Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-12-31

AEOlft tit1d uiAS va ttfC RAtSA lAhsc WSA'
blazing in the hands Of the lieutenant
and three of the men advancing to ex.
anime the object in the road. IL proved
to be horse lying across tho trail. II
was dead and much lacerated by the
teeth of wolves. The body was still
warm, and Mexican saddle and bridlC
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 q
chorus Of howls and snarls, accompanied
by fierce snapping Of jaws.
Corporal Coffey, have you any idea
where we are!' asked the lieutenant OF
a soldier who stood by his side holding
n torch.
IL think, sir, from the sharp turn we
made few rods back. that we have
passed seven mile pine. F"
'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?"
''Yes. sir. It has n cross cut on tho
west side, and sandstone bowlder leans
against the opposite side. +"
''That is right. While you are gone
will look for the rider of this horse. -
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 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 q
rich silver inlaid mahogany jewel case.
Opening the case, Raymer was astonish-
cd to find n rosary of gold and jet and q
Maltese cross Of Mexican filigree-exact
duplicates OF the ornaments worn by
Dona Teresa when he first saw her NJ
the windows Of the governors palace in
Santa Fe. 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 OF it contents
Raymer examined the features of the
dead Mexican more closely. He was uD-
doubtedly griso and bore no resem-
blancc to the caballero whom the wag-
onor punished in Santa Fe.
The thought had flashed through
Raymer's mind at sight of tho trinkets
that Teresa might be one Of the ladies
shut up by the Navajoes in the cabins
at Los Ojos Frios A portion Of 1t was
either hers or exact duplicates Of hers.
OF this there could be no doubt
II was by no means impossible that
Miss Valencia might have been visiting
relatives in the rio ariba That such
journeys were not unusual In New Mex
ico had been proved by his adventure On
the Jemez trail in October. The posi-
bility of again meeting her renewed
hopes he had in vain been attempting
10 Danish and aroused resolution
which lent new tension to nerves and
muscles. preparing him for any struggle
necessary 10 rescue the girl whose
image filled his thoughts. Closing the
box. he returned To his horse and depos-
tied the treasure in pouch attached 10
his saddle.
Directing the men to throw the end
Of the lariat over the limb Of tree, that
the body Of the Mexican might be drawn
above the reach Of the wolves, and re-
ceiving the report Of the returning cor
poral that the halt had been made at
"seven mile pine, Raymer ordered the
torches to be extinguished and the
march resumed.
The moon was just clearing the east
ern mountains, and its rays, filtering
through the screening foliage, made
the trail visible once more and permit
ted the gait Of the animals to be greatly
increased.
Half an hour later the detachment
reached tho border Of level opening
consisting of about dozen acres. On
the farther side were the cabins in which
the women and their attendants were
reported as being besieged by small
band OF Indians. While yet consider
able distance from the edge of the open
ing halt was made, and the lieutenant
advanced alone and on foot to make al
observation.
All was still. Not hostile sound
broke the silence Of tho night If the
Navajoes were still there, they must be
in ambush awaiting the approach OF the
soldiers, or else, as seemed more prooa-
BILE to Raymer, they had overcome the
Mexicans and left. The finding OF the
dead man in tho trail was good evidence
that the travellers had left the cabins,
but how?
A terrible dread seized Raymer as
this thought took shape. The familiar
jewelry in his possession suggested that
Dona Teresa was one Of the prisoners at
the springs IL she had been there and
was not there now, she must be captive
or dead. His knowledge Of the horrible
atrocities perpetrated upon captive
white women by the Nayajoes made the
thought almost maddening.
The lieutenant reached the border OF
the forest, and placing himself behind
some low bushes looked across the open.
ing toward the two gray adobe cabins,
but saw no signs of life. With impa-
tient fingers he disengaged his fieldglass
from its case and adjusted the focus.
He swept the whole northern limit Of
the interval, including the cabins. with
out seeing an Indian. he removed the
glass from his eyes and stood gazing at
the silent, moonlit scene. Suddenly he
started. A figure had risen on the roof
of the cabin to the left-another-two
more-a fifth and-last! Using his glass
again, he saw they were Indians, half
concealed by the walls whic.i rose like
a parapet two feet above the fiat, earth
covered roof. They were stopping and
busy with something ut their feet.
Watching them closely, he made out
that they were digging a hole in the
roof.
This evidence that las senoras were
still prisoners in great danger caused
Raymer's heart to bound with joy and
resolve to rescue them. He did not
doubt the result. Success i'll his former
contests with the red man had given
him confidence in himself and his COM
rades. He turned his glass once more
along the border of the opening. and
looking more closely than before dis