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

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elled prairie, and waving my hat In answer
70 the waving Of hats and handkerchief
from the little knot OF horsemen, not one OF
sgsin on am tbis lure eyeb e r 10 see me
on, and lost sight OF the friendly band OF
well-wishers.
the land like mantle. There was not a
breath TO stir the dropping leaves OF the re W
cotton wood trees that passed In the lower
levels, and on the upland the long rank
grass was parched brown by the fierce san.
or II was long since rain had fallen. The
shTill, sharp chirp of the prairie cricket, and
isr-Ou barking Of that curious animal,
the Irairie dog, alone broke the stiffness
n q was absolutely oppressive. Some three
hours after leaving Tucson reigned up De.
d. The blue, bright waters of q creek, and
Stacking my horses girth allowed him 10
drink freely, myself replenishiDg the metal
cau teen that was slung at my saddle bow
fJr in that desert land another opportunity
o. sppeasing my thirst mia ut NOT readily
o cur. And pre- sently leaving the grassy
prairie we struck into country still NOR.
lonely aud desOl5 te, where the only sound
was the thud OF my horses hoofs on the
Far away 10 the left there glimmerei
against the SKY something ike a shirinZ
the seria ell crests and mountain peaks o
the Membres, the natural astnesses where
dWelt the barbarian tri hes whose torch and
iomahaWk bad laid waste many happy
nome. Nor were rDOmentoes OF their hOstil-
lty lacking, as traversed the track-dseply
canned by wagon wheels and strewed W tn
the bleached bones of mules aUd ONeu-tha
did duty for road. Eight or nine times
there doomed before me II cross, On which
was cOar ely painted in letters 81 black or red
sometimes name, more EN- mere initials,
followed by the simple inscrIp ton, KILLED
by The "a paches F"
The sun went down, the dew glistened on
the rank heritage and tufts of the wild sage
while the broad, bright moon, like q silver
shield, rose to shed her chastened light over
the vast expanse OF prairie. Onward rode,
until at length In sort of oasis, where water
and grass and trees were to be found, / Sc
lected my camping place for the night With
dawn was again In the saddle, nor did any
incident during that days journey or the
next vary the monOtony of prairie travel
Water was met with. sparipgly, indeed ami
OF poor quality, but the brackish and turbid
draught at any rate sufficed to allay that
tormenting thirst which is the great terror
OF the solitary wayfarer on those burning
plains. Wherever there was water too there
sustenance was provided with tiny store
OF wild bull beef, cut In strips and dried in
the sun, in Mexican fashion, and with a bag
OF parched 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 TN cup and the leathern
saddle bags wherein We're slowed the gold
and greenbacks destined 10 redeem the credit
OF Curtis Brothers with their creditors at
CristobaL On the evening of the third day
OF creek, and at distance, as 1 computed
of 40 miles from Tucson. Eighty miles
more, at most, would carry me to Fort Web
ster; ana once across the ella | should be
safe, and could make certain of completing
my Journey 10 Cristobal. Hitherto I 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 a
glimpse OF tail spears aud feathered heads
ana on one occasion | had beheld a distant
loud OF dust arise from the bare brown sur
art Init n lie aFrrI,f
have been OccasiOned by the passage of a
nerd OF bison or of wild horses, as of the
Apaches or their allies. My spirits rose as
confident of success.
On that night, lying wrapped in my pom
cbo, with my saddle for a pillow. and nv
weapons within reach, l. dreamed l was at
home again, in Old England, al a boy once
more, Tor saw my sisters faces around me,
and those or my former friends and play
mates long dispersed, when sud, enly was
aroused by the shrill, eager neis hing of my
horse, tetnered hard by, and, waking with
a start, opened my eyes 10 encounter the
hPrce eyes glaring upon me from hideous
painted lace, bending over mine, and so
close aS Well-nlgh TO touch IL. felt an In
dian hot breath upon my cheek, as he
stopped over me, while of his purpose there
could he little doubt, for, as cou ID see bv the
dim light OF The dying watchfire he was
freshly besIneared with war paint and one
hand held glittering knife. As l started up
ard gTasped the butt of the revolver living
be- cath my head, the Indians other hand
cluIcned me by the wrist, while again my
steed neighed shrilly, and as propped my
self on one knee l could see that Sunbeam
was plunging and rearing violently, while
Two dark forms were gliding about the spot
where the horse was fastened, apDarentIy
intent on unfastening the long lariat by
which he was battered to the ground.
There are confused recollections of which
memory snever able afterwards wholly to
unravel the tangled thread. remember a
brief, sharp struggle, during ..hich twice
received "a slight Craze from the knife that
the Apache carried, and then my right wrist
was freed from the hand that grasped IL, and
were successively fred broke the Stiffness
Then almost Immediately heard the thud
OF galloping hoofs upon the crisp turf OF the
Pralrle, and saw two mountei men, whose
nuttering blankets and Tlumed heads pro-
claimed their nationality, ride off into the
darkness. At my feet lay my first assail-
ant: His hand, when lifted 1t, fell back TO
earth, and his grim features. bedaubed with
streeks OF yellow, white, and black, were
stlnening fast in death. The two eagles
feathers fast ened by silver brooch 10 his
long black. hair denoted that he had been n
chief or principal warrior, while the paint
and tattOOing proved him TO belong to the
great tribe Of the Apaches.
My great source of anxiety now was lest
the Two braves who had escaped should have
conn AIDES within reach, and at once decided
that 10 press on was my wisest policy. 1t
was now the dark, chill hour that precedeS
the dawn, but saddling Sunbeam, whom
found fretful and agitated, after his recent
Interview with the red robbers, / resum cd
my journey. Up to this time / had spared
my horse, but now heavy as was the sickly
neat, and long as were the hours to be
spent In traversing the brown, desolate plain
without grass or water, urged Sunbeam on
TIE shining peaks of the Mimbres becoming
more and more distinctly visible as we sped
upon our way. Poor Sunbeam showed for
ths first time signs OF distress when we
matted beside stream, the brackish waters
OF which seemed to burn thirsty lips that
cIayed for them; but we were now, as com
puted, within three hours Of the River ella
hey ond which was safety.
the sterile. stony desert which spread itself
before me when, on the next morning, my
faded steed and again set forth upon the
track, was almost bare of verdure. The long
drought and the neat of the scOrching sun
LAO Nllhefed every green blade, while pools
aI-u creeks which ought to have been fun OF
sweet pure water were now mere belts of
SHlngie, or hollows paved with dried clay
SLsred the last drops OF the precious fnid /
carried IN my canteen, and the last of the
bleached corn, with Sunbeam. aud the good
horse seemed as though he was grateful for
and understood the kindness, for he rubbed
his velvet muZZle caressingly against IN v
hand as strOked his neck, no longer sleek
and smooth as satin, for fatigue and priya-
ton had rOughened his coat and dimmed
the IRE OF his eye Suddenly, as / stood
beside him, i looked back, aud saw what
made, for the moment, my very heart cease
70 beat, as II an icy touch had frozen the
= 49, g. -.