St. Landry democrat., 1886-03-20

QefStanQ that 1t was lite or deaul, anu
was strainng every nerve. The Indians
had not followed her from the ranch,
! but had come in Oil her from the Santa
| Cruz river trail, and had kept her I'M
der fire for the last two miles. AS soon
as the ranchman appeared the Indians,
eleven in number, drew rein.
"Whar's George?' asked McGilpin,
as the pony halted beside him.
''Deadr'
''And the bucks are in war paint. 90
inside, woman. It's no time for grief?'
Owing to the river on one side and
| the wire fence on the other, the Indians
| could not scatter at once. They must
approach the ranch under the ranch
mans fire, if at al. He waited for
them, but they hesitated and held a
consultation. During this respite the
| women made the house secure, filled a
barrel with water and turned a number
of horses loose and forced them to cross
the river. While they were accom-
| pllshing these objects 4 part OF the In
dlans were cutting the fences, and the
rest We're in consultation. The ranch
man stood like a rock, his eyes noting
the slightest movement, his breath COM
ing faster, and a feeling in his heart
that this was his last day on earth. 4
pillar Of black smoke told him that
Roberts ranch was being destroyed to
the west, and another to the east be-
trayed the fate of another neighbor.
| When the Indians had cut the fences
to give them fair approach to the house,
a warrior started up the trail with
white handkerchief in his hand as a flag
of truce. Approaching within revolver
/ shot, ne halted and called out:
Indians no hurt; Indians want dim
| ner!n
The quick eye of the ranchman de-
tccted two dismounted redskins lodging
from cover to cover to gain the rear OF
| the house. The idea was to parley I'M
til they were in position.
''Indians 90 way after dinner-no
| hurt anybody-no take hosscsn' shouted
the hag-bearer.
With movement so quick that the
other had no time to prepare for it, the
ranchman brought his rifle to an aim.
There was loud report, and the buck
fell from his horse. AS he tumbled
from his saddle the pony made a jump
or two, but there was another report,
and the beast rolled over. Next in
slant there was shot from the cabin,
and one of the pair of skulkers uttered
his death yell. When the smoke rose
the ranchman was no longer to be
seen. He had retreated to the house.
Filled with chagrin and a desire for
vengeance, the Indians now dismounted
and crept nearer, and in q few minutes
the cabin was being assaled from every
point of the compass.
Within there were two pale-faced
women and grim, determined man.
The structure was roughly built of
planks and logs, undivided by partitions.
There were only four windows, and
these were protected by stout shutters.
which were pierced with loopholes. The
weapons were two Winchesters and two
revolvers. The ranchnan's first move
after getting inside was to divide his
force so as to cover the windows. He
then pulled out the climbing at the cor
ners of the cabin to make other loop
holes, and each one of the trio took a
post of observation and defense. Scarce
ly word had been exchanged since the
arrival of Mrs. Roberts. Each one rea-
soned out for himself or herself: "a
gang of Apaches have broken loose
from their reservation and are on the
warpath. They will burn and STAY I'M
til force can be raised to overpower
them. 1t may be week before that
force is in the field. Surrender means
to be burned at the stake. A desperate
resistance may drive them off"
There was Robeats, the husband of
year, lying dead and scalped, and hor-
ribly mutilated on his freshly planted
field His stock had been shot down or
driven off, and the red flames lad licked
up his cabin, but there were no tears in
the blue eyes of the wife as she peered
from one of the loopholes. Tears would
have dimmed her vision, and watchful
eyes were needed there.
For an hour or more the Indians
maintained an unceasing fire, but with
out inflicting the least damage. They
were then joined by party OF seven,
coming from the east, and it soon be-
came evident that some decisive step
was to be taken.
II know what they will do" said the
ranchman, as the reports of rifles died
away. ''They will divide into three or
four parties and assail the house from as
many sides. If they can't batter the
doors down they will try to set the
house on fire. Each Of you take re-
volver and will use the rifles. Be cool
we can drive them back
The three had been waiting at their
stations ten minutes when the rush was
made. The sixteen Indians divided in
to bands of four, and one in every band !
carried lighted torch. The ranchman
hrnka one hand hu KILN O. I'll q hunl, with |