Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-03

| {,
} thsir sstonishment they swarmed for
ward, their horses at their topmos
speed.
1t was race for life. The Apacb,
had record in New Mexico. CrueIty
was his religion, and could expe6t mr.
mercy from aends who rivalled wild
beasts IN ferocity. 1t was strange
chase. A trial of speed in which there
would De no loitering-whe-e the foot
man S steed, foaled in the forge and
furnace or the East, was to test It's met
tie against the tough sinews of the
mountain horse.
Fortunately the road was along a
slight descent, and moved with great
speed with little effort. With this ad-
vantage was able to maintain the dis
tance between my pursuers and myself,
giving me time to reason upon nv terri
Ole position. L could scarcely hone TO
| dlstancs my pursuers unless the grade
continued. But upon the further de-
cine OF the road [ might forge ahead and
hnd safety in some friendly thicket.
here and upon the steep mountain sides
might protect myself with my rifle, or
| Dy my superior agility and teetuess of
1901 elude the rascals among the hills.
Ihls comforting reflection was lost, how
| ever, as my strained fancy reasoned
further-these were not prairie Indians:
they were Apaches, used TO crag and
preelpice-whose home was IL the fast
| nesses of the Sierra range.
Breathing prayer to heaven for aid I
rode on. With eager ewes 1 scanned the
valley, where below me enormous bouId-
ers lay piled amid the tangled vines; and
no" beyond, where the road still
stretched monotonous line and to nv
horror, rising with an abrUptness that
must terribly tax my strength.
Already had passed the point where
the road tended downward, ard with
tired limbs was toiling up the ascent.
But as rode over the brow of the rising
ground d different view lay before me.
Tho road divided and the path to the
left was narrow way scarcely wide
enough for single fOotman, along the
top of ridge, or natural causewa, pass
ing over narrow gorge to the mountain
beyond. Here it joined the wider road
which, following the slope of the noun
IAN TO the right, made circuit of sew
eral miles over the ravine before il |
reached the point of junction. Upon |
the dizzy path 10 the left rode Instantly.
Inc greatest care was necessary to keep |
the wheel within the way, and a 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. No
horseman would dare TO follow along SO
perilous path, aud even should foot
man venture he must have nerves of
steel or be moved by some frightful ex-
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.
my pursuers sharply on my
right.
Bang!
My wheel plunged to the very edge of
he abyss.
Bang! bang!
heard the quick zip of the missiles
Ind felt their cold passage near my
heck.
Bang!
A spoke snapped like q broken harp
tring! felt the tremor of the shock
trough every nerve, and then pitched
leadlons into the broader road, the
Wheel flying completely over me.
was up in an instant. Leaving il
There it fell, uuslung the rife and
ought shelter behind a boulder near at I
and. Painting and bruised 1 lay for a c
Ime, thankful for the temporary respite
nd hopeful now of escape. The tri- s
mphsnt yell which had greeted my fall
led away, and peering over the rock I :
lw that several of the Apaches we're +
enturing out upon the back bone OF the V
dge. The remainder had drawn back h
the slope of the bluff, attending the It
orses and watching the attempt on the :,
art OF their fellows TO cross the ravine, =,
he sunlight that fell slanting through
lie peaks CLEANED upon the bars of o.
hlte painted upon their dusky bodies,
akIng them doubly hideous now that | 81
ad time to observe them attentiveIy. b.
iresdy they were upon the narrow h
pint. II was the courage of demons,
no would shrink from no peril to slay al
] enemy. ~
1t was now nv turn. Bringing the H
lnchester into play sent bullet after ne
llet Whistlng in their midst, firing as an
ptdly Us [ could pump the lever and m
ndine them scurrying to the shelter. ::
Falling back, lay quiet in my place Pii
security. recovering my spent breath M
ID watching the Indians through a At
evice in the rock before me l might nj
We pursued my journey with the sd- hu
mage of my long start but the road up
yond, with, the ecceutricIty of noun h AZ,
In pathways, receded with the form ye
the hill until my route would lie within
So rifle shot OF my waiting enemy. d.
e bluff still rose at my back, shutting tht
t escape in that direction, and unless pr
7ould venture TO run the gauntlet of s sn
cir fire, l must remain until nightfalI | it
d seek TO evade them in the darkness EN-
g prospect was not pleasant, but after q.
} greater peril which had just avoid he
! faced it with comparative courage. gis
\ half hour passed, the silence and in
ion growing painful. Then I half car
'se from my reclining posittan TO 90
n the opposite bluff for sight of sto
hidden foe. a horse, struck By nv q
}, had fallen over the cliff aud Law 10;
( way down the precipice among The is t
d creepers. Beyond, carefully keep a
in shelter, several dusky forms :.
nbed nimbly into the gorge. The con
suit was 10 be continued on foot. w.
started TO my feet TO better note their the
vements. a bullet fattened itself jet
inst the bluff near my face, and I volt
ank down hastily. Some keen-eyed ca -
rksmsn watched me from beyond the cloc
inc. his
Iothiug further vas needed TO inform I VII
of nv new parI uas rao,a5 l;t-a n,