Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-07-29

through his fingers or turn over pebble
to see if it carried mineral he wandered far
up the dry channel out of sight and hear.
ing of the wagon. Absorbed in his entran.
cling 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 between him and
his outfit, the spectacle of Pete's tall, shiny
hat bobbing up in the air caused him to
stop short to investigate matters before
going farther. Crouching low, he stole to
a point where, hidden by tufts of sand
grass, he could see what was going CD
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 throwing out the contents tC
five of the Indians, who examined them as
they fell. Upon the seat stood stalwart
warrior in breechclout and moccasins, his
head adorned with Petes high hat, set of
by an eagles feather in the band. With
frequent strokes of the heavy "blacksnake"
whip he was stimulating the Negroes exer
tions, and occasionally, for the same pur
pose 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, tobacco and ammunition
were welcomed with grunts of satisfaction
but the plunderers were angry at finding
no "whisk."
They had with them two horses which
bore harness marks, showing them to have
been captured recently from some freight
err. Rhody, Joe's favorte riding mule, had
been led to the wagon, and upon her the
Apaches were packing their plumber. Hav
ing selected what they wished they held a
short powwow, which ended by one of them
taking from his belt war club, the handle
tipped with the end of cows tail, and ad
vancing threateningly upon the trembling
prisoner.
Shaking with fear and indignation, Joe
fingered his revolver longing to send a
shot straight into the murderous savage,
whose painted face looked domoniac as he
poised his weapon. There was nothing
that the boy could do to help the captive,
liable to be discovered at any moment, his
own life was in deadly peril. and he could
only gaze in dread of what was to come,
Pete's eyes, rolling wildly with terror
sped the bottle which, unnoticed, lay
wrapped in the 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 beamin9
look as uncorking 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 pleas
ure as, rubbing his stomach, he passed the
bottle to his companions now eagerly gath
cred around him.
The Apaches had not yet taken the "dia.
mond hitch" to secure the pack firmly tc
Rhody's back. AT the magic word 'whisk'
they had left the mule with the lariat
dangling loose, and while the bottle went
around among them the knowing animal
not liking her company, quietly started ur
the channel, distributing her load by the
way. She quickened her steps to gallon
as An Indian darted in pursuit and round
ing the turn in the bank passed close by
Joe. Clutching the swinging rope he
brought the animal to him, and in an in
slant more was on her back, giving hei
free head as she dashed up the bottom, fol
lowed by whizzing bullets sent wildly after
|
their firearms.
He had often ridden Rhody without sad
die or bride, and she readily obeyed his
touch on her neck. Once out of range, he
turned her head up the bank, making fol
the high plain and the trail back to Cactus
| station. Two of the Indians, who haC
sprung to their horses backs, appeared
upon the desert about 800 yards behind hin
in swift pursuit.
Ii was race for life, with the chance:
singularly even. Joe knew Rhody's pace
as swift and untiring, but behind him wer,
horses ridden by Indians, masters of tn,
art of getting the utmost speed and endur
ance from an animal. After mile h,
looked back and saw that they had gained
a little on him. ten minutes later they wer,
nearer; at the end of an hour they hat
shortened the intervening distance fully
hundred yards.
His one hope of escape was in Rhody'
endurance. If he could keep so far aheaC
of his pursuers that they should not dis
able him or his beast by shot he believed
he could tire out their horses. But wheI
two hours had passed they had draw
dangerously near. AS he reached poin
where the trail descended steeply to
lower level of the desert, the foremost In
| dian nred at him, and at the whlzZlng o
the ball close by his head the mule swerved
Her foot struck rolling stone, she plowe,
on her knees down the slope and over he
head went Joe. Rhody was up and ava.
in an instant, while her master, fallen upol
his shoulder, with the breath knocked GU
of his body by the shock, turned, revolve
in hand, to face the enemy.
What did it mean-this sharp crackin!
of rifles, these excited men about him il
wide brimmed hats, California overall
and heavy boots, these ringing calls;
There's one down. Give it to tn
other. Quick! he's running "Hooray
there, you have him! Well done, jack
"Out quick, some o. you and catch tn
horses" Here, Tom, help to lift the boy
Hand him some water; he's faint"
Joe, whose shoulder was painful,
wrenched, weakened a moment with
lapse of darkness, then rallying he stag
gered to the top of the rise. His pursuer
lay dead upon the plain, and two men wer
riding after their horses, which they quick
ly caught. Rhody came back to him o
her own accord. Captain Mckinley, tn
leader of the prospecting party, asked tn