The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-16

/ fiutp II so Happiutp liihl h'''''''' "'''
been raised among the Putes and un-
derstood the language even better than
tbe Navaios. he heard Francisco re-
counting the wrongs Of his people; how
often their PASTURES had been wrcsted
from them. their horses and cattle stolen.
And now they were being followed
INTO the desert Only one moon before
two comrades had been murdered on the
Main. and by whom but these men! To-
day a pony had been driven from the
mountains. tomorrow what outrage
might be expected; What should be
done? They were thirty braves, the
white men numbered seven Horses
were here. food. rifles and powder; one
bold stroke and all would be theirs.
The boysh had been sleeping some hours
when llamln Weakened the nearest one
will, a touch. "Sh-h-hl' NE whispered.
"Dangerl" In an instant every nerve
was strung. and he would have risen
bat the Mormon pressed him down. The
Mexicans were already whispering to-
cethcr. and soon the entire party was
on the alert.
We were still in the shadow, though
the moon was shining now. My first
glance was toward the fire. All the In
dams had vanished tut two, who were
sauatiing before the smoldering embers
as they had been earlier in the night.
The Nayajos have gone behind the
RIDGE" wo were presently told. 'and
these two remain lest wc should suspect
something wrong. and be ON our guard
or get away" Then the Mormon told us
what he had overheard. Francisco had
planned to attack as just before day
when most likely the entire party would
be sleeping. They had Withdrawn the
more surely to take u5 unaWares, ana
bad crossed the ridge in order to conceal
their fire.
He had heard more; news had most
probably reached the fort of the murder
of the two Indians, and squad Of sol
dicrs been dispatched to investigate the
matter. for a detachment was ia campat
the Chcz-a-sla spring. only ten miles
away. 1t was then II o'clock; a man
must start oil at once to notify the lieu
( tenant. Even if the troops did not arrive
before the Indians returned we might bc
ablo to defend ourselves for awhile till
succor should come.
One Of the boys was eelected as mes
senccr None Of us had yet risen from
;hcground.th the Navajosthousht us sleep.
/ inc The lId began To slide of in the
grass. and presently reached the edge OF
Il little gulch undiscovered. There he
dropped over and under shelter OF the
rocks made good mis- escape IL is need.
less to say we did not sleep again. Every
eve and ear was on the alert and every
rifle in hand Now and then a coyote
skunk near, and the uncertain shadow
rave our nerves q thrill, or IT his mate
] called we fancied the NavaiOs we're sig
Mailing. The suspense 50 wrought upon
the nerves of the party that they would
/ Gladly have followed lIamlin to surprise
the Indians in their camp; but the watch
crs were near 4 suspicious movement
on our part and they would have van
/ ishcd like phant0ms; or The crack OF
rifle the whole band would be upon as.
Hamln. too. grew restless as we lay
there. and presently crcpt near TO us.
ilc had been considering the rhaHces OF
The troops arriving in time to be of serv-
ice. The Chcz-a-kla was ten miles away,
and even were thcdctachment still there
they could not reach Hs before 3 o'clock
Il was the dav before when the Indians
had seen them. but had they remained:
IL was doubtful If the lad could follow
the trail Alright, and, besides, the NaFa
los might attack us at any moment.
Hamlin had nerves like the rest Of US;
perhans hc had more. He was a gaunt,
muscular man. who had been reared
among the 'iutcs. where his father had
been sent Mormon missionary iiav-
ing onioincd us strictly to lie quiet, he
! raised up and yawncd. as though but
lust xakcned from sleep.
Hello. there II you are going TO sit
by ny fire. why don't you keep it burn
mg?" he~alled ont 10 the pair who were
vet squattiug about the embers. you
trining. lazy buck, now YOU keep that
IRE up I'll day. or III take my cowhide
and dri' e you orr
The blaze cracblcd and tie sparks flew
up as he piled the fuel on, while the two
moved back somewhat Drawing his
0ianiet about his snoniGcTs. lamln
sQuatted near them. shi,cring and pre-
tending TO be cold Presently lac spoke,
inquiring after some Mormon friends
who had been among the Navaios
Are YOU Mormon mani one Of them
asked 1t was just the question he
wanted. Certainly he was a Mormon,
and knew SO and SO. and his father was
old lIamlin. whom all the NavaJos knew.
"Then YOU ought TO he ashamed q
Mormon man. to work for Pcllicanoes!
said one. "Pcllicanocs are thieves; they
steal Indians ponies.
With this, conversation began i'm Ma
yajo fashion. and as they tailed. iamlin
moved slowly nearer, until they were
face to face. The bright fire threw them
in high light. and beyond were tine IN.
certain shadows From the darkness
came the long. waycring call Of the coy
otc. and ever and anon we were startled
as some browsing pony clinked the peb-
bles in his way The suspense grew in
tolerablc as the moments slipped past
and the time drew near when the NayalOs
would return And what could iiamlin
mean Was be seeking favor on his own
account? Was he about 10 desert us,
\ comradc touched me, and pointed to
the place Of the two drivers 4 little way
on in the shadow Their blankets were
on the ground. but peering intently, !
saw them 10 be- empty The MeNicans had
slipped of IN the darkness undiscovered
Hamlm must he informed al once, and
raised on my elbow to call Perhaps
he heard me move. for the next moment
he sprang at Navajos throat like a
wildcat. His companion uttered a single
"Yip! and lcapcd TO his feet, but before
his weapon could be used was pinioned
by the two MeSicans llamhn had
seized the larger. and as we ran up they
were clenchcd and struggling.
Tho tVVn wore olirfstx pauppl aud