Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1878-12-11

WHO oio~iuX TliteQ 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 half mile
awny we saw three moving figures
which, in the now marveiously bril-.
liant lunar illumination, could he
easily distinguished as those of two
mounted men aud a pack animal.
The wind was in our faces, blow.
ing the noise of our approach from
the fugitives' ears, aud though we
rode hard, and with no attempt ut
stealtbiness, it was not until We
were close upon them that they sud.
denly drew in aud faced about,
both men sitting bolt upright la
their saddles, with their hands at
their hips. In gesture and bearing
they meant fight, aud looked every
inch desperate and dangerous men.
We halted, too. For a moment
dead silence fell upon US. Then
the Sheriff's gray mare Weighed,
and the charm was broken.
"Who's therer called one Of the
fugitives in Spanish, emphasizing
the challenge by the sharp click Of
his pistol as he brought it to cock.
The rattle of dozen carbines
falling into position drowned the
Sheriff's reply. Then the clear
voice OF the younger fugitive arose:
"if We must die, We might as we'll
die like men," it said.
What followed was almost like
the flaming of fash of lightning.
! heard the Sheriff call ont, "Tbrow
up your hands!' and saw him spur
straight for the strangers; then
came flash. a rafting fire OF car.
bines and revOlvers, and a fierce
oath from a trooper behind me, who
tumbled from bis saddle with his
thigh smashed. AT the same time
and before l could kick clear of the
stirrups, my poor pony staggered
and fell dead, with pistol ball be.
tween his eyes, and, in his fall, pinn.
ed me to tho earth.
The fight was as brief as it was
furious, and like all really desper.
ate encounters | ever witnessed,
was an almost silent one, as far as
any sound OF voice went. But the
sharp reports of revolvers and the
duller discharge of carbines freight
ed the night wind, and the ground
owls Numbered into a clumsy fight
at the unwonted noises. finally 4
single fash famed across the light,
thin vapor from the firing, u single
report was blown to leeward, sharp
and clear, and then the discharges
ceased. With desperate effort
dragged myself clear Of my dead
animal and limped to my feet.
The Sheriff and half q dozen sol.
diers were grouped about the body
of Que Of the fngitives. Another
soldier supported the "likely boy.n
Some black shapes on the prairie
marked the whercabout of the rest
Of the dozen troopers, and told ut
what cost the victory had been won. |
The boy himself, ouly held up,
right by the soldiers strong arm,
was still alive. The bright moon.
light shining on his handsome, girl.
ish face, lighted it to earthly beau.
ty. In the struggle his coat had
been torn OF, aud broad, dark,
slowly spreading smear was visible |
on bis coarse, gray shirt His
breathing was hoarse and quick,
the sure index to q shot in the |
lungs.
"He's goin',' said the Sheriff, |
hopping the blood from bad cut !
in his forehead with his sleeve. !
"Great snakes! what a fight he |
nader
"Here's the pony, Sheriff.
One of the men led the pack. |
pony, which, during the whole 6ght,
had been quietly grazing At a little
distance of, up to the group. With |
q quick jerk he dragged of the
tattered blanket which covered the |
pack. ....
There were few camp utensils,
some provisions, and a b1lging sort |
Of double bag thrown over the
fronts Of. the pannier. With an
effort he pulled this of, but its !
weight tore it from bis hands, aud
1t fell with = metallic crash. A. it
struck the earth the seams burst.
The queer shaped Jack Was simply
an old pair of pants With the ieea
tied up, and It's ceptents rolled,
and sparkling over tho
short grass, q cascade Of minted
gold.
Before the ring Of the precioua
metAf had died AWAY. the Rrnun