Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-10-31

bic plan, the lieutenant approved Of 1t
and waiting only for the cover of tho
approaching night l was prepared to
make the desperate attempt. l tight
ened Strawberry's saddle girth and dur
ing the short twilight led him carefully
under cover Of the scattered rocks and
mesquite bushes to smooth ground, and
after I had turned the projecting point
of high rocks mounted, and with an en-
couraging hint from my heel gave him
the rein.
but cautious as 1 had been the willy
Indians had been watching all my mo-
tions, and scarcely had I emerged upon
level ground than, filling the air with
derisive yells, score or two Of the
painted rascals, mounted on their fleet
est mustangs gave chase.
"Yet knew gallant little Strawberry
could outrun any Indian nag ever had
a trial with, and without pushing him
overheard flew out over the prairie.
The Indians on each flank Of me contin.
ued to rise apparently from out the
earth.
Scarcely had the brief twilight end
ell than the rounded disk of the full
moon peered over the crest Of the hills
and streamed silver flood of light over
the wild scene.
"But presently had other objects to
contemplate, for in the light of the ris-
ing orb I could perceive that I was ap-
preaching one Of those deep, almost bot
tomless barrancas, while the Indians,
yelling exultantly, gathered closer upon
me.
II was fairly entrapped Should l
draw rein and turn upon my pursuers
or sink my rowels into the TANKS of my
fearless little charger and seek death
with him in the yawning chasm below!
81 had but a breath to decide, and as
would at least thus save my scalp
from my hated pursuers 1 resolved to
| brave the latter and closed my eyes and
clinohed my teeth for the awful leap.
"Without swerving all inch Or evinc-
ing the least fear the noble animal
dashed on. felt the yielding air rush
with lightning speed past me, my
breath was taken from me, and then,
quicker than the flight of thought,
felt his fore feet strike upon the solid
earth, then an instant S struggle with his
hind feet, as if the ground was crum'
bling beneath them, and then-heaver
be praised!-I saw that we were OH the
firm, level ground of the prairie, with
the frightful ravine between us and oul
baffled pursuers
"We were safe, for not even the BRAY
est of the Indians dared to make the
desperate leap, and as the barrancs
doubtless extended for miles into the
prairie further pursuit was out Of the
question.
"In less than two hours I reached
Fort Belknap, and before the light O.
the next morning broke over the greer
expanse aparty Of troopers had followed
me to the spot where I had left thu
brave young officer and the remnant o
his men.
"But we had arrived too late. Tit
spot was silent, and the ground so re
Gently occupied by the Kiowas wa
vacant, while among stones Of the de
molished barricade were found only thu
soalpless and mangled remains Of my
late companions
"That little Strawberry, concluded
the guide as he threw aside his extin
guished pipe and proceeded to move thu
animal to fresh grazing spot, iii
worth his weight in gold, and I reckon
if any beast ever deserved kind treat
ment at his masters hands it's him. -
New York News.