The Penn's Grove record., 1894-11-09

ve saw o single horseman riains
Gviftly towards us.
"A white man, by thunder! IA,
clone, boys" exclaimed u guide
Sam Lount. "a mighty risky tric.
for these parts. We're on tn.
stamping ground of the Apaches an
they're always on the warpath
ravening for scalps. Well likely heal
some news, boys. That mans Go'
business on hand. That kind OF
fellow don't hurry for nothing"
By this time the lone rider hs.
reached the head of our Inns, ant
singing out the guide, he courteousl,
saluted him. "You had better brin;
your wagons close together, AMI b
ready to form a corral at a moment
notice." he said, including us all
''There's a big band of Apsches, led b.
that young villain, Geronimo, laying
for you behind Baby Range, abou
eight miles further on. They inten.
to stay there until you get into tn:
pass, but may change their minds ant
attack in the OPEN"
"Much obliged, stranger" said GU.
guide. "My name is Sam Lount
might I ask yours and how you go
clear of the reds YOURSELF"
"Well," smilingly responded Ia;
man, 'tmy Sunday name is Chris
tophsr, but I'm generally called Hi
Kit Carson, at your service"
exit Carsonl Kit C~arsoni" tn;
familiar name ran down our EXTENDED
ranks like a cheer. We all hurried t.
the front to shake hands with the
famous scout.
Carson was at this time in the prim'
of life-about forty years old, 1 think
A casual observer, noting his rather
understood form, peaceful appearance
and modest, unassuming manners
would never have dreamed of selecting
him from out o crowd as the most dar
ing rider, fearless explorer and success
full Indian fighter known to Western
fame.
Carson went on to answer the guides
question. 81 had no trouble to keep
clear Of the redskins, because, though
I wa often much nearer, none caught
sight of me Mt a less distance than sixty
rods, and they know Lightfoot" (his
celebrated thoroughbred mare) "too
well to waste time in a chase"
'T've got men and horses camped
down on the Little Colorado" he went
on, ''but l have been riding alone for
a week trying to select the shortest and
easiest wagon route through this part
of the country. Three days ago l ran
on Geronimo's warriors Just after
they'd wiped out a party of emigrants.
The remains of four wagons were still
smoking, and, as nearly as 1 could
Judge, sixteen bodies had been piled
up with them. Eight mules lay dead
around. Looking down on their camr
yesterday I discovered they had five
American horses and men," he added
slowly, 'they've got a young white
woman prisoner"
"There were LOG Indians in the band.
There are SO now. Most are armed
with bows and arrows, tomahaws, lanceS
and knives. About thirty carry old
smooth bore flint lock guns"
"And you think they know that we're
coming?" asked Lount.
'Tm sure of it," answered Carson.
''They have scouts out. You haven't
seen them, but they've counted You
over and over again"
"But they must know that you'd
warn as?" l observed.
"What do you take me for, young
SIR" laughed Carson. "Not a red has
had sight of me for the last twenty.
four hours. 1t was from their motion
that l knew a train was coming"
"And now," continued the scout,
becoming serious, sit must never be
said that thirty-six American men al,
lowed a countrywoman of theirs to be
carried off by q band of savages. il
you'll join in and do exactly as I say,
we'll rescue that girl before tomorrow
morning. Who says yes?"
a." shouted every man of us.
every well, then" said Carson Will
. sudden sunny smile. "Unhitch fol
dinner, now, and we shall not start
again until the middle of the after
noon. The plan IS to. reach BABY
Range just before shutdown and camp 1
little this side"
Carson managed so that we arrived,
seemingly in the ordinary course of
travel, at the appointed spot shortly
after the sun had disappeared behind
Che range. In order to avoid all
chances of his dreaded presence being
deserted by the Indians he had dis.
mounted when within a mile of the
mountain, placed his famous horse in
the rear amoung our led animals and
concealed himself in one of the GOV.
cred wagons.
Everything in the vicinity was quiet
as the grave, but the redoubted scout
assured us that, lying behind the
frowning heights, were five score say.
ages, and that probably one or two
were looking down upon us.
We formed corral in the l%eisurely
manner of men unconscious of danger.
Night came on with a cloudless sky.
BY the light of a full moon objects
would be quite Distinctly seen, while &
strcng wind blowing from the west, l.
e., directly from the enemy's position
to ours, effectualiy drowned the noise
OF sn7 movements we might make.
After supper Carson gathered Us
around him and said in his peculiarly
soft low voice: Shear the south end Of
this little range there is, as youl
guide knows, a deep, ragged ravine
winding around to the west and finally
running out on the open plain quit
close to the trail
"Geronimo'smen won't make q move
while this wind is blowing to carry a
sound to US, but they know that il
will die away just before daybreak.
They propose then to steal through
the pass, form up on this side, make q
rush and take you by surprise if they
could do that, not a man of you would
escape.
"Now, I propose about midnight,
when the horses will all be in the cor
yal, to take twenty men, ride straight
down the east side to the rsvine, pass
through it like shadows aud come out
the trail in their rear. Here the