St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-12-09

and bloodthirsty savages. completely
unnerved him, and he groaned aloud in
his agony.
Il tell you what, Cap'n Jim,'' said
the black herder Madison, dat yer
child is sure huff los. Dere's only one
man kin fin him.
'.And that manW cried the father,
starting up. "Speak! Who can find
him?s
"Dat yere ranger man, 'Pache
George!''
The words of the black man and his
confidence in the ability of Apache
George to find little Willy put new life
into the whole party.
Madison is right, father,'' cried
Jack. s.Apache George can follow the
trail over hard rock as easily as We can
through bog
run back to camp, son, as fast as
you cam commanded Mr.. Daulton, and
Jack started.
..Hold on one minute cont nued
his father, and the impetuous boy
stopped. Saddle the gray ony and
go to the ranger camp. Tell Captain
Nevill what has occurred, and then hur-
ry back
:. All right" cried Jack, and he again
started on run.
The remainder of the party went more
slowly. 1t was hard matter to COM
fort the grief-stricken mother, mourn
ing for the loss of her baby. All had
confidence in Apache Georges ability
to follow up the Indian trail and re-
cover the.stolen child-al but the moth
er. Her grief was poignant and unreal
sonable.
1t seemed hours before Jack returned.
but it was hardly yet noon when he
George. The scout, from long expe-
rience among Just such troubles as
drove everybody in the Daulton camp
nearly crazy, was cool and seemingly
unmoved. He did not dismount, but
asked several questions from the sad
die. A great black dog. the property
of the scout, and his inseparable COM
panion, ran about the camp and
whined. Apache George noticed the
dogs agitation.
.Buster misses him." he said. ]
reckon between him and ME and Cou-
gar and he patted his horses neck,
1--WE can find him.
"You will not go alone?'' asked Mr..
Daulton.
Yes. Victories been seen out to-
ward the Gaudaloupes at the head OF
two hundred and fifty warriors.
He's headed this way. Our COM
pany start on scout this even
ing. The Captain could only spare me-.
| reckon this was part of Victories
band. I'll follow the trail and do the
best can. You had better round up,
and go back to the post. Going to be
hot times here directly. If discover
anything, will send you word. Come
Buster. Adois!''
And before any one could ask any
more questions, or offer any sugges-
tons, Apache George had dashed into
the cane brake. They saw him again as
he mounted the cliff. He looked back,
waved his hand, and disappeared on the
top Of the mountain.
Mr.. Daulton profted by the advice OF
the scout and returned to Fort Davis
with his flocks and family. Two days
after he left Victorio camped at the wa
ter-hole in the canyon of the Lone Cot
tonWood Every one knows the history
of that daring chiefs reckless and bril-
liant dash along the frontier, his pur-
suit into Mexico by the rangers. and his
death and the dispersion of his hand by
General Terrassas and brigade OF
Mexican soldiers. Those OF his band
who escaped returned to Texas. They
were under the leadership of Mana, Ju
and Black Wolf, three of Victorio 8
field chiefs. The bands under the two
former chiefs got back to the reserva-
ton in safety. Black Wolf had small
party, and the rangers pressed him
cfose. In rugged canyon deep in the
Sierra Diablo he turned at bay. There
was a sharp fight. Black Wolf, five OF
his warriors, two squaws and papoose
were killed. two squaws and three pa
pooses captured, several were wounded
and the rest put to fight. When the
rangers, returning, reached Fort Davis
they were received with open arms. In
the crowd collected to welcome the
brave scouts was Mr.. James Daulton..
Where is Apache George? he
asked.
THAT'S what no fellow can find out, =
answered one Of the rangers, lat least
no fellow in the outfit. He was with us
in the fight and captured squaw and
papoose. We camped that night about
mile from where we had the fight,
and next morning George and the squaw
and papoose were missing"
Several Of the rangers corroborated
this story, and Mr.. Daulton was forced
to return to his sorrowing wife with the
sad intelligence that nothing had been
heard from their m :ssing child, and that
the only one who seemed able to give
them information had mysteriously dis
appeared. The rangers talked deal
among themselves about the desertion
Of their cemrade and the escape of the