Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-02-29

plain that lay to the south.
A few minutes gallop brought us to
a stretch of sandy plain, but scarcely
had we reached this when, glancing
backward, we saw the whole band Of
Apaches flashing their ponies and COM
ing in swift pursuit,
The war ponies of the Apaches are
always the best that can be either
purchased 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 a decidedly close place.
However, there was nothing left
for us to do but to trust to the fleet
ness of our horses to carry us out OF
danger, as a fight on the open plain
with such a number Of Apaches would
be worse than madness. We had not
ridden a mile before it was plainly
evident that our pursuers were gain
ing on us rapidly and must soon over
take us.
The sun was still high in the west
ern horizon, and there was no hope
that we could keep up the race till
darkness would offer us chance Of
escape. Unless we could soon gain
cover of some kind we would be fore
ed to stop and fight our pursuers on
the open plain, and in that case it
was not hard to imagine the outcome.
On, on we urged our painting horses
with the yelling savages drawing
nearer and nearer to us with every
step.
Suddenly Manuel turned his horse
slightly to the left, and pointing across
the plain, said:
eve must get to the house."
Then for the first time I saw a small
and toward this we urged our horses
at their greatest speed.
A few minutes ride brought US to
the house, which proved to be one Of
those small abode structures so COM
mon in New Mexico and Arizona,
erected for the use Of the Mexican
sheep herders, but long since aban-
doned.
In moment we had thrown our
selves from our saddles and stood by
the open door.
'Come,'' said Manuel, eve must
get the horses inside.''
Quickly we entered the cabin, lead
ing our horses after US. A glance
CIou,o6 ZIG +J,ot xx,o y.,oro i'm n room,
about Il feet square, with a single
hole in the western wall that served
as a window. The door, which was
on the eastern side, was a rickety af-
fair, rudely constructed of pine slabs
and now showing very plainly the
signs of decay.
We had barely time to gain the in
side and bar the door with the wood
en- bolt with which it was provided,
when the Apaches, with yells Of saw
age rage, dashed up within sixty
yards of the cabin and began circling
about it, but not shot was fired.
After some little time spent in man
euvering they suddenly separated
into two squads, one going to the
west of the house, and the other re-
naming on the east.
1t is hard to understand the maneu-
vers of band of Apaches, and we
kept on our guard, ready for an at
tack that might come at any moment.
l stood by the door, rifle in hand,
while Manuel, stationed at the west
by the window, kept sharp lookout
in that direction.
1 was soon evident that they did not
doubtless intended to wait until night
fall, when they could do so under
cover of darkness.
This was Manuel's view of the stu
alton, and it required no argument to
show us that we had little hopes Of
being able to hold the place against
them.
Scattered about the room were a
few pine boxes and several articles Of
cast off clothing, and in one corner a
pile of black wool and straw, which
had doubtless done service as bed
in the past.
The floor was of clay and the wall
of sun dried brick Or adobe, while the
roof was Of boards, held in their place
by huge wooden pins.
Now that we were apparently free
from any immediate danger, I began
to rack my brain for some plan of es-
cape.
Night would soon be upon us, and
then we might expect an attack. 1t
would not require much force to beat
down the rickety door, and then we
would be at the mercy of the merci-