The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-05-21
DOUBLE ADVENTURE.
BEsET BY APACHE INDIANS AND IN THE
TOLLS OF ROBBERS. -

oiaHplhS SuuUedHiS iell III QICutIS
sort of INDECENT beauty upon the oc.
casional cactus or the bushy mes
quite, and, dallying with their tlor-
ny branches, in half-careless and
half-coquetish radiance, threw upon
them such rich and gorgeous tints as
they can only bestow at the last mo-
ments of their departing glory. Far
away before us is stretched seem
ingly-interminable plain, which ex-
tended beyond the sunbeams into
the gray twilight of the distant east;
there. mistily portrayed against the
sky like vague and imperfect
dream, and apparently as void Of a
| firm foundation, the SUBMITS of the
Sierra Madre rose towering heaven
ward. Here and there dense masses
of foliage, deepening and darkening
into increased depths of shade, blen.
ded SO almost lmperceptible with the
outstretching shadows which they
cast that it was difficult to tell where
1.-The reality ceased and the shadow
began. AIyriasls of birds were flock
Ling from the open portions of the
/ plain into the recesses of She sombre
foliage, and with noisy and vocife
rous twittering were qnarreling for
the occupancy of-their favorite roost-
ing place upon some well screened
twig. There are times when silence
will fall upon a group of travellers,
quietly, steadily, calmly aud Ipeacea-i
bly,, like snowfakes upon the ground,
without any apparent cause. The
group that shortly before were en-.
gagged in earnest, conversation, and
whose tones were persuasive. or We
I
hcment, as the case might be, and
whose hearty laughter at some un-
expected sally of wit. Or humorous
narration rang out with q freeand
merry tone, will suddenly become
voiceless as statues and as If ;strick-
Ell. with du,nbness. 1t was so with
our little group of three "America-
nos and one Moyo, Indian, who was
acting IN the double capacity Of
guide AMI servant, as we 70 le over
one of those broad plains which are
so frequently found upon the coast
line Of Sinaloa. We hal felt the in
fuence of the increasing darkness,
and as the gloom Of evening fell up
on us it hushed us into silence which
was only disturbed by the tramp Of
our mules, the voices of the birds,
and the hum of insect life. One by
one the stars shone out upon us, I'm
| til the arch above us was radiant
with their myriad scintillations.-
There had not been for several lea
CUES any token of human dwellers
on our route, and it almost seemed
as if our little company were the on
ly inhabitants of the region we were
traversing. Suddenly, as we passed
by a cluster of low shrubs, our mules
pricked up their ears, and evidently
trembling with fear, made an abrupt
divergence from the trail, and broke
into quick run from the bushes to
ward an open space. The movement
was SO unexpected that it nearly un-
seated me, but as | struggled to re
gain my position / thought ] saw in
the dark shadows Of the bushes one
or two men, aud heard their low
toned voices as they gave utterance
to some expression in language !
could not comprehend. Deeming it
best to be ready for any emergency,
as soon as I was fanny seated in my
saddle again drew one Of my re-
volvers, and held it in readiness for
immediate use, if necessary. We
soon had placed several hundred
yards Of distance between us and the
bushes. It was then that our guide
placed his fingers upon his lips as a
caution to be silent, and with an ex-
pressive gesture motioned to US to
be on our guard. 1t was none too
soon, for at the same instanta sharp
whizzing sound passed through tue
air near US, and by the noise Of some
object striking into the gravel a
short distance beyond / knew that
an arrow, failing of hitting its mark,
had struck the earth instead of its
intended victim. Only one word was
spoken. and that was an almost IN
audible whisper by the guide, who
uttered aApaclie!' at the same time
squirting his mule into rapid run.
We followed his example, keeping
out into the openaplain and avoiding
|all clusters offoliase. Looking back