Mohave County miner., 1890-10-11

wfth0rt break IA MS mad knilop.
"Who dares come out into the plaiu
aud fight me alone7n he cried, sudden.
ly wheeling his horse and riding broad
side past them, not more thas A nun
drsd yards away, II you have any
great wgrTiof, let him come. III kii
hip, you shall 20 back to your homes
and follow us no more. But II he kill.
me. then my people will return TO
the country Of the Utes aud end the
war;
There were brave men ID plenty
among the New Mexieans, and dou6,
not that many volunteers might have
been found 70 take mp the huge Utes
challenge. But before anyone else had
stirred, Lucario ran TO his uncle, who
was talking with Colonel Chayes.
Uncle, he said II am young. and
the last of the family. Let me 20 out
20 meet this savage! II die, there
are none to mourn, but II | kill him,
with the help OF San Esteban, then we
ere relieved from war. and you shall
feel proud Of your brothers son.
Don jose was a man of rough exter.
| Tor, though OF good heart. Brave
himself, he admired bravery and loath-
| ed coWardice.
go. then, " he said. grufiy, shut
look out that you are the yietorin
And il yoa are," said Chayes, II
will make you captain to-day"
Lucario waited 10 hear no more.
Running to where his pet pony Ales-
san was picketed, he pulled up the
picket-pin and removed it from his
long RATA OF braided horsehair Hav-
ing taken all the kinks out of the rope
and seen that the moose would run cas-
lily through Its loop. be coiled and hung
II upon his saddle-bow. He looseued
the heavy knife in its sheath. which
was sewed upon the side of bis buckskin
breeches, tested the arrows in his
quiver to be sure that they were all
well feathered; and, leaping lightly
to the saddle, rode slowly out into
the plain with quiet, ''GOod-by, my
friends!'
When the Utes saw how small was
the horse, aud what slender STRIPPING
IFS rider, they set up yells Of laughter.
The giant chief was particularly mer-
ry, and rode down toward Lucario
slowly, showing his large white teeth
and calling. "Are there no men among
you, that you send out a child TO me
for a mouthful?"
Most of the New Mexicans were
somewhat familiar with the language
Of the Utes, and Lucario understood
the taunt perfectly. Truly, / am
but small mouthful." he called back,
but. perhaps. bitter one! We shall
seer'
When he was within fifty yards. he
sent sudden arrow whistling at his
huge foe. The motion was, so cat-like
and unexpected that the Ute had scarce
time to duck" 10 the side of his horse
and the arrow pierced his eat.
With n grunt Of mingled astonish-
ment and appreciation OF the lads
skill, the Indian drew his own heavy
bow, giving the string tug that would
have sent It's shaft through . buffalo.
But Lucario was watching, and when
the arrow came it passed foot above
the empty saddle. His second arrow
merely grazed the Ute's horse. and
now, seeing that he had no ordinary
marksman TO deal with, the Indian
clung to his horses side and began
gallopiDg around and around Lucario.
shooting at him from under the horses
neck, but never exposing so much OF
himself as a whole hand Lucario
adopted the same tactics, and so skill
fully that in few minutes each had
spent all his arrows and neither was
more than scratched.
The Utes had all ridden out from the
timber, and were drawn up in an ir-
regular line a few hundred feet away.
watching the curious fight with in
tense interest. About as far away on
the other side were the New Mexicans,
who had also mounted to get a better
view.
Lucario swung erect into his saddle.
with the riatai' he shouted, uneoiling
his own rope, and running 1t rapidly
through his hands till he had the long
running-noOse ready and trailing from
his right hand back upon the ground. |
The Ute understood. and did likewise.
Then they went galloping around each |
other, wheeling, charging. dodging. |
swinging the long uooses around their |
heads, and watching their chance. |
The horses understood this game as |
well az their riders. and played as i'm
portant part in ii.
Lucario found this a very differe Mt |
business from lassoing even antelop pc.
1t took all bis quickness Of eye ana all |
his agility to Keep that deadly moose |
from settling down over his own neck. |
At last the indian let his RATA fly sud-
denly as he was passing. at the same
instant whirling his horse inward to |
gain the necessary distance. He had |
calculated wonderfully well, and the |
move was 100 quick for Lucario. but !
Alessan had seen it and made mighty /
sidewise bound. The moose swept |
across his hanks and fell empty TO the
ground, and LucariO, as his intelligent
horse wheeled back with wonderful
rapidity. dropped his own rope deity
over the head of the Indian before the
lattered had recovered himself. Civ
Ing quick turn Of the rope around his
saddle-bow, the boy touched the spurs
10 Alessan.
For an instant it looked as though he
had" the Indian. and would unseat
and drag him 10 death, and the New
Mexicans yelled exuItantly. But the
vast strength of the Ute, and the quick
ness and superior weight of his horse,
saved him. Snatching the taut rope
with bis brawny arms, he gave IL turn
around his saddle-bow. lifted the re-
Iieved moose over his head, and cut it
with his knife.
His face was no longer smiling, but
with,savage passions. He for
got bis challenge to fair combat. aud