The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-02-09
Tho R.ttlesa.te Saved HIS Iils.

The Rattiesnake Saved HIS LIE. :
y Game thars was nome, We esaid not
break camp now with our weak men
upon our hands, and it only remained
for some one TO attempt the desperate
Journey across the San Juan range, by
ssay of the Devirs Pass to AxihS4 and
refann with food or q 'rescsiing bpsrty.
Failing Of that, spring-time would find
our cabin inhabited by co-pses. 81 III
We drew lots among ourselves, there
fore, we well men, to decide who should
undertake this perilous trip, and the risk
fell upon me. 1t was best, perhaps, that
litshould have been so, for of all the party
I best knew the trail. Without waste Of
words or time, / prepared myself for the
journey, and thoroughly armed. early
one morning, before the pale moon had
fallen behind the western mountains, /
babe good-by to my 81. comrades and
started. Turning my back upon the
camp, I settled my course by Q star, and
at brisk pace steered southwark. All
day 1 continued on the trail, ever with
watchful eve for ,Indian eigns-for1 be-
lieysd our old enemies still inthe Vicinity
but all day unmolested, and at last,
weary and worn, as the chill shadows
began to creep across the great white
plain behind me, saw looming up in
front the San Juan range. gashed with a
narrow gorge-the DEVILS Pass. Once
through that horrible grave-for it was
little else-and the road to Animas would
be comparatively easy. My spirits rose
hopefully.
As darkness came fSrly down, I found
myself Just at the mouth of the canyon
which led up to the pass, and deeming
it a most sheltered place for camping
spot, soon gathered heap of dead
limbs beneath an overhanging rock
where the snow had not yet come, built
aroaring fire, which warmed and cheered
me, and prepared for the night. l felt
little fear, for the narrow, frowning
canyon would hide the light of my fire
from all the plain country. The only
disturbance which I might look for would
be the bowling of the wolves, who
threatened, but dared not attack me;
and / cared not for them. }iiA ,1GsH
With these comforting reflections.
therefore. ate . hearty supper, drank q
little melted snow-water. lit nv pipe,
and rolling myself in my blanket.
crowded close to the rock wall behind
me, now well warmed by my fire. And
so. in the Pickering light, protected on
all sides, gave myself INTERESTINGLY
up to slumber. = '3g Z .. -5EiA II
f. How long i slept 1 cannot say. Ii
was deep in the night when I woke with
a Sudden chill. 1t was as If some one
had touched me with cold apd clammy
hand, but even before l was well awake
my frontiersman's caution returned. and
1 opened my eyes slowly and didn't
The fire was all but out and the ghost
" light from its dying embers touched
the snow and rocks and trees about with
a strange color like thick blood. The
air was growing chill and still, too, ex-
cept for the cry of coyote far up the
canyon wall opposite, who whined and
barked necessarily. ~
There was something almost oppres-
sive about the silence to, me. when sud-
denly, from just beyond my shoulder
ing fire the sound of step startled me,
and before I had time even to move
there was bending over me q hideops,
painted face-the face of Rsayage. and
in his hand, already creeping toward my
heart, was his heavy scalping knife! =.
To describe my sensations is impos-
sible. Some terrible spell seemed to
bind me. Not only was Ifacing danger
,vb;ah ,,,oont ;r,Sta NJ 1aofb h,,f II u,oc.
unable to move, even in the attempt to
save myself. 1t was as If 1 were fssci-
mated. gS n.
l tried to reason with myself. This
was, but> a single eenemy-ifI should
sprin upon him I might XIII him and SO
be free; but although the reasoning was
right, the action i was unable to bring
about, and all the time the terrible knife
drew nearer. The redskin knew that 1
was awake, and that 4 saw him, but he
gloated over my helplessness and de-
layed his fatal blow. Ea..i s7' .. . l,h 10
At last, however, saw the CLEAN of
his eye, the tightening of his muscles,
and knew that in an instant more all
would be over, when. a sudden Jharsh,
metallic rattle sounded as ifit were in
my very bosom. felt something glide
from my side-a long, scaly, snaky body
shot out to meet the dusky on-coming
arm. There was blow then a cry of
horror and as the knife fell rim ging to
the earth rattlesnake crawled slowly
away, and the Uncompahgre, with bis
now -neryeless hand .outstretched. and
the blood dripping down from his parted
II, .ol,
turned and disappeared in the darkness.
The rattler which my fire had drawn
homsKis' winter 9harters had saved my
life and the lives of my companions. 2
A week later, with a party of thirty!
good fellows recrossed the San Juan.
range and rescued my party from starva.
ton and the Indians; and it is because
of what that snake did foEme ~ Devils
Pass NIGH on twenty years ago. that }
let the critters live to-day.-A Miner 9
Story in Toledo Bee: u,s,,, =
The Snail. :