The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-01-28

u anu NtitNtu Win lht oitAcItu bont- u
mules and oxen, :hat did duty for a
road. Eight or nine times there doomed
before me a rude wooden cross, on
which was coarsely painted in letters of
black or red, sometimes a name, more
often mere initials. followed by the sim
pie inscription, "killed by the Apachcs.
Onward l rode, until at length, i'm n
sort Of oasis where water and grass and
trees were 20 be found, | selected my
camping place for the night. With
dawn was again ia the saddle, nor did
any incident. during that days journey
or the next, vary the monotony Of prai-
rie travel. Water WAS met with, spar
ingly. indeed. and of poor quality, but
the brackish and inrbid dranght At any
rate suiliced 10 allay that tormeniing
thirst, which j. the great terror of the
solitary wayfarer on those burning
plains. Wherever there was water. too.
there was pasture for my horse; while
for my own sustenance. | was provided
with tiny store of beef cut in strips and
dried in the sun in Mexican fashion. and
with bag of parched maize cobs
These, with flask of French brandy.
Spanish poncho, and ammunition for
my carbine and revolver. made up all
my equipment, save only my canteen
with its cup, and the leather saddle
bags wherein were slowed away the
money destined To redeem the credit OF
Curtis Brothers with their creditors Al
Cristobal. On the evening Of the third i
day halted in well watered dell near \
the head of a creek, and AZ distance.
as | computed. of one hundred and \
twenty miles from Tucson. Eighty
miles more, at most, would carry me to
Fort Webster, and once across the ella
| should be safe and could make certain
Of completing nay journey to Cristobal.
Hitherto / had met with no
living soul, friendly or hostile
More than once | had fancied that
on the dim horizon | had caught a
glimpse of tall spears and feathered
heads; and on one occasion | had be-
held distant cloud Of dust arise from
the bare brown surface If the desert,
but this might as easily have been oc-
casioned by the passage of a herd Of
bison or of wild horses as Of the Apaches
or their allies. My spirits rose as pro-
ceeded on my way, and | began 10 feel
coofident Of success.
On that night, lying wrapped in my
poncho, with my saddle for a pillow,
and my weapons within reach, dream
ID was at home again, and boy
Dnce more, for | saw my sisters faces
around me, and those of former friends
md playmates long dispersed, when
was aroused by the shrill. :
lager neighing of my horse. tethered
lard by, and, waking with a start, 4,
opened my eyes To encounter the fierce |
yes glazing upon me from a hideous 4
painted face, bending over mine. and I
% close as well-nigh to touch il. | felt (
N Indians hot breath upon nv cheek. :
: he stopped over me, while of his pur- I
'ose there could be little doubt. for, As '
ould see by the dim light of the watch i
ire, he was freshly besmeared with war 4
'aint, and one hand held a glitierinr {
.nife. As | started up. and grasped :
he butt Of the revolver living beneath |
ny head, the Indian other hand clutch n
d me by the wrist, while again my b
teed neighed shrilly, and as propped I,
myself on one knee / could see that :
was plunging and tearing vio- h
emily, while two dark forms were Gid
NJ abost the spot where the horse was r
astened, apparently intent on unfasten-
NJ the long lariat by which he was n
altered to the ground. r
There are confused recollections Of v
which memory is never able afterwards b
fholly to unravel the tangled thread n
remember brief, sharp struggle. n
Turing which twice received a slight O
rae from the knife that the Apache "
arried, and then nv right wrist was e
reed from tho hand that grasped il, b
nd the sharp crack Of the pistol broke y
he stiffness. Then, almost immediate X
:, heard the thud of galloping hoofs Il
pom the crisp turf of the prairie. and Il
aw tive mounted men, whose fluttering Il
lankets and plumed heads proclaimed Il
heir nationality, ride off in the dark 4
ess. At my feet lay my first assailant II
he two eagles feathers fastened by a e.
liver brooch to his long black hair de- b
oted that he had been n chief or prin- II
pal warrior, while the paint and tat A
,oing proved him to belong to the great a
-ibe Of Apaches. Al
NV great source Of anxiety now was, u
st the two braves who escaped should Al
ave comrades within reach, and at in
nee decided that to press on was nv al
isest policy. Ii was now the dark hour
lat precedes the dawn, but saddling p.
unbeam, whom / found fretful and agi- II
tied after his recent interview with IA
he red robbers, ! resumed my journey. N
p to this time had spared mr. horse. IN
ut now, heavy a was the sickly heat, "
nd long a. were the hours to be spent hi
J traversing the brown desolate plain le
ithout grass or water. | urged sun a
Fam on, the shining peaks Of the MINI IN
res becoming more and more distinctly wi
sible as we sped on our way. Poor 80
nnbeam showed for the first time sin,ns ~.