Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-05-08
A DOUBLE ADVENTURE.
Beset by Apache Indians and in the
Tolls of Robbers.

Night was fast approaching. The
slanting sunbeams fell in dreamy sort
of indolent beauty uron the occasional
cactus OF the bushy mesquite, and, daily
ing with their thorny branches, in half
careless and half coquettjsh radiance,
threw upon them such rich and gorgeous
tints as they can only bestow at the last
moment of their departing glory. Far
away before us is stretched seemingly.
interminable plain, which extended
beyond the sunbeams into the gray twi-
light Of the distant east; there, mistily
portrayed against the sky like a vague
and imperfect dream, and apparently as
void of 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, blended so al
most imperceptibly with the outstretch-
ing shadows which they cast that it was
difficult to tell where the reality ceased
and the shadow began. Myriads of birds
were focking from the open portions of
the plain into the recesses of the somber
foliage, and with noisy and vociferous
twittering were quarreling for the occu-
pancy of their favoritc roasting
place. upon some well.screened
twig. There are times when silence will
fall upon group of travellers, quietly,
steadily, calmly, and peaceaoly, like
snowflakes upon the ground, without
any apparent cause. The group that
shortly before were engaged in earnest
conversation, and whose tones were per-
suasive or vehement,as the case might be,
and whose hearty laughter at some unex-
pccted sally of wit or. humorous narration
rang out with free and merry tone,
will suddenly become voiceless as statues
and as silent as If stricken with dumb.
ness. 1t was so with our little group of
three "Americanas," and one MoyO In
dian, who was acting in the double Ca
pacity of guide and servant, as we rode
over one of those broad plains which are
80 frequently found upon the coast-line
of Sinaloa. We bad felt the influence of
the increasing darkness, as the gloom
OF evening fell upon us it hushed us into
silence which was only disturbed by the
tramp Of our mules, the voices of the
by one the stars shone out upon us, until
the arch above us was radiant with their
myriad scintjllations. There had not
been tor several leagues any token of hu-
man jewellers on our route, and it almost
seemed as if our little company were the
only inhabitants Of the region we were
traversing. Suddenly, as we passed by
cluster Of low shrubs. ou1 mules prick
ed up their ears, and evidently trembling
with fear, made an abrupt divergence
from the trail, and broke into quick run
from the bushes toward an open space
The movement was so unexpected that it
nearly unseated me, but as struggled to
regain my position l thought l saw 10
the dark shadows of the bushes one OF
two men, and heard their low.toned
voices as they gave utterance to some ex.
preston in language ] could not com
prchcnd. Deeming il best to be ready
for any emergency, as soon as was firm.
ly seated in my saddle again l drew one
of my revolve1s and held it in readiness
for immediate use, if necessary. We oon
had placed several hundred yards of dis.
lance between US and the bushes. II
was then that our guide placed his fin.
gers upon his lips as caution to be 81
lent, and with an expressive gesture mo
toned US to be on our guard. 1t was
none too soon, for at the same instant 6
sharp whizzing sound passed through the
air near us, and from the noise made BY
some object striking into the gravel {
short distance beyond, knew that an ar.
row, failing of hitting its mark, had
struck the earth instead of its intended
victim. Only one word was spoken, and
that was an almost inaudible whisper by
the guide, who uttered "Apache!" at the
same time squirting his mule into rap
id run. We followed his example
keeping out into the open plain
and avoiding all clusters of foliage.
Looking back upon our course, !
saw two or three savages max.
ing detour so as to come upon our
track some short distance ahead, and
as one of them, not aware that I had
seen him, ran across an open space
from one cluster to another of the
mesquite bushes, I drew a bead on
him and fired. He tumbled so suddenly
that another Apache who was close be.
hind him fell over him, and IS he tried
to regain his feet second shot, this
time from the guide, dropped him also
At the same instant a shower of arrows
passed near us, one of them hitting one
of my companions in his shoulder. max.
ing a ragged hole in his coat and merely
scratching the skin. Fortunately for us
the Indians were ON foot and although
they were expert runners, they dared moi
make free use of their speed, lest the fate
that had befalien their two comrades
might also be heirs. After an hours
rapid ride we reached the adobe house
OF half-breed Mexican, fellow with a
most villainous expression of counte.
nance, and, securing our mules in 9
strong corral and giving them some feed
we placed our baggage in the house: and
prepared for supper, aided by our host
and his wife, Young and rather pretty
female of about eighteen years of age
Fearing an attack from the Indians
the fire was extinguished as soon a
our hasty meal was eaten, and we all sa
c,1ont in Tho fn%oror :