Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-08-15
SAVED BY STRATEGY.

"Nery well. I shall expect to start at
sunrise Tomorrow.
Il will be ready, senior. J."
Can you furnish two good horses?"
asked.
Yes"
Then you may come at the appointed
time
With a low bow the Mexican guide
turned and strolled down the street.
was seated o. the piazza of q large
two story frame house, which possessed
the distinction of being the only hotel in
Nuts Station. little town situated on
the Santa Fe Railroad in southern New
Mexico, 25 miles from the Mexican line.
| had just arrived from Los Vergos,
and was on my way to Mason's ranch,
which lies 40 miles to the northwest of
that place.
The guide whose services [ had en-
gagged was a young Mexican not over 1e
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 lark was his complex
ion, yet there was an indication of intel
ligence in his face and something of
shrewdness in his deep black eyes.
Though only youth, he had been rec
commended to me as thoroughly COM
pctent person to guide me anywhere 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 rife
end two pistols, while had only one pis-
tol-a small 32, which l always carried
with me in my travels.
However, seeing that Manuel had
thought it necessary to be we'll armed. |
procured a rifle and 100 rounds of car
tridges before leaving the station.
Thus equipped we set out ON our Jour
ney, taking course to the northwest, in
the direction of the San Francisco range
of mountains.
The plain over which we We're travel
ing soon began to give place to a more
hilly and broken country, with here and
there a narrow canyon that wound its
way vi low lIlliN.
1t was in the afternoon. We had
travelled 20 miles at least, and We're max
ing our way across a strip of barren plain,
when suddenly Manuel reined in his
horse and dislnounted.
Bending down he examined the
ground closely for some time, then he
cast a hasty glance about us.
Los Apache!" he said, making gest-
ure to the west with his hands.
do you think there are Apaches in
this vicinity?" | asked in alarm.
He nodded his head and pointed to tho
ground.
glanced downward and could plainly
see the marks of unshod horses in the
sandy soil.
perhaps we had better turn back"
suggested. Il am not anxious to en-
counter band of hostile savages.
But Manuel assured me that such a
course of action was not to be thought of.
There might be no danger after all, but
if there were it could not be averted by
returning. 1t was Just as probable that
we might encounter the Apaches by do
ing so as by continuing on our course
SO. after few moments spent in con-
Sidering the matter we resumed our
journey.
We rode on three or four miles further
when, in crossing little hill, we came
suddenly in sight of a squad of perhaps
90 Indians advancing from the north,
and not more that mil away.
Turning our horses quickly about and
keeping under the brow of the hill, VIC
galloped to the south, hoping to avoid an
encounter with them.
There was a chance that our presence
had not been discovered by the Indians,
and it was our aim to put as much dis
tance as possible between us before ven
turing across the open plain that lay to
the south.
A few minutes gallop brought us to a
stretch of sandy plain, but scarcely had
we reached this when, glancing back.
ward, we saw the whole band of Apaches
lashing their ponies and coming in swift
pursuit.
The war ponies of the Apaches are al
ways the best that can be either purchased
or stolen in the Territory, and | recog-
nized the fact that as we were mounted
on animals far inferior to those ridden
by the savages, we were in decidedly
close place.
However, there was nothing left for us
to do but to trust to the tleetneSS of Ollr
horses to carry us out of danger as a
Jight on the omen plain with such a num-.