Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-12-16

| IT, NC uPSSb ny tHV SNoNANAA ONoN' SN,~ -
that smouldering Indian war whic h
never quite comes to an end in that
dangerous region. The Apaches, the
| irreclaimable foes of all white men, were
on the war path, leagued. as was re-
ported, with sundry other RIDES, the
Kiowas, the Nayajoes and the dreaded
Comanches; and already hideous tales
of Indian cruelty and massacre reached
us from many lonely homestead withs
in reach of the spoiler. Yet the day
| was at hand when the great herds OF
oxen anG droyes of swine already pur =
chased wonld be waiting at Cristoba !
for the completion of the bargain, and
my employers were well aware tn at
unless the cattle could be paid for a
fatal blow would be dealt to the credi t
of the fr,n. Messrs. Curtis had strai M
cd every nerve to collect the read y
money necessary, and the funds were
forthcoming. but the entire cs cheme
babe fair to be frustrated by the. abrupt
closing of the route, consequent on the
war. No man Or party of armed men
could have been bribed to attempt the
conveyance of the cash across the
plains, now haunted by the savage ene'
my, when l astonished my employers,
by volunteering to be the messenger.
"You shall not have to repent it
Harry lay boy!" said the elder OF the
two brothers, as he wrung my hand in
his horny one; you've stood manfuly
by us at this pinch, and we'd be mean
enough if we didn't show gratitude
little more substantially than by few
fair words. We never yet did raise
clerk to be a partner, but--There,
there, Lyndham; I did not intend to
egg you on by an offer.as if you needed
that hastily added the honest old
fellow, fearing, as he saw the color rise
to my face, that had taken umbrage
at his rough speech. Come safe back
to us, lad, and all will be light.
MIR. James Curtis spoke words to
much the same effect, at the same time
bidding me be careful, and indeed it
was curious to watch the strug gle in
my employers minds between their
natural eagernessssto escape financial
wreck that almost amounted to ruin.
and the kindly apprehension lest l
should lose my life in their service.
AS for myself, knew well enough
how great was the risk ran, and for
how momentous a stake was about to
play, and had not the goal before my
mental vision been the bright prospect
of calling Rosamond my wife, even the
prospective partnership would hardly
have tempted me to set off on an errand
so perilous. As it was. was resolved;
and as l got ready for the start I tried
quietly to weigh the chances for and
against my safely reaching Cristobal. I
had fair knowledge of the country,
which I had traversed on four or FIVE
occasions, and was no novice in camp
ing out, or il the familiar incidents of
prairie travel. I could ride well, too,
snd was better mounted than most of
the residents in that district, where
horse flesh is cheap aud plentiful,
having in my possession a splendid
chestnut thoroughbred, originally
brought from Kentucky by sore
United States officer, and which was
celebrated for strength and speed. l
was fond of Sunbeam, ;;and he of me,
for he was docile and intelligent as
we'll as swift, and would follow me for
miles as dog follows his owner, or
stand, when 1 babe him, with the reins
hanging loose upon his glossy neck.
There was scanty time for leave
taking. 1t was deep in the afternoon
when I started, a dozen or more Of the
younger citizens of Tucson riding with
me for the first half hour, and giving
me hearty cheer as we parted. More
than one strong right hand trembled a
little as it grasped mine in token of
adieu, and there was an unwonted
moisture glistening i'll the honest eyes
of some of the kind hearted young
fellows as they wished me God speed
a safe return Well do I remember
wheeling my steed on little elevation
in the rolling, flower enameled prairie,
and waving my hat in answer to the
waving of hats and haudkerchiefs from
the little knot of horsemen, not one Of
whom, am sure, ever expected to see
me again Oh this side of the grave.
Far away to the left there glimmered
against the sky something like shin
ing wall, imperfectly visible, but which
| knew 10 be the serrated crests and
mountain peaks of the Mimbres, the
natural Businesses where dwelt the
barbarian tribes whose torch and
tomahawk had laid waste many q
happy home. Nor were mementoes OF
their hostility lacking as l traversed
the track, deeply scanned by wagon
Wheels and strewed with the blea.hed
| Lnnoa &C ,nrtles and nxen that did duty