Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-10-23
stirred Iucario ran to his uncle, who

/ are d0nc TO mourn, Dut III i XIII MIN,
with the help of San Esteban. then we
are relieved from war. and you shall
feel proud of your brothers son.
Don Jose was man of rough exter.
Tor. though OF good heart. Brave
himself. he admired bravery and loath-
ed cowardice.
go. them" he said, grufily. "but
look out that you are the victorr'
"And If you are." said Chaves. II
will make yon captain to-day"
/ Lucario waited to 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. he coilcd and hung
il Upon his saddle-bow. He loosened
the heavy knife in its sheath. which
was sewed upon the side of his buckskin
breeches. tested the arrows in his
| qu.rer 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
I friends"
When the Utes saw how small was
the horse. and what slender STRIPPING
its rider, they set up yelis 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 child to me
for mouthfulp"
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 onel We shall
seem
When he was within fifty yard 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" to the side of his horse,
and the arrow pierced his ear.
, With 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 its shaft through a buffalo.
| But Lucario was watching, and when
the arrow came it passed q foot above
the empty saddle. His second arrow
| merely grazed the Ute's horse. and
now. seeing that he had no ordinary
marksnan to deal with. the Indian
3 clung to his horses side and began
| galloping around and around Lucario.
| shooting at him from under the horses
neck, but never exposing SO much of
/ himself ms 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 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 better
view.
Lucario swung erect into his saddle.
with the riatar he shouted, uncoiling
his own rope, and running it 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 nooses around their
heads, and watching their chance.
The horses understood this game as
well as their riders, and played as i'm
! portant part in it.
Lucario found this very differe mt
business from lassoing even antelo pc.
1t took all his quickness of eve ata all
| his agility to keer that deadly moose
from settling down over his own neck.
AT last the JndiaL 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 too quick for Lucario. but
Alessan had seen it and made mighty
sidewise bound. The moose swept
across his tanks 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-how, the boy touched the spurs
to Alcssan.
For an instant it looked rs though he
had the Indian. and would unseat
and drag him to death, and the New
Mexicans yelled exultantly. But the
vast strength of the Ute and the quick.
ness and superior weight of his horse,
saved him. Snatching the taut rope
with his brawny arms, he gave it a turn
around his saddle-bow. lifted the re-
lieved moose over his head, and cut 1t
with his knife.
His face was no longer smiling, but
contorted with savage passions. He for
got his challenge to fair combat. and
now thought only of killing this saucy
boy and saving himself from disgrace,
if not death.
He began circling again around Luz
carlo. all tho time stealthily edging
nearer to his people. Suddenly, one
of them dashed out from the line and
tossed him a long, sharp lance. He
caught it deity. and braudishing it
aloft came charging down upon Luz
carlo like thunderbolt.
For an instant the boy was confused
by this treachery. His arrows gone. his
RATA useless-should he hyp DO! He
knew well that his stern uncle would
rather see him dead than ia flight.
All! His knife! He whipped it from
its sheath and held it down beside him.
putting Alessan to gentle canter to-
ward the Ute. They were not more
than fifteen yards apart-in an instant
the shock must come. And then. his
big eyes shining like Goals. Lucario
rose suddenly in his stirrups with q
flashing. overhead motion of his right
arm. and then dug the rowels into
Alessans TANKS. twisting his head
sharply to the left.
The Ute giant swayed in his saddle
and lurched heavily to the ground,
while his scared horse went on down
the valley like the wind. The New
Mexicans dashed forward, and picking
up the fainting Lucario. carried him
into camp. The Ute had hurled his
heavy lance at the same instant. anC
it had passed through Lucario's arm
making ghastly hole. But wher
they went to the fallen giant. he wa'
quite dead. The boys heavy knife
had done its fatal work in the head o