Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-02-19


ing river, which could be no other than
the GiIa; while beyond it rose the stock.
AIDED walls of q lonely building-Fort
Webster, doubtless.
I patted my steed's reeking neck, and
with faint neigh the gallant horse re-
sponded to my appeal, and still reeled
onward. The river, bordered by tall
trees and canebrakes, was very near; I
could hear its rush and ripple, when
Sunbeam, dead beat, stumbled, fell on
his knees, and sank slowly down. eFhere
was an arrow, unknown to me, sticking
in his flank, and the noble brute had &C
tually been bleeding to death as he car.
ried his master, with unfaitering spirit,
over leagues of the weary prairie. For
the moment 1 almost forgot my immi-
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
households, 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 I
was weary and worn, yet could not
bear to abandon life while chance re-
mained. 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 Brothers,
and these I snatched up, though I had
scanty prospect of saving either property
or life, so near were the ruthless foes.
They were but six lances' length away
from me as plunged into the brush
wood, 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 I beheld,
moored to the stem of mimosa tree, a
canoe, containing fishing tackle, and
probably belonging to the garrison 4:
and, leaping into it, seized the pad
dies and pushed off into middle of the
stream just as four or five of the Indians,
who had dismounted, came bursting
through the bushes, knife and toma-
hawk in hand.
The river ran swift, and I was mex
pert in the management of a canoe, but
the Indians fortunately hesitated to
take the river, no doubt on account
of the vicinity of the fort, and although
they pursued me with fierce shouts and
volleys of arrows, only one of the latter
hit me, inficting slight wound on my
left wrist ; while the welcome sound of
cheer and the discharge of rifle from
the further bank told that the Indian
warwhoop lad attracted the notice of
the soldiers, of whose weapons the
Apaches stood in Wholesome awe. 1 was
soon among friendly faces, although SO
exhausted was I with fatigue and emo
ton that tainted before reaching Fort
Webster.
The kindness of the commanding Off
Ger at the fort enabled me to push on,
so soon as rest and refreshment had
somewhat restored my vigor; and I
reached Cristobal without further him
drance or peril, and in time to save the
credit of the firm whose representative
L was, and to allay the surly suspicious
of the half-wild Mexican and Texan cat
tie farmers, who were already beginning
to chafe and murmur at the delay. The
oxen and other live stock, some weeks
later, were sent along with wagon
train that travelled under 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
over exertion, prostrated me for time,
although youth and robust constitution
enabled me to shake it off.
was still very pale and weak, and was
sitting istlessly among the magnolis
bushes and coffee shrubs in the garden
of the little inn, when I saw Rosamont
and Mrs. Gray, whose kindness to MT
during my illness had been unremitting
approach me with joyful looks.
"Can you bear good news, Harry p
asked the latter, smiling; and indeed
the tidings were very good ones. My
quaint, worthy old employers had beer
better than their word, having not mere
ly taken me into partnership, in recon
pense for what I had done on their be
half, but also appointed me their resi-
dent agent at Cristobal, a far healthier
and more pleasant place than Tucson
with share in the profits of the firm
that was only too liberal. 1 have ever,
prospect of present competence anC
ultimate wealth, while my engagement
to Rosamond Gray is very shortly to b.
brought to a happy conclusion; but il
the midst of my new-found prosperity
O saddening recollection will sometime
obtrude itself, as remember the faith
full, dumb friend whose bones ar
whitening on the banks of the Gila.
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