The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-07-08
On the GiIa River.

On the GiIa River.
An ugly looking twilight in Souther1
Arizona the rolling sand-dunes and mez
quite thickets, half hidden by flying cloud
of vapor and dust; the overhanging sky Low
and leaden, and laden with rain my trai
lost, my horses foot sore, and worn ani
hungry -alone-forty miles from camp.
A threatening night, and, to crown all, tn
Apaches of the section upon the war-path
1t was not charming summary, and yet
hunter and frontiersman that was, quick
ly decided to make the best of it without
grumbling, and SO urged old Ned toward {
little clump of timber, where, picketinf
him, proceeded TO make myself as com
Portable as possible; partially sheltered be
meath an upturned root, and after q fruga
bite and short smoke, with rife at hand,
prepared to watch and doze, and await the
coming day, hoping for better luck in thl
was out from tho rancho, hunting stray
cattle, and having secured the country
thoroughly, had struck toward the river;
to follow it homeward, and T.
search the last available tract, the bottom
and was within half mile of the water
when night overlook me, but Of from the
rail, For that 1 cared but little, as the
stream would guide me, as it passed within
Two miles of my rancho. My greatest vexa-
ion was that had missed certain old
cabin, where had hoped to find cover from
he storm. Now, however, must rough 1t,
be the weather what it might.
As these regretful thoughts fitted through
my brain, the darkness fell thick and black,
md with it the rain. burrowed as deeply
Is possible beneath the stump, coiled myself
Is snake in his bed, and protecting rifle
Ind pistols with my person, sought to sleep.
For perhaps an hour lay listening to the
1ull monotone of the pattering drops, the
;reaking of the trees in the wind, the 90
:asional tramps of my horse, and the far
lway mutter Of thunder; but at last the
weariness of the days ride overcame me and
slept.
How long, 1 know not-hours it must
nave been but I was suddenly aroused
rom my dreamless rest by most terrific
oar, and a blaze of lightning that burned
Imong the low clouds overhead and along
he sodden earth beneath-by the rush of .
ornado and the outpourings of deluge.
In an instant the storm, whose drippings
'nly had been upon me before, now burst
n its full force, and it was pandemonium it.
;elf let loose.
Frightened and trembling poor Ned crept
o my side, and as the heavy thunder crash
ID overhead and the sulphurous ightnings
,lazed about us, he whinneyed with terror,
md thrust his muzzle into my hands, seek
ng protection, while he shook from head to
,oof.
Had been dry before, Ishould have been
now, so worthless q shelter was
ny roof and soon deciding that no position
'ould be worse than my present one, de-
ermined to continue my journey despite the
torn, and was on the point of mounting
ny horse, when a sudden gleam disclosed to
ne something that fairly froze me as I
tood, and stopped my blood with fear.
Not ten yards away crouchsd mountain
ion, his hungry eye cleaning fiercely, his
ong tail waving as cats when about ia
pring, his very muscles tense. In an in
'tant more he would hurl himself upon me !
To see was to act. Quicker than it takes
o tell Of it, threw my rife into position
md pressed the trigger. The cartridge
missed fire. fr.t.
At the same moment the awful scream OF
he gaunt monster rang through the forest,
mingled with the horror-stricken cry Of my
,orse; and felt the rush of the oncoming
BODY. I was lost.
Yet, even in the face of death, my hand
.aught the heavy knife from my belt, and
hrust forward and upward with . hunters
instinct of self-defence.
Then I was crushed to the earth, long
claws tore across my heavy buckskin shirt,
md knowledge fed.
Perhaps the steadily beating rain, per
,aps my own slow-fowing blood, aroused
ne. know not but when consciousness
It last returned, the dull cleaning of the
coming day was rendering distinct the DESC
ate wilderness about me.
The roar of the angry river, now brim-
ming between its muddy banks, not half 9
nile away, came clearly to my ears, and q
lamp fog hung above the wster-soaked
earth, now beaten downward, and again
slowly rising, through the still falling rain.
With groan-for I WAS sore wounded,
with great seams along my breast-I awoka
md looked about.
At my feet lay my rifle, broken; just be-
yond, old Ned was stretched at full length
dead; and stM beyond him, my enemy OF
The darkness, an enormous mountain lion,
had fallen, never to rise again, the long
blade of my hunting. knife sticking com.
pletely through his ugly throat.
My chance blow had killed the beast, bui
in falling he had broken my rifle and crush
ed my horse. vas forty miles from home
in country swarming with hostile Indiana
and unarmed.
For few moments, I delayed to ours,
my luck and bestowed a parting caress upor
Ned, for had loved my horse then, seix
ing my broken gun, I began my journey to
ward the river, intending to follow it unit
1 gained the lost trail
Leaving the bit of timber where ha<
passed the night, crossed the intervening
open space, and began to climb the blut
which bordered the stream, when suddenly
from among the cactus and sage, directl.
before me, there arose an Apache, full,
armed and in war paint.
At the same instant, too, that his hal
startled and half defiant whoop rang on
upon the murky morning air, score o
other dusky forms sprang as if by magi
from the earth and about me. adarouset
a scouting party of savages!
For single breath my blood stopped i,