The weekly messenger., 1889-07-20
point of the arrow, as supposed at the

time.
All at once my tagging horse rounded
a big clump of cottonwood. | saw a
neat cabin, with one or two outbuild-
ngs, not furlong away. But at that
self- same moment old Rcno's fOrefoOt
went down in gopher hole, and went
| flying over his head, very much after the
manner of diver, only that my arms
were outstrctchcd as divers never
ought to he.
Luckily. l struck on my right
shoulder; so, though badly bruised and
shaken, was on my feet like a cat in a
second. And the instinct of self prcser-
vation, as matter of course, led me to
run at full speed toward the cabin,
though l could see no sign of life about
the premises.
But, run rs fast as might, the pur
suing ponies were faster. The red
skins, who, as | aftcrward knew, were
to a man Apaches-thc most barbarous,
murderouS race on the face of the globe
could easily have tumbled me over by
Carbine shot or an arrow; but no, they
wanted white man to torture. And if
YOU will believe ne, when | was within
80 yards of the cabin, the chief, who
was rather better mounted than the rest,
was 50 close at my heels that, leaning
forward with dcvili>h grin on his
painted face, he proddcd me gently in
the rear with the point Of Il long fcath-
cred lance, which hc carried in addition
to the carbinc slung over his naked
shoulders.
lie smiled on the other side of his
ugly mouth second later, though, for
all at once little pull of smoke from
one of the two cabin windows was fol-
lowed by the crack of rifle, and the
Apache chief pitched forward to the
carth-as dead IN Indian as need be,
Another report followed almost like
an echo, and another Indian bit the dust,
while a third discharge an instant later
drew Il howl of pain from another,
whereupon the remainder wheeled sud-
denly round and took up position some
little distance away-far enough to be
practically out of range. Between the
increasing pain of my wound, and be-
ing almost winded, for moment or
two after had stumbled in at the door
of the cabin, which, thrown open to adj
nit me. vas a, quickly closed and
barred. was silly enough to fall to the
floor, where lay for Il moment sort of
iazed faint, suppose some would
call it.
''IEcre. drink this" said a woman's
voice.
1t was spirit of some kind, and hough
to this day don't know one kind of
liquor from another. that happened to be
an occasion when felt justified in tax
ing it.
Any way, the fiery dnught gave me
renewed strength, and brought me to
myself in a measure. | saw that the
woman who held the flask to NV lips
was young, and the haudsomest woman
so then thought and think to this
day, that ever saw in all my life. Oh,
you needn't laugh, boys, your Aunt Bcss
knows all about it. She says she has
forgiven me for thinking so very long
time ago.
l got on my feet in hurry.
''Where are your men folks, ma ann"
! asked, quick and sharp. as, looking
around the room I saw that she and |
were the only occupants Her voice had
a curiously hard sound. Somehow it
seemed to match a sort of wild, unnat.
ural look in her eyes, which were Just
the color of those of your Aunt Bess.
''My husband-Jim Rains ford-was !
shot down in front Of our own door YES
terday morning, by that"
Her speech seemed to fail her. but !
she pointed through the substitute for a
window to the outstretched body of the
Apache chief lying stiff and stark few
rods away, killed by her own avenging
hand.
There is no one else" she added, re-