Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-12-27

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temperature of the air sensibly rising
with the descent When the party reach
ed the level of tho river valley and look
ed out upon the sparkling stream, every
vestige of snow had been left behind,
and the earth lay hard and dry in the
suns rays
Near the river stood long, low hut
called jacal, badly out of repair, and
above its roof floated clouds of steam
from hot sulphur springs scattered for
100 yards along the fiat. In summer the
jacal afforded shelter to invalids who
sought relief in the waters. Ruined
bathing screens were everywhere scat
tered about.
1--WE dine here, do we not?" asked
Raymer of the padre as the column de.
bouched from the evergreens that clad
the mountain side.
"Yes. We will stop a short time for
rest and refreshment The fiat ledges
are warm, SO we shall require no fires
to take your valley chill out of our
bones, but suppose we shall need one
for coffee and steak" +"
Corporal" said the lieutenant,
"have a fire started in the kitchen. See
that the animals are unsaddled and pick
eted on the grass plot below the springs
under charge of sentinel"
eyes, sir" and the corporal proceed
ed to carry out the instructions.
The priest, who from the moment of
his arrival in the valley, had constitut-
ed himself Dona Teresa's attendant, con-
Quoted her to fiat rock little apart
from the Others, where riotous, boil
ing spring impaired warmth to con-
siderable space around. After arranging
comfortable seat for her he rejoined
those who were busy in the preparation
Of dinner.
Raymer sat near the cone of an ex-
tinct spring, busy in reflections on the
present and future. The beautiful girl
before him seemed already hedged by
impossible barriers. What hope, then,
could he entertain of meeting her again
after she had joined her parents? He
could scarcely hope for any cooperation
Oh her part She showed no disposition
to rebel against the espionage exercised
by her uncle. Probably she would ac-
quiesce in the arrangement made by
her parents and marry that common.
place Mexican.
And what chance remained to prose
cute further acquaintance? After her re-
cent experience on the Abiqui trail and
at the camp Teresa would scarcely he
permitted to court danger in that vicin-
ity again, and military duties would
not allow him to seek her neighborhood
The future chances for lovemaking
seemed desperate indeed. He began to
regret that he had not taken advantage
Of the opportunities Of the last few days
He realized that he had neglected to
make hay while the sun shone.
Further reflections were interrupted
by the announcement that dinner wait
ed. The repast was spread upon blan-
ket, where all but Teresa gathered, the
young lady being waited upon by the
vigilant padre. The meal was partaken
of almost in silence, and at the close
their march was resumed.
The road was now broad and level,
and the lieutenant made q disposition
of the party to resist an attack by In
dians should they be lurking in that vi
cinity, The priest, the maiden and three
soldiers, with the pack mules, formed
the center. The corporal and remaining
two soldiers rode 100 yards in advance,
Ortega and Raymer being the same dis
tance behind.
The column proceeded at a brisk pace
down the narrow valley, which wound
its way between high sloping walls
walls occasionally losing their sloping
feature and for short distances rising in
perpendicular precipices of sandstone to
the level of the plain above
Now and then the river in its wind
ings swept close to the walls, crowding
the road to the brink of the stream
which it crossed by shallow fords to the
opposite side. The banks of the river
were bordered by cottonwoods, leafless
at this season, and the sloping heights,
wherever lodgment could be found, sus-
tanned growth of pinon and cedar.
AS the rear guard galloped onward
Ortega remarked:
"Do you always look for an Indian
attack when you travel, Senior Teni-
ente?'
''I try to be prepared for one in an
Indian country when an Indian war ex-
ists, answered Raymer.
"But what possible chance is there
for an Indian to be here?"
"You know it is the unexpected that
always happens
"Quien sabe! do not believe there
is a Navajo this side of Fort Wingate. !"
Every likely. Certainly I hope not.
What would you do if we were to meet
a few redmen?"
"Car-r-r-amba Do? Do what any
Mexican caballero should do-fght and
die if necessary in the defense of my
affianced and friends!"
The three soldiers in advance now ap-
preached q slight elevation in the road,
passed over it and disappeared from
view. The center was half way across,
the officer and his companion just begin
ming the ascent, when--ping, ping!-
came two rifle shots from clump of c.
dars on the left. A bullet struck the
ivory hilt of the revolver on Raymer's
hip, shattered it into splinters and went
humming off into space. The other cut
the collar Of the Mexican's coat. Ray
mer instantly turned his horse in the
direction from which the shots came,
halted and brought his rifle to a
'ready." Ortega drove the spurs into
the flanks of his beast and flew over the
swell, shouting to Gutierrez and Teresa
as he passed:
ely, fly! The Navajoes have attack,
ed usI'
"With the first shot Teresa turned and
rode in the direction of Raymer. the