St. Landry democrat., 1892-04-30
A NIGHT RIDE.

over in Their Big Coolies, an he posted
me-"
GLOW many are thar of EN-, Jack?"
oval, as near as no could tell, thar
was somewhars erbout thirty er thirty
fve."
"How are they off fer shooting irons?
or didn't yer find out?"
II should say they was all heeled fer
keeps The scout told me that they all
had Winchesters, an hull lot of 'em
had six-shooters as well. And now, boys,
we've got ter ride like sin Tomorrow,
an gether in all the critters an push EN-
over into the Deep Creek country fer
safety. | hardly think the rods will
navigate tibet way. So here's fer q
smoke, and then bed"
The speaker, big Jack Burns, foreman
Of the l. G. Horse Outfit, leisurely pro-
duced pipe and tobacco as coolly as if
the murderous Apaches were thousand
miles away instead of thirty.
We were only seven men, c uniting the
Mexican cook, in the dug-out attached to
the corral, and were employees of the big
l. G.. Company; and we'll we knew what
an Apache outbreak meant, for we all
had suffered more or less from their cruel
raids But we had been intrusted with
the horses, and we intended, if possible
for human power to keep them out of
the clutches of the redskins, to do so;
for we had all received many little kind
nesses from the company, and from the
highest to the lowest there was mutual
goodwill and friendly feeling,
different from some outfits, who treat
their vaqueros with far less consideration
than they do their horses or cattle.
Jimmie did yer go down to the Cactus
Ranch fer the six shooter cartridges"
Eyes, bet l did, an got purity close
ter thousand rounds"
"Thet's kind er comforting. Did yer
here tell of any news down thar"
Nothing perticler. They was a-talk-
in circuit tibet thar settler, over on Ante
lope Flat; they allowed tibet if trouble
come with the reds, he would be in a
purity tough place, specially as he are a
tenderfoot. I'd hate ter see anything
happen ter 'em. passed thar the other
day, and his leetle gal come out, and
says, sorter anxious like:
Mister, hev you got leetls gal:'
$50 says, No, little sissy, hain't.'
a Sor s &c le1tis 5ays.ss lis
"'Nary one,' says l, and l ted her
tibet she war the fust 1estle up I'd seen
fer many day, an we he'd quite leetle
confab, an then her mother come out,
an she war very pleasant lady, she
. 1o ,o.J Oh ,l1,rvoI %ho< h1
leetle un war lonesome fQr othsr lsete
uns ter play with. They've sgt right
young baby thar, too, but the leetle gal
says that baby can't do nothing but
sleep, an laugh, AM
CLARK! listen, men, listen!" and in
second big Jack had pushed open the
door, and was looking intently out over
tie moonlit prairie.
"Nhat is it, Jack?" asked the boys, as
they gathered outside.
"Did yer hear shooting?'
''No, but thar shod boss a-coming
like blazes.'
Yes, the thud, thud, thud, of ironshod
hoofs were now plainly heard, and away
out faint glimmer of dust could be
disccrned.
Boys, I'm afeared tibet thar's tr public
somewhat continued Jack.
''Wal, jedging from the way tibet boss
soon tell now,' said Hank Shower
And soon the sight that greeted our
eyes showed us that there was trouble
somewhere, -for out Of the dust and
glimmer sprang powerful white mare,
while on her back, securely tied to the
heavy frontier saddle, was the new set
tiers "leetle gal"
With astonished and anxious faces, we
sprang to the mares side, and lifted the
little maid out of the saddle; and big
Jack carried her tenderly into the dug
out, while with wondering faces the rest
Of us quietly followed.
please, Mr.. Big Jack. I've brought
q letter from pap
ga letter, child. You've brought @
letter twenty miles fer me. What in the
namo O the Great Medicine war yer dad
a thinkin' erbout ter send baby like
you with it,"
II don't know, please, Mr.. Big Jack,
perhaps he's hurt, cause his eyes were
wet and mamma was crying. Then
papa wrote letter and put me on old
Nan and told me to keep on the wagon
trail till | got to the lone tree, and then
head for the Black Canon, and he gave
me a switch to beat old Nan, cause he
said if Nan didn't run good, baby Frank
would never laugh any more,-and that
would be awful. So | beat her all the
way, and came dretful quick, and
Judging from the mares heaving sides,
the little one had ridden her for all she
was worth.
':Wal, give me Their letter, leetle un,
an We'll mighty soon see what's wanted"
The letter had been securely fastened
to the little ones dress, but it was soon
in Jacks hands.
Sissy, don't yer feel like eatin bite
of grub, and drinkin' cup of coffee?"
mo, thank you, sir, but am sleepy,
and very tired, and"
Juan, keep the child sort of amused
fer a mint, an boys come; and big
Jack led the way to the far end of. the
room.
Boys, here's the deuce ter pay"
In q low voice, he read the letter:
To the Boys at the Stone Corral:
was out on the ridge at the back of my
shanty, and not over twenty miles away |
saw u big band of Apaches coming They
vii be here inside of three hours. My little
girl is a good rider, and the mare is sure
footed and fast SO send this by her, asking
you for aid. May God guide her to you.
If you cannot help us, our doom is sealed
My relatives live in l., Michigan; write to
them in regard to my little daughter
Hoping and praying you are in sufficient
force to aid us, FRANK STANTON.
God knows | would not want help for my
self, but think Of my wife and baby.
Tears were in our eyes, as Jack
finished the short and rather incoherent