Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-11-08
CHAPTER Ill

Raymer learned from Padre Gutierrez
that during the Confederate invasion of
New Mexico from Texas this cabin had
been built and occupied as station for
Union pickets to prevent an approach
by way of Los Wales Grandes. 1t was
about 30 feet by 20 and stood with one
end close against the perpendicular face
of the butte, with an overhanging shelf
a hundred feet above it. The face of the
butte in fact, formed the northern end
of the cabin, and against it was built
wide fireplace and capacious chimney
At the end Of tho cabin farthest from
the wall the ground broke off perpcn-
dicularly downward TO spring, the
source of the brook. The only way to
cross from one side to the other of the
ravine or gulch, except by going mile
down the stream or to the north end OF
the butte, was therefore through the
cabin by the doors opening on each side.
The building could be attacked only on
the east and west sides. 1t could not be
reached from above, for the stratum of
the cliff that formed the shelf jutted
over it at least 30 feet, so that stone
dropped from overhead would fall five
feet outside the south wall of the cabir
There was a window in each of the
walls except the one against the cliff.
1t was evident that four men, if sup
piled with plenty of rations and car
tridges, could mako successful defense
Water could be had by lowering a
bucket or canteen from the south win
dow to the spring "a feet below the
window sill.
The Indians, who had galloped furi-
ously and vociferously up the trail on
the western side of the brook, had halt
cd at a safe distance when they saw the
white men and women enter the cabin.
They seemed to show great respect for
the place of refuge and the rifles at the
windows. The weapons in the hands Of
the lieutenant and sergeant could throw
bullet farther and could be loaded
more rapidly than any guns in their
possession, for this was before the In
dian trader had sold the tribe the modern
improved firearms. The priest and his
serving man were armed with hunters
rifles.
The men in the cabin removed the
saddles from the horses and hitched the
animals i'll the end Of the room farthest
from the chimney. The women with
drew into corner beside the fireplace,
and spreading few blankets upon the
floor sat upon them, the sisters in front
and the other behind. Vic nosed around
the cabin for time, and being ordered
by Raymer to lie down crept between
the nuns to the veiled figure in the cor
ner, where two beautiful hands were
thrust from beneath the shawl to caress
and draw her to q share of the blankets.
Evidently" thought the lieutenant as
he witnessed the act, "the sisters are
taking some young girl to their school. "
Officer, sergeant and priest gathered
at the western window, leaving the
servant to guard the eastern, where
three Indians had appeared among the
distant pines, apparently for the purpose
of watching that side. The rest of the
Navajoes, "a iu all, could be seen OH the
farther border of the level space which
stretched before the west door just out
of rifle shot, grouped as if in consulta-
ton
Zone thing is very certain, father"
said Raymer "If they cannot approach
us, they can keep us here and starve us
out. What amount of provision and am
munition Lave you?"
"Jose and I have hundred rounds
Of cartridges, and we have three days
food for five persons which, on pinch,
can be made to last week, " replied
the priest.
"And your housekeeper put in lunch
for the sergeant and me that would keep
q couple of shipwrecked mariners quite
as long"
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