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

nhny lonely homestead within reach
of the spoiler. The troops had been
hastily withdrawn; the caravans about to
traverse the prairie bad halted for lack
of an escort; and it was thought rash
to venture more than a-few miles be-
yondthe cultivated country. Yet the day
was at hand when the great herds of
oxen and droves Of swine, already pur-
chased, would be waiting at Cristobal
for the completion of the bargain, and
my employers were well aware that un-
less the cattle could be paid for in hard
dollars, fatal blow would be dealt to
the credit of the firm. Messrs. Curtis
had strained every nerve to collect the
ready money necessary, and the funds
were forthcoming, but the entire scheme
bid 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 enemy, when
l astonished my employers by volur-
teering to be the messenger.
"You shall not have to repent it,
Harry, my boy p said the elder of the
two brothers, as he wrung my hand in
his own horny one. "You've stood
manfully by us at this pinch, and we'd
be mean enough to trample on if we
didn't show gratitude a little more sub
stantially than by few fair words.
We never yet did rise clerk to be
partner, but - There, there, Lynd-
ham 1 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 I
had taken umbrage at his rough speech.
"Come safe back to us, lad, and all will
be right"
Mr.. James Curtis spoke words to
much the same effect, az the same time
bidding me be careful, and indeed it
was curious to watch the struggle in my
employers minds between their natural
eagerness to escape financial wreck
that almost amounted d to ruin, and the
kindly apprehension lest should lose
my life in their service.
As for myself, I knew well enough
how great was the risk ran, and forhow
momentous stake I was about to play,
and had not the goal before my mental
vision been the bright prospect of call
ing Rosamond my wife. even the pros
pective partnership would hardly have
tempted me to set off on an errand so
perilous. AS it was, I was resolved, and
as I 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 l had traversed on four or five oc-
casions, and was no novice in camping
out, or in the familiar incidents of prai-
rie travel. could ride we'll, too, ana
was better mounted than most of the
residents in that district, where horse.
flesh is cheap and plentiful, having in
my possession splendid chestnut thor
oughbred, originally brought from Ken
lucky by some United States officer, and
which was celebrated for strength and
speed. was fond of Sunbeam, and he
Of me, for he was docile and intelligent
as well as swift, and would follow me for
miles as a dog follows his owner, or
stand, when bade him, with the reins
hanging loose upon his glossy neck.
There was scanty time for leave. talk
ing. 1t was deep in the afternoon when
[ started, dozen or more of the young
er citizens of Tucson riding with mo for
the first half-hour, and giving me o
hearty cheer as we parted More than
one strong right hand trembled little
as it grasped mine in token of adieu,
and there was an unwonted moisture
glistening in the honest eyes of some of
the kind-hearted young fellows as they
wished me "God-speed and safe re-
turn" Well do I remember wheeling
my steed on little elevation in the roll
ing, flower enameled prairie, and waving
my hat in answer to the waving of hats
and handkerchiefs from the little knot
of horsemen, not one of whom, I am
sure, ever expected to see me again on
this side of the grave. Then I rode on
and lost sight of the friendly band OF
well-wishers.
Some three hours after leaving Tucson
I reined up beside the blue, bright wa.
ters Of creek, and, Stacking my horses
girths, I allowed him to drink freely,
myself replenishing the metal canteel
that was slung at my saddle-bow, for in
that desert land another opportunity OF
appeasing thirst might not readily oc
cur. And presently leaving the grassy
prairie we struck into o country still
more lonely and desolate, where the
only sound was the thud of my horses
hoofs on the scorched and barren earth
Eight or nine times there loomed before
me a rude wooden cross, on which was
coarsely painted in letters of black o.
, red sometimes name, more often mere
initials, followed by the simple inscrip
tion Killed by the Apaches."
, On the evening of the third day
halted in q well-watered dell near th,
head of creek, and at distance, as
computed, of one hundred and twent,
, miles from Tucson. Eighty miles more
at most, wouM carry me to Fort Web
ster; and once across the Gila I shoult
! be safe and conld make CERTAIN of com