Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-01-06

Deaind him ana clinging to MN WINS Is
woman. The horse looked iaded, and
beth riders were nearly worn out.
Wc asked them TO sic down and rest,
bit Tho mcn answered at once. Cap
tain there IS no time to lose. Rather got
your shooting irons re5dy and look to
yOar animals. You sec, we were canned
down tho creek Is distance of about i've
miles. We could see tie smoke Of your
campfres al tho evening. We wero
right IN thinking this q white mans
camp, "a the Indians hardly over use
green wood There were only three of
us-my partner, his wife and myself.
About two hours ago we stopped to ret
supper aud got the camp ready for tho
night. While we were eating there
came tine crush Of rifles. by partner
fell over dead. A bullet struck my arm,
but the woman escaped.
I'VE didn't stop long, but I put her
on q horse, Jumped up myself and made
a dash foryour camp. The pests were
on the other sido of the stream, which
gave rs so1nc advantage. But look out.
for il won't be long before they viii be
upon as. They don't know yet that YOU
are lore. and viii try TO capture us.
Lctc give them q warm reception when
they come. Il you have an extra gun
let me huye it, for | want to get even
with thcm for the killing Of my part
ner."
Hero was news indeed, EIaving come
80 far unr.olestcd we DID not anticipate
any trouble from Indians so close to tho
settlement.
However, we got ready for them. The
animals were brought in closer. Each
man looked to his guns and amlnuni-
ton, and q double line was formed for
action.
1t was indeed not long before the red
devils appeared en- tho opposite side Of
the stream. They We're not q little sur
prised to see a considerable body Of
armed men ready to fight, and naturally
hesitated to make an attack.
Darkness was now setting in fast, and
care had 70 be exercised to prevent them
from crossing the stream and making a
night attack. But we counted on the
early rising Of the moon, now in its full,
and decided to fight it out by moonlight.
fany fighting was TO lie done that
night. A few wild shots were OK
changed without doing any damage on
either side. We had extinguished our
camphre3, sinus taking away any i'd
vantage the Indians might gain by their
light. We noticed the redskins moving
a little further up stream, as if trying
to lind a moro suitable place from which
to attack Us on to cross the stream. Bill
Tucker laughed and said, ''YYatch out
for coma fun now, boys"
We failed to see any fun before rs,
being unable to determine the number
OF Ii opponents, They might be too
many for rs, and possible determination
is decidedly anything but funny. But
suddenly tho Indians gave one unearthly
yell, and by the light of The rising moon
we could see them dash away over the
rolling prairie TO the east.
Bfl laughed again.
Il reckon as what these pesky devils
won't trouble Us any more Jess now"
was all that no said.
Curiosity prompted everybody TO find
ont the cause Of their hasty flight and Of
Bits -pOsltiveness. He babe us come
with him and listen quietly and care
fully. When near the etream Il peculiar
sound could DO heard from several direc.
tons resembling the ringing Of a thou
sand bells at once. 1t times the tones
would become weaker and gradually die
away with a peculiar noise resembling a
a deep drawn moan. Then they would
increase again in strength, becoming
more resonant aid distinct.
Mystiticd, we looked about us for an
explanation Of this strange phenomenon,
but failed to find one. Pill finally ex-
planned that the sounds were produced
10y the waters of the stream running
owe the peculiar rocks in its bed. There
was an old Indian legend of q "singing
river" chat predicted death for all who
camped on its banks. There had been
quite q massacre among warning tribes
in that vicinity, so goes tradition, which
mado the ''singing river dreaded by I'll
the red tribes thereafter. But it had
saved our lives, and we Lost no time in
reaching the settlement after tho sun
had risen over the hilltops.-Louis DO
Lestry in Romance.