The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-12-22

ern side. accompanied by five stout
burros and a couple of lusty-lunged e
muleteers Their lungs were the only +
active organs they possessed Jose v
was lazy. but Isaza, typical specimen {
of the Mozo, could scarcely keep up o
! with the burros. -
The grant lay at the source OF the e
Saldana river and our object was 10 Z
work the rich auriferous SANDS that
Leon had reason to suppose existed
there. rEa1"
On the fifth day we had reached the
San Aupustin pass and camped there
for the night, high among the clouds
and snow. The next morning we be-
gan the descent at an early hour. Com
inc to a sharp turn in the narrow
mountain trail, where the space was
scarcely wide enough for ourro 10
glue his feet, the active services OF
Isaza were required. Il
That leisurely gent WIS far oemnd
and very hesitating in his march, con-
t;hually muttering "El Teredo' In al
most abiect fear.
FL Teredo was q noted renegade ana
bandalero who had taken refuge in the
mountains. where he soon acquired
acme mower over the uncivilized Yutua
Indians who lived there in all their
aboriginal primitiveness. These re
ouired little persuasion to accompany
him on his depredatory excursions IN
TO the sparsely settled surrounding
country. The natives, with their usual
falling, shrouded him in hazy mys-
terry in which he appeared almost SUI
,,orhuman
couple of energetic kicks some
what enlivened Isaza, and the mules
were safely .'steered" along the ledge,
where a misstep would have precipi-
tated the unfortunate down the sheer
nrecipice for o hundred feet or more.
Continuing to wind our way along the
steep and rocky path we were soon
surprised to find, at some distance
evidences of the very recent passage
of man. San Augustin pass Is not a
much frequented road and we maze
all sorts of surmises as to who our TEL
low travellers were. say fellow trav-
elers. for in that lonely spot they
would have seemed such had they beer
two days journey ahead instead o.
only few hours.
Isaza cried: ..El Teredol Ell grand'
bandalero! Quire listed Il want to gol.
And for once suiting word with action
he turned and fed.
Knowing that he would starve 0
perish from the cold before he coui'
reach any habitation on the route W
had lust traversed, leaped of m
burro and sprang after him. Alread
he had disappeared from view amongs
the sharp turns and rocky crags OF tn
faint trail. Fearing nothing in m
eaperness dashed on, clinging to tn
hare cliffs with the tenacity OF tn
mountain goat At last l sighted hil
about two hundred feet away, on tn
opposite side of an immense assure
the rocks, springing along with
agility of which never should na'
dreamed him capable.
A moment only. He vanished aroul
the narrow ledge of the morning. 500
had rounded the assure; had beg'
to enjoy the race in the crisp mou
tain air; in a flash l would pass {
ledge. and then a comparatively wi
sveep in which could easily overta
my Godl Never will l forget tn
moment as shot through space; t
rocks seemed to be rising around me
powerful hand at my stomach, pre-
ing the breath out-my ears tinglec
remembered no more.
opened my eyes and looked aroul
Why was everything so dark? qui
ly tried to rise, but excruciating pa
in my body and left leg forced
back upon the ground or rather bed
dried ychu grass and skins. Then
events of the muleteer's desertion
consequent race and fall rccur
to me.
But where was l? And how d
get there? As l lay Illuminating
these questions my eye wande
around the apartment. All was
welcomed in a semi-twilight, but bri
enough to show that was in C
or grotto. On the floor were sew
slins-black and spotted tiger, jag
and red lion. Against the wal
couple Of guns, one Winchester.
The air was cool and b almy; outs
the gentle splash of dripping w
could be heard. Oh! how l longed
a dl Taught of that water! Once mo
essayed to rise, but without succ
The effort drew forth a cry of p
1mmedlately Tue openinS oarne
aud large, broad-shouldered ID
strobe softly toward me; knee
beside my couch he held an ear
vessel of sparkling cold water t,
lips. swallowed it at one gulp-
arose and quickly returned will
vessel refilled; this also emptied,
nifying that had enough
Then he addressed me in br
English:
II mucha glada you go well, Sc
| answered in Spanish, than
him far his solicitude, and ing