The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-07-08
FOR OUR LIVES.

scouts of Arizona are brave and upright.
though rough; man whom you could no
more hire or persuade, IT, DO a mean or
Co rardly act than you could induce them
to sell their favorlte horse or rife.
This strange country, with its rocky
ranges, deserts, and scores of canons
and passes, is to them a well-learned les.
son; they are familiar with every trail,
know the location OF the springs or wa
ter holes, can tell YOU where the best
gras, Is to be found, and in case of an
Apache raid are Indispensable.
During my soiourn in the territory q
few years ago had occasion to emplov
one Of the scouts, Dave White by name,
on several occasions, and found him an
invaluable companion. He could explain
every curling wreath OF smoke on the
horizon; he could tell how long trail
had been mode and by whom. he knew
every Indian haunt, and woe to the red
skin on whom he drew bead! "Old
Skiro," as. be had named his rifle, was
never known 20 miss its mark. and "Ad.
elante," his horse, was a. saeet as the
wind when her master gave the word
"go."
O,e beautiful autumn morning, in the
fall OF 1871, Dave and myself started to
ride from the rancho at Apache Pass to
the overland mil station, on the San
Cmon, distance OF twenty-five or thir.
ty miles.
Threading our way slowly down the
vast canon Of the pass through the
mountains where huge rocks. hundreds
of feet high, lowered above US on either
hand-their jutting. moss-grown sides
filling the gorge with q strange. somber
gloom-t could not dispel from my
mind a certain sense Of danger. Ugly
stories and rumors Of Indian attacks
we're then common. So strong an i'm
preston had they made upon me that
finally said:
"Dave, believe We are going to have
trouhle before we get through to-day"
"TroubIe!' replied Dave "Ha! ha
ba as though we weren't always hsvin'
trouble! Yer hain't scared, be We, doc
tor p
He laughed 80 loudly that the rocks
above US caught the sound, and echoed
dozen startlingly distinct ha! hs!
has!
The effect was so canny that could
scarcely believe but that band of saw,
ages were mockiEglv repeating our rash
notes of levity. Again I asked Dave if
we might not as we'll postpone the trip
till the following week. The scout refined
in mis- horse and sqnaring him self in his
saddle looked me full in the face.
"Now look ahere, DOCTOR" he said,
"ei yer afeared we'll turn back; eff not,
we'll reach the San Cimon unless Old
Skiro and Adalante fail met
| could only protest that l was not
afraid, hut cautions, at which suggestion
Dave merely vouchsafed "h'mr Of in
credulity and spurred his horse into 8
brisk canter.
After two or three miles OF riding we
left the rocky Businesses Of the pass and
thence proceeded for six or eight miles
further across the plain. where scarcely
a mound or bush breaks the dead level
as far as the eve can see. NV fear Of
danger was gone or forgotten while /
was listening to. one OF Dive's stories of
advenlure-when be suddenly turned his
head and looking over his shoulder ex-
claimed, "Thunder!" in voice that sent
every drop Of blood surging back to my
heart.
Well knew what such an exclamation
from bis lips meant, and the sight Witch
met nv eyes as glanced behind me was
not an assuring one. Scarcely q mile
away, and coming at full speed, were
eight or nine Apsches!
They la probably followed us through
the pass.
, I saw Dive look anxipusly at my
horse. 1t was large, powerful animal,
possessed OF endurance, but not much
speed.
TOO big odds for this ere open plain,
so It's q ride for our lives," Dave said
quietly.
The San Cimon was nearly ten miles
away! Could we reach it l asked Dave
the question as coolly as cluld.
"Weve got tor was his only reply.
"Come on now. Settle yerself well in
yer saddle. doctor, lean little for'ard,
foller the m ,tion of yer horse and give
him the spurs"
Give him the spurs I did, for ! felt
that our only safety depended upon the
speed could get ou. Of the animal.
Both animals seemed to know how much
depended upon their efforts, and to be
quite rs anxious to escape the fate IN
store for them il captured,as did we Their
riders Every hurried word we spoke
and every nervous caress we gave them
seemed 10 inspire them with fresh life.
Yet in spite of it all we appeared to but
creep over the plain; and another hasty
glance over nv shoulder told me but too
plainly that the redskins we're gaining on
US.
The wretches had upcommonly fine
choicest of all those stolen
and captured by them both in Arizona
and Northern Mexico. 1 Isaw, too, that
Dave held Adelante in while my horse
was making his utmost efforts.
On, on, we rode. Dawes face was a
study, as with compressed lips and fash.
ing eyes, be watched the motions of my
horse as though his life, not mine, de-
pended upon his exertions. Occasionally |
be gave an uneasy look behind, then for
ward toward the long line of scrubby
mesquit which marked the course Of the |
San Cimon where The station was. At
length he turned toward me, his face no
longer anxious bnt full Of determination,
and said in low, resolute voice:
s'We shan't make it, but we'll ride as
long as we can then turn loose on 'em |
with our revolvers. Keep your hoss
well in hand; don't let him stumble"
Before l realized what he was doing
Dave wheeled aud, bringing Adelante up
with force that almost threw the animal
upon its launches, faced the Indians.
heard the crack Of his rife; next minute
he was beside me again
"Fetcbed one Of 'em! Give me your
rifle and load this" said Dave hurriedlv.
Tue exchange was soon made.
spoke to my horse at the same time sink
IT, tho enurs 6oon into hia foo N, Aock od