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


disappeared under a large rock.
Oar poor animals jammed their
their noses into this, cr0wding
each other so that they and the
troopers were strung along the
current for a number of rods. We
dropped on our faces aud drank,
glad to do so besides the horses,
and to share the precious necessity
with them. We drank and drank
until, as our captain expressed it,
We lnaugurated another drought,
which removed the point OF the
waiel's flow some distance further
up the bed.
We had fully slaked our thirst
and We're signing with the bliss OF
of enjoyment wien the dali re-
port of gun sounded from a point
some distance iD advance aud on
the right slope, aud one of the
men at my side rolled over badly
wounded by the bullet sent from
long distance.
We all saw where it came from.
Three Apaches stood out IN full
view, seemingly beyond rifle shot
as if watching the effort of their
marksmanship.-Slnce the soldier
uttered a sharp cry as be stumbled
over, they must have been salts
fed with the apparent result.
Almost at the instant we looked
We observed second warrior
bringing his gun to a level and
before we could fairly understand
what he was at, the puff Of smoke
followed, there came another re-
Fort and one of the mules collapsed
with the bullet through his brain.
at this we all lodged to the best
cover We could find and therh was
plenty Oft within reach, and BE-
gan firing at the daring Indians.
We had some of the hueSt marks
men Of the frJnterin our company
and a dozen shots discharged
within q few more seconds. Some
of the balls must have passed close
but we saw no evidence OF their
execution. The Apaches, however
We're not foOlishlY reckless, for,
after few more minutes expos
ure, as if daring US to contest Of
skill, they dropped behind the rock
and renewed their fusilade.
There was n change Ia the sit
uatiOD now, for both parties were
screeued, but to our humiliation,
the next two shots from that won
deriul trio did execution. OIe
entered the shoulder of private
and the second wounded a mule
so badly that lput ball from my
revolver through his head to end
his suffering.-There was Apache
craftsmanship for you, and no
mistake. Thus far they had not
thrown away shot.
"They have Oaly TO keep this
thing going through the afternoon
remarked the captain, "for them
to clean us all out"
There must have been good
deal of chance about It," l replied
"for how coIll they secure any
sort of aimi"
"Ohance doesn't continue so
Iong-ah how Is that?"
Only my head and shoulders
were exposed to view, as I lay fat,
50 pinting along my rife and watch
ing for an opening, when one OF
Apaches ared again. The bullet
nIpped the end of my mustache
and passed through the sleeve OF
tha captains coat, grazing the
skin.
"Pl be hanged ~ l exclaimed;
"we ought to catch those fellows
and enter them for the internat'
ional championship; they can beat
J any shooting l ever saw"
"Pedro," said the captain sharp.
ly, "are you going to let your peo
pie beat you in that fashion 7"
"Don't beat me-beAt you," re
piled the guide with a grin.
J "See what you can do, for we
can't do anything"
Pedro and Mosque had already
, formed their plan; it was to steal
down the river bed short way,
3 sheltering their bodies hehind the
boulders and rocks, then climb the
! mountain slope in the same man
7 ner, aud work around tOa point
abOvt, or in tie rear of the three
Apaches, who were so much sn'
J perlOT to us in craftsmanship.
"CiptaiD," said ! "have | your
5 PERMISSION to 60 with themi'
E eyes, goit you wish; | expect
them TO make asCv5 Of you.
My blood was up. My friends
= conceded that 1 had some skill