Connecticut western news., 1889-05-15

suing ponies were faster. The red- skins, who, as I afterward knew, were to man Apaches-the 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 me, when was within 50 yards of the cabin, the chief, who was rather better mounted than the rest, was so close at my heels that, leaning forward with devilish grin on his painted face, he prodded me gently in the rear with the point of a long feath- cred lance, which he carried in addition to the carbine slung over his naked shoulders.
 He smiled on the other side of his ugly mouth a second later, though, for all at once little puff of smoke from one of the two cabin windows was fol- lowed by the crack of rife, and the Apache chief pitched forward to the eartt-as dead an Indian as need be!
 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, 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 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, I suppose some would call it.
 "Here, drink this" said a woman's voice.
 It was spirit of some kind, and though to this day don't know one kind of liquor from another, that happened to be an occasion when I felt justified in talk ing it.
 Any way, the fiery draught gave me renewed strength, and brought me to myself in a measure. I saw that the woman who held the flask to my lips was young, and the haudsomest woman 80 then thought and think to this day, that ever saw in all my life. Oh, you needn't laugh, boys, your Aunt Bess knows all about it. She says she has forgiven me for thinking so very long time ago.
 got on my feet in a hurry.
 "Where are our men folks, ma 'ama" l asked, quick and sharp, as, looking around the room I saw that she and I 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 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 a window to the outstretched body of the Apache chief lying stiff and stark few rods away, killed by her own averaging hand.
 ''There is no one else," she added, re- covering her speech; and though have never been called coward, I have to confess that my heart sank at the pros- pect.
 But all the while Mrs. Rainsford was speaking she stood by the window, rife in hand, watching the 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.
 'I think I can manage that Winches- ter with my left hand and arm," I said, for my right hand had already swollen all out of proportion. She turned | quickly, and, seeing the condition o1 the wounded member, uttered an excla- nation.
 "Good Heavens!" she said, short and sharp; 'you've been hit with poisoned arrow! I know, for Jim was wounded the same way the year after we were married, when we were living in Mon tana. Keep your eye on those 6ends- I know just what to dol'
 And before had an idea of her pur. pose, Mrs. Rainsford dropped on he1 knees and applied her warm, fresh lips to the ragged puncture, which, owing to the presence of the poison, perhaps, had bled very little. My expostula. tions were in vain. Ejecting the poi sonous fluid, and repeatedly rinsing her mouth with the raw spirit, of which she forced me to drink from time to time this bravest of women continued her pc culiar treatment till I felt sensible de crease in the pain, and the swelling it self began slowly to subside.
 ."You'n do now," she abruptly re marked, rising to her feet with a glanc at my face, to which I knew the colo was fast return ing. But the situation was an almost desperate one. Nigh was fast approaching, and though tn Apaches were making no definite nov 1 toward dislodging Us. VIC of course ore