The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-12-25

and turned to run.
"Don't shoot!" shouted the captain.
stHe's mine!''
The officer was unusually fleet of
foot, and having leaped from the sad
dle he ran after the young Indian
with the impetuosity of a panther.
Yet with all his cleverness he would
have failed, but for another curious
mishap. The moccasin of the Apache
slipped on stone, which rolled under
him, and he fell on his side. He was
up again like a flash, when the captain
struck him between the shoulders and
sent him sprawling on his face. A sec
ond time the lad bounded to his feet,
but the iron grip of the pursuer was on
his arm. He struck a vicious blow at
the captain with his knife, which mar
rowly missed slashing the captains
face, but the weapon was wrenched
away, and the writhing young wildcat
was helpless.
The prisoner expected no mercy, and
he would not have asked it had he
known it would have been granted.
When he was pinioEed, and could
struggle no more, he submitted with
the sullen stoicism of his race.
''There's no trusting the spitfre,"
said the captain, retaining his hold
and assuring himself that no weapons
were concealed about the prisoner.
'We'll bind him fast"
His arms were securely tied, and he
was forced, with very little gentleness,
upon the horse of the officer. A rope
was then looped tightly around each
ankle, joining under the belly of the
mustang, and with one arm around
the prisoners waist, the captain and
his men set out on their return.
Young Jack Burnham was greatly
interested in the captive. He was
! about the same age as the Indian, and
despite their different blood, more
than one remarked a singular resem-
blance between them. The Apache,
who was christened Zidda by his cap
| tors because an exclamation which
escaped him sounded like that word)
wore his long, coarse, black hair loose
about his shoulders, had very fine
teeth, was swarthy of complexion, and
his eyes were as dark as midnight.
The wife of Captain Burnham was a
Spanish lady, living in San Antonia,
Texas The son inherited her dark
color and handsome features. His
hair was long and silken, and his
movements were as easy and graceful
as those of Zidda.
The Apache, however, was bare from
his shoulders to his waist. Beloww was
a pair of gaudy Mexican trousers,
brilliantly beaded moccasins, while a
heavy golden bracelet adorned his
right wrist. A faded silken sash encir-
cled his waist, and, as q rule, the ham
dies of O. couple of knives protruded
therefrom, while cartridge box was
suspended from his shoulder by q
string. The rifle which he cast aside,
like most ofthose used by the Apaches,
was a breach-loader of the latest I'M
proved pattern.
Jack wore a stiff -brimmed sombrero
and a short cloak such as are often
seen in Spanish and Mexican coun-
tries. When mounted on this fleet
mustang and speeding over thepralrle
with his long hair and his cloak fut-
tering in the wind, he formed o. pictur-
esque figure.
The novelty of Zidda's company
wore off in the course of an hour or
two, and the general opinion prevailed
that the best thing to do was to
despatch him, thus creating one
vacancy at least in the horde of I'M
tamable red men. Capt. Burnhamfelt
no disposition to show the savage lit
tie fellow any mercy, and there can be
little doubt that Zidda would have
been shot but for the intercession OF
young Jack. He saw the proposed
crime in it's true light, and begged his
father that Zidda might be held a pri-
soner.
The Apaches have white women and
children, and we can exchange him for
some of them. Such q daring boy must
be highly valued by his people"
'sWe have been discussing the mat
ter" said Capt. Burnham, "and under
some circumstances we might try to
turn him into a. Bland dollar, and force
him into circulation; but it may be
several days before we reach the fort,
and more than likely he will give us the
slip after all"
"Let him do SO"
sHe will pay us by leading a party
who will take every one ofour scalps." "
"We run that risk SO long as we are
on the plains"
"You'll get over this sentimentality
before many years, but on your &C
| count, I'll consent that he shall be
kept a. prisoner until tomorrow.
Then we'll toss UP to see how the
| bother shall be ended.
Camp was made in an open spot
that had been used for the same pur-
pose more than once before. 1t was
close to a stream of running water,
where enough succulent grass grew for
the horses, and where, with the bright
moon riding high in an unclouded sky,
it was not believed that the Apaches
could surprise them.
| Jack Burnham stood in front OF the
captive while talking with his father.
The young Indians eyes fitted from
the face of the parent to the son, with
an intentness of interest that the 9TH
ers remarked. The words were in the
mongrel Spanish of the Southwest, and
though it was unsuspected at that
time, Zidda understood everything
said. Turning his back upon him. the
captain walked to where the soldiers
were grouped. They talked over the
events of the day, and expressed then
opinions about their fiery little cap