The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-07-26

Die plan, the lieutenant approved Of it,
and waiting only for the cover OF the
approaching Hi-ilc | was prepared to
make the dcSD~~1ty attempt. | tight
encd Strawberry .aadle girth and dur
ing the short tv:i!j-Atlcd him carefully
under cover Of tn" scattered rocks and
mesquite bushes II smooth ground, and
after | had turned tho projecting point
of high rocks mounted, and with an en-
couraging hint from my heel gave him
the rein.
But cautious As / had been the willy
Indians had been watching all my mo-
tions, and scarcely had l emerged upon
level ground than, filling the air with
derisive yells, a score or two Of the
painted r~ascals, mounted on their feet
est mustangs gave chase.
Yet l knew gallant little Strawberry
could outrun any Indian nag l ever had
a trial with, and without pushing him
overheard | flew ont over the prairie.
The Indians on each flank Of me contin-
ued 10 rise apparently from out the
earth.
Scarcely had the brief twilight end
ed than the rounded disk of the full
moon peered over the crest Of the hills
and streamed a silver food of light over
the wild scene.
But presently | had other objects TO
contemplate, Cor in the light Of the ris-
ing orb l could perceive that l was APP
preaching IL Of those deep, almost bot
tOmless barrancas, while the Indians,
-o1linCy ,lton+ Cothoro1 o1nScr MO,
me.
Il was fairly entrapped! Should l
draw rein and turn upon my pursuers
or sink my rowclS into the TANKS Of my
fearless little charger and seek death
with him in the yawning chasm below!
Il had but a breath to decide, and as
] would at least thus save my scalp
nom my hated pursuers | resolved to
brave the latter and closed my eyes and
clinched my teeth for the awful leap.
"WithOut swerving an inch or evinc-
ing the least fear the noble animal
dashed on. l 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, a. If the groua was crum-
bling beneath them, and Tnen-heavGn
be praised,-I saw that we We're on the
firm, level ground Of the prairie, with
the frightful ravine between US and ouI
baffled pursucrs.
eve We're safe, for not even the BRAY
est Of the Indians dared to make the
desperate leap, and as the barranca
doubtless extended for miles into the
prairie further pursuit was out Of the
question.
"In less than two hours | reached
Fort Belknap, and before the light of
the next morning broke over the green
expanse party Of troopers had followed
me to the spot where I had left the
brave young officer and the remnant of
his men.
But we had arrived too late. The
spot was silent, and the ground SO re
Gently occupied by the KioWas was
vacant, while among stones of the de-
mOlished barricade We're found only the
sCalpless 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 the
animal to a fresh grazing spot, sis
worth his weight i'll gold, and | reckon
if any beast ever deserved kind treat.
ment at his masters hands it's him. -
New York News.