Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-02-19

u uoIu VI DlSOu Or Vi VIII uOTS6SJ aS VI
the Apaches or their allies. My spirits
rose as I proceeded on my way, and I
began to feel confident of success.
On that night, lying wrapped in my
poncho, with my saddle for a pillow,
and my weapons within reach, I dreamed
l was at home again, in old England,
and boy once more, for saw my sis
ters' faces round me, and those of my
former friends and playmates long dis
persed, when suddenly was aroused by
the shrill, eager neighing of my horse,
tethered hard by, and, waking with a
start, opened my eyes to encounter the
fierce eyes glaring upon me from hid
eous painted face, bending over mine,
and so close as well-nigh to touch it.
I felt an Indians hot breath upon my
cheek, as he stopped over me, while of
his purpose there could be little doubt,
for, as 1 could see by the dim light of
the dying watchfre, he was freshly be-
smeared with war-paint, and one hand
held glittering knife. AS started up
and grasped the butt of the revolver
lying beneath my head, the Indians
other hand clutched me by the wrist,
while again my steed neighed shrilly,
and as 1 propped myself on one knee I
could see that Sunbeam was plunging
and rearing violently, while two dark
forms were gliding about the spot where
the horse was fastened, apparently in
tent on unfastening the long lariat by
which he was haltered to the ground.
There are confused recollections of
which memory is never able afterwards
wholly to unravel the tangled thread.
I remember brief, sharp struggle,
during which I twice received a 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, as three
shots were successfully fired, broke the
stiffness. Then almost Immediately I
heard the thud of galloping hoofs upon
the crisp turf of the prairie, and saw
two mounted men, whose huttering
blankets and plumed heads proclaimed
their nationality, ride off into the dark
ness. At my feet lay my first assailant.
His hand, when lifted it, fell back to
earth, and his grim features, bedaubed
with streaks of yellow, white and black,
were stiffening fast in death. The two
eagles feathers fastened by silver
brooch to his long black hair denoted
that he had been o chief or princip al
warrior, while the paint and tattooing
proved him to belong to the great tribe
of the Apaches.
My great source of anxiety now was
lest the two braves who had escaped
should have comrades within reach, and
at once decided that to press on was
my wisest policy. 1t was now the dark,
chill hour that precedes the dawn, but
saddling Sunbeam, whom I found fret
full and agitated, after his recent inter
view with the red robbers, I resumed
my journey. Up to this time I had
spared my horse, but now, heavy as was
the sickly heat, and long as were the
hours to be spent in traversing the
brown, desolate plain, without grass OF
water, urged Sunbeam on, the shining
peaks of the Mimbres becoming more
and more distinctly visible as we sped
upon our way. Poor Sunbeam showed
for the first time signs of distress wher
we halted beside stream, the brackist
waters of which seemed to burn thirsty
lips that craved for them; but we were
now, as computed, within three hours
OF the river Gila, beyond which was
'afety.
The sterile, stony desert which spread
itself before me when, on the mex
morning, my iaded steed and I again sci
forth upon the track, was almost bare o.
verdure. Suddenly I locked back, ant
saw what made, for the moment, my
very heart cease to beat, as if an icy
touch had frozen the blood in my veins
Spears and plumed heads and wilt
forms, whose shields and scarlet blankets
or buffalo robes were distinctly to b,
seen, were crowded together at the tol
of rising ground, coming on over tn,
prairie at the easy, swinging gallon
which mustang can keep up for half
day. AS I set my foot in the stirruI
and leaped into my saddle the Indians
silent till then, set up their fearful war
whoop, and with yells and frantic ges
lures lashed on their steeds and took u,
the pursuit with fury that sufficientl,
indicated what would be my fate shoult
be overtaken. Then began desper
ate contest-a race for life or death
Sunbeam answered gallantly to my call
and for the first four or five miles saw
but little of the enemy, but on the,
came pitilessly, and soon seemed to gail
ground. Had it been on the first day O
the journey, I could have laughed at m,
pursuers, but now the superiority of m,
noble horse in stride and strength wa
neutralized by the comparative FRESHNESS
of the shaggy steeds on which tn
Apaches were mounted. groaned as
felt Sunbeam flag beneath me, though
, urged him on with voice and hand.
Miles upon miles of rolling prairi
: were traversed, my horse keeping thu
lead, and speeding on with courage un
abated, but staggering as he went, an,