Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-04-03

stone had some real value, and putting
1t III my pocket, | went TO another
shop. In fact, | offered it in several
places and an army officer, a captain,
tod me, later in the day, that the
Stone was topaz. The captain was
OF Inc opinion that so fine a topaz was
worth from thirty TO fifty dollars in
New York city. Two months after.
waads | sold three of the
stones for twenty-five dollars apiece
IN Santa Fc, and then resolved TO 90
back TO the mine aud examine the
ants nests.
81 considered the plan for some
weeks. At first thought of taking a
party with me, but finally decided to
so alone, although the presence of the
hostile Apachcs in the mountains made
prospecting an extremely dangerous
proceeding.
"trom the Top-knot Mine, where /
finally outfIted for my start, the dis.
lance was about forty miles. made
1t III two nights travel, with thirty
pounds weight of ham and hard-tack
on my back. | carried coarse sieve,
a navy pistol and Sharps' rifle.
"The people on the Top-knot
thought that | was starting on a gen
eral prospecting trips and they made
bets of three to one that the ApaGhes
would get me.
THE trail over which the mine ma
chinery had been hauled to the Twin
Mesa was easily followed; but found
that the Indians had burned the mill.
As looked about the scene of my
former labors the place wore very
desolate aspect, in the chilly gray of
that early September morning.
"Ihc battery of stamps had fallen
over; and the tubular end of
the boiler, which had been shored
up on bloc&ings, had settled down the
hillside, leaving the tire-box end
tilted almost to an upright position.
al looked down into the tire-box
where had formerly thrown so many
slX-foot logs of mcsquit. The fur
mace door was now rusty, and creaked
dismally on its hinges. The Interior
of an o d fire-box is not an inviting
place, but | had often been inside this
one, and it now occurred to me, since
there was no other cuddy,that / might
put my provisions in it, TO keep them
from the ants, and perhaps rig up a
wicky for myself near by.
"With this in view, | laid down
my gun. Then, unstrapping my heavy
pack, lowered it into the fire-box. 1t
slid down upon the mass of Old ashes,
the ham upon the hard bread. As 1t
was now out of my reach, got in
myself, TO arrange my improvised
pantry little moro to my liking.
81 had been in there. out of sight,
for about a minute, when was
startled-and you can imagine, gentle
men, how much startled-to hear a
gruf Howl apparently close beside
the old boiler.
81 was so much taken by surprise,
that popped my head out without
stopping to think, and there | saw two
of those painted Apaehcs, standing
within twenty feet of the old boi.er-
head. They had picked up my gun
and were laughing at my predicament.
Very likely my astonished and ter
riiied countenance was quite sufficient
to excite their mlrth. They were sure
sses>.ss.ssst+r ~. sat; and it was plain
that they intended to amuse themselves
at my expense. The fact was that these
two Apachcs had been camping for the
night, with a band of stolen horses,
among the bushes on the creek few
steps farther up the hollow. | sup
pose they had heard the creaking of
the old furnace door, and had stolen
upon me the moment they saw me get
into the fire box.
II knew that they would show ne
no mercy; and had no doubt that
my last hour had come. Yet the situ-
alton was not quite SO bad as it ap-
peared, for my pistol was still in my
belt, and as only. my head was ont. of
the door hole, could draw the revol-
yer without being seen.
81 have no doubt that I locked
frightened. Both the savages had
guns. They did not point their pieces
at me, however, but stood and
laughed, exclaiming 'Hol hor and
How do, nrodder? for they UNDER
stood good many English words.
'Ho, broddcr, come out' said one
of them, Strengthening his painted Wis
age at last
"beginning to collect my scattered
wits little, shook my head, defect
edly. Then they laughed again, and !;
the other said, NO tira! No shoot.
No hurt, brodder. Broddcr, come
out
"They were very large Indians, and
hideously painted. | was somewha
boyish in appearance at that
time and very badly frightened,
so that they enjoyed my looks of terror
exceedingly. / thought they would
burst with laughter. 1t was the fun
of the cat with the mouse.
81 knew enough of their cruelty to