The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-12-29

mans spirits rose with tho hope that
early dawn would see the departure Of
the Indians, Old Jose got up from hii
crouohing position Of vantage 10 give
directions for the night, when, swift o.
an arrow, young brave dashed a few
PAGES forward, took quick aim, fired
and sent a bullet whizzing through the
air that lodged in the old Mexican's
heart. The Indian fell almost in the
same instant. His lingering comrades
uttered unearthly bowls of rage, halted
q moment to measure with keen eye the
distance between his ifeless body and
the corral, and then galloped of to camp
without it.
His was the form to lie next the first
victim-poor old Jose Valdez-his one
ambition not get half fulfilled. But
then he fell with harness on;" and II
the fatal bullet did strike him in the
back-no one would ever know. Not
one of that brave band would ever tell
the tale, They knew his spirit was to
tho fore. HE died game;" no better
epitaph could DO framed in their vocab-
ulary..
And now the caravan was without a
captain. A council of war must be held.
Where was tho man to take up the com
mand in such straits? The supper was
but sparingly partaken Of; it had lost its
zest. Every man of them had feared
death all day. every man of them but
two had escaped; now, looking on these
two, every man said to himself, at
might have been-tomorrow it may be.
1t was decided to send out two scouts
as soon as tho night grew dark enough
to protect them, who should try to reach
one of the forts If they did not sooner in
tercept aid on the trail. Men were Sc
lected who had had experience in such
work, and with many prayers following
them they went stealthily forth into the
darkness from the west side of tho
corral.
A signal had been agreed upon by
which they were to make known their
approach If they were unable to go
through the Indian picket lines and were
obliged to return. Three hours later the
signal was heard on the east side of the
corral. Every man was on guard. There
was no sleep that night inside the bar
ricade of wagons-savo that deep and
lasting repose Of old jose and his COM
rade under the gray blanket.
The scouts reported that they could
not elude the vigilance of the Indian
guards Gordon of pickets surrounded
the corral; they had tried on every side.
But they had something worse than this
to tell. Half way between the picket
! 1fy,,a a5,I Al, eknNr kn1 Han-.1 q.
noise-a movement as Of some one crawl
ing through the grass like themselves.
They stopped and listened and waited
and heard 1t again, but they were not
ablo to locate it nor to determine which
way it was going.
OF course this story aroused every
mans fear Of a night attack from the In
dians; they had not really expected that,
though they had remained in readiness
for it throughout the night. Now every
mans hair stood on end at thought of the
scalping knife and the tomahawk, and
every man fancied he could hear the red
skinned serpents crawling through the
dry grass straight to the corral. A dozen
men were lying with ear to the ground
listening, when, close and clear, came
tho words:
Don't shoot, boys; it ia O friend" and
King, tho wagon master, sprang into the
corral. "Is it all right, pardnersl Am
l welcomeY he continued, excitedly
glancing about in evident doubt as to
his reception.
"Welcome? Yesl Yesl" chimed many
voices, and the men clustered about
him, trying to grasp his Mnd in joy.
The help Of even one more man was
cheering, But while they crowded
around him for the first greeting they
could see by the starlight that he was
trying 10 look beyond them and over
their heads Almost unconsciously he
pushed forward toward the wagon, and
suddenly, as they all turned to follow
him, he stepped quickly out Of the group
and caught the strange woman in his
arms.
If an Indian with an uplifted toma-
hawk had appeared in their midst it
could not have surprised them more.
But they comprehended in moment,
and when they heard King exclaim,
"Janeyr and saw the two figures melt
into one in the uncertain light, they fell
back a little and waited. Not long,
however, for very soon King turned and
said, addressing them all;
"Pardners you SEQ how It Is. She
came out to meet me; she is my promised
wife. found you in trouble, in danger,
and could not stay away. ought to
have Joined her ct Westport Landing
there was o reason. Can we lot that go9
I thought maybe could help you out of
this. Where's old JOSEF l heard that
you made him captain at the Grove"
Silently heads were nodded toward
the gray blanket and spectral arms
pointed ont the two dead.
"Jnney" still stood by tho wagon
masters side, encircled by his strong
arm, but as soon as King saw the
motimless form of the old captain no
pressed another hurried kiss upon her
W:ite face and told her to 70 back to tho
wagon.
"TL@-e's no time to lose,7 he said,
"you knew the Indians will DO moving
with the first streak Of light What Is
your plan, boysg"
II reckon well make you captain the
first thing we do" said a gruf voice,
and an echo of "yes," Eyes" and "si,
Isl" came from every side.
It was very informally done but the
election Of the new captain was unani-
nous, and before the morning showed
ever so family in the east the plan Il
campaign was arranged. Then the g. '
darkness came on, tho ghostly, uncer'