Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-07

The faint hope that stole into my heart
that l was TO be permitted to depart in
peace went out like a candle In gust of
wind, for after q single moment given to
their establishment they swarmed for
ward, their horses at their topmost
speed.
1t was race for life. The Apache
had record in New Mexico. Cruelty
was his religion and could expect no
mercy from fiends who rivalled wild
beasts IN ferocity. 1t was a strange
chase. A trial of speed in which there
would be no loitering-whe-e the foot
mans steed, foaled in the forge and
furnace of the East, was to test its met
tie against the tough sinews of the
mountain horse.
Forum tely the road was along
slight descent, and 1 moved with great
speed with little effort. With this ad-
vantage ! was able to maintain the dis
lance between my pursuers and myself,
giving me time TO reason upon my terri
BILE position. l could scarcely hope to
distance my pursuers unless the grade
continued. But upon the further de-
cline of the road might forge ahead and
find safety in some friendly thicket.
Here and upon the steep mountain sides
might protect myself with my rife, or
by my superior agility and feetness Of
foot elude the rascals among the hills.
This comforting reflection was lost, how
ever, as my strained fancy reasoned
further-these were not prairie Indians;
they were Apaches, used TO crag and
precipice-whose home was In the fast
nesses of the Sierra range.
Breathing prayer to heaven for aid
1,
valley, where below me enormous bould-
ers lay piled amid the tangled vines; and
now beyond, where the road still
horror, rising with an abrUptness that
! must terribly tax my strength.
Already had passed the point where
the road tended downward, and with
tired limbs was toiling up the ascent.
But as rode over the brow of the rising
ground different view lay before me.
Tho road divided and the path to the
| left was q narrow way scarcely wide
| enough for a single footman, along the
| top of a ridge, or natural causeway pass
| ing over O narrow gorge to the mountain
| beyond. Here 1t joined the wider road
which following the slope of the noun
| tain to the right, made a circuit of sew
| erRl miles over the ravine before 1t
| reached the point of junction. Upon
| the dizzy path to the left rode instantly
The greatest care was necessary to keep
the wheel within the way, and loose
stone would have plunged me into the
abyss on either side. Before me lay the
raZor-like way, at times scarcely SIX
inches in width, but free OF obstruc ion
and pointing to escape beyond. Nc
| horsemsn would dare to follow along sc
perilous path, and even should foot
| man venture he must have nerves OF
steel or be moved by some frightful e1-
tremity like mine.
The Apaches had halted at the forks OF
the road. This could see, for the ridge
veered in its course across the gulch
throwing my pursuers sharply on my
right.
Bang!
My wheel plunged to the very edge O.
the abyss.
BangI bang!
/ heard the quick zip of the missile
and felt their cold passage near m,
check.
Bang!
A spoke snapped like a broken harl
stringl l felt the tremor of the shocl
through every nerve, and then pitched
| DeaQtOup TITO Tue AOhh III
wheel flying completely over me.
l was up in an instant. Leaving /
where it fell, unslung the rife ant
sought shelter behind a boulder near a
hand. Painting and bruised / lay for {
time, thankful for the temporary respite
and hopeful now of escape. The tri
umphant veil which had greeted my fal
died away, and peering over the rock
saw that several of the Apaches wer
venturing out upon the backbone of tn
ridge, The remainder had drawn bacl
to the slope of the bluff, attending tn
horses and watching the attempt on tn
mart OF their fellows to cross the ravine
The sunlight that fell slanting throug
the peaks cleaned upon the bars o
white painted upon their dusky bodies
making them doubly hideous now that
had time to observe them attentively
Already they were upon the marrow
point, It was the courage of demons
who would shrink from no peril to sla.
, an enemy.
, 1t was now my turn. Bringing tn
Winchester into play l sent bullet afte
bullet whistling in their midst, firing a
rapidly as [ could pump the lever an
sending them scurrylng to the shelter.
Falling back, lay quiet in my plac
of security, recovering my spent breat
and watching the Indians through
crevice in the rock before me. l Nigh
have pursued my journey with the ad
vantage of my long start but the roa
beyond, with the eccentricIty of noun
tain pathways, receded with the forr
, of the hill until my route would lie With
! easy rifle shot of my waiting enemy
/ The bluff still rose at my back, shuttin
out escape in that direction, and unle.
, | would venture to run the gauntlet c
!. their fire, must remain until nightfa
: and seek to evade them in the darkness:
The prospect was not pleasant, but afts
the great ter peril which had just avoid
ed l faced it with comparative courage
8 A half hour passed, the silence and il
. action growing painful. Then 1 ha
i arose from my reclining position
z scan the opposite bluff for sight I
9 the hidden foe. A horse, struck by N
q ire, had fallen over the cliff and Ia
half way down the precipioe among II
I wild creepers. Beyond, carefully keel
T ing in shelter, several dusky form
9 climbed nimbly into the gorge. IT
Y pursuit was to be continued on foot.
9 started to my feet to better note the
h movements. bullet iattened itse