The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-20

in the stirrup and leaped into my saddle,
the Indians, silent till then, set up their
fearful warwhoop, and, with frantic GEES
turee, lashed on their steeds and took up
the pursuit with fury that sufficiently in
dictated what would be my fate should be
overtaken. Then began desperate con-
tesla race for life or death. Sunbeam
answered CALAMITY to my calling, and for
the first four or FIVE miles l saw little Of
my enemy, but on they came pitlessly,
and soon seemed to gain ground. Had 1t
been on the first day of the journey, l
could have laughed at my pursuers; bst
now the superiority of my noble horse in
stride and strength was neutraized by the
comparative freshness Of the shaggy steeds
on which the Apaches were mounted.
groaned as felt Sunbeam flag beneath me
though / urged him on with voice and
hand.
Miles upon miles of rolling prairie were
traversed, my horse keeping the lead, and
speeding on with courage undated, but
staggering as he went, and bearing heavily
on the bit as VIC descended the frequent
slopes The Indians saw their advantage,
and pressed on, making every effort to
come up with me. One arrow slightly
wounded my horse IN the neck; a second
brushed my cheek, making me feel as
though a hot iron had been drawn across
it. / bear the thin, blue scar to this day.
But, maddeped with excitement, | spurred
Sunbeam on, shook of the pursuers for
while, and presently saw cleaning befolc
me the waters of swiftly flowing river,
which could be no other than the ella;
while beyond 1t rose the stockaded walls
Of lonely building-Fort Webster, doubt
less.
/ patted my steed's reeking neck, and
with faint neigh the gallant horse re-
sponded to my appeal and still reeled on
ward. The river, bordered by large trees
and canebrakes was very near; could hear
il rush and ripple, when Sunbeam, dead
beat, stumbled, fell on bis knees, and sank
slowly down. There was an arrow, un-
known to me, sticking in his flank, aud the
noble brute had actually carried his mas
ter, with unfaterng spirit, over leagues Of
the weary prairie. For moment I forgot
my iminent peril in grief for the loss of my
brave companion; but little time was left
for regrets, for already the ground shook
beneath the thunder Of hurrying horse
hoofs, as, with yels and outcries Of bar
barous triumph, the Indians came racing
up behind.
Thirty yards before me lay the river; but
it was too deep and rapid for man readily
to swim or wade, and though / wss weary
and worn, yet could not bear to abandon
life while a chance remained. My pistol
was in my belt, but my csrbine was strap
ped to the saddle of the dead horse, and so
were the bags which held the money of
Curtis Brothers, and these l snatched up,
though had scanty prospect of saving
either property or life, so near were the
ruthless foes. They were but six lances
length away from me az / plunged into the
brushweod, intending TO take shelter among
no. Is slnL 10, -, tlnf ai, hoo
that the camors of the Apaches might
bring out the troops from the fort. To my
great joy, however, on reaching the river
bank / beheld, moored TO the stem Of a
mimosa tree, q canoe, containing fishing
tackle, and probably belonging to the gar
rson; ana leaping into it, | seized the pad
dies and pushed off into the middle of the
stream just as four or five of the Indians,
who had dismounted, came bursting
through the bushes, knife and tomahawk in
hand.
The river ran swift, and was inexpert
in the management of canoe; but the H.
dians fortunately hesitated to take the river
no doubt on account of the vicinity of the
fort, and although they pursued me with
fierce shouts and volleys of arrows, only
one of the latter hit me, inAicting slight
wound on my left wrist; white the welcome
sound of cheer and the discharge OF rife
from the further bank told that the Indian
warwhoop had attracted the notice of the
soldiers, of whose weapons the Apaches
stood IN wholesome awe. ] was soon among
friendly faces, although so exhausted was
l with fatigue and emotion that tainted
before reaching Fort Webster.
The kindness of the commanding officer
at the fort enabled me to push on, soon as
rest and refreshment had somewhat re-
stored my vigor and / reached Crstohel
without further hipdrance or peril, and in
time TO save the credit of the firm whose
representative / was, and to allay the surly
suspicious of the half wild Mexican and
Texas cattle farmers, who were already be-
ginning to chafe and murmur at the delay
The oxen and other live stock, some weeks
later, were sent along with wagOn-train
that Travelled under strong escort of Uni
ted States cavalry TO Tucson and / should
have svailed myself of the opportunity to
return had not an attack of fever brought
on by anxiety and over exertion, Frustrated
me for q time, although youth and ro-
bust constitution enabled me 10 shake 1t
off.
was still very pale and weak, and was
sitting listessly among the magnolia bush
es and coffee shrubs in the garden of the
little inn, when l saw Rosamond and Mrs.
ness had been unremitting, approach me
with joyful looks.
"Can you bear good news, Harry ask
ed the latter, smiling; and, indeed, the It'd
ings were very good ones. Ny quaint,
worthy old employers had been better than
their word, having not merely taken me
into partnership, in recompense for what
had done on their behalf, but also appoint
ed me their resident agent at Christobel, a
far healthier and more pleasant place
than Tuscon, with share in the profits
of the firm that was only too liberal.
have every prospect of present compe.
tence and ultimate wealth, while my
engagement to Rosamond Gray is very
shortly to be brought to a happy conclu-
sion; but in the midst of my new found
prosperity saddening recollection will
sometimes obtrude itself, as / remember
the faithful, dumb friend whose bones are