Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-23
A FIGHT WITH CACTUS.
A Risky Story Of Western Misad venture Tsil
by the Colonel.

A Risky Story Of Western Misad venture TslA
by the Colonel
From the Louisville courier-Journal
HALT What's that" said our lsadsr IN q
sharp whisper.
1t was a clear moonlight night in the extreme
southwest of Mexico.
I was visiting friend who conducted large
ranch and hacienda there.
A local revolt had just been quelled In the
neighborhood and a spirit of lawlessness still
pervaded the atmosphere. Only the night be-
fore my friend had been fired 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 out upon the track Of the robbers
We were well mounted aud. resting only few
hours at noon, had followed hard after them
till nearly midnight. IL we met them in fair
field could drive them into quarters Ike cows
10 pen, but we had mind 10 run into a trap
In the dark with five against fifteen, hence
caution
THE THIEVES.
"Halt! What's that" our leader had whis-
pered- We had come to the edge Of a dense
woods and across an open space, upon the brow
of q low sand hill clearly outlined in the moon
light against the sky, We had discovered q
dozen or more half-naked fellows. with their
arms extended in every direction, engaged in
We could not see their legs for the tops Of
the trees beyond the hill rose waist high, MAX
ing black background, but their arms moved
slowly to and fro and we could easily imagine
their legs keeping company.
Those are the thieyes!" our host muttered-
Il know them, even at night. You fellows Just
come 10 the edge Of the wood, where they can
see you without knowing how many there ere
of you, and III have them down here In No
time"
II required no little courage, and We WATCHED
him with proportionate admiration
The figures did not cease their dance or notice
him. Suddenly, with his rifle at his shoulder,
he called to them: 81 have you therei' II onS
Of you moves III shoot him dsadl'
The wind had been blowing through the
trees, SO that we could not have heard their re-
Spouse, but, fortunately, at that moment u
ceased, and in the deep silence which ssstled
down upon the forest In such . momamHasy
lull waited for the result.
Every Indian suddenly ceased his dAnc1n0
and stood like o statue outlined against The sky.
''Come down here, now" shouted our hosl
"Come quietly, too, for the fntman who uAk0
any trouble drops dead"
We could hear . sound, % OF . hurried con-
sultation Of some sort, going on upon the hil
for Q moment, but the wind sprung up again
before We could distinguish single voice, and,
to our utter astonishment, the fsllows actuany
began their solemn dance again
CONVICTION.
81 "Come down or III shooti' roared our hosl
but they kept on dancing and he did shoot.
Then there was oommotion enough WA
CRY, followed BY cloud Of dust, rose fsom u
brow Of the hill
Fire yelled our host, and We responded
With well-aimed volley, while he whipped ous
his heavy revolver and gave thsm snofhsr pep
pering.
There was perfect bedlam Of screams from
the hill, and the dust hid everything from view.
They were either coming down upon us In ~
unexpected horde running for their lives.
For us II was either ny or follow. We waited
irresolutely for the word Of our leader vhsu
the dust settled and there stood the Indians,
silently going on with their fantastic dance =
though We were q hundred miles away.
With 6erce ejaculation our host put spun
70 his horse and dashed up the hill We fol-
lowed, without command, 10 find him upon IL
summit, hitting on the ground beneath . line q
gsunt and ghostly like prickly psaD-ths N
eAinly cactus Of Mexico.
They extended along the brow Of he I'M
their naked, skeeton branches spresding out =
every unAccountable nay and svaying soleanlk
In the breeze.
Among TIE roots . nulsituds Of burrows Z
The dry dust showed vhsre the ssnd bird -
been lying half buried, and quietly slespine,
and Il We. d.. noisy yelp Ne hard vhsa ~
were heightened away By cur hasts DID ~