, 1889-05-16

fire up till day, or I'll take my cowbide
and drive you ofr'
Tho blaze cracked and the sparks flew
up rs he piled the fuel on, while the two
moved back somewhat. Drawing his
blanket about his shoulders, Hamlin
squatted near them, ~shivering and pre-
tending to be cold. Presently he spoke,
inquiring after some Mormon friends
who had been among the Navajos.
Are you Mormon manY" one of them
asked. 1t was just the question he
wanted. Certainly no was a Mormon,
and know so and so, and his father was
old Hamlin, whom all the Navajos knew.
Then you ought to be ashamed, n
Mormon man, TO work for PcllicanoesI"
said one. 'Pellicanoes ~ thieves; they
steal Indians ponies"
With this, conversation began in Ma
vajo fashion, and as they talked, Hamlin
moved slowly nearer, until they were
n to face. The bright fire threw them
in high light, and beyond were tho I'M
certain shadows. From the darkness
came the long, wnvering call of the coy
ote, and ever and anon we were startled
as some browsing pony clinked the peb-
bles in his way. The suspense grew in
tolerable rs the moments slipped past
and the time drew near when the Navajos
would return. And what could Hamlin
mean2 Was he seeking favor on his own
account? Was he about to desert us2
A comradc touched me, and pointed to
the place of the two drivers a little way
off in the shadow. Their blankets were
m the ground, but peering intently, 1
saw them to be empty. The Mexicans had
slipped off in tho darkness undiscovered.
Hamlin must be informed at once and
l raised on my elbow to call. Perhaps
he heard me move, for the next moment
he sprang at n Navajo's throat like n
wildcat. His companion uttered n single
"YipI" and leaped to his feet, but before
his weapon could DO used was pinioned
by tho two Mexicans. Hamlin had
seized the larger, and as we ran up they
were clenched and struggling. M
The two were quickly gagged and
bound. The Mexicans wished to dis
patch them Mt once, but milder counsels
prevailed.
We were uncertain If tho camp be-
yond the ridge had heard the warming
note, and with all haste threw the sad
dies and moro valuable packs upon the
animals, sprang to our places and hur-
ried along the obscure and difficult trail.
We rode with whip and spur through
sand and sa%gebrush, over stones and
gulches, across fallen timber; q mad,
wild race, rs fast as beasts could strug-
gle. After the intense night of watch
ing action was relief; we could nave
jumped from n precipice, charged n bat
terry or fought a band of grizzly bears.
On and on we urged the train; one
mile passed, two, then three; by that
timo We were shaken with the perilous
ride, the animals were painting, and our
speed slnckened. Another milo and q
call was heard. We paused to listen.
Were the Navajos following, or was it q
friend? A moment and another whoop
camo ringing, and there was a sound Of
galloping hoofs. The voice was familiar,
and we sent an answer echoing across
the plain.
In o few minutes we were with friends.
Tho lad had reached the Chez-a-kla and
reused the camp, then mounted n horse
and was guiding tho bluecoats back to
our aid.
The next day Francisco was followed
into the mountains and shortly after
ward captured; but instead of taking
him to the fort for trial we called his
people together and held q grand pow
WOW. Ilamlin explained how tho pony
had followed us, and the lieutenant de
clRred that he had been sent to seek and
punish the murdercrs of the two Nava-
jos. Then n present of tobacco was
given, we each whitfield from Francisco's
dirty pipe, and, as the story books say,