Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-09-03
Bronoho BERTHE.
THE DAUGHTER OF THE RANGERS A TEXAN
ROMANCE.

sehrCN OF faIniIy oil COW ana morse thieves
named Taylor, writes a Philadelphia Times
correspondent The scattered remains OF
Chief Victoria's band were lurking about
that section of the country then, awaiting an
opportunity to cross the Death plain to a
more secure hiding place in the Sierra Dia-
bolo. And We were continually finding fresh
signs as We slowly trailed the COW thieves TO
their mountain camp. One morning We en-
tered little canon through which ran a
stream of water. About midway down the
canon. on the bank of the run, the scout in
advance made horrible discovery, and we
rode quickly 10 his side. The three Taylor
boys, whom We were in search OF. and a
Mexican vaquero had been ambushed and
killed by the Indians, and their sttFened
bodies. bloody and scalpless, lay across the
trail. They had been killed during the pre-
vious night. and the coyotes had not yet
scented them out. All their arms and their
ponies had been carried away by the muir
derers
We hastily dug shallow grave with our
hunting knives on the bank Of the creek and
buried them side by side. Then continuing
on we crossed the next divide and reached
their camp in a canon similar to the one we
had Just left. The Indians had taken a near
!, opposite direction. climbing the other
wal! OF the canon.
The camp Of the outlaws was a rude affair,
consisting Of small ten',a camp fre,a brush
corral and heavy wagon. Several head Of
ponies and cows were grazing IN the canon,
and the sergeant commanding our party or
dered several Of the boys to round up the
stock while he dismoun,ed and inspected the
camp. Just as he was about to hit the fly
Of the tent a shTil treble voice, which cal
from the direction OF the brush corral. cried ::
Say thar, mister man, thet's my tent.
Keen out'n hi,."
We sl turned at the sound OF the voice
and the querrest little girl,in a dress OF faded
calca, hareheadei and blrefoo,ed. crep'
from under the corral gate and walked
toward Us. She was not above : years Of
age, and She mad the shrewdcst face. and
brightest EYES imaginable.
Keep out'n thet tent" she repeated
walking toward The sergeant lit, mine,
ltell ye.'
And Who might YOU be ?" asked the ser
seant, smiling aud dropping the ten, tlap.
I'm Broncho Bertle,' was the quick an
.wer, and .he tossed her head saucily.
"Leastwsys. thet's what the boys call me-
And who are the boys ?"
My bruddss, jim. Bill and Dan. le all
Know EN- well enutf. an know YOU you're
ranyers. an If Won think you'u gs, The. hoy.
,er left THEY'RE ont wonder IN the noun.
tinc.. an The, II .hoo, uuickr'n wink"
We crowded abou. the !ltle maiden, and
one Of the boys. in as tender aud simple
words a. Re could command. told her Of her
4 L. l. 4
but rre,, lurn that rose in her throat was
swallowed with difficulty, and her shriil
voice sgnen.d ana ,rrmhled uhru .he
spoke.
Il knowea thevI ut lade out some day, ="
she said. shaking her head mournfuly, but
hit. better that-a-way than to be drapprd
hv yoq'ns."
She peerel into ths face of every man, land
finally. ,,rppin. 10 the .iie Of Reckle, JEDI,
!a.! her brown hand IN his.
II Ike yer looks. She sad. san III 20
with von.''
We took her back to camp. and on the
road ,hr taught rs several lessons that set
the men ID thinking. we wtre pretty
rough lnt. an.! when one man, ior some
trihing cause. began 10 curse. she rai,el her
smal. hand sArrlnsl,, and .aid
"Yy mus,n', cus.. rraln't perlite when
laI.,, i, about, az htr'.wicked. too"
When We made camp that night Broncho
Brrrie a.. her supper III silence, and when
one Of the BOYS spread some blankets aud
told her II va. TO be her bed for the night.
She thanked him srascly. and folding her
hands. krelt down All prn,ed. noticed
that the eve. Of several Of the boy, were
moist when .he finished. and whea she
walked around the circle and lifted up her
d!mp.el nou,h 10 each bearded face to be-
Kissed. she received succession Of convul-
siy. huy, ,t,r must hay. bruised her fr,iI
BODY, Ih. entire COMPANY held a consul,a-
tion over the matter the night W. reached
our permanent camp. and II wa, formally
drcill.I ID adam, MI. brown waif A. "the
child OF company +" When Berthe was
informed of cur action b, committee dele
gated for the purpo.e, ,he nodded her head
and made answer in her quaint fashion.
II like We. bows. an hits go."
The bet ten, va. fitted On for her e.prc-
i'll u.e. all lfsman had gone 10 the post
and no, brough, back a present for The
Rro,,cho " his life would have h..n nlacel
n.yi,''- ,h"a xe',,,h ~ aa1 ~, 49,.
laid down hi. life Tor her Reckless jeff
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