Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-06-26

OarkueSS.
A flock of ducks nesting in the reeds
by the brookside, alarmed by the gal
Looping column, tiuttered noisily across
the stream; hare leaped out of tuft
of grass and disappeared i'll the gloom,
while coyote, disappointed at the loss
of dainty morsel, skunk sullenly away
into the same screening obscurity.
A star cleaned here and there In the
sky when the detachment reached the
northern limit and plunged into the
heavy pine timber, the shadows of
which nearly hid the path from view.
The trees stood so near together that the
trail made frequent turns between the
trunks and rose and fell over the undu-
lating and gradually ascending ground,
making it impossible to proceed much
faster than walk.
The soughing of the wind in the
pines added gloom to the night In the
forest "the voices Of the night were
unlike those of the open valley. There
were mutterings and whisperings, sighs
and groans, cluckings and gatherings
and scampering of feet, suggestive of
the supernatural, but caused by the
moving foliage and branches or disturb
ed animal life.
The darkness increased as the distance
to Los Ojos Frios lessened, and the
foliage became so dense that Raymer
could distinguish no objects beyond his
horses head. Depending upon the AMI.
malls better vision or instinct to keep
the trail, he rode on, followed closely
by the men, when suddenly his horse
stopped short az became so restive that
it was with greet difficulty he could be
controlled. T:lrling to the men, the
| lieutenant commanded:
"Halt! Dismount! Hold your animals
as still as possible and listen!'
With th3 silence Of the marching
party there broke upon the stiffness the
sound of scampering footsteps, moving
to the right and left, accompanied by
the rustling and cracking of dry twigs
and leaves After the sound had ceased
there arose the unmistakable chorus of
the gray wolf. With this positive evil
dence that something had frightened the
horses and mules-for all had become
restive-Raymer ordered Cain to light
a pile of dry pine spines and twigs, with
which the ground was covered
A fire was quickly kindled, and when
the officers eyes became accustomed to
the light he peered into the darkness
and eaw an object lying across the path
few rods in advance. What it was he
could not make out, but he determined
to ascertain its character.
A few moments later splinters cut
from dead trunks of the pitch pine were
blazing in the hands of the lieutenant
and three of the men advancing to ex.
anime the object in the road. 1t proved
to be horse lying across the trail. 1t
was dead and much lacerated by the
teeth of wolves. The body was still
warm, and Mexican saddle and bride
attached to it indicated the nationality
of the missing rider. The wolves,
grouped at safe distance on each side
of the trail, now and then broke into a
chorus of howls and snarls, accompanied
Dy nerce Swapping OI Jaws.
Corporal Coffey, have you any idea
where we are?' asked the lieutenant Of
soldier who stood by his side holding
q torch.
81 think, sir, from the sharp turn we
made few rods back, that we have
passed seven mile pine. "
"Then we are still three miles from
the springs. Go back to the bend, cor
poral, and see if you are right You
know the tree:?"
iYes, sir. 1t has cross cut OH the
west sidc and sandstone bowlder leans
against the opposite side.
"That is right. While you are gone !
will look for the rider of this horse y
The corporal went back, while the
officer and soldier continued in the op-
posite direction. A few steps brought
Raymer to the body of man lying dead
in the road. His dress, features and
complexion were Mexican. An arrow
wound in the back had caused his death.
His arms, ammunition and large par
Gel enveloped in Il blanket still remained
intact He had evidently been wounded
some distance from where he fell, and
his enemies, thinking him unhurt, had
not pursued.
Upon examination the bundle was
found to contain food, tobacco and
rich silver inlaid mahogany jewel case.
Opening the case, Raymer was astonish-
ed to find a rosary Of gold and jet and
Maltese cross of Mexican filigree-exact
duplicates Of the ornaments worn by
Dona Teresa when he first saw her at
the windows If the governors palace i'll
Santa Fc. In another compartment were
rings, bracelets and other ornaments,
richly set with gems. No initial, mono.
gram or device by which the owner
could be identified was found on the
casket or it's contents.
Raymer examined the features Of the
dead Mexican more closely. He was un-
doubtedly q griso and bore no resent
blance to the caballero whom the wag-
oner punished in Santa Fe.
The thought had flashed through
Raymcr's mind at sight of the trinkets
that Teresa might be one of the ladies
shut up by the Navajoes i'll the cabins