The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-09-05
wild rrass and bushes, waiting in evi

How could he warn them? Against |
the exposed mountains face he could |
not hope To 90, pISt the Indians unob-
served. TO try 10 dash through the
ambrIScadc would be madness.
..rhrrr'S ON" way he said 10 him
self, ..anh only one way" and his re-
solve was made. '.I'll drop bullet
IN front of the team. They'll stop at
that, and with those gray horses and Il
half miles start there are no Indians
that can catch 'cm between here and
Dcming.'
lie was too eager for the safety of
his parents and Elsie to take thought of
the danger to himself in his heroic
act. Knccling, concealed from the
enemy, he pushed his rifle sights up to
the highest notch, aimed Strai ght at
the oncoming team and pulled the
trigger With the echoes of his rifles
crack there mingled Il startling Outcry
=. below him, II puff of dust shot upward
from the trail in advance of the horses,
and he SAW the blackboard stop as his
father half rose from his seat and
pulled sharply on the rcins.
With their yell of surprise, the In
dans, astounded by the unexpected
report behind them, and, fearing that
they were attacked from the rear.
leaped from their hiding places, and
some of them instantly fired toward
the curling smoke from Abe's rifle.
Two or three bullets ratified near him,
but wells and rifle reports were unheard
in the sudden crash of pealing thunder
overhead.
Abe slipped II cartridge into his rifle
as he gazed intcntly down the valley.
The Indians in their movements had
exposed themselves to view, and i'll the
gloom that was settling upon mountain
and valley the boy had just time to see
the blackboard turned toward town and
his father lashing the hOrSes-then Il
downfall of rain like II great cataract
hid them from sight. Among the rocks
and trees below him he caught glimpses
here and there of Il red head band OF
the snakc-likc motion of buckskin-
clad form, as, keeping themselves well
under cover. the Indians climbed swiftly
and cautiousls up the slope to discover
! the unknown enemy who had broken
up llitil u. litH
ing thunder II dense cloud closed down
about the boy, hiding him rs complete
> " as could the blackcst darkness.
: lie crcpt back up the mountain side
:, and feeling his course through th,
= downpour worked his way along among
i the chaparral of the mountain side
Between the thunder prals he hear'
" y the Indians signalling ycllS, but as h'
!, got farther away their calls sounded
u u fainter and fainter, until at last all wa
u still about the boy crouched among The
=, wet bushes, wondering what danger
!, he might find about him when th
" clouds should lift.
" lie was hoping that the Indians ha
abandoned the pursuit when the light
" ming revealed to him II painted warrin
II standing Watching and listening ne
" ten yads away. The eyes of the tw
met, and nj the next flash, even bcfor
- the sound of the thunder came, tn
u rifles of both spoke rs they had bee
the one piece.
Is Whether the Indian was hit or NJ
y, the boy never knew, but he felt II stn
II like fire along his arm and u war;
81 tricklc beneath his sleeve rs he move
- away among the bushes with rifle i
readiness for the attack that the con
:" ing lightning flashes might bring. ii
20 knew that his arm was hurt, and tie
w his slIspcndrr above the wound
u check the How of blood. Then, lyin
W quiet in the dripping underground an
:" water sheets that strcamcd down I'll
y L., s., hat ,,,i,rht
Once or twice the cloud lifted and IL
:. rain slackcncd for Il few moments, bI
no signs of Indians met his eyes. Sti
- the cloud remained and the rain fc
- until, at close of day, the miSts brok
~ ~ apart, revealing II rainbow and Il
=" glow of II fair sunset.
When night had Shrouded the dee
~ chasms of the Black Range the bo..
", with rifle i'll readiness, crcpt down
u, ~ the dark valley below him, which W;
'' Us quiet and peaceful rs if the Apache
:, had not left along il their trail of fl
". and blood. With eyes and ears on Il
''' alert he crcpt to the roadside ne
'" where the Indian ambuscade had bee
H. H. and lay in concealmcnt waiting f
w whoever, friend or foe, might con
~ along the trail.
'' lie found that his arm had been on
~ grazed by the Indians ball, but
" now felt the weakness caused by hu
rcr and loss OF blood. At last the
i' came from the direction of the TOW
ny the tread of horses feet, and the b.
10 heard in the sound a hopeful token.
" "ThoSc horses are shod,' he said
W. himself. ''rhcy can't be India
Wv ponicS.'
Wv Soon there was Il glcam of met
:, equipments, company OF ShadoN
~ forms, and, ut the near sound of l'
''' voices, he knew that Il party of arm
. white men were riding down the roa
~, -" LcapinS up, the night air rcsoundcd
-. his clear sslIalloo."
, The riders halted, and there was {
'"' click of cooking weapons. rhcy we
''i evidently surprised ut the uneNpect
"S hail, and there came back to him
81 stern call: ''Who'S there? Come q
',I n and show yoursclf.'
IL" As the boy advanced his father, ri
inc in the front of the troop, leap
=" from his horse to welcome him.
yer Wv ..I ,,.rr,I;u,, f,r ,.,,,
NV e ltiltt tNti lhiiiS WI N'hs
u" said. and his voice revealed his de
W" emotion. eve are on our way To (
ms - ranch to see what devillry has be
"h done. But now that You have turn
~" ,"' up safe my great dread is gone
,' 'S' The boys story was quickly told.
nv was not an occasion To waste time
oi words of praise for the quick wit II
o" intrcpidity he had shown. The ca
rw tain detailed one of the men To tn
Sh' him, mounted behind, To Dcming, :.
up then cave the order To march.
-, eve must 30 on Ia the ranch Il
'n' bury poor Manuel" called back
',i' father rs he rode on with the trn'
an "You'll find your mother and Elsie
ihe town-the sight of You will make tn
nj, the happieSt mother and sister in \
i'' Mexico.
the
,sS, inexperienced in Politics.
ing Louisville Cnurirr-]ournnl.
he Mrs. Langdnn,of California, char
'h' tn at Mr.. Wamamakcr is ignorant
ho the requirements of the mail srrvi