode oil completely staggered
10y his speech; and doubt il any man in
the world was ever SO utterly cowed
by q compliment on his courage, | re-
solved To ride very slowly. and allow the
wild "ouiit' from Inauguration 10 over
take me; but one cant control ones fate.
| had no, ridden halt dozen miles. before
| saw winding up hill. to the brow oil
which had Just climbed, at least score
OF Indians. They were, luckily, at least
= couple OF miles from me. and 50 there
was every opportunity lor me 10 avoid
them
did not like the idea of riding directly
back. so determined To take advantage OF
a rayine which ran parallel TO the road
was pursuing, aud which latter was little
better than ravine itself especially as.
from my elevated position | thought |
cou d see where il issued from the plain
below. | hesilated no longer. but turned
into the ravine. and was glad 10 find
traces Of road and OF travellers there;
so. Judging one way was used about as
much as the other, / logged cheerlully
on.
saw no house At which TO get my mid
day meal. bul | did not mind that. rs
from the rate at which had been lie
scendin2 | reekoned | should soon strike
the plain. dlsmounted by tho side OF u
little spring, and with my llisk aud some
crackers and sardines. managed pretty
well had just lighted my cigar aud
WAS ll ing under the shelter of solitary
tree. When suddenly mounted igurc
came over a LILLE stony rilge Just behind
me. stared up and he started back.
A more suspicious looking character il
would be difficult 10 imagine. lie was
tall man, wearing iell OF lealhern hat.
squeezed into no shape al all; his black
hair had probably not been cut Tor
twelvemonih; he was clad in buckskin
IRON neck 10 ankle; a buffalo robe cover.
ed his saddle. by the side of which hung
an eighteen shot repeating rifle; on each
hip he carried large revolver. aud
straigh, knife in lealhcrn sheath hung
in his belt Al the 81 hit oil me be ecoiled.
as have saiJ, and half drew one OF his
revolvers; but seeing that was alone
and quite in his power, he came slowly
on, Keeping. however. his eye on me all
the while. thought Cancellation best.
so said. Good morning
Good evening. he replied as every.
body out there would have replied. what.
ever The Time OF day.
"Will you have drop ol brandy ?"
| asked by sudden impulse. lie grimly
smiled assent. and drank, pronouncins i!
good then he said where's your
boss, stranger ?"
/ looked round, and, 10 my dismty,s saw
that my steed had vanished-"hsd VAN.
oosed. The stranger said then continued
Il thought saw hoss in the gully over
there, and when ! see you. thought il
Nigh. be yourn. Here. come this way.
l scrambled over the rugged slope after
him; but The horse was nowhere in sight.
The stranger pointed 10 where he had
seen it, and then. by signs totally unin.
telligible to me. We tracked il for some
half 4 mile. until we found it IN perfect
maze OF rocks and gullies. | thanked
him very heartily, and made an offer oi
reward; but with the same apathy which
had marked his conversation all through,
he declined it, and bidding me "good
day. :" rode slowly off. first having con
Quoted me back TO the track.
| followed the road lor long time, ,un
Ill began to grow uneasy at the time
which elapsed before struck the plain.
| could no longer see the base OF the
hills. and although believe knew the
exact direction | ought TO follow. Al
lest began 10 conceive the possibility of
my having lost my way. To get back to
my original road before nightfsll was
impraciicable. and pushed desperately
on. until nothing but the highest peaks oil
the tremendous mountains behind me
we've tinged by the setting sun. 10 a
very short time this died away. and the
valleys and ravines below became more
dense and gloomy every minute.
All this time | saw no living thing,
save that twice mountain wolf crossed
my road few score yards ahead of me.
To make matters worse [ fonnd that NV