Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-11-10

in that monotonous gallop, parched with
thirst and covered with dust
Toward evening we were nearing the
Nal Pals, that great lava bed which
stretches for 70 miles along the plain. The
lava is piled up in great ridges, cracked
and assured in all directions, broken up |
into huge blocks, which here and there are !
upheaved 40 and so feet above the plain,
with grass and small trees growing in the
interstices. Most of the bed is quite i'm
passable for horses, but I remember one
pass, of which I had taken advantage on |
former occasion. Skirting the lava bed to
the right, we came to the high piled up
blocks which knew indicated the where
abouts of the pass.
At length we reached the place where
the path led over the lava. Leaving San
tos to watch if the Indians were following
us, I rode up the pass. My limbs were
rather cramped after our long gallop, and
had taken my right foot from the STIR
rup and had crossed my leg over the horn
of the saddle and was leading the mule
with my left hand. The path was SO mar
row that the mule had to follow IN the
footsteps of the horse. In my right hand
was my repeating rifle, at that time nov
city, resting across my right knee. had
nearly gained the highest part OF the pass
and was advancing between two walls OF
lava when my horse suddenly threw up
it's head and looking down found myself
looking right into the muzzle Of a rifle.
instinctively drew back, Tightening the
rein and causing the horse to rear. At the
same moment shot was fired, and the
horse fell with bullet through his head
Almost at the same instant several other
shots were fAsl, and fell with the horse,
wounded in the left shoulder and right
thigh. AS fell threw up my right hand
with the rifle and received an arrow in the
arm, which left this scar.
The mule was Juggling at the rope AS
lay stretched out with my left leg under
the dead horse and my left arm stretched
beyond my head by the backing of the
mule, the lariat being still held in my
hand and partly twisted round my wrist
At this moment an Indian appeared just
before me- can see that man still. Ev-
cry feature is stamped on my memory
thought my last hour had come as he step
ped toward me clutching his knife. rails
ed my wounded arm, holding the rifle like
pistol, and fired point blank at the In
dian, who dropped dead on the spot.
Then the mule gave scream and reared
I'D, dragging me from under the horse,
wrenched himself loose and galloped down
the pass. My idea at the time was that an
Indian had attempted to get at me from
behind, but finding the mule in the way
had thrust his lance into it. My surmise
was probably correct, as the mule eventu-
ally arrived at the fort with a lance wound
| in it's flank.
My repeating rifle evidently discomfort
ed the Indians, and, although l fired sew
eral more shots into the bushes, never
caught sight of them again. They fired
once or twice, and now and then an arrow
fell near me, but they were careful never
to expose themselves.
1t was now quite dark, and I managed
to drag myself into corner among some
high blocks of lava and sat, leaning
against them, with my rifle across my
knees, expecting every moment to be at
tackled 1 extracted the arrow, and the
blood began to pour over my hand. Get
ting out my knife, ripped up my sleeve.
I felt the blood coming in jerks, and
knowing by that that an artery must be
wounded / improvised tourniquet by
tying a knot on my handkerchief, and
|
bandaged the arm and stopped the bleed
ing began to feel rather done up and
was leaning back against the rock when
heard light rustling over my head.
On looking up could see between me
and the sky the bushy head Of soap plant
being thrust over the edge of the rock
This was evidently a ruse on the part o.
the Indians to see If were on the alert
l instantly fired upward, and the soaI
plant disappeared. l dared not go t.
sleep, and felt comparatively happy.
remembered distinctly Of repeating poetr.
to myself, and rather appropriately Burns
poem, MAN Was Made To Mourn, KEEP
running through my head. My sense o
hearing seemed to be intensified, and
could hear the slightest rustic Of leaf
which often took for the stealthy treat
Of foe
About O'Clock, as near as I coult
Judge, heard what I at once recognized
as the sound of metal striking stone.
was very faint and seemed long wa.
off, but felt sure that it was caused b.
the iron shoe of horse. And If SO it wa
probably the horse Of white man, a
the Indians almost never shoe their horses
l listened intently for repetition of tn
sound, and shortly afterward heard al
other sound, which knew by experience
to be caused by the rush Of number o
horses over an arroyo, and then all wa
silent again waited for some time, ant
then l heard family the unmistakabl
}, tramp of horses galloping. The SCUM
gradually became more distinct and thel
J suddenly ceased. Soon l heard voice
and recognized those Of Santos and tn
lieutenant Of my troop. At last l hear
} the order to advance. cried out:
"Look out! There are Indians al
around"
; my God!' heard the lieutenant say
The is still alive. ;"
Just then heard rustling all aroun
me, caused by the Indians making off, an
TO my intense relief I saw the lieutenan
: and a number of dismounted trooper
coming toward me- AS could not sit O
!! horse on account Of my wounds, as 500
as it was daylight they constructed hors
: litter and conveyed me to the fort, wher
lay for something like three months.
was told that Santos, hearing the shot
when assembled the pass and no answer
: ing call from me, concluded that wa
killed or a prisoner and rode of to tn
fort, returning with help just in time fo