The Press., 1892-01-21
.H0lt, bo0si Holti'

7
 ? ~ .Hdlt. bogsi Haltr
 "Well, yes, gentlemen said our old
 California friend, Bert Ashton; Two
 seen some little Indian fighting away
 back in the early days, when only by .
 voyage around Cape Horn, . short cut
 across the deadly isthimus or Ave
 months journey overland could the gold
 fields, about which every one was then
 crazy, be reached. @
 When it camepmy turn ito join the
 procession, as | didn't like salt water
 much and Panama fever stin less. con
 cluded to risk all chances on the plains;
 and so 1t happened that. aswe were plod-
 ding along one forenoon, Gus Taylor sud
 denly called out, What do you makeof
 that. CapY pointing to ridge two miles
 away, on the crest of which thenaked
 eye could barely discern two black
 specks &n@ e.
 "Our guide and captain. eJiin Bur
 rows, unslung his field glass, and turn
 ing his horse gazed steadily for few
 moments in the direction indicated. Then uttering the single word. 'Apaches!
 he galloped to the head of the train and cried; Halt, boysl Haltl an form corral quicker'n ightningi Thar's swarm nv Apaches hoverin round back uv the rise,
 waitin till we git inter ths pass. Them little dots is two uv ther scouts, an l seen them signalin plain ez daylight. Elf thar's goin ter be fight, right here on the opens the place fur it. Long prac- tice had rendered us expert at such work, and in an incredibly short time the corral was complete and the horses and mules safely inside.
 "There were ten wagons in all, and our mode of corralling was as follows: First one wagon was placed in position and the team unhitched; then aanother was backed up to its front, over the pole, and so on suntil the desired circle or square was finished In this case we chose a: rectangular formation, with three wagons On each side and two across each end. as this arrangement seemed to afford a greater inclosed space and better lines of defense than any other, while the high canvas tops of the prairie schoonerg completely screened all within the square from out side observation.
 "We had left St. Louis, Missouri, more than three months before, at which time our party consisted of twenty-four mon with six wagons; but we had lately over taken and given convoy to a little cara van of four wagons and eight men. three of whom had brought their wives along and two of these last had each . babe less than 8 year old, so that our total number now included thirty=seyen souls.
 up to this time our journey had been prosperous, as we had not lost 2 man nor an animal, though we had been engaged in several skirmishes with wandering bands of Flutes while pass ing through Colorado. But we had now reached the country dominated by those incarnate scourges Of Arizona and New Mexico--the Apache Indians; and, as Captain Jim said, would hey ter keep. our eyes peeled ef we 'spected ter save our ha'r.
 s@ However, we had come within short distance of the great pass which cuts through the Chirihuica mountains, and was then-the only road between the Rio Grapde and Fort Yuma. without seeing 8 single oneEof these fierce warriors, and but for the sharp eyes Of Chs Taylor we might have entered the defle itself quite unaware of their proximity; in which case, as we afterward knew, notsa man would have lived to tell the story, and, as for the women-well. I'd rather not think of that.
 "Jim Burrows, an old friend and pupil of the renowned Kit Carson, and him self famous Indian fighter, had already made two or three overland journeys, and was pretty well up to all the dodges. of the redskins, and when we had got things into shape, he said: Now. boys, these varmints hez showed ther hand D leetle previous. Ther game was ter wait till we got inter the pass, then pitch into our rear and drive-us, like ez not, right onto 'nuther lot uv lem a-waitin fur US mong the rocks. Elf thar's huff uv 'em ter resk it they'll likely tackle us here sum time fore night an try ther. purtiest ter git inter the corral, or coax us out; but whatsomever happens, don't let 'em get in, or not a mothers son ny ns'H ever sec Californy.'
 sThe surface of the great plain on which we were camped. although appear ing at first sight level, was really quite rolling, and we had lately skirted several deep, dry coulees, in which numbers of enemies might even now be lurking, Meantime. the two videttes had vanished from the ridge, and one of our party ven tured to remark that he guessed 1t was . false alarm after all The captain opined and quietly replied: Don't fool yerseh with no sich notion. I kin read Injun signs like book, an1sI seen them scouts telf ther band our 'xact how many critturs we hey an all bout us, plain ex preachia. Thar's d big slew uv, 'em somewhar not far of, an we best git dinner fore therf onto us Wen hev ter teetotally whip sn sdemor. alize 'em right here, an purty quick. too, Fur we haint got but two days dry feed fur the stock, an all the waterIl run ont bout the same time. These Injuns ia Apaches, yer want ter notis'-the allt 6redest fighters. cunninest hoss thieves an cruelest reds ginerally in the hull hsntry. Thar aint no sized hand nary 'nuther tribe on the plains 'ud da ter tackle corralled party sich ez this but these fellersu tryit on of they kit skar up bout ten men ter our one. see ej they don'tf
 Everything around us looked so quiet and deserted that it was bard to believe serious troublS was brewing. .and the whole party proceeded to get dinner with the careless air of men havinsl nothing tofear-this apparent cooiness having the desired effect of reassnring the terribly frightened women Int meal was finished without interruption and some of the.boys were sjust giving the stock half rations of corn and water when from out sA coalee about . thou sand yards to the northeast emerged a]