The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-06

eral, he wandered far mp the dry chan
mel, out of sight and hearing of the
wagon. Absorbed in bis enhancing
/ pursuit, Joe took no heed of the pass.
ing minutes, until the length of his
| shadow on the ground warned him
| that it was time to return to the team.
As he retraced his steps, looking
across the last turn Of the bank be-
tween him and his outfit, the spec
tacle of Petes tail shiny hat bobbing
| high In the air caused him to stop
| short to investigate matters before GO
| ing further. Crouching low, he stole
! to the point where, hidden by tufts of
sandgrass, he could see what was going
on about the spring.
Six Apaches in war-paint had
captured and now were plundering the
outfit. In the body of the wagon
Pete was at work for dear life throw
ing out the contents to five of the
Indians, who examined them as they
fell Upon the seat stood stalwart
warrior in breech clout and moccasins,
his head adorned with Pete's high hat,
set off by an eagles feather in the
band. With frequent strokes of the
heavy "blacksnake" whip he was
stimulating the Negroes exertions; and
occasionally, for the same purpose, or
for private enjoyment, an Apache
would point a rifle at the captive.
The bacon the Indians left where it
fell; the flour they emptied upon the
ground, and laid the sacks aside to
take away. The sugar, coffee, to-
bacco and ammunition were welcomed
with grunts of satisfa ction, but the
plunderers were angry at finding no
''whisk'
They had with them two horses,
which bore harness marks, showing
them to have been captured recently
from some freighter. Rhody, Joe's
favorite riding mule, had been led to
the wagon, and upon her the Apaches
were packing their plumber. Having
selected what they wished, they held a
short powwow, which ended by one of
them taking from his belt war club,
the handle tipped with the end of
cows tail, and advancing threaten
Shaking with fear and indignation,
Joe fingered his revolver, longing to
send shot straight into the murder
Gus savage, whose painted face looked
demoniac as he poised his weapon.
There was nothing that the boy could
do to help the captive; liable to be dis
covered at any moment, his own life
was in deadly peril, and he could only
gaze in dread Of what was to come.
Pete's eye, rolling wildly with ter
ror, spied the bottle which, unnoticed,
lay wrapped in its gunny-sack at his
feet, and, picking it up, he unrolled
and offered it to the Indian, who paused
at his motion. The warriors frowning
face took on beaming look as. I'M
corking it, he recognized the odor of
liquor.
They'll kill him sure fur givin' 'em
that stuff" gasped Joe, under his
breath. They'll low he means to pizen
the hull outfit"
But the Indian, after taking a long
pull at the mixture, showed nothing
but pleasure as, rubbing his stomach,
he passed the bottle to his cornpan-
ions now eagerly gathered around him.
The Apaches had not yet taken the
diamond hitch" to secure the pack
firmly to Rhody's back. At the magic |
word "whisk" they had left the mule |
with the lariat dangling loose, and !
while the bottle went round among
them, the knowing animal, not liking
her company, quietly started up the
channel, distributing her load by the |
way. She quickened her steps to gall |
lop as an Indian darted in pursuit, and, !
rounding the turn in the bank, passed |
close by Joe. Clutching the swinging |
rope, he brought the animal to him, |
and in an instant more was on her
back, giving her free head as she |
dashed up the bottom, followed by
bullets sent wildly after them
as soon as the Indians could seize their
firearms.
He had often ridden Rhody without /
saddle or bride, and she readily obeyed ,
his touch on her neck Once out of /
range, he turned her head up the bank,
making for the high plain and the trail
back to Cactus station. Two of the In
dams, who had sprung to their horses
backs, appeared upon the desert, about
three hundred yards behind him, in
swift pursuit.
1t was race for life, with the chances
'ingularly even Joe knew Rhody's
pace as swift and untiring, but behind
lim were horses ridden by Indians,
masters of the art OF getting the ut
most speed and endurance from an ami
nal. After a mile he looked back and
saw that they had gained little on
aim; ten minutes later they were
nearer; at the end of an hour they had
shortened the intervening distance fully
a hundred yards.
tbs one hope of escape was in Rhody's
endurance. If he could keep so far
ahead of his pursuers that they should
lot disable him or his beast by shot
ne believed he could tire out their
horses. But when two hours had
passed they had drawn dangerously
lear. As he reached point where the
rail descended steeply to lower level
If the desert the foremost Indian fired
1T him, and at the whizzing of the bali
lose by his head the mule swerved.
Her foot struck rolling stone, she
Dlowed on her knees down the slope
md over her head went Joe. Rhody
vas up and away in an instant, while
Ter master, fallen upon his shoulder.
With the breath knocked out of his
body by the shock, turned. revolver in
hand, to face the enemy
What did 1t mean-the sharp crack