Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-07-25
SAVED BY STRATEGY.

"Can You guide me to Mason's ranch?"
ayes, senor."
"Very well shall expect to start at
sunrise tomorrow.
81 will be ready, senior.
"Can you furnish two good horses?"
asked.
sYes.
"Then you may come at the appointed
time.
With a low bow the Mexican guide
turned and strolled down the street
was seated on the piazza Of a 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 yergos,
and was on my way 10 Mason's ranch,
which lies 40 miles to the northwest Of
that place.
The guide whose services / had en-.
gagged was young Mexican not over 10
years Of age. He was slender in build,
with hair Of a jet black and skin of a
deep copper color.
He might easily have passed for full
blooded Indian, 80 dark 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 10 me as thoroughly COM
petent 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 saddIed,
ready for our journey.
lie was armed with repeating rife
and two pistols, while had only one pis-
tol-a small 30, which ] always carried
with me in my travels.
However, seeing that Manuel had
thought it necessary 10 be well 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 were travel
ing soon began TO give place to more
hilly and broken country, with here and
there narrow canyon that wound its
way through ranges of low hills
II was Ia the afternoon. We had
travelled 20 miles at least, and were maxi
ing our way across a strip of barren plain,
when suddenly Manuel reined in his
horse and dismoupted.
Bending down he examined the
ground closely for some time, then he
cast a hasty glance about US.
"Los Apachein he said, making gest-
ure to the west with his hands.
"Do you think there are Apaches in
this vicinityf 2" ] 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 l
suggested. II am not anxious to en-.
counter band Of hostile savages.
But Manuel assured me that such n
course of action was not to be thought Of.
There might be no danger after all, but
If there were IL could not be averted by
returning. IL was just as probable that
we might encounter the Apaches by do
ing so as by continuing on our course.
So, after a few moments spent in con.
sidering the matter we resumed our
journey.
We rode on three or -four miles further,
when, IN crossing little bin, we came
suddenly in sight Of a squad Of perhaps
20 Indians advancing from the north,
and not more that mile away.
Turning our horses quickly about, and
keeping under the brow of the bill, we
galloped to the south, hoping 10 avoid an
encounter with them.
There was q chance that our presence
had not been discovered by the Indians,
and il was our aim to put as much dis
lance as possible between us before ven
turing across the open plain that lay 10
khe south.
A few minutes Rallop brought us to o
stretch Of sandy plain, but scarcely had
we reached this when, glancing back
ward, we saw the whole band Of Apaches
Iashing 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 III 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 a decidedly
Close place.
However, there was nothing left for Us
10 do but 10 trust 10 the Heetness Of our
horses 20 carry ms out Of danger, as q
fight on the open plain with such mum
Der Of Apaches would be worse than
madness. We had not ridden = mile be-
fore IL was plainly evident that our pur-
suem were gaining on us rapidly and
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