Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-07-12
The RANCHMAN'S WIFE
by FRANK II. CONVERSE.

lot me think Il minute.
Your Aun: Hess isn't any where round.
is She! MOI For she isn't over fond of
Indians or Indian storics-and with good
reason.
1t was way back in the seventies. I
fitted out at Fort Caspar, in New Mcxi-
90, and started of alone, fur trapping
up among the foot hills
They told ne was crazy to venture
so far, rs the Indians were thicker than
lies all through the section of country
where was going; but was used to
.nkins chances in those days, and game
was wonderfully plenty round the ella
'an9cs. So started Off.
Well, Preached the southern foot hills
Il. right, without seeing a sign OF rcd
kin. But for all that, l didn't get
careless. used bow and arrows,
with which | was quite expert in those
lays, 20 Kill what game ! wanted, rather
han run any risk of attracting the no.
lice OF any proving Apache by rifle
'hot. WAS very lucky with my trap
ping, and in about three weeks had "A
mule load of pclts, with which started
pack toward the fort.
The second day of my journey brought
ne to Tie bottom lands in the finest sec
lion Of grazing country ever saw. A
branch of the ella. river wound along
'or miles like blue ribbon. through
buffalo grass half way to the horses
hnecs, while on every side there was
willow and cottonwood enough to sup
ply fuel for the biggest kind Of a settle
ncnt.
l rode slowly along, with my pack
mule plodding IA few PAGES behind think
ng, rs we'll remember, that should
ike nothing better than to have a nice
little ranch of my own in those parts,
iad settle down there
All at once from behind there came
Yell-or, rather, chorus Of them
such ms man, no matter how much
courage he may have, doesn't care to
hear more than once in lifetime.
unslinging my rifle and turning in
my saddle at one and the same time, |
saw score or more of mounted Indians
coming up Mt full speed, whoaping and
yelling like so many iicnds.
OF course there was but the one thing
to do. My horse was toleraby fast and
III good condition. 1t WAS late in the
afternoon, and if could keep well
ahead of my pursucrs, might hope to
escape them under cover of the night.
Leaving the pack mule and rcltrics
TO their fate, gave old Reno his head,
and then began race for life or death
For an hour seemed 10 gain little b.
little Then poor Reno began to fac.
while the Indian ponies, dashed to their
highcst speed, drew nearer and nearer. |
swung half round and dropped big
/ chuck with my Winchester at n hun
drcd yards as neatly as you please, bu,
so to spcak-this was only drop in
the bucket. On came the rest with
fierccr cries and more hdcous wells, &C
comTanlcd by n fusilladc from their car
bineS, as well ms by some half dozen ar
rows, one of which went fairly through
my right forearm just below the elbow.
The pnin was such for the moment that
my fingers relaxed their grasp, and nv
rifle fell to the ground, leaving INC, ex-
cept for hunting knife, practically I'M
armed, rs, unfortunately, on the day he
fore had broken the main spring of my
revolver.
'lll die hard if die must" nut.
tered, getting hold of my knife with nv
left hand for my right had ali at once
become almost usclcss-somc nerve or
cord having been severed by the sharr
point OF the arrow, as supposed at the
time.
All ut once my tagging horse rounded
big clump of cottonwood saw =
neat cabin, with one or two outbuild.
inss, not furlong away. But Mt that
self-same moment old Rcno's forefoot
went down in gopher hole, and I wen,
flying over his head, very much after the
manner of diver, only that my arms
were outs.retchcd as a divers peye
ought 10 be-
Luckily, / struck on nv rich
shoulder; so, though badly bruised ant
shaken, l was on my feet like a cat in
second. And the instinct of self prcscr
walton, "a matter of course, led me t
run at full speed toward the cabin
! though could see no sign of life abou
the premises.
But, run as fast rs might, the pun
SUING ponies were faster. The red
I skiing, who, as l aftcrward knew, wer
to man Apachos-thc most barbarou,