Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-05-17

Ahruerous race on the face OF the globe
could easily have tumbled me over by
afarbine shot or an arrow; but no, they
wnted a white man to torture. And if
you will believe me, when / was within
yards of the cabin, the chief, who
ms rather better mounted than the rest,
WIS so close at my heels that leaning
ieward with devilish grin on his
Tinted face, he prodded me gently in
n rear with the point Of long feath-
| ? lance, which he carried in addition
fthe carbine slung over his naked
skulders.
le smiled on the other side of his
| wy mouth second later, though, for
| n at once little puff of smoke from
II Of the two cabin windows was fol
TSed by the crack of rifle, and the
iache chief pitched forward to the
earth-a5 dead an Indian as need bel
Another report followed almost like
an echo, and another Indian bit the dust,
while third discharge an instant later
drew howl of pain from another,
whgeupon the remainder wheeled sud
denly round and took up position some
little distance away-far enough to be
practically out of range. Between the
inerasing pain Of my wound, and be-
ing almost winded, for a moment Or
two after had stumbled in at the door
OF the cabin, which, thrown open to ad-
init me, was as quickly closed and
barred, was silly enough to fall to the
floor, where lay for a moment sort of
dazed faint, suppose some would
callit.
@Here, drink this" said q woman's
voice.
1t was spirit of some kind, and though
Il this day don't know one kind of
Auor from another, that happened to be
II occasion when felt justified in tax
iI it.
IAny way, the fiery draught gave me
rhewed strength, and brought me to
myself in measure. l saw that the
9man who held the flask to my lips
WIS young, and the handsomest woman
$50 then thought and think to this
dT, that ! ever saw in all my life. Oh,
yAu needn't laugh, boys, your Aunt Bess
Iaows all about it. She says she has
ffgiven me for thinking SO very long
tlie ago.
2sat on my feet in a hurry.
Hnelc arc Your men folks, ma'amas
Ibsked, quick and sharp, as, looking
around the room l saw that she aud |
were the only occupants. Her voice had
a curiously hard sound. Somehow it
seemed to match sort of wild, unnat-
ural look in her eyes, which were just
the color of those of your Aunt Bess.
''My husband-Jim Rainsford-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
window to the outstretchei 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-
covering her speech; and though l have
never been called a coward, / have to
confess that my heart sank at the pros
pect.
But all the while Mrs Rainsford was
speaking she stood by the window,
rifle in Land, watching tho
Apaches, who, in a sort of huddle
some eight hundred yards distant,
were evidently holding a consulta-
tion. And this of itself made me pull
myself together.
81 think can manage that Winches-
Ter with my left hand and arm,' l said,
for my right hand had already swollen
all out Of proportion. She turned
quickly, and, seeing the condition of
the wounded member, uttered an excla-
nation.
Good Heavensl" she said, short and
sharp; ''you've been hit with a poisoned
arrowl know, for Jim was wounded
The same way the year after we were
married., when we were living in Mon
fana. Keep your eye on those fends-
| know just what to dor
And before had an idea of her rur-
pose, Mrs. Rainsford dropped on her
Knees and applied her warm, fresh lips
to the ragged puncture, which, owing
to the presence of the poison, perhaps,
had blcd very little. My expostula-
tons were in vain. Ejecting the poi
sonous fluid, and repeatedly rinsing her
mouth with the re'v spirit, of which he
forced me to dii !. from time to tire,
this bravest of women continued her c
culiar treatment til felt a sensible de-
crease in the pain, and the swelling il
self began slowly to subside.
you'll do now," she abruptly re.
marked, rising to her feet with glance
at my face, to which l knew the color
was fast returning. But the situation
was an almost desperate one. Night
was fast approaching, and though the
Apaehcs were making no definite move
toward dislodging us, we of course pre-
sumed that they only waited the cover
Of darkness to cary out their purpose.
Which shows how easy it is to be mis-.
:aken-especially in reference , to the.
movements Of the willy Apache. For,
by either of us, one of the