The Southern news., 1892-10-15
"A FIGHT WITH CACTUS
"A RISKY STORY OF "a WESTERN MIS-
ADVENTURE AT NIGHT.

A Ludicrous Adventure of a Party Hunt
Ing Indians ia Southwestern Mexico
The Bravery of Leader Drought Rid
icuIe Upon Himself
sHalt. Whats that:'' sal onr leader
In sharp whisper
It was clear moonlight night in the
extreme southwest Of Mexico.
was visiting a friend who conducted
q large ranch and hacienda there.
A local revolt had just been quelled in
the neighborhood and q spirit Of lawless-
ness still pervaded the atmosphere. Only
the night before my friend had been
fred upon and one Of his storehouses
robbed by band Of Indians some fifteen
or twenty strong. EARLY in the morning
four of us, under the leadership Of our
host, had set ont upon the track of the
robbers.
We were well mounted, and resting
only few hours at Oon had followed
hard after them till nearly midnight. If
we met them in fair field we could
drive them into quarters like cows to
pen, but we had no mind to run into
trap in the dark with five against fif-
teen; hence caution.
'sHalt! What's that?" our leader had
whispered. We had come to the edge
Of dense woods, and across an open
space, upon the brow Of low sand hill,
clearly outlined in the moonlight against
the sky, we had discovered a dozen or
more half naked fellows. with their
arms extended in every direction, en-
gagged in some sort Of weird, fantastic
dance.
We could not see their legs, for the
tops Of the trees beyond the hill rose
waist high, making black background,
but their arms moved slowly to and fro
and we could easily imagine their legs
keeping company.
"Those are the thieves our host NUT
tered. II know them, even at night.
You 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 have them down here in no
time"
He rode out alone to the foot of the
hill.
1t required no little courage. and we
watched him with proportionate admira-
ton.
The figures did not cease their dance
or notice him. Suddenly, with his rifle
at his shoulder, he called to them: 81
have you there! If one Of you moves
I'll shoot him dead.'
The wind had been blowing through
the trees, 80 that we could not have
heard their response, but fortunately at
that moment it ceased, ana in the deep
silence which settled down upon the
forest in such Il momentary lull we
waited for the result.
Every Indian suddenly ceased his
dancing and stood like 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. y
Wecould hear sound, as of a hurried
consultation Of some sort, going on upon
the hill for moment, but the wind
sprung up again before we could dis
tinguish single voice, and to our utter
astonishment the fellows actually began
their solemn dance again.
.Come down or Ill shootr roared our
host, but they kept on dancing and he
did shoot.
Then there was commotion enough
A wild cry, followed by q cloud of dust
rose from the brow Of the hill.
Fire" yelled our host, and we re-
sponded with well aimed volley, while
he whipped out his heavy revolver and
rr,xa +l,a,,, npotbar r,apnnripu
There was perfect bedlam Of screams
from the hill, and the. dust hid every
thing from view They We're either com
ing down upon us in an unexpected
horde or running for their lives.
For us it was either fly or follow. W.
waited irresolutely for the word of oul
leader, when the dust settled and there
stood the Indians, silently going on will
their fantastic dance as though we were
hundred miles away.
With fierce ejaculation our host pu
spurs to his horse and dashed up th'
hill. We followed, without command
to find him upon the summit, sitting OF
the ground beneath line of gaunt ant
ghostlike prickly pears-the ungainl,
cactus Of Mexico.
They extended along the brow of thu
hill, their naked, skeleton branche
spreading ont in every unaccountabl'
way and swaying solemnly in the breeze
Among the roots a multitude of bur
rows in the dry dust showed where th
sandbirds had been lying, half buried
and quietly sleeping; and it was thei
noisy yelp we heard when they wer
frightened away by our hosts duel witt
the cactus Louisville Courier-J Journal