Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-07-31

" Au6o Woouel pms.
Now that we were APPARENTLY free /
from any immediate danger, 1 began
to rack my brain for some plan of es. !
cape. /
Night would soon be upon us, and .
then we might expect all attack. 1t !
would not require much force to beat !
down the rickety door, and then we
would be at the mercy of the merciless |
foe. What was to be done? I looked !
about the room, but could see no way
| in which our Notifications could be
strengthened.
we must make an attempt to escape !
from the place before the attack camo,
but how were We to proceed?
There was only one plan, so far as I
could see, and that was to wait for
night and then steal from the cabin and
try to elude the enemy in the darkness.
Calling Manuel to my side, hastily
laid my plan before him; but he only
shook his head.
mo, senor," he said;"I have just
been thinking of q way"
what is it," I asked eagerly.
wait and see," he replied briefly.
Then signalling for me to keep watch
! upon the Apaches. he walked over to
the far end of the room, where the
horses were standing. Presently I saw
that he was busily engaged at work on
some object in the corner, but the scant
light afforded by the small window pre-
vented my seeing what lie was doing.
The Indians meanwhile had picketed
their ponies, and were now sitting or
lying on the short, dry grass, evidently
satisfied that they were masters of the
situation.
The evening sun was fast nearing the
western horizon, and night would soon
be upon lis. Whatever we did must be
an attack. 1 knew that Manuel was
working on some plan of escape, but
what it was had not the remotest idea.
That we would never leave the cabin
without fight, with the odds ten to one
against us, I was fully satisfied, yet there
was something in the guides tone and
movements that inspired me with conf
dence.
The sun was just throwing its last
golden blaze across the sandy plain,
when Manuel came forward, leading the
two horses in front of the window.
"What do you think of that?" he
asked. pointing to the animals.
! For moment was too surprised to
speak. CHANGING at the horses, saw
what at first appeared to be two men
sitting in the saddles, fastened securely
in their seats by ropes and straps; but
a second glance told me that these fig
ures were only dummies made to closely
resemble men.
what does this mean, Manual?' I
questioned, wondering if the guide had
taken leave of his senses.
will the Apaches take these for
menu" he asked, pointing to the figures
and not appearing to notice my surprise.
"Why--do you mean" stopped
short, for light had suddenly dawned
upon me. "You mean to turn the horses
loose on the plain, so as to deceive the
Apaches into thinking that it is We who
are their riders?" l asked.
you are right, senor."
4 I held out my hand.
II see," I replied. "You are wiser
than I in these matters, and 1 believe
your plan will work."
} "It is our only chance" he said, in a
calm tone; "and if it fails we are lost. :"
II don't think it will fall" I ex-
. claimed, confidently, filled with ad-
miration for the little Mexican's in
genuity.
Manuel's next move was to fasten a
spur to a stirrup on each saddle. first
, having taken up the strap SO that it
/ would strike the horse squarely on the
side as soon as he began to gallon.
! This would keep the horses running at
> their best, and so draw the savages
) away to great distance before the de-
ception could be discovered, and, il
, properly managed, would give us o
chance to escape before the indians
, could return to the cabin.
Having completed every arrangement
for carrying out Manuel's plan, we took
our stations to watch the movements OF
+ the savages till night should give us an
opportunity for action.
> It was not our purpose to wait until
3 darkness had fully set in, but to carry
our plan into action just at dusk, when
the light would be sufficient to show
| the Indians that the horses had riders,
| but not enough to reveal the deception.
r As the twilight settled over the plain,
T could see that the Indians drew
. closer together, as if holding q final
. council.
\ cts time now, senor," said Manuel,
E in low tone. .,
t Without speaking word, we brought
the horses up to the door. began to
8 remove the bolt, when Manuel laid his
4 hand upon my arm.
II will lose my horses, senior" he
t said, "aud they cost me 5000. -.
I started at his cool, business-like
= tone, and tried to catch the expression
of his face through the deepening
: gloom. -, ..
i could stop to discuss such question:
: even in the face of death?
v 1 was astonished at his words. yet l
' admired the calm courage and inditfer-
J. ence to danger that characterized his
= You shall be paid for your horses,
n Manuel" said; meyer fear"
n Thanks, senor," he replied.
80 .,or ba unfastened the door and