San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-12-14

pony rein and galloped IN the oppoei'e
direction, 1 saw the Sheriff mounting
his big gray mare, which had been tied
TO the corner-post of the store.
The Sheriff and n party OF soldiers
from Fort Harris were on the watch Tor
the train-robbers, who had stopped the
western bound train at Big Springs eight
days before, and who wore supposed to
be striking for the Texas border with
their rich spoil. The soldiers, as the
Sheriff had said, were posted in ravine
known as Hundred Horn Gulch, few
miles from the station, and where the
main trail from the North Platte crossed
the railroad track. "
The sun was Just dipping when rode
no to the station ahead of my troopers.
The Sheriff, who was studying the writ
ten description of the marauders by the
wondering light, put himself at ourhead
without q word, and We trailed of,
long line of creaking, jingling, hoof-
beating clamor through the windy 81
lence and gloom of the darkening prai'
RE-. & II l.l..i, ....|
The ride was long one, for our
quarry had an hours start OF us, and
the moon rose globe of coppery fire
and found us still clanking on. / had
Joined the Sheriff and the leader of the
soldiers. We were a silent trio until l
ventured: ...
q "Are you certain, Sheriff, Of our
menu"
"Bure as the noon, said the old man+
tersely, drinking in the sweet air of the
sublime night with a sigh which seemed
to say, ."Let me alone. Iknow what I'm
about, and won't be questioned
Silence again. The brisk breeze was
blowing rifted clouds across the face OF
the moon, nothing the dim plain with
fantastic shadows. Suddenly these
clouds swept away A full, clear burst
of light flooded the prairie, and not hall
mile away we saw three moving figures
which, in the now marvelously brilliant
lunar illumination, could be easily dis
tinquishcd as those of two mounted men
and pack animal. '1'.f .
The wind was in our faces, blowing
the noise Of our approach from the fugl-
tives' ears, and though we rode hard,
and with. no attempt ct stealthiness, 1t
was not until we were close upon them
that they suddenly drew in and faced
about, both men sitting bolt upright IN
their saddles, with their hands at their
hips. In gesture and bearing they meant
fight, and looked every inch desperate
and dangerous men. aI Hss
We halted, too. For moment a dead
silence fell upon us. Then the Sheriff's
gray mare neighed, and the charm was
broken.
"Who's there?" called one of the fugi-
tives in Spanish, emphasizing the chal-
lenge by the sharp click of his pistol as
he brought it to a cock.
The rattle of dozen carbines falling
into position drowned the Sheritf's re-
ply. Then the clear voice of the young
er fugitive arose: "If we must die, we
might as well die like men," it said.
What followed was almost like the
flaming of a fash of lightning. l heard
the Sheriff call out, "Throw up your
hands," and saw him spur straight for
the strangers; then came flash, n rat
Ting fire of carbines and rcvolvers, and
fierce oath from trooper behind me,
who tumbled from his saddle with his
thigh smashed. At the same time, and
before could kick clear of the stirrups,
my poor pony staggered and fell dead,
with pistol ball between his eyes, and,
in his fall, pinned me to the earth.
The fight was as brief as it was furi-
ous, and like all really desperate en-
counters I ever witnessed, was an almost
silent one, as far as any sound of voice
went. But the sharp reports OF revolv-
ers and the duller discharge of carbines
freighted the night wind, and the ground
owls numbered into clumsy fight at
the unwonted noises. Finally q single
fash famed across the light, thin vapor
from the firing, a single report was
hlnnn To lenMard. shnrn and clear. and