Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-04
A DOUBLE ADVENTURE.
Beset by Apache Indians and in the
Tolls of Robbers.

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 coquettish radiance,
threw upon them such rich and gorgeous
tlnts as they can only bestow at the last
moment of their departing glory. Far
away before us is stretched seemingly
lnterminable 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 favorite roosting
place upon some. wellscreened
twig. There are times when silence will
fall upon group of travellers, quietly,
steadily, calmly, and peaceaply, like
snowfakes 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-
pected sally of wit orr humorous narration
rang out with free and merry tone,
will suddenly become voiceless as statues
and as silent as If stricken with dumb
ness. It was so with our little group of
three "Americanas," and one Moyo In
dian, who was acting in the double ca
paclty of guide and servant, as we rode
over one of those broad plains which are
so frequently found upon the coast-line
of Sinaloa. We had 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
birds. and the hum of insect life. One
by one the stars shone out upon us, until
the arch above us was radiant with their
myriad scintillations. There had not
been for several leagues any token of hui
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. our 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 l struggled to
regain my position thought 1 saw in
the dark shadows of the bushes one or
two men, and heard their low. toned
voices as they gave utterance to some ex-
preston in language I could not COM
prehcnd. Deeming il best to be ready
for any emergency, as soon as was firm
ly seated in my saddle again drew one
of my revolve1s and held it in readiness
for immediate use, if necessary. Wesoon
had placed several hundred yards of dis
lance between us and the bushes. It
was then that our guide placed his fin
gers upon his lips as caution to be ST.
lent, and with an expressive gesture mo-
toned us to be on our guard. 1t was
none too soon, for at the same instant a
sharp whizzing sound passed through the
air near us, and from the noise made by
some object striking into the gravel a
short distance beyond, l 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 a 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 oul
track some short distance ahead, anc
as one of them, not aware that I had
seen him, ran across an open space
from one cluster to another of tn
mesquite bushes, / drew bead OF
him and fired. He tulnbled so suddenl,
that another Apache who was close be
hind him fell over him, and as he triet
to regain his feet a second shot, thi
time from the guide, dropped him also
At the same instant shower of arrow
passed near us, one Of them hitting on
of my companions in his shoulder, max
ing a ragged hole in his coat and merel
scratching the skin. Fortunately for u
!, the Indians were on foot and althoug
they were expert runners, they dared nc
make free use of their speed, lest the fat
that had befallen their two comrade
might also be heirs. After an hour
rapid ride we reached the adobe hous
or half. breed Mexican, fellow with
, most villainous expression of counte
nance, and, securing our mules in
strong corral and giving them some feet
} we placed our baggage in the house an
prepared for supper, aided by our hos
and his wife, a young and rather prett
female of about eighteen years of ag
.. Fearing an attack from the Indian
: the fire was extinguished as soon {
t our hasty meal was eaten, and we all 81
e silent in the intense darkness. Not
, sound was heard, either without or wit!
in the house, except the crunching of tt
food as it was eaten by the mules. TIL
= sound soon ceased so suddenly that it a
NEST appeared as if we could hear
;. break off into silence. Not one of
r moved, or appeared to, at least. W
almost startled into an exclamation
> alarm as I suddenly felt a hand place
. lightly on my shoulder, as if some o.
= was feeling his way in the darkness.
= was withdrawn as suddenly as it W
= placed there, and not knowing but tn
= the next moment it would be followed