The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-12
A RIDE FOR LIFE.

possessed OF the utmost caution, A
drover is not often molested with his
drove; for they know that his pockets
are empty, and there Is nothing to be
gained, unless indeed some large band
take q fancy to some of your stock; and
then they are more apt to stampede
them than to conspire for the death Of
their owners. When you return laden
with the dollars OF the rich purchasers,
then it is that man must look out for
his life.
At the time the adventure that am
about to relate betell me, 1 had been
very successful with my drove, and was
on my way back in company with my
partners, and three other men, whom we
had employed to aid us on our passage
| through the States; and we were glad Of
| their company on our return, as they
were all stout fellows, and could be de-
pended upon in any emergency.
Some thirty miles this side of Santa
Rosa, the road we were pursuing on our
return lay through wild mountainous
region, that had the reputation
| this score Of years of being
one of the most dangerous
routes in the eastern portion of Mexico;
with scarcely an inhaUitant, dark forests
OF heavy timber save in places where
fires had ragged over large dlstricts,
backed by lofty mountains that raised
their jagged dsummits above the Lree-tops,
and often-times along one Of the worst
possible roads. Taken al ! in all, better
place tor murder and plllage could not
| be found.
1t was about 10 O'Clock in the forenoon
| that we lett the wretched little village
on the western hill of the mountains,
and struck into this most dangerous
part OF our journey. Ihirty-iYe miles
over terrib road would BRING us to
San Migol, where we hoped to be before
| the darkness became too dense for us to
see our way.
had never passed this way before
and upon inquiry of the innkeeper, he
had told us tnat we could do the dis
tauce with ease; but before half a dozen
miles had been passed over we knew
thai he had deceived us. He had told
| us that The three first miles would be
bad, and that then IL would improve
| until the highest point in the route was
gained; but, instead OF doing SO, every
mile grew worse ana worse, until, az
last, all our horses could do was TO pick
| their way along at slow walk. How
ever, We kept our spirits up by the e&-
pecCation OF something better ahead;
but in this we We're doomed to disal-
| pUintment.
A dozen miles, and miserable path,
| that had been denOminateu a road, be-
came almost mpassaDle lOr our steeds,
who began 10 snow signs of exhaustion;
| aud to add to the uncOmiOrta Uleness OF
our situation, dense clouds, that all the
morning had hung upon the mountains,
| expanded themselves over the sky, and
soon the rain began TO pour down in tor
rents.
Beneath the branches of a huge tree
tlaE stood BY the roadside we halted Tor
consultation. What was to be done?
- proceed seemed next to impossible
Ia i-= Il!cA darkness tuat even was now
s4iG@!LDs IN; while 10 remain where we
were was hazardous in the extreme,
ltcm tue cause l have mentioned. To-
Ue sure, there were five of us, expert in
the use OF firearms; out what would that
be Wnen taken unaWareS In the night
lime in sucn place, when it was well
known To us that the bands that infest-
ed the country Otten numbered twenty,
thirty, and sometimes 1orty, under one
leader?
The ugly question came up for us to
decide, should we go on, and run the
risk OF sLraylng from the right track in
the darkness? or should we stay, and
run the risk OF re ceiylng visit from our
UNIV elcome and doubtless near neigh
bors? Alter discussing the matter, we
decided to stay where we were until
daylight. We would camp Tor The night
and that, too, upon the very spot
where we were then.
A Withholding spot it was, in sooth,
for camp. On each side OF the pass
was dense forest, seemingly impene-
trable TO man or beast; so much 50 that
we had to tether our horses in the road
10 The trees on either side. The noun
tains irowning down upon US, and the
black forest, full Of untold dangers, oil
either hand, all cOnspired to make the
place as wild and gloomy as it were pos
sible for any place TO be. 1t makes me
| snudder even now, with all you about
me, when think OF our situation that
| night; and then l almost wished that
| the heavy bag of gold that was sung at
my belt, and which seemed to weigh me
down as had never known it to 40 be-
fore, was back among the treasures
from whence il had been gathered.
We had plenty OF food with US: and.
after making hearty supper, we, nav
| ing previously constructed a shelter.
turned in, all save myself. preferred
to keep the first watch, for | knew il
laid down IL would be Impossible for me
TO sleep. A presentiment of danger
that could not get rid OF hung over me,
and entirely precluded all thoughts OF
repose. An nour passed, and / had
heard nothing but the patter OF the rain
drops, and the wind signing among the
branches Of the trees, save indeed. now.
and then, the startling cry OF some wild
animal far in the depths of the forest,
But these we cared not for. Brutes are
oltentimes better friends than men.
Haitian hour more, and my hour was
up; buL / did not call the one that was
to succeed me. L never was more wide
awake in my LIE, and felt not the need
of rest.
Suddenly was startled by a dismal
sound, and listened intently. Again
L heard it away back on the road over
which we had come, and was all atten-
tion. Again tue sound fell on my ear,
and this time there could be no mistake.
1t was the tramp OF q score OF horses
picking their way along the road at as
swift pace as IL was possible for them
10 pursue, and at no great distance
away.
l woke up my companions, and told
them what heard. That the approach
ing horsemen were the bandittl mat in
tested the mountains, there could be
little doubt; and that their number was
treble our own, there was still less
doubt, we judged by the sound that
every moment grew nearer and nearer.
Rut ana rpsOurca waa fnr ua. and thor