Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-09-12
SAVED BY STRATEGY.

9Nu ShiuS ho 70 mason
ranch9n
''Yes. senior.
Very we'll shall expect 10 start
a. sunrise tomorrow"
II will be ready. senior"
Can you furnish two good horsesP"
[ asked.
Yes
.Then you may come at the an
pointed time
With low bow the Mexican guide
turned and sirolled down the street.
had just arrived from Los Yergos.
and was on my way 70 Mason's ranch.
which lies forty miles 10 the northwest
OF that place.
II was just sunrise the next morn.
Ing when my youthful guide. Manuel
.'hrs'a. made his appearance at the
hoioi with two horses bridled and
saddled. ready for our journey.
He WAS armed with "A repeating rife
and two pistols while | had only one
plstol-a small 80. which / always
carried with ne In my travels
However, seeing that Manuel had
thought il necessary 20 be well armed.
] procured a rifle and 100 rounds OF
cartridges before leaving the station.
II was IN the afternoon. We had
Travelled twenty-five miles al least. and
were making our way across a strip of
barren plain. when suddenly Manuel
relued IN his horse aud disniounted.
Bending down he examined the
ground closely for some time then
cast a hasiy glance about ia.
LOS Apacher' he said, making a
gesture 10 the west with his hands.
glanced down and could plainly
see tho marks OF unshod horses ia the
sandy soil.
Perhaps we had better turn back. =
] suggested. Il ana not anxious 10
encounter band OF hostile saynges.
But Manuel assured me that such a
conrc Of action WAS not 10 be thought
o. There might be no danger after
all, but II there were II could not be
aycrted BY returning. /, was just as
probable that VIC might encounter the
Apachcs boy doing 70 ms by continuing
on our course. So. after few mo-
mcnis spent IN considering the matter
we resumed our journey
We rode on three or four miles fur
thcr, when. in crossing little hill.
We came suddenly in sight Of squad
% perhaps twenty Indians advancing
from the north. and not more than a
mile away.
Turning our horses quickly about
and keeping under the brow Of the
hill. We galloped 20 tho south. hoping
20 avoid nm encounter with them.
There was a chance that our pres
onoc had not been discovered by the
Indians and Il was our aim to put AS
much distance as possible between Us
before voniuring across the open plain
that lay 20 tho south.
A few minutes Rallop brought rs 20
n stretch % sandy plain. but scarcely
had we reached this when. CHANGING
backward. we saw the whole band Of
Apachcs lashing their ponies and com
ing in swift pursuit
However. there was nothing left for
us 10 do but 10 trust 10 the feetncss OF
our horses TO carry us out OF danger
~ fight on the open plain with such
number OF Apaches would be
worse than madness. We had not rid
den a mile before II was plainly evi.
dent that our pursuers were gaining
on US rapidly and must soon overtake
Us.
Tho sun was still high in the west.
crn horizon, and there was. no hope
that we could keep up the race till
darkness would offer MS a chance OF
escape. Unless we could soon gain
cover Of some kind we would be forced
TO stop and fight our pursuers on the
open plain. and In that case Il was not
hard % imagine the outcome.
On. ON We urged our painting horses,
with the yelling saynges drawing near
or and nearer 20 us with every step.
Suddenly Manuel turned his horse
slightly 20 the left, and, pointing across
the plain, said;
I'VE must get TO the house"
Then for tho first time saw a small
building nearly a mile ahead ofus. and
toward this we urged our horses at
their greatest speed.
A few minutes ride brought us 20
the house, which proved to be one OF
those small adobe structures so COM
mon IN New Mexico and Arizona,
erected for tho use OF the Mexican
sheep herdors, but long since aban-
doned.
Quickly we entered the cabin, lead
ING our horses after us A glance
showed us that we were In room
about fourteen feet square, with SIM
gle hole in the western wall that served
ma window. The door, which was
on the eastern side, was rickety
affair. rudely constructed ofpine slabs,
now showing very plainly tho signs OF
decay.
We had barely time TO gain tho In
aide and bar the door with the wooden
bolt with which II was provided. when
the Apnches, with yells OF savage rage,
dashed up 10 within sixty yards OF the
o,htp md bepnn circling about IL, but