The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-07-15
SAVED BY STRATEGY.

"Can you guide me to Mason's
ranchP"
Yes, senor."
VERY well. I shall expect to start
at sunrise tomorrow"
81 will be ready. senor."
Can you furnish two good horsesP"
I asked.
Yes"
Then you may come at the appoint
ed time"
With low bow the Mexican guide
turned and strolled down the street.
was seated on the piazza of large
two-story frame house which possessed
the distinction of being the only hotel
in Nuts station, a little town situated
on the Santa Fe railroad, in southern
New Mexico, twenty-five miles from
the Mexican line.
had just arrived from Los Vergos,
and was on my way to Mason's ranch,
which lies forty miles to the northwest
of that place.
The guide whose services had en-
gagged was young Mexican not over
16 years of age. He was slender in
build, with hair of jet black and skin
of deep copper color.
He might easily have passed for a
full-blooded Indian, so dark was his
complexion, yet there was an indica-
ton of intelligence in his face and
something of shrewdness in his deep
black eyes.
Though only youth he had been
recommended to me as a thoroughly
competent person to guide me any
where in the territory.
1t was just sunrise the next morning
when my youthful guide, Manuel Gar.
cia, made his appearance at the hotel
with two horses bridled and saddled,
ready for our journey.
He was armed with a repeating rifle
and two pistols, while 1 had only one
pistol-a small 80. which l always car
ried with me in my travels.
However, seeing that Manuel had
thought it necessary to be well armed,
| procured rifle and 100 rounds of
cartridges before leaving the station.
Thus equipped we set out on our
tourney, taking course to the north
west, in the direction of the San Fran
cisco range of mountains.
The plain over which we were trav-
cling soon began to give place to a
more hilly and broken country, with
here and there narrow canyon that
wound its way through ranges of low
| hills.
1t was in the afternoon. We had
| travelled twenty-five miles at least, and
were making our way across strip OF
| barren plain, when suddenly Manuel
reined in his horse and dismounted.
Bending down he examined the
ground closely for some time, then he
cast hasty glance about US.
Los Apache!" he said making a
gesture to the west with his hands.
DO you think there are Apaches in
this vicinitv?" l asked in alarm.
He nodded his head and pointed tC
the ground.
l glanced downward and could plain
lv see the marks of unshod hoofs in the
sandy soil.
perhaps we had better turn back,
I suggested. II am not. anxious t.
encounter a band of hostile savages.
But Manuel assured me that such ;
course of action was not to be though
of. There might be no danger afte
all, but if there were it could not b,
averted by returning. 1t was just a
probable that we might encounter tn
Apaches by doing so as by continuln!
on our course. So. after few mo
ments spent in considering the matter
we resumed our journey.
We rode on three or four miles far
ther, when, in crossing little hill. w
came suddenly in sight of squad c
perhaps twenty Indians adyancin
from the north, and not more than
mile away.
Turning our horses quickly about
and keeping under the brow of tn
hill, we galloped to the south, hopin
to avoid an encounter with them.
There was a chance that our pre-!
ence had not been discovered by tn
Indians, and il was our aim to put {
much distance as possible between I
before venturing across the open plai
that lay to the south.
A few minutes gallop brought us
{ a stretch of sandy plain; but scarcel
had we reached this when, glancin
backward, we saw the whole band
Apaches lashing their ponies and cor
ing in swift pursuit.
The war ponies of the Apaches a
always the best that can be either pu
chased or stolen in the territory; and
= recognized the fact that, as we we
mounted on animals far inferior
those ridden by the savages, we we
in decidedly close place.
However, there was nothing left II
us to do but trust to the feetness
our horses to carry us out of dange
as a fight on the open plain with su
a number of Apaches would be wor
than madness.
We had not ridden mile before
was plainly evident that our pursue
were gaining on us rapidly, and mt
soon overtake us.
The sun was still high in the we
ern horizon, and there was no no
that we could keep up the race
darkness would offer us a chance
escape. Unless we could soon ga
cover of some kind we would be fore
to stop and fight our pursuers on
open plain, and in that case it was
hard to imagine the outcome.