Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-10

sure He's safe enough or we'd have heard
a shot or two from his revolver
Now. since entering Arizona, we'd had
two ugly scrimmages with Apaches; but as
We hadn't seen one. nor an Indian of any
kind. for the last week, we couldn't think
of any possible harm happening to our
friend. Any one of us might have lost him.
self I'm the foothills, but such an idea in con-
nection with the guide was absurd. Still he
didn't come; it was getting late in the fore
noon. and there we were loalinS around and
doing nothing.
With the exception of Abe Johnson, Il
fCrty-five-year-old Kentuckian. we were all
young men, KNOWN g only so much of Indian
ways we had learned our present
journey; but Abe had served both in the
Seminole and Mexican wars and was pretty
well posted in regard to the "varmints 4"
wiles When first organizing we had elected
him to the captaincy, an honor which he
modestly declined, saying that the young
giant. Tom Granger was far more fit for it
than he.
Well when 10 o'clock had come without
a sign of Somers Abe began to suspect mis-
chief.
stay right here. boys" he said, It'll
make little scout" And off he went in
the direction previously taken by the guide
We saw him at intervals and again lost
sight of him, exactly as we had done with
Bill; but unlike the latter, he came safely
back in thirty minutes or SO, looking much
distressed.
Boys" he quietly said, you want to
wheel right about and form a corral out on
the open plain, forty rods clear OF cover.
Poor Bits in the hands of the Indians
sure. The varmints have sneaked up and
lassoed him, or struck him down before he
could pull trigger or give the alarm. / saw
the trail where they hauled him way down
Into pass he'd found, and they're hiding
In there now, waiting for us to come along"
do you think they've killed Somers?"
asked Granger.
mo, Cap, 1 don't believe he's hurt a mite,
for / didn't drop of blood anywhere"
replied Abe. THE reds have likely choked
him senseless and dragged him of to be
tortured 10 death. And. boys. we've got to
rescue him before shutdown; for when those
devils see that we're not going to fall into
the trap they'll begin their hetiish work just
at that time"
Wen do that, or de-" savagely exclaimed
one of our men. How many of the brutes
are there. Abe. and how far OFF,
Cant say; maybe twenty-nIaybe a hun
dred; but, judging by the sign, no more than
half a dozen tackled Bill. l don't know
where the main crowds located, but it's sure
to be near the narrowest and bushiest part
of the pass"
Abe said Tom Granger. you'd better
take command of the party till this things
settled: and I'll be full private. l want a
chance to- fight without being bothered
giving orders. Besides you know what
ought to be DONE and l don't"
All of us seconded Toms request, and the
Old soldier finally consented to the arrange
ment.
While this talk went on we'd moved
n little creek in the vicinity where there
was not a tTee.shrub or rock TO shelter an
enemy, we corralled the wagons, tetherad
the horses out to feed and got our owr
dinners.
Then johnson said: Boys, l want nine
teen volunteers besides myself for this job"
Every man Of is jumped up on the instant,
and Abe smilirgly continued: We'll since
you all want to 90, Wen draw lots, so as &c
give everyone an equal chance. I'll put
twentT-nine numbered tickets IN my hat,
shake EN- M. and the fellows that draw
the first min eteen will 80 with me. The
other ten must stay to guard the camp
"Al right. That's fair enough. Go ahead
Abe" we agreed And the little pieces of
pasteboard, cut from an old book cover.
were placed In the hat each man shutting
hts eyes, afterwar, withdrawing one. poth
Tom Granger ana I were among the lucky
nineteen, and the disappointed ten sub
mitted gracefully.
in addition to his muzzle-loading rife,
each one Of us carried a heavy Colts re-
Volyer-a mighty costly weapon at that