Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-08-05

6neau without catchlug the horse at the
same time. II successful be drags him to
the ground, more or less roughly. But
this is only play, rough as it Is. 1t would
be 20 play to be caught by the cruel rope
which the wretch was coiling on his left
arm.
| watched him as If fascinated. He
reached for the loop, opened 1t wide, turn
ed sidewise In the saddle and swung it
round his head. If it caught me / should
be dragged headlong to the ground. If
leaned close to the horse it would close over
US both, and we would go down together.
In either case certain injury or death
threatened me. In utter despair pulled
In my horse and stopped.
The Mexican rode swiftly up, coiling his
lasso as he came. The hard look gave way
to the same smile that he had worn before,
but thought detected something grim
in it this time. Again. with that horrible
politeness he said:
"Ah, the senior Is TOO queek-he no wait
to say adiosl But the boss, he is as say,
he Is vera fast. viii the senior no try my
boss now' 81, 81, I think he will lika try
chihuahua now. He's boss is mucha tired;
he lka leetle rest"
In the same graceful way as before he
threw himself to the ground, and instantly
caught MonteZuma by the bride. Twas
entirely unarmed. | had no doubt that
the Mexican was we'll armed and quite
ready TO kill me il attacked him. dis
mounted slowly, with bad grace To my
surprise the Mexican handed me the bride
of his horse with bow.
Now you shall try my Chihuahua
There is no more bettare in thees countree.
You will SO say eef you will try heem only"
But had no heart to mount. | had lit
tie doubt that the beast which was now
leering at me with a vicious eye would
buck me off at the first jump. The Mex
lean waited a moment out of sheer court
esy, then mounted Montezuma and started
gracefully off. He did not push him TO his
utmost at first, but went down the road
carefully, as if trying him. Then he turned
and came back at somewhat better pace
| stood like a dummy, holding the bride
of his horse and watching him. His riding
was magnificent exhibition, but was
not in condition to admire it.
AS if satisfied with the powers OF Monte
yuma, he turned again and came down
past me at full speed. As he passed me he
shouted few words in Spanish TO his
horse. The beast jerked back from me,
struck at me with his forefeet and was
after his master in an instant,
The Mexican had turned in his saddle
and was watching us with interest. AS his
horse broke away from me smile spread
| over the mans face, which was more than
| a smile of politeness, and he raised his hat
| In a sweeping bow of derision.
stood there as if paralyzed on Lone
| some valley desert, fifteen miles from
| home, and watched the villain ride my
| horse toward Mexico.
| But the Mexican cared too much for
| theatrical display. His people are the most
| perfect riders in the world, and my enemy
| was no exception to the rule. But be
made mistake in assuming that all horses
| are as sure footed as he was secure in his
seat This is true of Mexican ponies. the
| only ones he had ever ridden, but it was
| not true of Moutezuma
AS the Mexican spurred him deep, still
looking back over his shoulder at me,
Montezuma came TO gully or wash
There are thousands of these across every
road and trail in the southwest This one
was not more than three feet deep and five
| feet across. A native horse would have
| jumped it or leaped into it safely, even il
| it were six feet deep. But Montezuma, as
| he came to the wash, made no effort to
jump over, but plunged in with his fore
feet set together.
As he struck the bottom, which was OF
rock loosely covered with sand, his knees
doubled under him like straws The best
rider in the world could not have kept his
seat. The Mexican, still glancing back at
his own horse, went off as if hurled from
| q catapult.
Montezuma jumped up, shook himself
and limped slowly away. ! involuntarily
ran forward. The Mexican did not rise
and | guessed he was dead or stunned As
drew nearer. however. could see that he
was not dead, but very much alive He lay
on his back, with his right arm stretched
out over his head, and he was writhing tc
and fro as if in great pain.
| The man certainly was in a serious pre-
dicament. When Montezuma stumbled
he had been thrown straight upon a large
| fish hook cactus-a low cylindrical va
| riety, completely covered with long, recur
ring, overlapping, horny spines, of needle
| sharpness and most tenacious strength
They resemble enormous bone fish hook.
| in everything but the barb.
II the Mexican had struck this cactu.
! head foremost he would have been killed
outright. AS 1t was his right arm hat
been thrust deep into the long curvine
thorns. and they had closed into his arm
and hand, holding them in a grip OF steel
| As he lay there writhing on the ground
| his arm transfiXed in a dozen places with
| these inflexible hooks, saw my enemy de
| liyered into my power. 1t only remained
| to take advantage of the fortunate acct
| dent which had humbled him | first
searched him, and took possession of hi.
knife and revolver. Then, very slowly,
| freed his arm, cutting away the softer part.
| of the plant rather than trying the almost
| impossible task of cutting through the
| thorns
As the Mexican rose retreated 90 Mon
| tezuma's back, and covered the man witt
| the revolver, My precautions were use
| less. His arm was sprained as well a.
| gashed in dozen places by the crue
| hooks He painfully removed these, anC
| bound his arm in bandanna that he took
| from his neck.
Imotioned for him to walk ahead of me to
| ward the ranch. Wemade slow and sorry
| procession; the furious Mexican in front
Montezuma limping painfully, and myself
behind, the other horse following at some
| distance. But a sense of triumph sus
tanned me through the long journey.
At the ranch we dressed the villains
arm, set guard over him and sent for the
sheriff. He came, identified him as dar
ing horse thief wanted for several offences
in the northern part of the territory, and
relieved us OF his company.-Frank Gil
lette in Youths Companion.
|
| Stating the Case Frankly.
| The r-,rl 51o-