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

WhSIO VoSSiS e''>~ ohN SAS>o
were to be found, l selected mp camp
ing place for the night. With dawr
I was again in the saddle, nor die
any incident, during that days jour
merry or the next, vary the monotony
of prairie travel Water was me
with, sparingly, indeed, and of pool
quality, but the brackish and turbid
draught at any rate sufficed to allay
that tormenting thirst, which is the
great terror of the solitary wayfarel
on these burning plains. Wherever
there was water, too, there was pas
ture for my horse while, for my
own sustenance, l was provided with
tiny store of wild bull beef, cut in
strips and dried in the sun, in Mexi
can fashion, and with bag Of parch-
ed maize-cobs. These, with a flask
of French brandy, Spanish poncho,
and ammunition for my carbine and
revolver, made up all my equipment
save only my canteen with its tin cup
and the leathern saddle. bags, where.
in were slowed away the gold and
greenbacks destined to redeem the
credit of Curtis Brothers with their
creditors at Cristobal. On the even.
ing OF the third day halted in we'll
watered dell near the head of y creek,
and at a distance, as I computed, of
one hundred and twenty miles from
Tucson. Eighty miles more at most
would carry me to Fort Webster ;
and once across the Gila | should be
safe, and could make certain of com.
p!eting my journey to CriStobel.-
Hitherto l had met with no living
soul, friendly or hostile. More than
once had fancied that, on the verge
of the dim horizon, l had caught q
glimpse of tall spears and feathered
heads and on one occasion l had
beheld distant cloud of dust arise
from the bare, brown surface of the
desert but this might az easily have
been occasioned by the passage of a
herd of bisons or of wild horses, as of
the Apaches Or their allies. My
spirits rose as | proceeded on my
way, and began to teel confident of
success.
On that night, lying wrapped in
my poncho, with my saddle for a
pillow, and my weapons within reach,
l dreamed l was at home again, ir
Cd England, and a boy once more,
for l saw my sisters faces around me,
and those of former friends and play
mates long dispersed, when suddenly
I was aroused by the shrill, eager
neighing of my horse, tethered hard
by, and, waking with start, opened
my eyes to encounter the fierce eyes
glaring upon me from hideous
painted face, bending over mine, and
so close az well-nigh to touch it. |
felt an Indians hot breath upon my
cheek, as he stopped over me, while
of his purpose there could be little
doubt, for, as l could see by the dim
light of the dying watchtire, he was
freshly besmeared with warpaint, and
one hand held a gittering knife. AS
l 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 | propped my
self on one knee could see that Sun.
beam was plunging and rearing viol-
emily, while two dark forms were
gliding about the spot where the horse
was fastened, apparently intent on un-
fastening the long lariat by which he
was haltered to the ground.
There are confused recollections of
which memory is never able after
wards wholly to unravel the tangled
thread. remember briet, sharp
struggle, during which twice re.
ceived 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 sue
cessively fired, broke the stiffness.
Then, almost Immediately, heard
the thud of galloplng hoors upon the
crisp turf of the prairie, and saw two
mounted men, whose futteling blank
cts and plumed heads proclaimed
their nationality, ride off into the
darkness. At my feet lay my first
His hand, when lifted it,
fell fell back to earth, and his grim
features, bedaubed with streaks of
yellow, white and black, were stiffen-
ing fast in death. The two eagles