Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-15

They walked down to the stream
and secured the water for the near
ly famished beasts, after which they
returned to the hill and proceeded
to tie the horses preparatory to
them. The two animals
were hitched to the rear wheels.
Mrs. Rundlett had just set down in
front Of the buggy to prepare their
lunch, when the sharp report Of
rifle was heard and a bullet grazed
her cheek, striking one Of the
horses in the neck. The party all
jumped to their feet, frightened,
aud for the moment unable to think
or act. Then Mrs. Rundlett felt in
the pocket Of her dress and found
that the revolver that she carried
had not exploded, as for a moment
she thought it had. Another re-
volver in the lunch h-basket was
found all right, too. Then they
knew that they had been
wAYLAID BY MEXICANs,
evidently intent on securing the
team and buggy. The condition of
things looked extremely critical.
The best horse of the two lay dead
at their feet. The other one was
sick and scarcely able to stand.
Night was coming on, and there
they were in a thick belt of timber,
eight miles away from any sign of
American civilization, and liable to
fall from the bullets of their un-
known assailant. Morris was un-
able to suggest anything save that
they should hurry down to the
Mexican plaza, Mrs. Rundlett de-
clared that to 90 there would be
certain death, as she was positive
the party who had fred was hid in
that direction. Her escort knew OF
no more feasible plan, and looked at
Mrs. Rundlett, who stood at the
side Of the dead horse, dazed for
the moment with fright. But re-
covering herself shortly, she showed
more courage than her male COM
panion, and told him that the only
thing they could do was to get out
of the woods and back to camp as
soon as they could. "But how?'
Morris asked. The horse was sick
and it was fully eight miles back tC
the camp. She answered his dis
mayed look by announcing her in
tention to get back some way, j
she had to walk. lie packed up {
few Of the effects they had will
them and started back, through
the woods. There was no road o.
pathway, but they kept steadily on
over felled timber and bush
through ravines and along tn,
verge of high cliffs. They walked
along quietly, Mrs. Rundlett grasp
ing her revolver firmly, each evi
IDENTIFY intent on thinking whether
thoy would ever get out alive. Il,
their excited fancy every tree con
tanned a hidden foe, everyrock fur
nished shelter fer some one inten
on securing the poor horse, tina
could hardly keep pace with TIL
pntiring walk Of the woman ant
her escort. On the whole eigh
miles she never stopped once t,
rest, but kept steadily along, sur
prising her escort by her persiStenc
, and nerve.
THEY REACHED THE CAMP
from which they had started late j
the night, and related their adyen
ture. The meu hastily improviSe
f o rude shelter for the plucky womaI
who had gone through such q
ordeal without ilinching, and Will
5 she lay down TO rest the other
2 stood watch, thinking that porhap
r their aSsailant in the woods Nigh
9 have followed them to the oaml
V The next day Mrs. Rundlett WI
A taken i'll. The reaction had set il
c and her nervous system, unstrun
e by the exciting events Of the nigh
!. previous, added to the exposure
the trip, brought on physical e'
!, haustion. During the day me
+ senger from Captain Rundlett
i party was passing the camp wit
t letters to his wife, addressed
: Denver, and to be mailed at All
!, mosa. The man related his mi
It sion, and added that Captain Run,
l. lett was camped on a junction
n the Rio Grande and Ohama river
It on a point known as Black Mes
a some thirty miles away. Nj
), Rundlett informed the messeng
Is who she was, and had the tea
ST turned back, saying she would pr
y ceed at once to the camp. n
: arrived there the same eve
le ing, and found her husbaI
Ie again gone-this time 10 Santa
is for orders. The camp was col
1t posed Of Mexicans and Indians al
Q members Of the engineering part
s. all busy grading the road for Il
n. stage line. The rest of the story
m briefly told. Captain Rundlett I
Is turned the next day, and, aft
e. hearing his wife's story, wasequal
ID divided between Joy at her safe
e. and surprise at the courage s
l. A A