, 1878-02-08
Nat Rugsles' Charge.

"Don't YOU think | can manage 10 get
through p asked man in the undreSs uni
form of a United States Army officer.
II think / kim answered his com
paaion. =.
"Then ! shall 60 through with you,
said the officer, with determination.
"Cap'n, there amt mile o the coun-
try we'll hev ter 60 over that amt Just
swarmin with redskins. never sec SO
many on 'em as | did last night, One
might be able ter git threw all right; but
tpo'd be just about sartin ter hev thar har
lifted
Nevertheless, must take the risk.
Ny wife, whom have not seen for two
years, is lying at the point of death with
10 hundred miles of me, and | must see
her at all hazards"
81 never he'd harder work ter git threw
in all my life than he'd last night" per-
sisted the guide. 81 amt much skeery
AZ gen'l thing, but tell you, cap'n, the
hui country's alive with them red var
mints."
"But shall make the attempt, Nat.
You got through safe last night; we mag
do so te-day. Come, let's be off"
i've telled yer jest az It's, an if yer
say so, I'm ready to start"
The speaker was Nat Ruggles, we'll
known scout, who, for more than ten
years, had made his headquarters at
Fort Mason, on the headwaters of the
Llano.
Nat was Mexican half breed, weigh
ing not more than ninety pounds, about
five feet ten inches in height, with long,
coarse hair, keen black eyes, great Ian
tern jaws, and sallow, beardless cheeks,
He rode a large, powerful mustang,
without saddle or bride, guiding the
animal entirely by pressing his knees
against its sides. Nicely balanced be-
fore him, he carried long, murderous-
looking Kentucky rifle, heavily mounted
with silver, and in his belts pair of navy
revolvers.
His companion, young man, scarcely
twenty-five years of age, had that morn
ing received information that his wife, on
her way to join him, was detained at
Fort Mason by dangerous illness. 1t
was the determination to return with the
scout who had brought the news that
gave rise to the conversation recorded
above.
"Capn, you'd ought ter hev an escort
of at least twenty men, if you will co.
remarked the guide.
"Twenty men4" queried the officer.
"Why, there are only sixty men at the
post. Not one can he spared, for the
postis likely to beattacked at any time. "
'That's true, cap'n; there don't seem
ter be no other way, does thar9 Wal, I'm
ready ter start. We shall have ter do
some tall ridin', an l don't jest like the
look ev that critter ev yourn.'
"Nor do | but he has the most endur.
auce of any animal at the post"
"That may be, but it's speed he's got
ter hev, too, an them legs er too stocky
ter git very fast"
Fast or not, he's all I have, and |
shall take the risk. If we're attacked,
we must fight our way through; there's
no other way"
"We'll do the best we kin, cap'n. Now
fuller, keerfully."
After riding about five miles. Nat sud.
denly halted. Dismounting, he placed
his ear to the ground.
"What is III" anxiously inquired the
officer.
"An Injun camp. Train't thousand
yards ahead, either Can'r you hear 'em ~
Both listened. There was no mistak.
ing the tramp Of unshod horses upon the
hOwer-covered turf ahead.
"What can we dot" anxiously asked
the captain.
The guide looked about him for a few
moments, with troubled face, and then
said:
"We must hide in the chaparal till
night comes, an then charge EN-. Thar's
Gray Hoss' on our right. and ther river
on our left. We can't git past EN-, but
must take our chances To charge 'em,
ArteT dark
"But need We wait dill nightl" earnestly
asked the captain.
"ln course We must" was the curt An.
swer. I'VE kin hide in this ere dry IA.
yine-ihough il is risky; but II We stand
talkin' here, they'll hnd us,sure; so come
along"
They led their horses into the dense
chaparral that grew In the bottom Of the
Argjdj then seating themselves upon the
ground, they waited Tor the long hours
10 pas, 70 quietly that even their horse.
seemed to understand the necessity l1r
silence, aud made no noise.
Night came At last, aud the guide fnsl.
lysaid, "lt's dark enough nov pit read, r
The darkness Was Indeed intense. 6gl
they struggled 10 the top OF thc rayins.
and the camp fires Of the Zoe. earh onr
marking the entrance 10 a lodge, were iu