The Opelousas courier., 1883-07-07
ueNETA'S GRATITUDE.
na;dout Of YirtGri0'S Raid.

r-.1r WIFI NJ IA w
.onuood Rancho and its hospitable
s,rner, Mr.. James Daulton. 1t it
s'ore than likely that some one will
III van this story, for it is a fayorite
tsIe on the frontier, and has been re-
,a,oa around tie campfire a hundred
ZINES by all sorts of frontier people
sala;ars' Mexicaus, hunters, Indians,
cowboys, miners and contrabandists.
psesidio is a great stock county-the
sscond largest in the state. rhous-
snds Of cattle, sheep and goats roam
sbout its fertile canyons and broad
Ilanos. Two years ago there were
natmore than fifty people in Preside,
living outside of Fort Davis, the coun-
~ seat and military post. Several at
tempts were made to settle this rich
esnntry, but the Indians were hostile,
and the pioneers were either murdered
a. driven back to the post. In the
winter f 1879 a company of rangers
we're sent to Preside county, and
thew began to drive cut the predatory
hands Of red men. The presence of
lie rangers embeldened several reck-
less spirits to again attempt the set
Element Of the country. James Daul-
ton was one Of these pioneers. Ac-
eompanied by his wife, o black herder,
two Mexicans and his nine children,
he drove his cattle aad sheep into the
canyon Of thc Lone Cottonwood, about
ten miles south of Fort Davis, and
made camp near a large water-hole.
He saw no sign of Indians, and was
not molested by the hostiles for sever
Il weeks. He held his cattle and sheep
near camp. Game was abundant.
Above the water-hole was q large bog
tickly covered with high reeds. Along
little branch" or creek which BIZ
secbd the cane brake, there grew
treat punches of water-cress. The
branch had it's source at a spring on
The side of the mountain. Near the
string was an old Indian trail going
upthe cliff.
One morning two Of the children
started up the branch. Alice, the old
est, was seven, and she held her
young brother, Willy, by the hand.
Willy was the baby and just 3 years
old. He was petted by the whole
camp, and was the particular favorite
81 one of fine rangers, O famous scout
and Indian fighter, known alhng the
frontier by the nom de guerre Of "Apa-
che George" For a while the child
rem busted themselves picking cress.
Suddenly, with a shout of delight,
Alice dropped her little brothers
hand and started in pursuit of q but
tefy. Willy soon lost sight of her.
The chase was q fruitless one, and
when the bright-wipged insect rose
high above her head Alice gave a lit
tie sigh Of disappointment and turned
70 huntup her brother. Not finding
him along the branch she got fright
ened and began to cry, at the same
time calling loudly;
willy Willy
The cliffs threw back the sound Of
her voice as if lin mockery. There was
no responce from the lost child, The
little girls frantic cries were heardin
camp, and snatching up his Winches.
ter her brother Jack ran up the creek
When he reached the point where the
tell reeds nearly met over the branch
he gave d sharp cry and cooked his
Winchester. Before him in the sof
mud, was the print of moccasin side
By side with the tiny tracks OF baby
Willy. The moccasin trail turned IN
70 the cane brake, and jack hi
heart IN his mouth, followed it. Neal
tue ssepage spring he lost the tral
and hurried back to camp to ges as
distance. Alice reached the camp be
tore him, and her incoherent and tear
ful story started everybody out Il
guest Of the lost child. Jack met TIN
search-party. In q few words he mad
known bis discovery, and led tn
party to the seepage spring. His faith
e examined the trail carefully.
This trail goes up the cliff, b
sald, and started toward the top of tn
mountain.
Al few yards back from the edge 6
We cliff they found horse signs" TIL
ground was trampled as though b
the hoofs Of a score of ponies. Th
Top OF the mountain was rough an
rocky. The search-party, led by th
iatler Of the lost child, took up th
tEall Of the ponies and followed it fo
several miles. The country gre
fougher and rougher, and it was
sallcnlt matter to follow the trai
finally Mr. Daulton, practiced from
laranaan that he was, was obliged !
stop.
can follow the trail no farthe
aaen, he said. "Poor little Willy. 2
ho sank down upon a rock ar
hlrled his face in his hands. He W,
Strong, brave man,lwho never quai
San The face Of danger. Now Il
thought Of his little son, in the hant
q ruthless and bloodthirsty savage
s0nlpletely unnerved him, and
gzoaned aloud ID his, agony.
tell you what. Capsn jim, SO
aae 6laclz herder Madison, dat J
sIala = sure nuff los . Deres only o.
nan Kin fin him
Add that mana cried the fathe
s nas al u Speak Who can fl