The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-02-07
Nat Ruggles' Charge.

Don't you think can manage to get
through." asked man in the undress uni
form of a United States Army officer.
II think / kim" answered his COM
panion.
"Then shall 60 through with you,'
said the officer, with determination.
"Cap'n. there amt a mile o the coun-
try we'll hev ter go over that amt Just
swarmin' with redskins. never see so
many on 'em as | did last night. One
might be able ter git threw all right; but
t,oo'd be Just about sartin ter hev thar har
lifted"
Nevertheless, l must take the risk
Ny wife, whom | have not seen for two
years, is lying at the point of death with
in a hundred miles of me, and must see
her at all hazards
Il never he'd harder work ter git threw
in all my life than l he'd last night" per-
sisted the guide ~ amt much skeery
az gen'l thing, but tell you. cap'n, the
hui countrys alive with them red var
mints."
But shall make the attempt, Nat
You got through safe last night; we may
do so to-day. Come, let's he 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 a 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 large, powerful mustang,
animal entirely by pressing his knees
against its sides. Nicely balanced be-
fore him, be carried a long, murderous-
looking Kentucky rifle, heavily mounted
with silver, and in his belt 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 a dangerous illness. 1t
was the determination to return with the
scout who had brought the news that
gave rise to the conversation recorded
above.
"Cap'n, you'd ought ter hev an escort
of at least twenty men, if you will 90,
remarked the guide.
Twenty men, queried the officer
why, there are only sixty men at the
post. Not one can he spared, for the
posts likely to be attacked at any time"
That's true, cap'n; there don't seem
ter be no other way, does thar Wal, I'm
ready ter start. We shall have ter do
some tall ridin', an don't jest like tue
q look ev that critter ev yourn."
Nor do | but he has the most endur-
ance 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 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
foller, keerfully.'
After riding about five miles. Nat sud-
denly halted. Dismounting, he placed
his ear to the ground.
"What is iti" anxiously inquired the
officer.
IAN Injun camp. 'Tain't a thousand
yards ahead, either. Can't you hear emf"
Both listened. There was no mistak-
ing the tramp of unshod horses upon the
flower covered turf ahead.
"What can we dor" anxiously asked
the captain.
The guide looked about him for few
moments, with troubled face, and then
said:
"We must hide in the chaparrsl till
night comes, an then charge EN-. Thar's
Gray Hoss- on our right, and Their river
on our left. We can't git past EN-, but
must take OR chances to charge EN-,
arter dark"
"But need We wait till nightl" earnestly
asked the captain.
'In course we must" was the curt an
swer. I'VE kin hide in this ere dry "a
vine-though it is risky; but if we stand
talkin' here, they'll find assure; so come
along
They led their horses into the dense
chaparral that grew in the bottom of the
Aroja; then seating themselves upon the
ground, they waited for the long hours
to pass, so quietly that yen their horses
seemed to understand the necessity for
silence, and made no noise.
Night came at last, and the guide final
ly said, ats dark enough now; git ready"
The darkness was indeed intense, but
they struggled to the top of the ravine,
and the camp fires of the foe, each one
marking the entrance to lodge were in