The morning call., 1892-10-18
A LUDICROUO ADVENTURE.

"Wbat's thatP Halt!' said our leader In
a sharp whisper. 1t was clear moonlight
night in the extreme southwest Of Mexico.
was visiting friend who conducted
large ranch and hacienda there. local
revolt had Just been quelled In the neigh
borhood and spirit of lawlessness still per-
yaded the atmosphere. Only the night De-
fore my friend had been fred upon and one
of his stcIehouses robbed by band OF
Indians some fifteen or twenty strong
Early in the morning four Of US, under the
leadership of cur host, had set out upon the
track Of the robbers.
We were we'll mounted. and resting only
a few hours at noon, had followed nara
after them till nearly midnight. Ii we met
them in a fair field we could drive them into
Quarters Ike COWS TO a pen, but We had
no MIND to run into q trap in the dark
with five against ff,eel; hencs great
WHATS thatP Haltp' our leader had
whispered.
We had come to the edge of a dense
wood, and across an open space, upon the
brow of low sand hill, clearly outlined In
the moonlight against the sky, we had as
covered a doZeD or more half-naked lei
lows. with their arms extended IN every a.
rectiOn, engaged in some sort OF WEIRD
fantastic dance. We could not see their
legs, for the tops of the trees beyond the
bill rose waist high. making black back
ground. but their arms moved slowly to and
fro and we couldseasily Imagine their legs
keeping company.
''lhose are the theves! our host NUT
tered. 81 know them even night on
fellows just come to the edge of the wood,
where they can see you without knowing
how many there are of you, and I'll nave
them down here in no time.
He rode out alone TO the foot OF the hill.
Ii required no little courage. and we watched
him with propOrtionate admiration. Inc
figures did not cease their dance or notice
MIN. Suddenly, with his rife at his shout
der, he called out to them:
81 have you there! II one Of you moves
I'll shoot him dead!'
The wind had been blowing through the
trees, so that we could not have heard their
response, but fortunately at that moment il
ceased, and in the deep silence which settled
down upon tue forest IN such mOmentaTy
iull We waited for the result. Every Indian
suddenly ceased his dancing and stood like
a statue outlined against the sky.
Come down here now" shouted our host
"Come quietly, too, for the first man who
makes any trouble drops dead"
We could hear sound, as of hurried
consultation Of some sort, going on upon
the bill for moment, but the wind sprang
up again before We could distinguish a single
voice, ana 20 our utter ast0nishment the
fellows actually began their solemn dance
again.
Come down or I'll shoot!" roared our
host, but they kept on dancing and lie did
shoot.
Then there was commotion enough. A
wild ely. followed by a cloud of dust, rose
from the brow of the hill.
"Firel' yelled our host, and we respond ed
with well-almed volley. while he whipped
out his heavy revolver and gave them an
other peppering.
There was perfect bedlam Of screams
from the hill and the dust hid everything
from view. They were either coming do wn
upon US IN an unexpected horde or running
for their lives.
For us it was either fly or follow. We
waited irresolutely for the word of ouI
leader, when the dust settled and there
stood tie Indians silently going on with
their fantastic dance as though we Were a
hundred miles away.
with fierce ejaculation our host put
spurs to his horse and dashed I'D the hill
We followed without command, to fad him
upon Tie summit sitting on the ground be-
Heath line Of gaunt and ghostlike priekly
peaTs-the ungainly cactus of Mexico. They
extended along the brow OF the hill, their
naked skeleton branches spreading out in
every unacc0untable way and swsying
soiemnly in the breeze.
Among the roots a multitude Of burrows
N TIE dry dust shoWea where the sandbirds
mad been lying, half buried and quietly
sleeping. and 1t was their noisy yelp We
heard when they were frightened away by
our hosts duel with the cactus.