The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-28

lowed me out OF Salt Lake! Or the others
VINO would follow! The DANTE was grim,
| silent. determined foe. He was implacabie,
| relentless.
The women whom had so strangely res
| cued from such strange prison were in no
condition 20 travel. They were hardly more
| than skeletons and the reaction was such a
shock that they were mentally as well as
| physically proStrated.
IL was three DAYS before they seemed to
fully realize the great and sudden change
| III their prospects, ard when they had used
| the contents of my housewife TO repair
their wardIobes. and had chance to wash
up and satisfy their hunger, could hardly
recognize them as the same women. They
were a thousand times grateful, and seemed
to cling TO and depend upon me as if they
had been small children.
While giving them all possible attention
Ibid not entirely neglect the object for
which had placed my life in peril The
little valley was thoroughly explored, and
l rode for several miles up and down the
base OF the mountain il making my ex-
aminatisns. On these trips l kept a sharp
eve out for Indians, DaniteS, or strangers
of any sort; but it seemed as if we three
were entirely out of the world
On the morning of the fifth day after the
rescue 1 decided 10 move. Tie women
were now in good spirits, and / found that
both had plenty of pluck They were to
ride the horses of the two Mormons
There was another thing to encourage
me. Both had used firearms, and, after a
brief inspection of the carbines of the Nor
mons, the women were confident that they
could make use of them on pinch. While
neither was a markSman, OF had ever made
use of anything larger than pistol, it was
a comfort to know that they would not be
entirely a burden on my hands in case we
had TO turn at bay.
We did not leave the valley until had
assembled the mountains to spot from
which l could view the plain for miles
around. 1t appeared perfectly destitute of
all human or animal life. We then rode
out and headed to the eest, and after
journey of about twenty miles we came to
another valley or canyon breaking into the
mountain like the one we had left There
was difference, however, in the fact that
the entrance was not over five yards wide,
and at the end OF hundred feet the gorge
opened into circular basin of about two
acres. 1t was capital hiding spot, but l
gave it a careful inspection.
After dinner had been prepared and eaten
l staSad out the horses at the further side
and got up the two tents. The women were
pretty well done up with the ride, it being
their first for several wears, and at two
o'clock, as picked up my rife and started
for the plain to have a look around, both
were asleep on the blankets. l was bit
alarmed as | walked away, though l said
nothing to them. Happening to look
toward the horses l noticed that all had
ceased grazing and had their heads UP and
their ears working. The sagacity Of dog
il detecting danger has often been e1tolled,
but he is far behind the horse in that par
ticular sense. These animals could not see
danger, but instinct was stronger than eyes
or ears. That some one was within mile
of us l could not doubt. 1t could not be
vii al hapanca ha bn M
signs OF trepidation. If human beings
they must be enemies.
AS hurried down the gorge l remem-
bered that our trail for the last ten miles
had led over hard and broken ground,
which would leave only here and there a
footprint. An Indian or dog might follow
such trail, but white men could make
nothing of it. As l came within few feet
of the mouth of the gorge, hugging the
right hand side, found place where l
could scramble up and take an observa-
ton. After attaining a height of thirty
feet carefully crept forward for a look
down on the plain. Half mile to the east
of me were two white men riding at full
speed, going east. Between them and the
gorge was a white man on foot, leading his
horse and carefully scrutiniZing the ground.
To the west, about half mile, was fourth
white man, mounted, and holding one end
of a long rope attached to a mOnstrous
great dog The dog was running about
and shifting the air, and seemed to be highly
excited.
The Danites were at hand! They had
followed our trail by the help Of the dog.
Coming near the mouth of the gorge, the
dog had been kept back for fear he might
hetray them. Two of the men had galloped
on to pick up our trail if we had left the
valley and even now were returning.
When the four men were satisfied that we
were in the valley what would be their
programme!
As | scrambled down the rugged cliff l
realized that these men must have been
sent from Salt Lake to overhaul me. They
must have visited the other valley, and
they must have discovered that ! had set
the women free. They had me penned up,
and they sought my life. 1t was idle to hope
they might withdraw, or that four men
would fear to attack one.
As soon as reaching the ground l ran to
the upper end of the gorge. Here was
really the narrowest spot, and number of
large stones were lying about. 1t wasn't
the work of five minutes to roll these in
line across the gorge and build me a breast
work two feet high. Just at the centre,
where l lay fat down, was an opening
through which l could thrust my Win
chester and fire while fully protected. l
expected the dog would be my first visitor,
and quickly prepared for him. My hat was
placed on the rocks directly over me, and
let go of the rife fcr the hunting knife.
had just turned my back when a low venge-
ful growl from the animal came up the
gorge. He had been let loose heard his
footsteps when he was fifty feet away. He
saw the hat, growled savagely. and next
instant was in the air above me, the hat in
his teeth. Iplanted the knife just back OF /
his fore legs, and when he struck the ground
he hadn't life enough to roll over.
wanted 20 kill the dog without alarm,
and l had succeeded. The women, sleeping
not more than two hundred feet away,
were not disturbed With the dog gone,
the men could no longer trail US if we got
outside. Believing they would hesitate
some time before trusting themselves in the
gorge, occupied the next ten minutes in
streng gthening the breastwork and increas-
ing the height. When had used up all the
loose rocks within convenient distance the
defense was one which company Of in
fantry would have hesitated to attack.
1t was long half hour before | detected
any movement down the gorge, and then
the first thing seen was a flag Of truce,
made by tying handkerchief to a long
stick. The man who carried it waved the
flag in 3 vigorous manner, and came for
ward with slow and hesitating steps. / let
him come within thirty feet of the breast
work before showing myself, as could not
be certain that il was not a ruse to expose
me to the bullets of his companions. As he
caught sight of me be approached to within
fifteen feet and halted.
"Who are you, and what's wantedl" /
asked.
81 am friend, and want to talk with
you," he replied.
The man was squat, broad-shouldered,
and evil looking, and his attempt to look
pleasant really distorted his features
We'll, what do you want to sayi"
1.-THE Mormons are after you. There ara
about fifty outside. They don't want any
fuss with you. II you will go on East they
won't put straw In your way, but they
must have the women and horses"