The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-09-18

up the ridge q scattering volley OF
rifle shots was fred from somewhere
In the canyon, and little clouds OF
we're knocked up around q heap
OF rocks on the summit of the ridge.
A puff of blush white smoke arose
from among the powders, and the
report OF q single shot came down TO
us on the morning air. There vas a
fight ahead, but what was the nature
of it? As we neared the top we dis
mounted and ran, in a STOPPING posture,
up to the rocks, II rifles ready.
Indian Joe turDs I'D from watching
ders, q grim smile on his swarthy face,
his white teeth showing like a VOLTS
through his scraggy black mustache.
"Buenos dias amigos. You have
ridden hard and WELL"
"You air our prisoner, Joe," said
the captain.
"Bueno. Take me away from here
and / will thank you, senor."
whats the trouble ?"
Apache Kid and q dozen of his
cowardly coyotes are on the other side
of the canyone ; there were ifteen,'
and again that grim smile passed over
his face.
"But you air a Iniun, what they
after you fer?"
Eyes, but gracias u Dios, / am no,
an Apache. Besides, have / not a gun,
cartridges and o horse? 1 picketed
my horse below there in the bushes
last night and made my camp here
among the rocks to watch for your ap'
proach, mi amigos, and was awake
went deeper into the canyon | saw
about the spring, Kid and his band
At the same time they found my trail
and that of the horse and followed il
straight for the rocks, but not far,
Two lie below us at the foot of the hill
on the rocks across yonder you may sec
another"
Hardly had he finished when another
SCATTERING vOlley came from the cliffs
opposite, the bullets glancing from the
rocks went singing away in other
directions. With an oath, Crimson '
lay astride his rifle and clasped his
left forearm with his right hand.
Turning back the sleeve of his rough
wooden shirt we found a jagged hole
in the flesh, torn by u glancing bullet.
With part of the water left in Joe's
canteen, we moistened q spot in the
dry earth, and, plastering the wound
with mud, bandaged it with the
bandanua from around his neck.
Then we flattened ourselves behind
the rocks and waited. We were in for a
fight, that vas evident. The murderous,
merciless renegade, Kid, was not the
sort to retreat before our small force,
leaving his three dead unavenged. II
was useless for us to try to escape; our
horses + tired out, while his were
fresh. He knew that his single enemy
had hoon rainfprcnl Int n,,r tbircty
horses having already crossed the
divide to the spring told him how small
the force was On the opposite side
we occasionally caught sight of a red
blanket inviting u shot, which was
replied to from u dozen seemingly in
accessible places. "They's only one
thing to do, said the captain. "We've
got ter stay here an try ter keep EN-
off tel night, an then make O sneak
fer camp, pervidin' they dou't git oul
hosses." Howe YER, the latter had al
ready drank their fill, and were coming
back over the hog-back to Craze.
AS the day wor ON the suns power
increased. and beat down on us with
terrible force. The rocks were blister
ing hot, and tho heat radiated from
them with searching effect. Our thirst
grew intolerable. Our canteens hat
been emptied during the night ride
and Joe's contained less than O half
pint, which we carefully treasured
against an emergency. There was MOI
powders, nothing but the blisterins
rocks and the hot, dry earth. Along
about o Kaintuck carelessly expos
ed his shoulder for n moment, and haC
it badly creased by a bullet. The muG
poultice required for the wound took
the last of the water in Joe's canteen
BY three o'clock in the afternoon the
wounded men we're almost crazed fol
water, which we could see purling
about the rocks in the bottom Of the
canyon less than 100 yards below, and
the sight only increased the thirst OF
all. Joe was the only man that did
not complain, but lay fat on his
stomach motionless save when he
lowered his head to glance between
the sights of his rifle or to throw
another cartridge into the barrel.
There was absolutely no shelter in the
canyon by which the spring could be
reached. Nothing but the bare brown
hillside, the sandy bed of tho canyon
strewn with small powders, the spring,
and 100 yards beyond the cliffs with
death lurking at every point of van
poSO' "A XIV tOdu COulu DOU nave
hopped unseen at any spot in the entire
distance.
GIVE got ter have some water
growled Jimson between his teeth.
Joe turned his head. "There is a
spring several miles up the canyon" he
canteens, and by slipping back down
the NIL can go and come with water in
less than an hour.
The captain grinned sarcastically.
Putty good scheme, Joe, but 'twont
work. We've got you, an we're all
goin' ter see this thing through to-
gether." Joe silently turned his face
back to the crevice between the bowl
ders and resumed his watch.
Ar hour passed. Picking up a can
teen, Kaintuck. craZed with thirst.
half started to his feet, but was jerked
down by the captain just in time to es-
cape q volley.
Whar you goin'p ?"
"Tve got ter hev some water, an
Pm goin' ter the spring." replied Kahn
tuck, struggling to free his unwounded
shoulder from the firm grip.
No, Senior, | will go"
Kaintuck stopped struggling, and we
gazcd at Joe in surprise. at air al
most sure DEATH" at last said the cap
tain.
Joe looked him squire in the eyes
for an instant, then shrugged his
shoulder. yes, senior" but we UNI
derstoood. Taking too canteens, he
tied too cartridges around the neck of
each. II will throw the canteens in
the spring the cartridges will pull
the mouths below the water; while
they are filling [ will try to keep'from
being hit. o must keep up u con-
firing and hnre for NV rntnrn 81