The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-26

HHD or thougHt OF the full pouches OF
dust he had SO honestly earned, only to
be robbed of them the next moment.
That night Garcia slept little, but
spent hours bathing his swollen ankle in
a brook of icy water.
In the morning he was able to walk
without much pain, and at once set offjn
quest of game, not having eaten for four
and-twenty hours
He soon struck trail that he knew
had been made by herd of elks, and fol-
lowed it several miles up the valley.
Just as he was about to abandon the
trail in disgust, the bushes parted, and a
large elk dashed directly toward him.
Quick as thought, Garcia discharged o
shot, and with one wild bound, the elk
fell9ima heap, dead. ..
By lucky chance, the bullet had
passed through its head-a chance, for
Garcia, though superb shot, had had
no time for aiming.
Then the outlaw saw why the elk had
acted 50 rashly. a'
Three gaunt wolves dashed up, and
leaped upon the still quivering body.
They were of the grey variety, the
largest and fercest of the. tribe.
Garcia didn't like their looks. but he
knew that unless he interfered right
speedily, he would have nothing but
ciosely-polished elk-benes to please his
hunger.
Perhaps he would have been wiser had
he sheered off while the wolves were busi-
ly engaged with the elk, but he rarely
obeyed the dictates of prudence, and,
drawing a bead upon one of the crazy
brutes, planted a bullet behind its ear.
With a half-smothered snar, the great
wolf dropped dead in its tracks.
The report startled the Others, and
they turned around. ... 49,.
Seeing that hs was fairly in for it, he
fired twice in quick succession.
W One Of the wolves was shot through
the throat, and hardly kicked but the
other, with blood streaming from its fore
head, sprang forward with deep vicious
narr-r. The bullet had barely grazed its
skull. -.
Man and beast fell to the ground tor
gether, Garcia losing his pistol.
The wolf used both teeth and toe-nails
seeming delighted with Mexican flesh and
Blood OIL. 80 ';'" '"
Nor was Garcia idle. =" '.'.-
He gripped his knife, and plunged it
into the fierce brute's belly, then with
both hands, throwing all his strength
into the etfart, fairly disemboweled the
wolf.
The struggle was ended almost as it
yet so we'll had the beast
employed its time, that the outlaw FAINT
ed from pain and loss of blood the mo-
ment he killed his antagonist.
1t was after sunset when consciousness
returned to the Scourge of the Mines.
He stared around him in mute bewild-
arment.
He was lying upon bed of dried
leaves and moss.
There WIS roof above him, walls of
wood on every side, dimly lighted up by
/ Pickering glow.
He heard a sputtering noise, and a
.rateful odor-the scent of cooking meat
aluted his senses.
With difficulty he turned his head,
md saw a MAN squatied before Il rude
fireplace, engaged in cooking his evening
neil.
The movement caused his leafy coach
70 rustic; and attracted by the sound,
The man approached, bearing battered
Tin Gun which he held to Garcia's lips
He devoured its contents greedily, and
asked for more.
1t was diluted whisky. l..
The liquor so far restored his STRENGTH
that he sat up and ate some meat-the
venison he had killed himself.
While thus engaged tle mana Ger
G. rcia what had occurred; how
he had stumbled across his body lying be-
meath the body of the dead wolf, and
finding little life remained, how he car
ried the outlaw to his C bin and cared
for him with all the skill he possessed.
Garcia assumed the role Of 'poor but
honest" miner, and so far ran upon the
honest Germans sympathy that he offered
o. take him as partner in a rich strike
1e had made.
In proof Of this he showed Garcia what
lie had "cleered up" that week-about
.wenty ounces, and then added it to-
lis cache, which contained about ten
lines as much more.
When he went to rest that night (
which was not until both he and the Ger
nan were pretty well muddled-Garcia
cit himself quite rich again, for Of
ourse he looked upon all in the cache as
lis own.
: For three days longer Garcia played
he invalid, while the German added to
is store of gold. !, .--. ,...
But then tired of the farce-since the
Whisky gave out-Garcia generously lent
he German his knife-all but the handle. !
Then securing the wounded mans gold,
e kicked the blazing brands upon the c
ude beds, and started for the rendez- t
GUS of his gang. '... ..,- .,.f 9
As the bullet-riddled body of Floresco J
ad been found by some of the outlaws, d
was generally believed that Garcia also
ad been Killed, and his return was well t
omed as one risen from the grave.
1t is an even thing which they relished r
gold he brought; or the face t
ous tale he told of the simpIe-minded