The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-03
Tho n,,nsr's story.

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
way of the Devils Pass, to ,.Animas,
and return with food or q rescuine
party. Failing of that, spring-time
would find our cabin inhabited by
corpses,
We drew lots among ourselves, there.
fore, we we'll men, to decide: who should
undertake this perilousS Zip, and thu
risk fell upon me-, ItrSas best, per
haps, that'it should have been SO, TO
Of all the party I best knew the trail
Without waste of words or time, pre-
pared myself for the journey, and, thor
oughly armed, early one morning, be-
fore the pale moon had fallen behind
the western mountains, bade good-bJ
to my comrades and started. Turning
my back upon the camp, settled my
course by star, and at brisk pace
steered southwark. All day 1 continued
OH the trail, ever with watch" ii eye
for Indian signs-for believed our old
enemies still in the vioinity-but all
day unmolested, and at last, weary and
worn. rs the chill shadows began to
creep across the great. white plain be.
hind me, l saw looming up in front the
San Juan Range, gashed with narrow
gorge-the Devils Pass. Once through
that horrible grave--for it was little
eise-and the road to Anmas would be
comparatively easy. My spirits rose
hopefully.
AS darkness came fairly down,
found myself just at the mouth of the
canyon which lead UP to the pass, and
deeming it most sheltered place TO,
a camping spot, I soon gathered hear
of dead limbs beneath an over-hanginp
rock where the snow had not yet come,
built a roaring fire, which warmed and
cheered me, and prepared for the night
felt little fear, for the narrow, trown.
ing canyon walls would hide the ligh1
OF my fire from all the plain country.
The only disturbance which L might
look for would be the howIing OF the
wolves, who threatened, but dared not
attack me-; and l cared not for them.
With these comforting reflections,
therefore, alto q hearty supper, dranh
little melted snow7wster, lit my pipe,
and rolling myself in my blanket,
crowded close to the rock wall behind
me now we'll warmed by the fire. And
so, in the Pickering light, protected
upon oil sides, I gave myself unhesi.
tatingly up to slumber.
How long l slept I cannot soy. 1t
was deep in the night when woke with
sudden chill. 1t was as If someone
had touched me with cold and clam
nay hand, but even before I was we'll
awake my frontiersmans caution re-
turned, and I opened my eyes slowly,
and didn't move.
The fire was all but out, and the
ghostly light from its dying embers
touched the snow and rocks and trees
about with strange color like thick
blood. The air was growing chill and
still. too, except for the cry of coyote
far up the canyon wall opposite, who
whined and barked incessantly.
There was something almost oppres-
sive about the silence to me, when
suddenly, from just beyond my smoul-
dering fire the sound of step startled
me, and before had time even to move
there was bending over me o hideous,
painted face the face of q savage.
And in his hand, already creeping
toward my heart, was his heavy scalp
ing-knife.
10 describe my sensation is impos-
sible. Some terrible spell seemed to
blind me. Not only was facing danger
which meant instant death, but was
unable to move, even in the attempt to
save myself. 1t was as if 1 were fasci-
mated.
I tried to reason with myself. This
was but single enemy-If I should
spring upon him I might kill him ane!
so be free; but although the reasoning
was all right. the action I was unable
to bring about, and all the time the ter.
rlble knife drew nearer. The redskin
knew that I was awake, and that saw
him, but he gloated over my helpless
ness and delayed his fatal blow.
At last, however, saw the gieam of
his eye, the tightening of his muscles,
and knew that In an instant more all
would be over, when sndden harsh,
metallic rattle sounded, as If it were in
my very bosom. I felt something glide
from my side-a long, scaly, snaky body
shot out to meet the dusky on-coming
arm. There was q blow, then CRY OF
horror, and as the knife foil ringing to
tho earth, a rattlesnake crawled slowly
away, and tho Uncomphagre, with his
now nerveless hand outstretched and
the blood dripping slowly from his
parted fingers, with long, Wild death
shrek turned and disappeared in the
darkness. The rattler which my fire
had drawn from his winter quarters had
saved my life and the life OF my COM