Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-09-19


the boat toward the shore.
, But at that instant he glanced towart
she cliff. uttering an exclamation o
surprise as he did So
, Los Apacher" he cried. and quickl!
changing his oar to the other side h'
. began to guide the raft back towarC
] the middle of the stream.
(ilancing shoreward, | saw a score o
pluined and painted savages emerging
FROM cIump Of bushes upon the hill
and running toward the river. | saw 9
CLEAN OF weapons in their hands. and
heard the sharp warming voice OF Ar
rajo. commanding us to fall fat upon
the raft. ! had barely time to grasp
the startled and terrified Paul by the
shoulder and force him down with
me. when the loud report Of firearms
sounded on the cliff, and a shower OF
bullets cut the water about us, or
buried themselves in the logs of the raft.
The frightened burros uttered snorts
of terror, and would have leaped into
the stream had they not been held fast
by the lariats. | realized in a moment
that we were in the most deadly peril.
and uttering words of caution to Paul,
who lay trembling at my side, hastily
pulled some of our camping effects be
tween us and the foe.
The first volley from the savages
rifles was almost instantly followed by
another and / heard the bullets whiz
within few inches of my head. At
the same moment one of the burros
went down. bullet in its brain, and
lay still upon the raft without uttering
sound Half dragging Paul with NE,
took refuge behind the body of the
expiring animal and lay there. a prey
to the most acute terror.
Although we were well provided with
arms. we made no effort to use them.
Glaiiciug toward Arrajo. | was aston
ished to see the brave halfbreed still
standing erect upon the raft, using the
oar with all his strength in an endeavor
70 force our craft further from the
shore
called loudly to him to abandon
his dangerous post and seek safety be
hind the dead burro with Paul and me-
but he gave no heed to my words and
applied the oar with undiminished
vigor.
shall never forget the feelings Of
admiration with which | regarded the
self sacrificing halfbreed as he stood
there fearlessly at his post, exposed to
the bullets of the merciless foe.
now discovered that the current of
the river was growing more rapid every
moment, and looking toward the shore,
saw that we were fast leaving the In
dians behind. However, they had an
ticipated this, it seems, for | saw them
hastily scramble up the rocky ledge to
the hill above and come running swiftly
in pursuit.
But we were now beyond gunshot Of
them and. floating rapidly with the
now swiftly running current we prom
ised soon to outstrip them in the race
and leave them far behind. But being |
fully aware that we could not land on
the opposite side owing to the precipi- |
tous cliffs that skirted the left bank Of |
the stream, they still kept up the pur-
suit 1t was soon evident, however, |
that they would never be able to over
take us, and they doubtless realized
this, for after following along the bank
of the river for nearly two miles, they
suddenly stopped upon the summit of a
high cliff, and stood looking after US
till we rounded bend in the stream a
mile below
AS ssoon us we had passed beyond the
reach Of the pursuing savages, Paul
and rose from our recumbent posi-
tions upon the raft.
what shall we do now, Arrajop !
asked.
But the halfbreed made no reply. !
saw him glancing eagerly from one
shore to the other, an anxious and
troubled look crossing his face.
Suddenly he pointed to the precipi
tous cliffs that skirted the shores of the
river, and said
I'VE have passed the last landing
place; we will soon be in the great
rapids"
His words sent chill OF fear to my
heart, and in an instant | realized the
awful peril of our situation Walled
in 10y perpendicular cliffs, with no
chance of escape, we were being swiftly
drawn into the great rapids of the
riverl In escaping one danger we had
been forced into another even more
terrible than the first. 1t is impossible
for me to describe the feeling of help
lessness and despair that came over me
at that moment.
knew that ii would be impossible
for us to land, walled in as we were
with perpendicular cliffs, and there
was nothing To do but wait and trust
TO Arrajo's superior knowledge to sug-
gest some plan of deliverance.
We were now running at fearful
rate of speed. and already the water
about was leeked with foam. The
raft soon began to rock and pitch vio-
lently MS II was whirled swiftly along
on the now turbulent waters. Far be-
low could sec masses of sharp and
Jagged rocks piercing the foaming bill
lows of the rushing stream. Arrajo,
oar in hand, stood ready TO guide the
raft through the dangerous channel,
while Paul and | stood despairing and
helpless, not knowing what to do or
which way to turn.
| The last pl0am of tho SINKING snn