San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-23

Dan. stole cautiously up to the hut and
Deered IN.
vapced. ana soon there was noSE.E= -
mark the course of the creek save few
stunted dogwoods and plum bushes. He
had just left these behind and COM
menced his journey across the great
level prairie, when the outlines of
cabin suddenly doomed up through the
darkness.
The was no light visible about the
place, and it was evident that the owner
was absent from home.
Dan approached and knocked upon the
door, but no answer came in response to
his knock.
"It's Abe Crocker's cabin" said Dan,
recognizing the place. He must have
gone over to the settlers meeting at the
inn"
He again knocked upon the door, and,
receiving no answer, he opened it and
went in. The door was not fastened, as
was usual in those days, and lighting
match Dan soon had candle burning
Then going to a pine cupboard in the
corner of the room he opened it and took
out some pieces of bread and cold boiled
beef ON which he made hearty lunch.
When his frugal repast had been dis
patched, he drew a pencil and notebook
from his pocket and wrote brief note
to his parents, stating that he had left
the settlement but would return in the
course of week. This he left on the
table with a short note to Abe Croker
telling of his visit to the cabin, and ask
ing him to deliver the accompanying
note to his father.
Then he extinguished the light and
went out closing the door after him. In
entering the cabin and procuring food,
Dan had only done what was customary
among the settlers of the west at the
time of which write
Having satisfied his hunger in a
manner: Dan now set out across the
prairie at brisk walk. 1t was his in
tention to push forward to Drywood
creek. some ten miles to the north, where
he hoped to find some settlers cabin
where he could obtain lodging till the
next morning.
After travelling for nearly three hours
he suddenly discovered a dim line of
timber close ahead and knew he had at
last arrived at Drywood. But he knew
nothing of that part of the country
scarcely, and he realized that he would
have great difficulty in finding any set
tiers cabin, as there were few in that To-
cality at that time.
But trusting to luck, he continued, his
course, travelling down the creek in a
northeasterly direction. Keeping near
the edge Of the timber, he kept sharp
lookout for any signs of human habita-
ton.
He had travelled for mile perhaps,
when he caught sight Of a CLEAN of light
through an opening in the trees close to
the stream, and, hurrying forward, he
soon discovered that it proceeded from a
rude log hut which was almost entirely
surrounded by dense growth of timber
and underbrush. The chinking had
fallen from between the logs in several
places, and it was through these open
ings that the light had proceeded which
had first attracted Dams notice.
The sound of mems voices within the
cabin could be heard as the youth drew
near, and sudden thought came to
him that caused him to come to an
abrupt halt Perhaps the inmates of
the shanty were cattlemen. and if such
should prove to be the case it would be
decidedly dangerous to make his pres
ence known--for it was likely that they
had heard of the incident of the morning
and might readily identify him as the
youth of whom Ropes and his men were
in search.
Still the men in the cabin might SIM
ply be settlers. and to satisfy himself on
this point Dan stole cautiously up to
the hut and peered in. To his surprise
he saw fully dozen rough looking men
inside. They were seated about table
in the center of the room upon which
were several black bottles, and were dis
cussing some matter of great import.
That they were not cattlemen was evil
dent by their dress, and Dan would have
nau no ueSlJdJlOH III plOHOuhSlh5 ONNA
to be settlers who had met on some mu-
tual business had not their words con-
WINGED him to the contrary.
For several moments Dan stood there
listening to the conversation going on
within, from which he learned most
startling fact The men were nothing less
than band of the Hf2sst desperate out.