Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-09-24
lFIGHT WITHC CACTUS
lssKY STORY OF A WESTERN MIS-
ADVENTURE AT NIGHT.

AIudletous Adventure Of q Party Hunt
ing indians In southwestern Mexico.
The nravory Of Leader brought Rid
isuic Upon Himself.
"Halu what's that" said our leader
ia sharp whisper.
It was clear moonlight night in the
uireno southwca. Of Mexico.
Twas visiting u friend who conducted
.large ranch and hacienda thore.
A local revolt had just been quclled in
he neighborhood and spirit Of lawlcss-
,essstill pervadod the atmosphere. Only
Ne night before my friend had been
fred upon aud one OF his ttorohousoa
f5bbed bya band OF Indians some fifteen
Ct twenty strong. Early IN the morning
four Of us, under tho leadership of our
host. had set out upon the track Of the
robbers.
We were well mounted, nnd resting
only few hours nt room had followed
hard after them till nearly midnight. II
We met them In n fair field we could
Dive them into quarters like COWS 20 Il
peu. but we haf no mind TO run into n
tap in the darl; with five against iif.
been; hence caution.
HALT Whats thatY" our leader had
whispered. We had come TO the edge
Of a dense woods, and across an open
space, upon tho brow Of low sund hill,
dearly outlined In the moonlight agains
the ky, we had discovered dozen OF
more half naked fellows. with then
AIMS extended In every direction, On
gagged Ia some sort OF u weird, fantastic
dance.
We could not see their legs, for IN,
TOPS Of the trees beyond the hill ros,
waist high. making u black background
bat their arms moved slowly TO and fr,
and we could easily imagine their leg
keeping company.
Those are the thioyesp our host NUT
Tend. 81 know them, oven nj night
lou fellows just come TO tho edge Of tn
wood, whore they can see you withou
knowing how many There are of you
aud III have them down here in N
time
He rode ont alone to the foot Of tn
bill.
tpquired no little courage, and W
watched him with proportionate adnira
ton.
The figures did not cease their dane
oFnotice him. Suddenly, with his riil
at his shoulder, he called to thom; "
have you thercl II one Of you move
Tlshoot him deadI'
The wind had been blowing throug
The trees, 70 that we could not hay
heard their response, but fortunately a
mat moment it ceased, and in the dee
Silence which settled down upon tn
iorest in such II momcntary lull "
waited for the result.
Every Indian suddenly ceased HI
oaneing and stood like u statue outline
against the sky.
Come down here now" shouted on
most Come quietly, too, for the fir
man who makes any trouble drops dead
Necould hear sound, as of u hurrie
.ohsnllation Of some sort, going ON upo
me NIL for moment, but the win
iHang up again before we could di
anguish single voice, and to our utt,
lohlshmcnt the fellows actually bega
"elr solemn dance again.
Come down or III shootm roared OF
did shoot.
linen thore was commotion enoug
avid cry, followed by cloud of dus
'0,e rom the brow Of the hill.
Ere" yelled our host, and we 7
Vhled with . well aimed volloy, viii
W whipped out his heavy revolver NJ
gave them another peppering.
inelc was perfect bedlam Of screen
n mym Tue hill, and the dust hid ever
mug from view. They were either COZ
s Town upon us in an unexpect,
Ay,uo OF running for their lives.
ior US 1t was either ily or follow. v
waited irresolutely for the word of o.
.1uef' when the dust settled and the
a '9a Tue Indians, silently going on wi
. Iplr fantastic dance as though we We
"Tuh ld miles away.
WIN u llorce ejaculation our host u
,fS'S 70 his horse and dashed up /
u,, we followed, without commau
\ hha him upon the summit, sitting
S'' s,9nnd beneath a line of gannt n
"uslllNe pricl'ly pears-the ungain
cactus Of Mexico.
nihey extended along the brow of [
,r '' uielr naked, skeleton branch
,ymsauing out in every unaccountal
way aud swaying golemnly in the bree.
,o~.- iions the roots n multitude of bl
, s"1 ~ me dry dust showed where I
and u a'. had been lying, half burr,
quietly sleeping anu it was tn