Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-09-12

II 4 Il,
When sending for it mention this
paper.
showerLr which Aluneey rurncd angwly
away. lie went over. toward the group
Of officers, but at sight Of him the ina.
jor lifted warning hand and lowered
his voice. Here's that fellow Munccy
again" said he, ''and distrust him
somehow" Everybody seemed to turn
an unsociablc back on the newcomer
and presently, after moments hesita-
ton, he pulled his old felt hat lower
over his eyes, thrust his hands in his
pockets and slouched away down the
slope in the direction of the corral,
within whose adobe walls the horses
and mules Of the refugees were shell
tered.
And now came on a night Of no little
excitement, even for Arizona, in the
heart Of the Apache country. For three
quarters Of an hour after Foster and
his men rode away there was strange
silence and eager waiting at the post.
Taps had sounded just before they left.
Half-past ten o'clock, called by the sen
tries, had gone echoing away across
the still AMI starlit mesa; and not
sound or sign came from the front.
Then suddenly, far out through the
darkness, there was family audible the
thud Of hoofs, and minute or SO
brought the rider. full canter, into
their midst. He could barely rein In
his horse at the hail Of the majors
party. Everybody officers, civilians
and even soldiers-seem to swarm
about the courier in an instant. 1t was
Corporal Foley, Of Fosters troop. Rec
ognizing the major, he threw himself
from the saddle and stood respectfully
before the commander, handing him q
penciled note, which the major eagerly
opened and read, all eyes upon him.
I'VE found two Mexicans,' it said,
with camp outfit. They were badly
frightened, but unhurt They declare
they were attacked by Apaches, who
succeeded in running off two mules.
They say the Indians drew away north
west toward the Sandy, and that there
was party Of prospectors and packers
camped at Ration Springs eight miles
out, who were warned Of the outbreak,
but who wouldn't believe it. The
Mexican said they were trying to reach
the post when headed off, and that
there were enough Apaches to wipe
out that party. They themselves only
escaped by hiding among the rocks
down in the deep ravine Their story
Is told with such earnestness that l
have deemed it best to push on in
search Of the prospectors referred to.
We should reach the springs soon after
midnight. The Mexicans 60 with us
in hopes of recovering their mules.
(Signed) FOSTER,
Commanding Troop"
Come with me, gentlemen" said the
major, after moments thought.
This is something I'll have to talk
over with you. No. he continued,'as
many of the frontiersmen, too, showed
evident inclination to consider them
selves included in the invitation
Excuse me, now, If have to talk with
my officers u moment. There Is no
news except that Capt Foster has
found a couple of Mexicans who
claimed to have been jumped by
Apaches, and who say the Indians
have gone toattack small camp of
prospectors at Ration Springs. Do you
know any miners or prospectors who
could be there?'
A general shaking Of heads followed.
No one knew. One or two went SO
far as to say they didn't believe it.
What sort of looking fellows were the
Mexicans, corporate" asked Ferguson,
the brainiest, apparently, of the civil
JAMS.
"Oh. insignificant little runts, both
Of them" replied Foley. Zone Of them
spoke English enough to make himself
understood; the other could only jab-
Der some lingo didn't know no more
of than | do Of Apache. So far as |
could make out, they had all been trav-
cling together, but when the bigger
part of the crowd stopped to camp at
the springs these two fellows came
ahead-said they were afraid to stay
there after what they had heard Of the
outbreak"
"Well, what did they hear, and how?"
asked Ferguson.
"'rhey said that they met some Of
the couriers from Prescott, and some
prospectors VINO were driven BACK
from 'ne olear creek couh'ry-who
were stopping 'or inc Se,'ieineh's'
They told the couricrs that they were
gong H. put despite 'ha' 'ney came
down TO inc springs.