The Van Buren press., 1893-09-23

v
rings out defiant cry OF triumph. as
II victory were already assured.
Shortening yet more his stride and
crouching like pather about to spring,
the beautiful animal nears the gaping
void, and we see him shoot, rocket
like, high in the air, while the Indians,
still hundred yards distant, are
stricken dumb and motionless by sheer
wonder One half-second of suspense;
then we break once more into Wild
cheers, for the powerful stallion has
cleared the chasm and reached the op-
posite bank. All, mol Something is
wrong. From where we stand we can
see the head and shoulders of rider and
horse; but both are stationary. Neither
shows out In full, and instantly we
understand. that, although the latter
may have jumped far more than twenty
feet, he has been obliged to stake Off
too far back from the crumbling edge
OF the ravine and has fallen short OF
perfect success
A low moan of horror runs through
our helpless crowd. All seems lost!
Not for ten seconds can the chest and
forefeet OF the good horse maintain
their precarious hold. He and his
rider must fall backward into the ter
rible abyss. Tom Ross sits in his sad
die not twenty feet away, paralyzed by
the emminence of the danger. Not
otherwise can we account for his In
action while fractions of seconds are
precious
One instant more, and the gallant
pair must perish before our eyes. But,
no; the old plainsman, Joe Carroll, had
come within fifty yards Of the gulch
when the leap was made, and now, as
he spurs on still faster. we see his right
hand whirling around his head
though too far off to see what the
hands hold, we know what the motion
means-and in another moment, while
yet score Of feet from his mark, he
has thrown the loop of his lasso around
the imperiled mans body and his horse
upon its launches at the same time.
The well-trained animal instantly pulls
backward; the tough rawhide line
tightens, and Kit Carson lies safe upon
the swardl
Alas, though, for the poor steed! Be-
fore his master has been fairly drawn
from his back, he topples over and, with
a shrill cry, more fearful than that of
a human being In its agony, falls down
-down-down to a swift, but happily
painless, death.
Then we awoke from our trance of
terror and ran with might and main
toward the scene. We found our lead
ers each clasping a hand Of the IA
nous scout, and were In time to hear
him say:
1--WE squeezed through lots of tighter
places than this, men, but have new
err before paid such price for my life.
No amount Of money could have
tempted me to part with that horse.
He's saved my scalp over and over again
and has at last died for me. But"
turning to us, quick with your rifles,
bows! Those red devils are going to
run for it."
STEADY men, steady" enjoined Kit
Carson. "Shoot to kill"
NOW boys, nowl'' prompted the vet
eran fighter, as the cloud Of ponies
turned tail to US, thereby partially ex-
posing the ir riders.
Thirty rifles cracked at the word, and
four mustangs and nine braves went
down; but before we could reload,
every dead or wounded Indian was
caught up between two of his unhurt
comrades and, with demoniacal yells OF
rage, the whole crowd skmrried away.
Then we brought our wagons down
to the ravine, made temporary bridge
with their poles dashed together end to
end in pairs, and quickly recovered Kit
Carson's weapons
"How was 1t, Mr.. Ca rson?" asked
Carroll, "the reds seem to have got the
start Of you this timer"
"Yes," quietly replied the renowned
pioneer. II was fairly surprised for
once. I've been out for some days try
ing to locate an easier road through
the foothills Having seen no Indian
sign about these parts, rode careless
ly round bluff this morning and ran
almost on top Of that band Of Apaches.
They were coming straight toward me,
not more than forty rods of, and moth
ing but the speed of my horse saved me-
They've paid pretty dearly for their
fun, though. You'll see no more OF
them this trip"
But why did you take the chances
of such a jump, instead Of riding of in
another direction?" inquired another OF
our party.
WELL" replied Carson, ut was
risky. But knew the width of that
narrow spot to an inch, and believed
Blackbi could clear it, thus in mo-
ment gaining three miles. The reds
would have given up the chase then,
even If your party hadn't been in
sight, for they would have been
Obliged to ride mile and a half twice
over TO get round the ravine; whereas
If I'd taken to the open country they
would have followed me for days.
Those wiry mustangs have no end OF
bottom.
"My poor horse did jump more than
far enough, but as you can see by the
marks of his hoofs on the other side,
he started fully four feet from the
edge, and so fell short in his landing.
Still. he would have saved himself II
he'd been perfectly fresh, for he has
more than once, with me heavily armed
on his back, cleared space OF twenty
five measured feet"
Kit Carson, with whom I afterward
became acquainted, was at this time In
the prime of life-about forty-two
wears of age, I think; and from his
rather slight form. low, soft voice and