The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-07-06

He led me TO the carriage, Helpeu Inc
in. and took q seat beside me. John
seated himself beside Michael, and we
rode homeward.
Hasty preparations were being made
at the Garrison when we reached there.
At S that evening the soldiers, accom-
panied by their surgeon, left. Ihad list
ened attentively as to the route they were
to take. When the sound of the retreat
ing horses died away, l turned to Nano,
a Mexican hoy, and said:
Saddle my two ponies, and you and L
will have ride"
Nano joyfully did as I babe him. In
half an hour we were riding away. Al
ter the heat of the day, how grateful the
cool evening, Flowers folded away
from the sun, children Of the sand,
opened their eyes for me. Nano and I
rode along in silence.
Through my mind noated, many times;
''Your father and mother love you, and
/" What did he mean? Was it pos
sible that he loved me? Why had dear
old John come Just at that moment?
Should | ever hear that sentence finished?
Then thought of the cruel, treacherous
Indians. In my life on the border lands
had seen many brought home, slain by
our dusky neighbors.
The full moon was shining. Nano in
terrupted my musings by saying that the
huge cacti looked like giants, and he
could kill one or two with his knife.
The wind, which was blowing from
us, suddenly veered. 1 heard distincly
the sound of the horses hoofs bearing
our soldiers. They were quite near, but
going from us. 1 bent my face upon my
pony's neck and said little prayer for
their safety, then said to Nano, as l
looked at my watch, and found it was 10
o'clock:
at is time to return"
As | was wheeling Brownie, my pony,
around, grew faint with terror at what
l saw From behind the tall cacti sprang
at least dozen Indians. Like demons
they looked in their war paint and
feathers. They had knives and clubs and
strange looking objects dangling from
their belts. They dragged Nano from
his pony, and then l felt myself torn
from Brownie. 1 had clasped my arms
around her neck.
There were few dry, wrctched trees
growing ont of tie sand. They tied Nano
to one with strong leather bands Then
they tied me to another. The moon
looked coldly down right in my agonized
face. The Indians gathered dry twigs
and leaves and grass, and laid them about
our feet.
After one wild cry Nano was silent.
think he tainted. In the moment of ter
ror when 1 expected to pass through the
fearful gateway of fire, thought of father
ard mother, OF dear old John, but nearer
and dearer still, L thought of the blue gray
eyes dearer than all other eyes.
The Indians, sure OF their victims, left
us to gather fuel for the sacrifice. 1.-THE
inconstant moon" never cried out to save
US, but ''the tickle, fitful wind" came
screaming through the desert and cried:
''This shall not be-" 1t famed the pale,
dark cheeks Of Nano; it caressed my
forehead, ard gave me last fond kiss.
l saw an Indian approach with lighted
torch. Then, as if in anger, the wind
cave one terrible blast. 1t tossed my
long black hair, which had fallen all
about ne, away. The moon gave low
inc, intense glance. l saw the torch fall
from the Indians hand; 1 saw the In
dians all fall before me on their faces.
Then 1 knew that the wind and moon
had shown them the Indian necklace, with
its crescent ard blazing sun.
l seized my revolver, forgotten until
now. I fired, and on, joy! Iheard an
swering shots, and the tramping of
horses.
The Indians, as if by magic, had van
isned 1 was surrounded by friends.
The blue gray eyes looked into mine.
l...nr.l In, -r-,r.l..