The Portland daily press., 1891-01-07

Trusting that l had seen the last of
my assailants, mounted my horse after
breakfast and pursued my journey. My
route lay for some miles through a most
picturesque and scenic region. Volcanic
rocks rose abruptly from the hillsides,
assuming the forms of temples and tow
ers. Here / fancied I could trace a
ruined fortress, and there moss COW
cred arch or massive gateway.
Absorbed in detecting these fancied
resemblances to the most noted creations
of man, / had ridden for mile or more
without seeing or hearing anything to
break the silence of my lonely ride when
a loud report rang out, my horse plunged
violently and second later fell to the
ground, carrying me with him.
"We have himv' shouted voice that
recognized as belonging to the man
who had asked me about the holsters the
night before. 4
lay upon my side, with my right leg
under the animal. The two men, each
with gun in his hand, ran toward me
from behind neighboring rock. My
situation was most critical. was pinned
to the earth and unable to move. Luck
lily my hands were free and could reach
one of the pistols in my holsters. De-
termined to sell my life as dearly as pos
sible, jerked the revolver loose, raised
myself slightly and fired at the robber
nearest to me.
The ball struck him in the hand and
caused him to drop the gun. With an
oath he sprang back, and the two sought
shelter behind a rock
was still in imminent danger, for they
could make detour and approach me
| in such manner that / should be at
| their mercy. Their advance and my
shot took but fraction of a moment, SO
| that both were over ere the death strug-
| giles of my animal ended. In these he
partly raised himself from my leg,
| and as his body was between me and
| the two assassins | crawled ON my
| hands and knees to low rock within
| few feet of me. "We will see whether
you get that gold or not" 1 muttered to
myself, as | rubbed my leg, bruised
from the fall.
The rock behind which l had sought
shelter extended several rods, rising in
Il lGl VI tW6lfS lStb dDON6 bu6
ground. / climbed up few feet, and
l through narrow crevice examined the
| situation.
saw the glimmer of gun barrel be-
hind low rock, and was thus enabled
to locate at least one of my enemies.
| STOPPING down, ran to the further end
| of the ledge, hoping to get a shot at him.
| was disappointed, for he was still hid
den from sight. saw that by crawling
up the hill short distance I could gain
the protection of a second rock. This
| instantly did, yet every moment fearing
they would make a dash for the gold,
which was still upon my horse.
They evidently did not realize that
| had moved from the rock near the dead
animal and were afraid to venture.
/ Reaching the second ledge found to
my annoyance that could not yet see
| the hidden robbers, but by pulling N.Y.
| self along behind fallen tree was at
last within sight of them. They were
| crouching ON the ground behind a low
ledge, each peering around the end of
| it, intently watching the spot where they
had seen me disappear. Though it
seemed an age, it had really only been
| couple of minutes since their first shot
was fred at me, and they were evidently
waiting till they could tell whether /
was injured OF not.
| now raised my pistol, took careful
aim and fired. The ball struck the man
who was holding the gun, killing him
instantly. The other with a cry of rage
seized the rife and fred three shots at
me in quick succession.
The bullets whistled near me, and one
of them struck the log behind which ]
lay. This was 80 small that dared not
raise my head to get a return shot I
therefore turned around, still keeping
fiat on the ground, and crawled back
some distance.
The tree in falling had struck an old
log upon the ground and broken in two.
Where the two crossed each other was a
space under the broken tree through
which could see my adversary.
rapidly cleared the earth away until
could get a shot at him. He had run
up some rods nearer. and now stood par
tally behind small rock, intently
watching the point where he had last
seen me. Just as reached the pistol
beneath the log he moved quickly, but
fired, and knocked the gun from his
hands.
instantly sprang up, crying, can
other move and will kill you"
He turned and attempted to gain the
protection of the nearest ledge. AS
he whirled around I fired again and
he fell. 1 rushed upon him, but
he was ON his feet at once and
caught the rife. I fired once more,
breaking his wounded arm and causing
him to let fall the gun. exclaimed,
"Stop, before kill you'll"
Instead of complying he answered
fiercely, 81 will cut your heart out"
and sprang toward me with bowie
knife in his right hand. By this time
he was within reach, and made savage
thrust at me with the knife.
/ sprang aside in time to avoid the
blow, and once more pulled the trigger.
No shot replied-the pistol was empty!
My only chance was at close quarters,
and catching my revolver by the muz-
zle l struck him blow ON the head, at
the same time receiving u slight cut in
the shoulder. He fell at my feet, and
1 before he could move ! sprang upon
him, kicked the knife from his hand,
and caught up the rife he had dropped
| in the fight.
He cried, Hold l give up; don't
| murder me-"
Lie still, them said, "and don't
| move"
now ran to my dead animal, pulled
| the holsters from the saddle, pushed the
empty revolver into them, and took out
| the loaded one. Then 1 said, "Get up,
now"
He was pitiable looking object, and
weak from the loss of blood. He had
been twice wounded-once in the hand
and again in tho arm-white my blow
on his head had cut an ugly cash from
which the blood trickled down over his
face. took my handkerchief and made
bandage for his arm, and by twisting
it tightly with stick managed to stop
the blood.
/ now babe the fellow go ahead, and,
taking my holsters in one hand and the
loaded pistol in the other, l Obliged Linn
to walk in front Of Yne back to tie inn
where we had stopped the ,light before.
Of the excitement there caused by our