The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-01-29

lures dashed on their steeds, and took
up the pursuit with fury that sufiici-
emily indicated what would be my fate
should | be overtaken. Then began a
desperate contest--a race for life or
death. Sunbeam answered gallantly to
nv 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 hrst
day of the journey l could have laughed
ut my pursuers, but now the superiority
of nv noble horse, in stride and strength,
was neutralized by the comparative
freshness of the shaggy steed on which
the Apaches were mounted. l groaned
rs l felt Sunbeam flag beneath me,
though I urged him on with voice and
hand.
Miles upon miles of rolling prairie
were traversed. my horse keeping the
lead and speeding on with courage I'M
abated. but staggering rs he went, and
bearing heavily on the bit rs we de-
scended the frequent slopes. The In
dians saw their advantage and pressed
on. making every effort to come up with
me. One arrow slightly wounded my
horse in the neck; a second brushed my
cheek. making me feel rs though hot
iron had been drawn across it. But
maddened with excitement / spurred
Sunbeam on, shook off the pursuers for
n while and presently saw cleaning be-
fore the waters of swiftly flowing river,
which could be no other than the CHA;
while beyond it rose the stockaded walls
of lonely building-Fort Webster,
doubtless.
ION, Sunbeam, on. One more effort,
brave horse-one more and we are safe.'
patted my stced's rceking neck as l
vociferted the words; the gallant horse
responded to my appeal and still reeled
onward. The river, hOrdered by tall
trees and cane-brakes, was very near; |
could hear it rush and ripple, when
Sunbeam, dead beat, stumbled, fell on
his knees, and sank slowly down. There
was IN arrow, unknown to me, sticking
in his flank, and the noble brute had
actually been bleeding to death as he
carried his master with unfaltering spirit
over leagues OF the weary prairie For
the moment | almost forgot my imml-
nent peril, in grief for the loss OF my
brave companion; but little time was
left for regrets, for already the ground
shook beneath the thunder of hurrying
horse hoofs as with yells and outcries of
barbarous triumph the Indians came
racing up behind.
Thirty yards before me lay the river,
but it was too deep and rapid for man
readily to swim or wade, and though l
was weary and worn, yet l could not
bear to abandon life while chance re-
manned. My pistol was in my belt but
my carbine was strapped to the saddle
of the dead horse, and so were the bags
which held the money of Curtis Broth
ers. and these | snatched up. though |
had scanty prospect of saving either
property or life, so near were the ruth
less foes. They we're but six lapces'
length away from mo as plunged into
the brushwood, intending 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 reaching the
river bank bcheld moored to the stem
of Il mimosa tree canoe containing fish
ing tackel and probably belonging to the
garrison, and leaping into 1t seized the
paddles and pushed off into the middle
of the stream just as four or five OF the
Indians, who had dismounted, came
bursting through the bushes, knife and
tomahawk in hand.
The river ran swiftly and ! was mex
port in the management OF canoe, but
the Indians, fortunately, hcsitated to take
the river, no doubt on account OF the
vicinity of the fort. and although they
pursued me with fierce shouts and vol
levs of arrows, only one Of the latter hit
me, inflicting Il slight wound on my left
wrist; while the welcome sound of Il
cheer and the discharge of rifle from
the further bank told that the war whoop
had attracted the notice of the soldiers.
of whose weapons the Apaches stood in
wholesome awe. | was soon among
friendly faces. although, so exhausted
was | 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 rest and re-
freshment had somewhat restored my
vigor; and reached Cristobal without
further hindrance or peril, and in time
to save the credit of the firm whose re-
preventative / was, and to allay the surly
suspicious of the half-wild Mexican and
Texan cattle-farmers, who We're already
beginning to chafe and murmur ut the
delay. The oxen and other live stock,
some weeks later, We're sent along with
wagon train that travelled under a
strong escort of the United States cavalry
to Tucson; and ! should have availed
myself of the opportunity to return had
not an attack OF fever, brought on by
anxiety and overexertion, Frustrated me
for time, although youth and robust
constitution enabled me to shake it off.