Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-02-29

e'Can you guide me to Mason's
ranch?''
eyes, senor."
every well. I shall expect to start
ut sunrise morrow"
81 will be ready, senor."
''Can you furnish two good horses?'
asked.
eyes"
%FThen you may come at the ap-
pointed time.''
With a low bow the Mexican guide
turned and strolled down the street.
was seated on the piazza Of a
large two story frame house, which
possessed the distinction Of being the
only hotel in Nutt's Station, little
town situated on the Sante Fe Rail
road in southern New Mexico, 25
miles from the Mexican line.
had just arrived from Los Vergos,
and was on my way to Mason's ranch
which lies 40 miles to the northwest
of that place. The guide whose SER
vices I had engaged was a young
was slender in build, with hair Of a
Jet black and skin OF a deep copper
color.
He might easily have passed for a
fall blooded Indian, so dark was his
complexion, yet there was an indi-
Cation of intelligence in his face and
something of shrewdness in his deep
black eyes.
Though only youth, he had been
recommended to me as thoroughly
competent person TO guide me any
where in the Territory.
1t was just sunrise the next morn
ing when my youthful guide, Manuel
Garcia, made his appearance at the
hotel with two horses bridled and
-saddled, ready for our journey.
He was armed with repeating ri
-ffe and two pistols, while had only
ways carried with me in my travels.
However, seeing that Manuel had
thought it necessary to be well arm
ed, procured rifle and 100 rounds
of cartridges before leaving the sta
ton.
Thus equipped we set out on our
Journey, taking a course to the north
west, in the direction of the San
Francisco range of mountains.
The plain over which we were trav-
cling soon began to give place to
more hilly and broken country, with
here and there narrow canyon that
wound its way through ranges of low
bills
1t was in the afternoon. We had
travelled % miles at least, and were
making our way across strip of bar
rem plain, when suddenly Manuel
reined in his horse and dismounted.
Bending down he examined the
ground closely for some time, then he
cast a hasty glance about US.
<'Los Apache!' he said, making a
gesture to the west with his hands
%tDo you think there are Apaches in
this Nicinity?' I asked in alarm.
He nodded his head and pointed to
the ground.
L glanced downward and could
plainly see the marks of unshod hors-
es IN the sandy soil.
perhaps we had better turn back"
Z suggested. ''I am not anxious to
encounter band of hostile savages.''
But Manuel assured me that such
course of action was MOTTO be thought
Of There might be no danger after
all but if there were it could not be
aEerted by returning. 1t was just as
probable that we might encounter the
Apaches by doing SO as by continuing
on our course. So, after a few mo-
]rnents spent in considering the mat
ter we resumed our journey.
We rode on three or four miles fur
tEer, when, in crossing little hill,
we came suddenly in sight of squad
of perhaps twenty Indians advancing
from the north and not more than a
mile away.
Turning our horses quickly about,
and keeping under the brow of the
bill, we galloped to the south, hoping
to avoid an encounter with them.
There was chance that our pres
ence had not been discovered by the
Indians, and it was our aim to put as