Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-12-17
A BRAVE WARNING.

Is shining hot at MONDAY. On every
side are frowning mountains. their face
marked with black. wooded ravineS
forbidding cliffs, and slopes dark
ened with pine forests Down the
mountain side west of the valley
| comes, abe" Heddle, son of the own
er of the Plumita ranch, with rifle on
shoulder returning from a hunting
trip which he had begun at daylight.
1t is a pleasant pastoral scene below
him. The small house and corrals by
the rivulet; few cattle grazing along
the grassy slopes; and partly hidden
by the crown of verdant foothill,
pasture the flock OF sheep and goats
tended by Manuel the Mexican shep.
herd.
His winding way down the noun
tain took him behind a ledge and
bushes which shut off the prospect be-
low. just as he came again in sight
of the valley he heard several rife
shots, and across the wide hollow saw
Manuel running down the slope toward
the house. With the instinct of one
bred in the midst of dangers the boy
paused to see what this fight meant
Behind the fleeing shepherd came sew
eral Apaches, with others appearing
over the crest until there were ten in
full pursuit. Amid the sound OF yells
and rife shots the unfortunate Manuel
ran onward, falling once or twice and
reganing his feet until at the thresh-
old he went down on his face on the
ground with arms extended and did not
rise
With silent horror Abe beheld the
Indians overtake and surround their
victim and fire several shots into his
PROSTATE body. Once the boy had his
rifle raised to fire upon them but he
lowered ii as he realized how useless
it was to launch into a contest against
such odds. Crouched behind the
cedars he saw them plumber the cabin,
fling the body of the shepherd inside,
and set fire to the building The In
dians stayed on the spot long enough
to see that the flames were well under
way and to dispose OF their booty SO
that it could be easily carried; then
started at half run down the valley
as If they had more deeds of slaughter
and plumber in mind
They're going to Steckle's ranch, -
thought Abe thinking of the nearest
neighbor whose house was five miles
distant along the trail In the direction
of town. Its good luck they're all
away there"
All these things had been done so
quickly that but for the blazing house
he could hardly have realized what
occurred. His first breath of relief
at his own escape was succeeded BIZ a
sinking feeling of dismay as he re-
called that his parents and sister must
at this very time be returning from
town along the route the Apaches had
taken. That the Indians would am
buscade and attack everyone who was
travelling the trail that day was GER
tain, and he knew. unless warning
were given, the frightful fate that
awaited his people.
For few moments he rested his
head between his hands. crying piteous-
" aloud What can | do to save
themP" The Indians were between
him and them pursuing their way with
swift tireless tread. Then there came
to mind the remembrance OF a by
path, so rocky and steep that a man
on foot scarcely could travel it. which
cut off great bend Of the wagon
road.
The old foot trail over the noun
tains! 1t gives my one chance to get
ahead OF the Apaches! I'll try itw
And instantly acting upon his thong hit
he turned and keeping under the cover
OF rocks and bushes to avoid being
seen by any Indians that might linger
in the valley, he climbed the noun
tain side until he reached the trail,
and took his way along it.
At midafternoon he reached the
point where the path brought him
once more in sight of the wagon trail.
A column of smoke arising from the
valley three miles back on his right
ted him that the Is,..54iiaas mad reacned
and done their destroying work at the
Sickle ranch. Weary and breathless,
with feet torn and bruised, marking
the path with blood at every step he
began cautiously to descend to the
valley with no one in view in the
long reach ahead. In his anxious
haste he did not heed the growing
thunder nor the zig-zag lightning
streaks against the black cloud that
was rapidly yelling the mountain sum-
mits on the west and north.
A fau paoac 90 L.
short at the sight OF an Indian half
way down the slope, stretched at full
length behind rock, watching the
trail; and by the roadside at the foot
of the bluff other Apaches crouched
in ambush behind rocks, or lay hidden
by the high wild grass and bushes,
waiting in evil silence.
The boy shranK back and his de-
spairing look rested far down the val
ley upon blackboard that came into
view containing man. woman and
a child between them. He realized
that the two smartly trotting horses
were carrying his father and mother
and Elsie straight to an awful fate.
How could he warn them? Against
WIG On pOScu mountain lace ne could
not hope to get past the Indians un-
observed To try to dash through the
ambuscade would be madness.
There's one way, he said to him
sell, and 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
half miles start there are no In
dians that can catch 'em between here
and Deming."
He was too eager for the safety OF
his parents and Elsie.to take thought
oil the danger to himself in his heroic
act Kneeling, concealed sfrom the
enemy, he pushed his rifle sights up to
the highest notch. aimed straight at
the oncoming team and pulled the
trigger With the echoes of his rifles
crack there mingled a startling outcry
below him, a 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 reins.
With ayell Of surprise the Indians,