St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-18

from the front or TANKS, and with our SUI
perior arms we felt reasonably sure we could
keep back any fozce they could bring against
US.
For the first time since he had joined us, I.
noticed that our guide was troubled at the
absence of his son, and his anxiety was
shared by all his associates.
We had hardly completed our defence,
when the two troopers, who had been acting
as videttes, hundred yards in front, dis
charged their carbines to give the alarm, and
then came running in with anxiety in their
faces. In reply to question, one of them
gasped
s'The Apaches are close by, and the woods
are full of themp'
A chorus of shrill yells, and the whiz of
arrows falling into the stockade, convinced
us the soldier was right.
Each man, rifle in hand, had taken the place
assigned to him, we heard Pedro calling from
the other side of the canon, which was about
two hundred feet across, and, as it seemed to
us, entirely impossible for man or horse
The boy was right as to the place where we
could be found, but knowing nothing about
the canon, he was not prepared for it.
''Thank the saints !'' cried the guide as he
piously crossed his breast, 'sthat the boy is
on the other sidel %
Il took look across the awful chasm and
saw the boy coolly stroking his horse, and
Imagined that heard the joyous whistle
with which he always announced his approach
to camp.
1 did not think it was possible that he could
come to US tonight. and in view of the
danger that confronted US, I was heartily
glad he was on the other side, where there
was grass for his horse, food enough for him
self in his saddle bags, and-safety.
Without doubt the boy heard the yelling of
the now swarming Apaches and the occasional
crack of rifle or carbine must have told him
the fight was on fight which but few men
in safe position would voluntarily care to
get into.
While watching the front, 1 could hear the
guide shouting in Spanish to the boy to stay
where was for the night, and that if in the
morning the Indians were in the stockade,
to make his way back to his mother, stopping
at Zuni for food, and tell her that he, Pedro
Gomez was able to take care of her, and to
take his fathers place as guide.
L
but from the tone of his voice inferred that
he was determined to join US.
1t grew dark very rapidly, but as it would
have been counting death to make a fire or
to show a light, we had to go without coffee
that night, and be contented with hard tack
and raw bacon.
The Apaches evidently believed they had US
at their mercy, for they established a camp
out of sight where we could see the glare of
their fires and hear, what we were told by the
guide were, their war songs.
have said that it seemed to me impossible
that any wingless thing could cross that
canon. If this was the case by day, the diff
Guilty was increased by darkness great, then,
was my surprise, about ten O'Clock, to hear
the CHEEKY voice of Pedro inside the stockade.
The guide caught the boy in his arms, and
after kissing him asked:
Ibid you fly across, my SOM"
'tNo,' replied the lad, ''while it was yet
light, 1 saw how 1 could get down to the
bottom of the canon and up on this side,
and as soon as it was dark, I did it without
any trouble.
''Then you must get back, for it will weaken
my arm to know you are in danger" said the
guide, and his voice sounded as if he were
choking back sob.
&c am not afraid to stay with you father
said the boy.
But the mother, what would she do if we
were both gomez"
'God would care for her. No, could not
go back to Ojo Caliente without you. People
would point atme and say There goes Pedro
Gomez, who ran away to save himself when
his poor father was facing the Apaches,' said
Pedro, with spirit.
During this conversation, which I was
forced to overhear, it struck me that we could
make far better use of Pedro than keeping
him, with his boy inside the stockade.
knew that if General Gregg, then in COM
mard of the Eighth Cavalry, at Fort Whipple
ninety miles to the south, knew of our danger
he would at once send force to relieve US.
Turning to the boy, asked:
''Were you ever at Fort Whipple, Pedro?"
"Once, Senor," he replied.
''Could you find your way there alone,?"
''Oh, yes, Senor," he said confidently.
Glow long would it take you?"
s'On Don ?"
eyes, on Don," for I knew it would be
death for him to try to get out of the stock
ade mounted.
He looked up at the stars before replying,
then said slowly:
eff I start at once, and have good luck, 1
think I could reach Fort Whpple by noon to-
morrow
"But would you be willing to try it?' 49, 800
eyes, senor,'' he said without an instants
hesitation.
''And do you think you could get back to
your horse, tonight"
81 am sure could
ssAnd you are willing to try it?" 4
eyes"
Although in command of the party, I
thought it better to tell my purpose at once
to my companions; then shielding a candle,
so that the light could not be seen outside the
stockade, l wrote a note to the commandant
at Fort Whipple, outlining the situation, and
asking for speedy assistance.
This note gave to Pedro, who concealed it
outside his tunic. The cook placed some
food in haversack that could hang from his
shoulder. as he made his way back, and then
he filled his canteen at the spring and said he
was ready.
LIS lfsouSI caught tue 10Y W LIS DfedSt, anu
1 heard his sobs as he kissed him good bye.
Those nearest him pressed the youths
hands and his lastwords were, beforehe van
ished in the direction of that awful chasm:
'sDo not lose heart, comrades, shall reach
Fort Whipple before noon tomorrow
l think 1 can say without vanity that there
was not coward inside our little stockade.
but am very sure, desperate though our sit
uation was, that any one of us would not have.
accepted the greatest fortune in the world as
an inducement to change places with young