Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-01-19

M SteaO sou'So vi "hA'o'y ho"
was, lest the two braves who had es-
capped 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 Sun
beam, whom found fretful and agi-
tated after his recent interview " with
the red robbers, resumed my journey
Up to this time l had spared my
horse, but now, heavy as was the
sickly heat, and long as were the
hours to be spent in traverslng the
brown desolate plain, without grass
or water, | urged Sunbeam on, the
shining peaks of the Mimbres becom-
ihg more and more distinctly visible
as we sped upon them. Poor Sun
beam showed, for the first time, signs
of distress when we halted beside a
stream, the bracksh waters of which
seemed to burn the thirsty lips that
craved for them but we were now,
as l computed, within three hours of
the river Gila, beyond which was
safety.
The sterile, stony desert which
spread itself before me when, on the
next morning, my jaded steed and |
again set forth upon the track, was
almost bare oE verdure. The long
drought, and the heat ofthe scorching
sun, had wlthered every green blade,
while pools and creeks which ought
to have been full! of sweet pure water
we're now mere belts of shingle, or
hol]ows paved with dried clay. |
shared the last drop OF the precious
faid l carried in my canteen, and the
last of the bleached corn with Sun
beam, and the good horse seemed as
though he were grateful for and un-
derstood the kindness. for he rubbed
bis velvet muzzle caressingly against
my hand as l stroked his neck, no
longer sleek and smooth as satin, for
fatigue and privations had roughened
his coat and dimmed the fire of his
eye. Suddenly, as | stood beside
him, looked back, and 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 wild
forms, whose shields and scarlet
blankets or buffalo robes were dis
tinctly to be seen, were crowded to,
gether at the top of a rising ground,
coming on over the prairie at an easy,
swinging gallop which a mustang
can keep up for half a day. As | set
my foot in the stirrup and leaped
into my saddle, the Indians, silent
till then, set up their fearful war
hoop, and with yells and frantic
gestures lashed on their steeds, and
took up the pursuit with a fury that
sufficiently indicated what would be
my fate should | be overtak en-. =
Then began desperate contest "a
race for life or death. Sunbeam an.
swered gallantly to my call, and for
the first four or five miles | saw little
of the enemy but on they came
pitilessly, and soon seemed to gain
ground. Had it been on the first day
Of the journey, l could have laughed
at my pursuers, but now the superi.
ority of my noble horse, in stride
aud strength, Was neutralized by the
comparative freshness of the shaggy
steets on which the Apaches were
mounted. l groaned as | felt Sun
beam flag beneath me, though l urged
him on with voice and hand.
Miles upon miles Of rolling prairie
were traversed, my horse keeping the
lead, and speeding on with coulase
unabated, but staggering as he went,
and bearing heavily on the bit as we
descended the frequent slopes. The
Indians saw their advantage and press.
ed on, making every effort to come up
with me. One arrow slightly wound
ed my horse fin the neck 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 maddened with ex-
citement | spurred Sunbeam on, shook
off the pursuers for while, and pres
emily saw, cleaning before me, the
waters of a swiftly flowing river,
which could be no other than the
Gila while beyond it rose the stock
AIDED walls of Il lonely buildng-Fort
Webster, doubtless.
/ patted my steed's reeking neck as
| vociterated the words and with a
faint, friendly neigh, the gallant lorse