Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-08-28


become much more cautious and secret
IN all their movements. But the Amer
leans were concentrated principally on
the refining districts Hermosa was
situated on the Hermosa river. in Il
region purely pastoral and agricultural
1t had been ravaged again and again
by the dreaded Indian foe. After every
such raid II was abandoned for tine.
but so great was the fruitfulneSS of
the region that the unfortunate people
Invariably returned, one by one, to
cultivate once more their rayaged fields
and rebuild their desolated homes.
Hermosa was a walled town, with
towers at the principal gates, occupied
by q small force of military But walls
tower and soldiers had repeatedly
proved insufficient to repel the blood
thirsty. savages. 1t is easy to conjec
ture, then, with what surprise the MeXi-
cans beheld the arrival of q family of
Texans, who proceeded deliberately to
camp outside the walls, on the high
land, above the town. Notwithstand-
ing the racial enmities engendered by
the war, the humane alcalde, accom-
panied by the president of the Agren-
tamientO and the colonel in command
of the troops, waited Immediately upon
the immigrants to inform them of their
danger, and assure them that suitable
provision would be made for their ac-
commOdation if they would enter with
III lIC w SlllS. WI cIc Iley COulu 1OcdlC
in safety. The entire family received
the officials, as they dismOunted, to de-
liver their hospitable message. Half a
dozen White-headed, barc-legged boys
big and little, sprang forward to hold
the horse of the richly-attired, ceremoni-
Gus dOns. A number of still smaller
children also surrounded them, attract
ed by the gay trappings of their ami
mails, the glittering silver buttons and
embroidery of their attire, and the brill
fancy of their mother of pearl and sill
yer mounted weapons. Texas himself
tall gaunt, ungainly looking back
wooGsman. stepped forward to receive
them, while his wife, a fair, slender,
pale, pretty woman. holding a baby in
her arms, stood shyly in the back
ground.
II am the mayor" said the president of
the AgrentamientO, uncOvering and bow
ing tremendously, as did also his COM
panions. L came to invite you within
the walls. in the name of the town. AS
strangers, you are probably not aware
that you are not safe here q single night
1t is only week since the Apaches were
seen on the summit of the ridge"
Texas understood very well what was
said, but his Spanish was not equal to a
formal reply. He merely shook his
head and pointing to the spring
and the woods saying, "Mucho AQUA.
mucho venado'' plenty of water,
plenty of deer), and then. stepping within
the brush cover of the hut, he brought
out an old Kentucky rifle, nearly as long
as himself. with an enormously heavy
barrel, carrying a ball not much larger
than pea, and tapped it significantly.
The courteuos cabelleros tried in vain
to explain more definitely the peril of the
situation, until at length they realized
that the strangers understood them per-
fectly, but were not daunted by the pros
pect. No sooner did they reach this con-
viction than they rose to take their leave,
but before doing SO the president asked:
"What name?'
''They call me Texas in these parts"
'Have you no other name?"
Eyes, but that will do for the pres
emit"
This answer was imperfectly under
stood, fortunately. or it might have
created distrust. The mayor hesitated
a moment, and then, daunted by the
difficulties of Interpretation, continued:
Married or SINGLE?
Texas laughed; his wife blushed, and
the children Uttered, but Texas, recog-
nizing the official formula, answered
good-naturedly: Married
How many children?"
''Ten"
'Buenissimo," said the mayor. smiling.
Very we'll done, my friend. Seniorita,
adlos Always at your command, senior.
/ do not wish you less yalor. but more
prudence. Boys, thousand thanks"
No sooner had the MeXicanS departed
than the eldest boy said: do they think
the Apaches will get u.s. pap?"
That's about the size of it. [ guess.
Better get your shootin' irons ready,