The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-13
basket, was foanti all right, too. Then they
knew HAT tiiey had been
!, waYLAli, sY slExlcASs,

evidently intent on securing tae team and,
buggy. The cond itioH OF things looked ex-
fremeiy critical. Tie best horse oil 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 thick
belt sf timber, eight miles away from any
sign OF American civilization, and liable to
fall from the bullets oil their unknown as
sailant, Morris was unable to suggest any
thing, save that they should hurry down TO
the Mexican plaza. Mrs. Rundiett de-
cIarcd that to so there would be certain
death, as she was positive the party Who had
fired was hid In that direction. Her escort
knew OF no more feasible plan, and looked at
AIRS. Rundlett, who stood at the side OF the
dead horse, dazed for the moment with
fright. But recovering 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 couid.
q But how p, Morris asked. The horse was
sick, and it was fully eight miles Dack
20 the camp. She answered his dismayed
look BIZ announcing her intention to get
hack some way, il she had to walk. de
snaeked IN few OF the effects they
had with them and started back through
the woods. There was no road Or pato-
way. but they kept steadily on. over
feIied timber and bush, through Ta-
vines and along the verge OF high aciiHs.
They walked along quietly, Mrs. Rnndlett
prasping her revolver firmly, each eVidentiy
intent on thinking whether they would ever
get out alive. To their excited fancy every
tree contained hidden foe; every rock
furnished shelter for some one Intent on Sc
curing the poor horse. that couid naruiy
keen pace with the untirinS walk OF tne :
woman and her escort. On the whoie eiSDt
miles she never stopped once 10 rest, pun
kept steadily along, surprising hef escort ny
her persistence and nerve.
THEY REACHED Tue CAMP
from which they had started late IN Inc
nirbt and related their adventure The
men hastily improrised q rude shelter 1or
the plucky woman who had gone through
such an ordeal without flinching, and Whlie
she law down TO rest the others stood Watch,
thinking that perhaps their assailant IN tue
woods might have followed them TO the
Camp. The next day Mrs. Rundlett was
taken i'll. The reaction had set III, ana ner
nervous system, unstrung by the exciting
events OF the night previous, added to
the exposure of the trip, brought on
nbys;cai exhaustion. During the day a
messenger from Captain Rundlett's par
ty was passing the camp with letters 10
bis wife, addressed to Denver, and to
be mailed at Alamosa. The man related MS
mission, and added that Captain Rundlett
was camped at junction OF the Rio Grande
and Chama rivers, on point known as
Black Mesa, some thirty miles away. Mrs.
Rundlett informed the messenger who she
was, and had the team turned back, saying
she would proceed at once to the camp. She
arrived there the same evening, and found
her husband again gone-this time to Santa
| Fe for orders. The camp was composed OF
MeXicans and Indians, and members OF
the engineering party, all busy grading
the road for the stage line. The rest OF
the story is briefly told Captain Fund
lett returned the next day, ana,
after hearing his wife's story, was
equally divided between JOY at her safety
and surprise at the courage she had shown
throughout. After few days at the camp
Mrs, Rundlett started on her return, FUR
nished with an escort from The camp. After
short but pleasant visit to Miss Julia Pal-
! mer at La Veta she returned to this city,
arriving here few evenings ago. During
her absence she was eight days on the road.
1t rained nearly every day, and the lady had
to put up in many places with such accom-
modations as arc ordinarily only endured
by hardy mountaneers and men who have
sroughed it - for years.