The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-01-31

sters TO keep cool and above all to keel
, on the move, to keep the train from be
! ing cut in two or demolished. Shower
after shower of arrows fell among The
wagons and men, looking for an instant
like line stretched from the cliffs tt
the ground. Every now and then g
dusky form would
LEAP CoNvULsIvELY
from The rocks overhead, and fall crash
ing to the base, and roll to the very feet
Of the soldiers, mangled mass.
On gaining the front they found the
soldiers holly engaged with band OF
Indians, in narrow place In the road
trying to block the train.
"Antonio vesta diabloi" shouted
Juan, and instantly his rifle rang out
the Indians death-knell; in few min
utes his scalp was hanging to Juan's
belt. Antonio was chief. Juan knew
him while captive.
After his death the warriors retreated
TO the rocks and trees, continuing a brisk
firing as they lodged from shelter to
shelter, keeping pace with the wagons
and soldiers.
The firing now increased in the rear.
The guide, telling Juan to keep the road
open, the advance-guard and wagons on
the move, hastened along the line, en-
couraging the soldiers to fight bravely
on. He found the Sergeant and his
men hotly engaged with the redskins in
the road
"That's good, boys; give it to 'em !"
shouted the guide. Just as the guide
arrived the Indians made a last despair
ing charge; they were met by the sol
diers and hurled back, leaving number
of dead behind them, and their chief
leader lost. They abandoned the road
with wall of grief, and again took to
the rocks and trees The guide, turning
to the Sergeant and soldiers, commended
them for their bravery. He was in
formed by the Sergeant that several men
had fallen and been put in the wagons;
also several animals killed or disabled,
and Juan's shot, but still able to keep
on its feet.
Again the firing in the front warned
him that the Indians had again attempt
ed to block the passage. But before
reaching the scene he heard an exultant
shout from Juan, which he knew meant
that another Indian of some consequence
had fallen victim to
THE SCOUTS UNERRING AM
Hurrying up to Juan, he asked how
things were going, and whose scalp this
last one was.
Magnus segundo, dos capitans por
Juan este die es bueno" 1.-TWO captains
this day for Juan is good), said Juan;
and his black eyes glowed like sparkles
of fire on dark night. Then lie again
challenged Cochise to duel, shouting:
you thief, coyote, sneak, coward
behind the rocks You are afraid to
meet the slave, Juan. | have two of
your chiefs scalps. Come, come and
get them. Take mine if you can, and
wear it on your war-bonnet"
After Magnus segundo's (the second's)
death, the Indians had broken their own
blockade and once more scattered among
the rocks and trees, and the battle vir-
tually ended Truly, the command had
been saved by the bravery and GOODNESS
Of these two heroes, who had done their
duty toward saving the men both before
and during the fight. To the guide the
planning and execution of the manu-
yer were due, while to Juan the COM
pany owed those small deeds which are |
so material in making victory. Firing
was kept up until the mouth of the
canyon or death-gorge was reached. All |
seemed safe, but just as the head mule |
reached the mouth, something whizzed |
out from tall pine with short snap, a
lasso settled itself down on the lead mules |
shoulders and drew the animal across
the road but before the team was fairly |
stopped, leaden messenger from Juan's
carbine caused an Indian to come crash |
ing through the branches and bite the
dust
As the last wagon wheeled out of the
canyon and the rear column of soldiers
filed out with smoking rifles parting
shower of arrows and bullets fell amongst |
them, and long, loud cry of disappoint-
ment echoed among the cliffs and lost it.
self in some Of the caverns of that gorge,
which, if it could speak, could tell of
untold horrors that the stubbornness of
ore man had caused. Words can
but give one thought of that dreadful
day, not to be lost on the morrow, bnt
to cause the reader to shudder at that |
thought each time it enters his mind.
Tears of gladness filled many of those
mems eyes as they grasped each others
hands, and their looks showed their
thankfulness to the Almighty Creator
who had preserved them, and, tears of
sorrow fell from their eyes whenthey saw
within the eight wagons the 2S8men who
had fallen in that devils den.
In the afternoon they arrived at Rio
San Sansamone. And that evening as
the sun sank behind the Apache Mount
aims shedding a soft golden food of light |
on the morning battlefield and Rio San |
Sansamone, the bugle sounded the fun
eral-cail. As the sun disappeared, throw