San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-09
THE SANTA FL TRAIL.
By MRS. ]. K. HUDSON.

Copyright, 1897 by American Press AssociI.
toni
with passing breeze, perhaps; or, was
it a creuching form creeping on nearer
and nearer-4s dozeni "a score! hundreds!
On every side the grass was alive with
Indians, and simultaneously with Cap
tain Jose's command to fire." they
sprang forward yelling like demons and
falling over one another in frenzy of
surprise and rage. The reception was
too much for them: they fell back, leav-
ing many dead and wounded within a
few feet of the corral, a CHASTITY and
writing Gordon about the barricade.
The Indians had planned a surprise
for the camp. They thought to steal up
TO the corral and charge upon it so sud
denly in the uncertain light that they
could kill many of the freighters while
vet upon the ground asleep. The old
Mexican had outwitted them.
The green men under his command
set up shout of victory, but it was
quickly checked.
Save your breath said veteran of
the trail. 1.-The enemy is repulsea, but not
vanquished, begorra! We may be here
for days yit. and we may niver git on
agin; the saints preserve u.s.
Repulsed, but not vanquished; that
was the situation comprehended instant
ly by every man familiar with Indian
warfare.
Up through the now fast coming light
e IL L.
point of the great rock, the Indians tele-
graph for ages, lighted on that same
point for the summoning of friendly
tribes before the white man ever crossed
the Mississippi from the east or Coro-
nado traversed the plains from the west.
Higher and higher it blazed us the say
ages piled dried grass and brush on its
bed. Long tongues of flame leaped up
into the air, clouds of smoke rolled away
over the prairie, and then it all died out
as suddenly as it was kindled. The ashes
of the light stuff blew away on the next
wind that touched the top of the old
rock, and before the rolling ball of smoke
had melted into the nearest white float
ing cloud the beacon fire was out. But
it had done its swift errand we'll
The Indians down by the river and
those on the rock, all now plainly visible
from the corral, went calmly about the
preparations for the morning meal.
There were no squaws with the band
and no lodge poles were carried; it was
evidently war party. Breakfast was
made ready in the corral too There
was no hunger wherewith to season the
food, but every man knew that he must
eat to fortify himself for battle-perhaps
that he might be able to summon cour-
age to meet death bravely.
There is the answering signal; yon-
der to the south" cried some one on the
lookout
Yes, there it was, faint, unsteady
pennon of blue smoke wavering in the
wind. The Indians saw it, but made no
sign-they knew it would come. The
stolid meal went on, the wary eyes keep
ing watch only on the corral so that no
white man might creep to the river or
the springs for water.
Jose Valdez wore an anxious look.
He had said that it would take the In
dams at least four hours to come to the
aid of the attacking band.
IT'LL thin" added the Irishman, I'VE
can slape or ate or make your wills.
b'ys, as We like. Pat Duffy will clane
his gun and be ready fer the divils, bad
cess to thin"
Most of the command followed Pats
example and cleaned their rifles, but
they could not joke nor make light of
their predicament, it was too serious;
that was plainly indicated by the faces
of Captain Jose and the other old plains,
men.