Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-02-02

tell him that the Americans had offered
a reward for his head, and that some OF
the Indians ih 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-
nio, throwing himself On his stomach.
wriggled into cactus patch near bv.
Only one who has seen California cactus
thickets 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 baffled pursners 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 a certain rancheria which
he described, q few miles off, and in an
opposite direction from the way in
which he intended to guide Don Anto-
Mo. AS soon as thes Americans had
gone, he bound up Kntonio'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 trai! to spot high up
IN ha nfoin vx,ho fho oil
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 stone mortar, they rubbed
him from head to foot with the wet
fiber. All his pain and weariness 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 a bit OF
old sheepskin was tied around the pony s
body Thus accoutered and mounted,
shivering in his drawers under his single
blanket, the captain and flag g-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 q stool on the
porch offered to him. It was the house
Of dear friend, and the friends sister
| was his sweetheart. AS he sat there
eating his meat the women eyed him
cur;onsly. One said to the other, How
much he looks like Antonio !!
"At last the sweetheart, coming nearer
asked him if he were amy relation O
Don Antonio? ?
j" No. he said
"Just at that moment his friend rode
up, gave one glance ut the pitiful begga
sitting on his porch, shouted his name
dashed toward him, and seized him il
his arms. Then was a great laughing
and half weeping, for it had been ru
mored that he had been taken prisone
by the Americans.
"From this friend he received vel
come gift of pair of trowsers, man.
inches too short for his legs. At th
next bonse his friend was as much to
tall, and his second pair Of gift trowser
had to be rolled up in thick folds arorn
his ankles.
.Finallv, he reached Los Angeles i
ufety. Hating in grove outside tn
town. he waited till twilight before er
tering. Having disguised himself in tn
rags which he had worn from the India
village, he rode boldly up to the pore
J of his fathers house, and in an impudeI
tone called for brandy. The terrific
women began to scream: but his young
est sister, fixing one piercing glance Q
: his face. laughed ont gladly. and criet
You can't fool me, von are Ante
MO. - The Century.