Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-09-30

While the young men were watching
the approaching Indians, some one sud-
denly remembered that two white
women and an infant were in the house
outside the town. and In the direction
of the savages. They were wholly un-
conscious of impending danger. and
unless warned. would surely fall into
the hands of the Apaches.
But how were they to be informed of
itp At that distance they could not
hear a call, and pstol-shot would not
attract their notice.
The house stood in the level plain,
about mile from the village, and
thousand yards or more from detile
in the rocks through which the APP
preaching Indians would have to enter
the valley. Already the savages had
disappeared behind the rocks and stunt
ed shrubbery beyond the pass, and in
few minutes more they would be in the
valley.
While they hesitatcd, Stonewall
W sprang up, and declaring that
he would see no woman murdered
without making an effort to save her,
threw the ladder over the wall and be-
gan to descend. rifle in hand, for it was
he who had retained his rifle. His
companions called to him to come back,
that it was too late 10 reach the women
and return before the Indians would be
upon him.
But they might as we'll have called to
whirlwind. Every spark of chivalry
was aroused in the young man, and had
he known the Apaches would capture
him, it is doubtful if he would have re-
turned then.
In another moment he was upon his
horse, flying across the plain towards
the solitary house. AS his companions
watched him from the housetop, they
broke into hearty cheer 1t was truly
a gallant deed. A soldier may charge
the lannon's mouth without fiinching
when two armies are watching, and he
knows his gallantry will be blazoned to
the world; but to dare such fiends as
these, almost alone in the great wilder
ness, for the sake of two unknown
women, was truly heroic.
These women were the wife and
daughter of man named Dan Dubois.
This man had come from Wheeling
West Virginia, number of years be-
fore. and having married Mexican
woman, settled here upon the Zuni
river.
Throughout the frontier country Du-
bois had made such name for bravery
and daring that his presence carried
more terror to Indians and thieving
Mexicans than a whole regiment of SOL
diers. Many marvellous feats are &C
credited to him. but certain il is that
he could draw his revolver and shoot so
quickly that the eye could not detect
the movement of his hand. He rarely
missed his aim. and fear was unknown
to him.
The Mexican woman whom he mar
ried was of family that for genera
tons had suffered from the Apaches.
Her ancestors as far back as the records
show had been killed by them, and the
been so intensified in her that the sight
of an Apache was sufficient to throw
her into terror.
Stonewalrs companions watched him
till he had ridden scross the interyen-
ing plain to Dubois's house; they saw
him spring from his horse and enter
the house and as yet the Apaches had
not appeared in the pass.
IL found the Mexican woman engag-
in some household work." said Stone
wall afterwards. while the baby was
drumming on the floor. Her daughter,
handsome girl of sixteen years, was
seated by the door drumming guitar.
Run for your livesr said; the
Apaches are comingr
Scratching the baby in her arms. the
woman dashed out of the door, never
pausing for a question nor once look
ing back for the girl.
II turned to follow her, for each mo.
ment l was expecting to hear the yells
of the Indians about the house, but
glancing back, observed the girl cast
ing after her mother such look of
scorn as have never seen on any other
face. and instead of following, she
quickly took down rifle from the wall
and fastened a belt of cartridges about
her waist.
Rum! l called to her in Spanish,
thinking she had not understood; the
Apaches are in the passr
81 will not rum she replied in
Spanish; Il will fight them here'
frightened as was. almost forgot
the danger i'm admiration for the girl.
Born of Mexican woman, she was
afire with her Virginia fathers blood
A moment before had been thoroughly
scared, but her spirit was contagious,
and now was heartily ashamed of my
fears.
81 remember now to have heard of
this girl at the fort, and that she was
fine shot with the rifle.
"Tll remain with yon, said, for
no man could have left so brave a girl
to fight alone. No time was to be lost,
and we quickly barricaded the heavy
door.
Nothing further was said, but her
quick, nervous movements showed her
alive for the fray, and do not believe
thought of fear had crossed her mind
'The door securely fastened, we
climbed out upon the top of the house,
which like those of Zuni. was flat and
had stone parapet for defense. As
we came out above, the leaders of the
Apaches were just appearing through
the defile in the rocks. To approach
us they would have to pass over
thousand yards of level plain, and with
the two rifles we hoped to do some exc
cution among them before they reached
the house. and then defend ourselves
as long as possible from behind the
wall upon the roof.
when the savages had entered the
! valley they paused as if in consulta-
ton. There were forty-three of them.
They were evidently surprised at see
ing white man there, and were con-
sidering If IL were Duboise, for had
thew not thou chit him to be in pursuit