Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-22

1patted my steed's reeking neck as I vo-
, ciferated the words; and with faint, friend.
ly neigh, the gallant horse responded to my
aaPptesl sn a. SUI i o onward the river
very near; could hear its rush aud ripple,
when Sunbeam, dead beat, stumbled, fell on
his knees, and sank slowly down. There was
flank, and the noble brute had actually been
bleeding T. death as he carried his master
with unfa tering spirit, over leagues OF the
weary prairie. For the moment almost
forgot my imminent peril In grief for the
loss OF my brave companions; but little time
was left me for regrets, for already the
ground shook beneath the thunder OF hurry
Ing horse be offs, as, with yells and out-cries
OF bart arous triumph, the Indians came
racing on behind.
Thirty yards before me lay the river, but
1t was too deep and rapid for man readii ,
to swim or wade, and though L was weary
and worn. yet / could not bear to abandon
life " bile chance remained. My pistol was
in my belt, but my caroline was strapped 10
the saddle oI the dead horse, and so were the
bags which held the money of Curtis
BrOtf ers, and these snatched up, though i
had scar ty prospect of saving either prop
erty or life, SO near were the ruthless foes
They were but six lances' length away from
me as plunged into the brushwoOd, intend
ing to take shelter among the tall reeds OF
The bank, in the faint hope that the clamors
of the Apaches might bring out the troops
from the fort. To my great JOY, however, on
rea Oh IN z The river bank 1 beheld, moOred to
the stem of q mimosa tree, a canoe, contain
Ing fishing tackle, and probably belonging
to the garrison; and, leaping into 1t, seized
the paddles and pushed off into the middle
OF the stIea m just as four or five of the In
dams. who had dismounted, came bursting
through the bushes, kdife and tomahawk in
hf nd.
The river ran swift and was inexpert in
u e management of a canoe; but the Indians
fortunately hesitated tn take the river, no
doubt on account of the vicinity of the fort,
and although they pursued me with fierce
shouts and volleys of arrow only one of the
latter hit me, iDflicting a slight wound on
my left wrist; while the welc me sound OF a
further bank told that the Indian war whoop
had attracted the notice of the soldiers, OF
whose weapons the Apaches stood in whole
some awe i was soon among friendly faces
although SO exhausted was I with fatigue
and emotion that tainted before reaching
Fort Webster.
My story, thus hastily narrated, is nearly
AT an end. The Kindness of the commanding
officer at the fort enabled me to push on, so
soon as refreshment had somewhat restored
my vigor; and reached Cristobal without
further hindrance or peril, and was In time
to save the credit ofthe firm whose represen-
tatiye i was, and to allay the surly suspi-
cfons OF the half wild Mexican and Texan
cattle farmers, who were already beginning
10 chafe and murmur at the delay. The oxen
and other live stock, some weeks later, were
sent along with wagon train that trav-
eied under strong escort of the United
States cavalry TO Tucson; and should have
availed myself of the opportunity 10 return
bad not an attack of fever, brought on by
anxiety and over exertion, Frustrated me
for a time, although youth and a robust con-
stitution enabled me to shake IL or
was still very pale and weak, and was
sitting listlessly among the magnolia
bushes and cofee-shrubs in the garden of
the little inn, when L saw ROsamond and
Mrs. Gray, whose kindness to me during my
illness had been Gnremitting, approa ching
ire with JOY full LOOKS.
"Can you bear good news, Harry" asked
The latter, smiling; and indeed the tidings
were very good ones. My quaint, worthy
old employers had been better than their
word, having not merely taken me into part
neTsh1p, in recOmpense for what 1 had done
on their beh If, but appointed me their resi-
dent agent at CristObal, far healthier and
more pleasant place than Tucson. with a
share In the prOtits of the firm that was only
too liberal have every prospect of present
competence and ultimate wealth, while my
eI gaRement to ROsamoDd Gray is very
shortly to he brought to a happy conclusions;
but In the midst Of my new found prosperity
saddeninR recollection will sometimes OBJ
tude itself, as / remember the faithful.
Cumb friend whose bones are whitening on
the banks Of the ella.