The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-08
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| slowly 10 look at my murderer. The END
OF heavy, worn lasso was just slipping
of the saddle behind me, and the Mexican,
with an exclamation, was Keeling it in, ev-
identity making ready TO throw again He
had seen that my horse was gaining, and
accordingly had recourse TO that most eff
fective long range weapon, the lariat. His
first throw had missed me by an inch, and
he was cursing himself for his clumsineSs.
was not thrower Of the LASS myself,
| but l was familiar with its powers One
of the rough sports of cowboys, after work,
is to rope" one another. In a wild race in
| and out of the corral one of them tries TO
throw his rope so as TO encircle the man
| ahead without catching the horse at the
same time. If successful he drags him to
| the ground, more or less roughly. But
| this is only play, rough as il is. 1t would
be no play TO be caught by the cruel rope
which the wretch was coiling on his left
arm.
l watched him as If fascinated He
reached for the loop, opened it wide, turn
ed sidewise in the saddle and swung 10
| round his head If it caught me / should
be dragged headlong TO the ground. II
leaned close to the horse it would close over
US both, and we would go down together
In either case certain injury or death
threatened me. In utter despair pulled
in my horse and stopped
The Mexican rode swiftly up, coiling his
lasso as he came. The hard look gave way
to the same smile that be had worn before,
but / thought detected something grim
in it this time. Again, with that horrible
politeness, he said:
ba i +oo -ba
TO say adios But the boss, he is as say,
he is vera fast. viii the senior no try my
boss now3 ST, 81, think he will Hks try
chihuahua now. He's boss is mucha tired;
he ika leetle rest"
In the same graceful way as before he
threw himself 10 the ground, and instantly
caught Montezums by the bride Twas
entirely unarmed. I had no doubt that
the Mexican was well armed and quite
ready to kill me if I attacked him. dis
mounted slowly, with bad grace. To my
surprise the Mexican handed me the bride
of his horse with bow.
Now you shall try my chihuahua
There is no more bettare in thees countree
You will so say eef you will try heem only"
But | had no heart to mount. had lit
tie doubt that the beast which was now
leering at me with a vicious eve would
buck me off at the first jump. The Mex
lean waited a moment out of sheer court
esy, then mounted Montezuma and started
gracefully of. He did not push him TO his
utmost at first, but went down the road
carefully, as If trying him. Then he turned
and came back at a somewhat better pace.
l stood like dummy, holding the bride
of his horse and watching him. His riding
was a magnificent exhibition, but l was
not in condition TO admire it.
As if satisfied with the powers OF Monte
yuma, he turned again and came down
past me at full speed AS he passed me he
shouted a few words in Spanish TO his
horse. The beast jerked back from me,
struck at me with his forefeet and was
after his master in an instant.
The Mexican had turned in his saddle
and was watching us with interest. AS his
horse broke away from me a smile spread
over the mans face, which was more than
a smile of politeness, and he raised his hat
in a sweeping bow Of derision.
stood there as if paralvzed on Lone
some valley desert, fifteen miles from
home, and watched the villain ride my
horse toward Mexico.
But the Mexican cared too much for
theatrical display. His people are the most
perfect riders in the world, and my enemy
was no exception to the rule. But he
made mistake in assuming that all horses
are as sure footed as he was secure in his
seat. This is true Of Mexican ponies, the
only ones he had ever ridden, but it was
not true Of Montezuma
As the Mexican spurred him deep, still
looking back over his shoulder at me-
MOntezuma came to a gully or wash.
There are thousands of these across every
road and trail in the southwest This one
was not more than three feet deep and five
feet across. A native horse would have
] jumped it or leaped into it safely, even il
it were six feet deep. But Montezuma, as
ne came to the wash, made no effort TO
jump over, but plunged in with his fore
feet set together.
As he struck the bottom, which was Of
rock loosely covered with sand, his knees
doubled under him like straws. The best
rider in the world could not have kept his
seat. The Mexican, still glaucing back at
his own horse, went of as if hurled from
a catapult.
Montezuma jumped up, shook himself I
and limped slowly away | involuntarily /
ran forward The Mexican did not rise, /
and guessed he was dead or stunned. As 1
drew nearer. however 1 could see that he /
was not dead. but very much alive He lay /
on his back, with his right arm stretched .
out over his head, and he was writhing TO
and fro as If in great pain.
The man certainly was in a serious pre-
dicament. When Montezuma stumbled .
he had been thrown straight upon a large .
- =, H.
riety, completely covered with long, recur-
ring, overlapping, horny spines, OF needle
sharpness and most tenacious strength
They resemble enormous bone fish hooks
in everything but the barb.
II the Mexican had struck this cactus
head foremost ne would have been killed
outright As il was his right arm had
been thrust deep into the long curving
-horns, and they had closed into his arm
and hand, holding them in grip of steel
As he lay there vrithinE on the ground.
bis arm transfxed in dozen places with
shese iEfexible hooks, / saw my enemy de-
ivered into my power. IL only remained
% take advantage Of the fortunate acct
lent which had humbIed him. first
searched him, and took possession Of his
knife and revolver. Then, very slowly,
reed his arm. cutting away the softer parts
II the plant rather than trying the almost
task Of cutting through the
horns.
As the Mexican rose I retreated 20 Mon
ezuma's back, and covered the man with
he revolver Ny precautions were use
ess. HIS arm was sprained as well as
-ashed in a dozen places by the cruel
looks. lie painfully removed these, and
Dound his arm II a bandaana that be took
rom bis neck.
imotioned FOR him 10 walk ahead Of me to