The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-12-30


doubt, for, as | could see by the dim light
OF the dying watchlire, he was freshly
besmeared with war-paint, and one hand
held a glittering knife. As | started up,
and grasped the butt Of the revolver IT,
ing beneath my head, the Indians other
hand clutohed me by the wrist, while
again my steed neighed shrilly and as
prOpped myself on one knee | could see
that sunbeam was plunging and rearing
violently, while two dark forms were Gid
ing about the spot where the horse was
| fastened, apparently intent on untasten-
ing the long lariat by which he was halt
cred to the ground
There are confused recollectOns Of
which memory is never able afterwards
wholly TO nnravel the tangled thread |
remember briet, sharp struggle during
which twice received 4 slight Craze from
the knife that the Apache carried. and then
MY right wrist was freed from the hand
that grasped IT, and the sharp crack OF the
pistol, rs three shots We're successfully
fired broke the Stiffness Then, almost
Immediately, | heard the thud OF gallop-
ing hoots upon the crisp turf OF the prairie
aud saw two mounted men, whose ilutter-
ing blankets and plumed heads proclaim
ud their nationality, ride OFF into the dark
ness. At my feet lay my first assailant
His hand, when | lifted 1t, tell back to
earth, and his grim features, bedaubed
with streaks Of yellow, white and black,
"ote fyl'4g'lI'lS l''o1 III "1"tn nc t"o el-
lo''ilJi7 ','7Io'ie'' ~ - s'tFet pi'"cii
~ ii' I0i p.'''N ii':l uo"o'e'' 1li"t iie li!o
,'10i. = I'ii1i - r liio'p'i N,'l'1o'' Hullo
H. !,''I ,sl'' ''e'''''n5 piIN =, nun ~ ne
i'n- ~ '''' '''' u '''e - ''i' = Ai''o'i7a'
Wy great source OF anxiety now was,
lest TWO braves who had escaped should
nave comrades WllAlh reach and at once
declded lhal to press ON was my Wlsest
Pollcy. II was new the dark, cinll hour
tlat pfecedes tiie GAVIN poI Saddllhe sun
pealh, whom FOUND lretiui ahd 9gltated
altef ms recent interview with the red
roDbeFa, resumed my journey. Up to
TINS time had spared my morse, but now,
heavy as was the sIckly heat, ana long as
We're the houts to be spent IN traVersmg
the brown, desolate plan, without grass
or water, urged Sunbeam ON, the shin
ng peaks or the Mlmbres becoming more
anu more distinctly visible as we sped up
on our way Ioor sunbeam showed, tor
Nt'S'h Nt'N'
halted beside stream. the bracllish waters
OF which seemed to burn the thirsty lips
that craved for them; but we were now.
AZ computed, within three hours of the
river Gili, beyond which was safety.
The sterile stony desert which snroad
itself before me when ON tho neyt morn
jna Mn iaded steed and again ser torth
unon tbe trarz VA almost 6arp of yerd-
MA mo l,nor arourbt .nd flo hoat of
,hn erorcbi,.m sun lad whitehead nyary
,rron, ll,Go T,h;1n nooI, and crnnl,, ybicJ
onohtt 10 have been fuII Of sweet npre wa-
tny wrrn nav moro belts or shinule or
holIows paved with dried c}av shared
tha last hrons of tbc nracious t,ni1 c,r-
ri4a in nv c,nteon and thn last of fine
hlnachad corn with Snnhnon, and thn
6ooI horsa seemed Is thouoh he were
Grateful for and un1erstood t6e Kindness
fn,. Ln r,bhaI vnlvot n,n1zln ca.assi,5g-
IL aoainst nv hand as strnkea his nori7
no l9n,ar clGal, ana smooth as s.tin to,.
l,tirur mn nriyatinns INA roIohnnnd his
ooaf and dimmrd the fire of his eye Snd-
denly as stood beside him looked
hack ana s.ny What mada far t,,n mo-
menr. my yc,y heart cease to beat as if
IN icy r1uch had frozen tbe Mood in M
VEINS.
Spears, and piumed heads, and wild
forms. whose shields and scarlet blankets
or builaIo-robes were distinctly TO be seen,
Were crowded together at the top Of Il ris
ing ground, coming on over the prairie at
an easy, swinging gallop which mustang
can keep up for half day. A. | set my
foot in the stlrrup and leaped into my sad
die, the Indians, silent TIL then. set up
their fearful War-whoop, and with yells
and frantic gestures lashed on their stceds,
and took up the pursuit with fury that
sufficiently indicated what would be my
fate should be oyertaken. Then began
a desperate contest-a race for life on
death. Sunbeam answered gallantly to
my call and for the first tour Or five miles
saw little Of the enemy; but on they
came pltlleSslT, and soon seemed to gam
ground. Had it been on the first day OF
the journey, could have laughed at my
pursueTs, but now the superiority Of my
noble horse, IN stride and strength, was
ncunaIized by the comparative freshness
of the shaggy 7iccds on which the Apache5
were mounted. ! groaned as ielt Sun
beam il&g beneath me, though ! urged
him OH with voice and hand,
Miles npon miles Of rolling prairie were
travcrsed. nv horse keeping the lead, and
speeding on with courage unabateu. but
staggering rs he went, and bcaril heayi-
" on the lit as We descended the frequent
slopes. The Indians saw thcir al dvantage
and pressed ON, making every effort to
come up with me. One arrow slightly
woundcd my horse in the neck; d second
brushed my cheek, making me feel as
though a hot iron had been drawn across
il. bear the thin. blne scar to this dav.
But maddened with excitement spurred
Sunbeam on, shook OF the pursucrs for u
while. and presently saw, cleaning be
fore me, the waters If swiftly flowing
river. which could be no other than the
ella; while beyond rose the stockaded
walls OF lonely uilling- Fort Webster,
doubtless.
| patted my stecd's reehing neck as |
vociierated the WORDS; and with a faint
friendly neigh, the gallant horse respond
ed to NV appeal, and still reeled onward