Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-11-23

i Il tuIOs luO iCohOA'
! While we were advancing IN this
wearisom mannor, little fling took
place. n shot was heard now and
then, the most being fired by our
folks in the Valley below. The re-
sulI, as | ascertained afterward
was that another of our men re-
ceived a wound, though not a
severe one.
Oar ruse succeeded TO perfection.
We reached lolnt not only above
that held hy the Apaches. but
quite near, and one that showed Us
all three not their entire bodl~s
but their heads aud shoulder,
which was all We needed to see.
They were stretched on their
faces, sheltered by the rock IN front
from the fire of the troops below,
and protected as to the lower part
of their bodies from US by an IN
trudlng boulder, but which, as |
have stated, left their heads and
shoulders in plain sight.
We arranged ourselves with great
care, 40 as not to alarm them and
to screen ourselves while we Glred.
They were three fine locking fol.
lows, with their long, coarse black
hair gathered and tied behind by
strips Of red flannel, their ugly
features dalbed With paint, and
their shoulders without any cover.
ing. Their DrOnz,d skin was in
sensible to tue suns rays, which
bliStered our hands, when too long
exposed to its power. l could hear
the occasional murmur OF their
voices, and once or twice, when
1-one OF them turned his head, | saw
him grin, as he certainly had
warrant in doing. They felt them.
selves in no danger, and our frierds
10 the valley must have seen their
fIces very often, Tor they exposed
themselves no doubt for the pur-
pose of drawing their fire.
We speut several minutes III
studying them and discussing what
we should do. While whispering,
| noticed that one seemed to be oc-
cupied in scutinizlng the troopers,
as though he had discovered some
thing deaplJ lntereS ing. If he
spoke, as | suppose be must have
done, lie did not turn his bead nor
look around, but continued intent
Is watching our friends below. Not
only that, but he was much more
exposed than either of his com
paniOns, not only to those in the
valley but to US. 1t was this
which caused him to be singled Olt
as our first prize.
Since there were three on side,
it was arranged that each OF US
should select his man, so as not to
throw away shot. l was TO take
the furthest one, Mosque the next,
while Pedro WAS to pick of the one
whose attention appeared to be all.
sorbed by the dOlngs of the horse
men III the valley.
1t sounds like a shocking ar
rangement, and perh Fps it was,
though you can't find trooper or
or ranchman that has lived in that
section who would condemn it. BE
that as it may, however, the little
scheme failed to work.
A full understanding having
been reached, We made ready to
fire. when presto! the two hOstiles
selected by Mosque and ME were
invisible. Some slight noise must
have told them their peril. for they
had dropped down behind the
boulder, and were as much out OF
sight as if they had sunk a hundred
J feet into the earth.
Bat the third man, Pedro's
hadn't moved, and, fearful that h'
would vanish the next moment, th'
friendly let fly at him.
you have misscd~ | mutteret
in DISCUS; "yOu are too furried
Pll finish him."
l confess l was little fuS'ere(
, myself, but the distance was shor
aud needed but a second or two
"Hubp exclaimed Mosque, "yol
have missed, toow
To my amazement tie lndiaI
, did not stir. What could it mean
, "Me show-me fetch himr
= Mosque incautiously raised hi
head above the stone III front L
, make his aim sure, and, was sight
. ing his gun, when from behind th
boulder came sho', and the poo
r fellow tumbled over backward
without speaking. The ball ha'
passed through his head. At th
same moment the remaining hostll
3 vanished.
| Now that the Apaches had di;