The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1892-09-01

Pete crawled under the wagon and
went to sleep. The mules having eaten
their barley, Joe, who meant to finish
the trip in the cool OF the day, picketed
them out on the bank, where, within
the range Of their lariats, they could
nibble at the grass
This duty discharged. the Missouri
boy yielded to the fascination Of pros
pecting, and strolled along the gulch.
stopping now and then to sift a hand
full Of sand through his fingers, or turn
over pebble to see If It carried min
eral, he wandered far up the dry chan
mel, out of sight and hearing of the
wagon. Absorbed in his enhancing
pursuit, Joe took no heed of the pass
ing minutes, until the length of his
shadow on the ground warned him
that it was time to return to the team.
AS he retraced his steps, looking
across the last turn of the bank be-
tween him and his outfit, the spec
tacle of Pete's tall shiny hat bobbing
high in the air caused him to stop
short to investigate matters before GO
ing further. Crouching low, he stole
to the point where, hidden by tufts of
sandgrass, he could see what was going
on about the spring.
Six Apaches in war-paint had
captured and now were plundering the
outfit In the body of the wagon
Pete was at work for dear life throw
ing ont the contents to five of the
Indians, who examined them as they
fell. Upon the seat stood stalwart
warrior in breech cIout and moccasins,
his head adorned with Pete's high hat,
set off by an eagles feather in the
band. With frequent strokes OF the
heavy "blacksnake" whip he was
stimulating the negro's exertions; and
occasionally, for the same purpose, or
for private enjoyment, an Apache
would point rifle at the captive.
The bacon the Indians left where it
fell; the flour they emptied upon the
ground, and laid the sacks aside to
take away. The sugar, coffee, to-
bacco and ammunition were welcomed
with grunts of satisfaction, but the
plnnderers were angry at finding no
''whisk.n
They had with them two horses,
which bore harness marks, showing
them to have been captured recently
from some freighter. Rhody, Joe's
favorite riding mule, had been led to
the wagon, and upon her the Apaches
were packing their plumber. Having
selected what they wished, they held
short powwow, which ended by one of
them taking from his belt a war club,
the handle tipped with the end of
cows tail, and advancing threaten
ingly upon the trembling prisoner.
Shaking with fear and Indignation,
Joe fingered his revolver, longing to
send shot straight into the murder
GUS savage, whose painted face looked
demoniac as he poised his weapon.
There was nothing that the-boy could
| dc to help the captive; liable to be dis
covered at any moment his own life
was in deadly peril, and he could only
gaze in dread Of what was to come.
Pete's eye, rolling wildly with ter
ror. spied the bottle which, unnoticed,
lay wrapped in its gunny sack at his
feet, and, picking it up, he unrolled
and offered it to the Indian, who paused
| at his motion. The warriors frowning
| face took on a beaming look as, UNI
corking it, he recognized the ,odor of
liquor.
They'll kill him sure fur givin' 'em
that stuff gasped Joe, under his
breath. They'll low he means to pizen
the hull outfit"
But the Indian, after taking long
pull at the mixture, showed nothing
but pleasure as, rubbing his stomach,
he passed the bottle to his compan-
ions now eagerly gathered around him.
The Apaches had not yet taken the
diamond hitch" to secure the pack
firmly to Rhody's back. At the magic
word ''whisk' they had left the mule
with the lariat dangling loose, and
| while the bottle went round among
| them, the knowing animal, not liking
her company, quietly started up the
channel, distributing her load by the
way. She quiclsencd her steps to gal
lopsas an Indian darted In pursuit, and,
| rounding the turn in the bank, passed
close by Joe. Clutching the swinging
rope. he brought the animal to him,
and in an instant more was on her
back, giving her free head as she
dashed up the bottom, followed by
whizzing bullets sent wildly after them
as soon as the Indians could seize their
firearms.
He had often ridden Rhody without
saddle or bride, and she readily obeyed
his touch on her neck. Once out of
range, he turned her head up the bank,
making for the high plain and the trail
back to Cactus station. Two of the In
dams, who had sprung to their horses
backs, appeared upon the desert, about
three hundred yards behind him, in
swift pursuit.
1t was race for life, with the chances
singularly even. Joe knew Rhody's
pace as swift and untiring, but behind
him were horses ridden by Indians,
masters Of the art of getting the ut
most speed and endurance from an ami
NAL. After mile he looked back and
saw that they had gained little on
him; ten minutes later they were
nearer; at theiend of an hour they had
shortened the intervening distance fully
hundred yards.
i His one hope Of escape was in Rhody's
endurance. If he could keep so far
ahead of his pursuers that they should
not disable him or his beast by shot
he believed he could tire out their
horses. But when two hours had
passed they had drawn dangerously
near: As he reached point where the
! trail descended steeply to q lower level
Of tbs, desert the foremost Indian fred
81 him, and at the whizzing Of the ball
close BY his head the mule swerved.
Her foot struck rolling stone. she
-. -.