The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-10-22

taken refuge in this glen at the heae
of the Santa Ana creek. Prepare
tions were begun to dislodge the re
bellious (?) savages. All of the
young vaqueros in the country, al
the veteran government soldiers al
the mission and all the ranchero:
were enlisted in the determination
of band whose existence was 8
constant peril to them. The troops
approached the mouth of the rocky
pass and halted to reconnoitre. The
Indian scouts had signalled the ap-
proace of the soldiers, and Ma-til-i-ja
was prepared. Within the gorge all
was silent save the rippling of the
water in the shadows of the rock "A
priest, bare headed and gown-ciad
advanced along the trail into the
darkness, holding aloft crucifix and
calling upon the Indians for submis-
siou. High up upon the cliff tuft-
ed head and bare brown shoulders
caught for an instant the rays OF
the sun. There was twang of a
bow spring and an obsidian-pointed
arrow, whizzing down into the shad-
ows, buried itself TO the feathers in
the breast OF the Priest. For an in
slant he stood still holding aloft the
crucifix, and then with a death
moan his body fell forward into the
water, and the trout below him
sported in crimson stream. Quick
ly dismounting,the Spaniards charg-
ed again and again into the narrow
pass, and were as often repulsed.
THE CHIEFS DAUGHTER.
"At last they drew off. seeing the
hopelessness OF their attack, and
camped down upon the mesa below,
determined to try the policy of star
vation. Meanwhile the Indians
strengthened their defenses and sent
out hunters upon the hills, that they
might be prepared to endure the
siege. Ma-til-i-ja, the last of a long
line of chieftains, had no son to
whom to transmit his honors, and
contrary to the usual custom of bis
people, had taken to himself but one
wife. A daughter, Winona, was the
fruit of their union, and Ma-til-i-ja
had confided to her the secret of
the trail leading from the glen. Like
all the women of her tribe Winona
had sojourned for time at the mis-
sion, and while there, unknown to
her father, the ceremonies and relig.
ion of the padres had taken deep
hold upon her savage Imagination.
While there, also she had conceived
a passion. deep and wild as her own
unframed nature, for one of the
young soldiers of the garrison, Jose
Hernas, and he had been not at all
derelict in pressing his suit upon
the savage beauty.
For weeks the seige continued,
interspersed with brave charges,
which were always repulsed, until at
last the Spaniards began to chafe at
fighting with an unseen enemy
whose missiles dealt death at every
blow. At last the disaffection grew
open, and there began to be grave
talk OF abandoning the apparently
fruitless seige.
Meanwhile Winona stole away
from her fathers lodge each day at
nightfall, and, passing over the Sc
cret trail, went down into the Span
ish camp and passed hours with
her lover beneath the shadow of
some great oak. Amid so many re-
tainers, her presence passed unnotic
ed, and when the day grew gray in
the east, she would glide like shad-
ow short distance into the rocky
gorge, and then diverging,seek again
the secret path. to return to her
dwelling. Watching her departure
one morning, Jose saw her leave the
gorge, and, obeying a sudden and
unaccountable impulse, started to
follow her. Like a shadow he fol-
lowed her swift steps from rock to
rock, from crag TO crag until she
disappeared into a narrow rocky
canyon. Plunging into this, Jose
followed down it for a short distance
and emerging. was startled to find
himself within the Indian village.
He had the secret trail. Realizing
at once the importance OF his discoy-
cry, he retraced his steps at once to
the Spanish camp and sought the
commander of the expedition.
THE MASSACRE.
That night 200 picked men, I'M
der Jose's guidance, stole like shad-
ows under the mountain path, and
ranged themselves in silent line
above the doomed village. At the
mouth of the gorge guard of Span
iards shut off the escape of the In
dams. From the deep defle below
the village a musket report broke
the clear gray stiffness of the morn
ing. 1t was the signal of attack.
With one rattling volley the bands
of troops within the glen broke rank
and charged down upon the sleepy
villagers just emerging from their
huts. TIE Indians were stupefied
with surprise, uncertain as to wheth-
er their gods had deserted them or
their sentries had slept upon their
posts. and were cut down. men,
women and children, without re-
sistance. Winona starting in terror
from her fathers hut, saw Jose
heading the besiegers, and realized
what had happened. Bounding to
the side Of her lover, she clasped
her arms about him and stayed his
sword in the bloody work OF muir
der. Matilila had followed his
daughter from the lodge, and with
lond cries was rallying his warriors
in defense of their women and chill
dren. Seeing his devoted daughter
clasped to the breast of spanish
soldier, he thought he saw in her the
betrayer of his people With a saw
age howl of mingled rage, pain and
defiance, Matilda sprang forward
and buried his stone hatchet deep
into the brain ofbis offspring. With
q pi.eous upward look the girl sunk
at her fathers feet, and, before Jose