The Delaware farmer., 1883-12-07

a reward for his head, and that some of
the Indians in the rancheria were ready
to betray or kill him. While they were
yet talking, again came the sound of
the Americans horses hoofs galloping
in the distance. This time there
seemed no escape. Suddenly Don Anto-
Mo, throwing himself on his stomach,
wriggled into a cactus patch near by.
Only one who has seen California cactus
thiekets can realize the desperateness
of this act. But it succeeded. The
Indian threw over the old cactus plants
an old blanket and some refuse stalks
and reeds; and there once more, within
hearing of all his baffied pursuers said,
the hunted man lay, safe, thanks to
Indian friendship. The crafty Indian
assented to all the Americans proposed,
said that Don Antonio would be sure to
be caught in few days, advised them
to search in certain rancheria which
he described. few miles of, and in an
opposite direction from the way in
which he intended to guide Don Anto-
MO. As soon as the Americans had
gone, he bound up Antonio's feet in
strips of raw hide, gave him a blanket
and an old tattered hat, the best his
stores afforded, and then led him by
long and difficult trail to a spot high up
in the mountains where the old women
Of the band were gathering acorns. By
the time they reached this place, blood
was trickling from AntoniO's feet and
legs, and he was well-nigh fainting with
fatigue and excitement Tears rolled
down the old women's cheeks when they
saw him. Some of them had been SER
wants in his fathers house and loved
him. One brought Cruel; another
bathed his feet; others ran in search OF
healing leaves Of different sorts. Bruis-
ing these in a stone mortar, they rubbed
him from head to foot with the wet
fiber. All his pain and WEAKNESS van
ished as by magic. His wounds healed,
and in day he was ready to set off for
home. There was but one pony in the
old womens camp. This was old,
vicious. blind of one eye, and with one
ear cropped short; but it looked to Don
Antonio far more beautiful than the gay
steed on which he had ridden away
from Los Angeles three days before.
There was one pair Of ragged shoes OF
enormous size among the old women's |
possessions. These were strapped on
his feet by leather thongs, and bit of |
old sheepskin was tied around the ponys |
body. Thus accoutered and mounted,
shivering in his drawers under his single |
blanket, the captain and fag-bearer
turned his face homeward. At the first
friends house he reached he stopped |
and begged for food. Some dried meat
was given to him, and a stool on the
porch offered to him. 1t was the house
of dear friend, and the friends sister
was his sweetheart. As he sat there
eating his meat the women eyed him
curiously. One said to the other, How
much he looks like Antonio
"Atlast the sweetheart, coming nearer,
asked him if he were amy relation of
Don Antonio 2
" No he said.
Gust at that moment his friend rode
up, gave one glance at the pitiful beggar
sitting on his porch, shouted his name,
dashed toward him, and seized him in
his arms. Then was a great laughing
and half weeping, for it had been ru-
mored that he had been taken prisoner
by the Americans.
'From this friend he received a well
come gift of a pair of trowsers, many
inches too short for his legs. At the
next house his friend was as much too
5all, and his second pair of gift trowsers
lad to be rolled up in thick folds around
lis ankles.
FINALLY, he reached Los Angeles, in
safety. Hating in a grove outside the
own, he waited till twilight before en-
.ering. Having disguised himselfin the
'ags which he had worn from the Indian
7iIlage, he rode boldly up to the porch
If his fathers house, and in an impudent
one called for brandy. The terrified
women began to scream; but his young
st sister, fixing one piercing glance on
lis face, laughed out gladly, and cried:
" You can't fool me, you are Anto-
no. "-The Century for December.