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

ing smoke from Abe's rife. Two OF
three OF the bullets ratified near him
but yells and rifle reports were unhearc
in the sudden crash OF pealing thun.
der overhead.
Abe slipped a cartridge into his rife
rs he gazed intently down the valley.
Tho Indians in their movements ha6
exposed themselves to view, and i'm the
gloom that was settling upon noun.
tain and valley the boy had just time
to see the blackboard turned towarf
town, and his father flashing the
! horses-then downfall OF rain like /;
great cataract hid them from sight
Among the rocks and trees below hin
he caught gl!mpses here and there O.
a red head-bTnd or snake-like motor
OF h buckskin-clad form. as keeping
themselves well Under cover, the In
dians climbed swiftly and cautiousl,
up the slope to discover the unknown
enemy who had broken up their am
buscade. Then amid crashing thun.
der dense cloud closed down abou
the boy. hiding him as completely as
could the blacklist darkness.
He crept back up the mountain sid
and feeling his course through the
! downpour worked his way along among
the chapparal Of the mountain side
Between the thunder peals he heard
the Indians signaling yells, but as he
got farther away their calls sounded
fainter and fainter. until at last al
was still about the boy crouched among
the wet bushes, wondering what dan.
gers he might find about him when the
cloud should lift
He was hoping that tho Indians hao
abandoned the pursuit when the light
ming revealed to him painted war.
rior standing watching and listening
not ten yards away. The eyes of the
two met and the next fash, oven be.
fore the sound OF the thunder came
the rifles OF both spoke as if they haC
been one piece.
Whether the Indian was hit or moi
the boy never knew, but he felt a sting.
like fire along his arm, and a warm
tickle beneath his sleeve as he moved
away among the bushes with rifle ia
readiness for the attack that the com.
ing lightning flashes might bring. He
knew that his arm was hurt and tied
his suspender above the wound Ia
check the flow of blood Then lyino
quiet in the dripping underground and
water sheets that streamed down the
slope he waited for what might come.
Once or twice the cloud lifted, and the
rain slackened for few moments, but
no signs OF Indians met his eyes. Stih
the cloud remained and the rain fell
until, at close of day, the mists broke
apart revealing rainbow and the
glow OF fair sunset
When night had shrouded the deer
chasms of the Black Range the boy,
with rifle in readiness, crept down tc
the dark valley below him, which was
as quiet and peaceful as if the Apaches
had not left along it their trail of fire
and blood. With eyes and ears or
the alert he crept to the roadside neal
where the Indian ambuscade had beer
and lay in cOncealment waiting foi
whoever friend or foe, might come
along the trail.
He found that his arm h ad been ONLY
grazed by the Indians ball, but now
he felt the weakness caused by hunget
and loss of blood. At last there came
from the direction of the town the
tread of horses feet and the DO,
heard in the sound a hopeful token.
Those horses are shod, " he said {,
himself They can't be Indian
ponies"
Soon there was a CLEAN Of meta
equipments, company Of shadow,
forms, and, at the near sound of low
voices, he knew thst n party of armed
white men were riding down the road
Leaping up, the night air resoundet
to his clear Hello"
The riders halted and there was III.
click OF cooking weapons. They were
evidently surprised at the unexpected
hail, and there came back to him g
stern call: Who's there? Come GU,
and show yourself"
As the boy advanced his father, rid
ing in the front of the troop, leapeG
from his horse to welcome him.
We ledFeu everything iOf you, he
said, and his voice revealed his deeI
emotion. I'VE are on our way to the
ranch to see what deviltry has been
done. But now that you have turned
up safe my great dread is gone"
The boys story was quickly told. II
was not an occasion to waste time il
words of praise for the quick wit ant
intrepidity he had shown. The cap
tain detailed one of the men to TAX,
him, mounted behind, to Deming ant
then gave the order TO march
I'VE must go on to the ranch ant
bury poor Manuel" called back hi
father as he rode on with his troop
You'll find your mother and Elsie in
town-the sight OF you will make !
them the happiest mother and sister in
New Mexico. "-Times-Sta