Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-08-15
SAVED BY STRATEGY.

SAVED BY STRATEGY.
sCan You guide me to Mason's ranch ?"
@Yes, senior"
@Very we'll. I shall expect to start
ct sunrise tomorrow"
With low bow the Mexican guide
turned and strolled down the street.
The guide whose services had en-
gagged was q young Mexican not over
sixteen years ofsge. He was slender in
build, with hair Of jet black and skin
of deep copper color.
He might easily have passed for q
full-blooded Indian, 80 dark was bis
complexion, yet there was an indication
of intelligence in his face and something
Of shrewdness in his deep black eyes.
It 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 repeating rifle
and two pistols, while had only one
pistol-a small thirty-two, which I al
ways had with me in my travels.
However, seeing that Manuel had
thought it necessary to be well armed, I
procured rifle and 100 pounds of car
tridges before leaving the station.
The plain over which we were travel
ing soon began to give place to more
billy and broken country, with here and
there narrow canyon that wound its
way through ranges of low hills.
It was in the afternoon. We had
travelled twenty-five miles at least, and
we're making our way across strip Of
barren plain. when suddenly Manuel
reigned in his horse and dismounted.
Bending down he examined the
ground closely for some time; then he
cast hasty glance about us.
@Los Apachep he said, making .
gesture to the west with his hands.
sDo you think there are Apaches in
this vicinity ?" 1 asked in alarm.
He nodded his head and pointed to
the ground.
I glanced downward, and could
plainly see the marks of unshod hoofs
IN the sandy soil.
Perhaps we had better turn back. +"
/ suggested II am not anxious to en-
counter band of hostile savages."
But Manuel assured me that such q
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. It was just as
probable that we might encounter the
Apaches by doing SO as by continuing
on our course. So, after q few mo-
ments spent in considering the matter,
We resumed our journey.
We rode on three or four miles farth.
er, when, in crossing q little hill, we
came suddenly in sight of q squad of
perhaps twenty Indians. advancing from
the north, and not more than q mile
away.
Turning our horses quickly about,
and keeping under the brow of the hill,
We galloped to the south, hoping to
avoid an encounter with them.
A few minutes gallop brought us to
stretch of sandy plain; but scarcely had
We reached this, when, glancing back
ward, we saw the whole band of Apa-
ches flashing their ponies and coming in
swift pursuit.
The war ponies of the Apaches are
always the best that can be either pur-
chased or stolen in the Territory, and
recognized the fact that, as we were
mounted on animals far inferior to those
ridden by the savages, we were in de-
cidedly close place.
We had not ridden q mile before il
was plainly evident that our pursuers
we're gaining on US rapidly, and must
soon overtake Us.
The sun was still high in the western
horizon, and there was no hope that we
could keep up the race till darkness
would offer Us chance to escape. Tn
less We could soon gain cover of some
kind, We would be forced to stop and
tight our pursuers on the open plain,
and in that case it was not hard to i'm
agine the outcome.
On, on, We urged our painting horses,
With the Yelling ssvages drawing nearer
md nearing to IA with every step.
Suddenly Manuel turned his horse
slightly to the left, and pointing across
the plain, said:
We must get to the house"
Then, for the first time, I saw Q small
building nearly mile ahead Of M, and
toward this We urged our horses at their
greatest speed
A few minutes ride brought us to the
house, which proved to DO one of those
small adobe structures 20 common in
New Mexico and Arizona. erected for
The use Of Mexican sheep herders, but
long since abandoned.
n moment we had thrown ourselves
nom our saddles and stood BY the open
door.
Come. said Manuel, eve must get
The horses inside
Quickly We entered the cabin, leading
our horses after Us. A glance allowed
n that We were in Q room about four
teen feet square, with . single hole In
The western wall that served as win
dov. The door, which was on the east
orn aide, was . rickety affair, rudely
eonstructed of pine slabs. and now
showing very plainly the signs Of de-
0s