River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-01-10


near, and one that showed us all three
not their entire bodies. but their
heads and shoulders, which vas all we
needed to see.
They were stretched on their faces,
sheltered by the rock in front from
tine fire of the troopers below, and pro-
tected as to the lower part of their
bodies from Us by an intruding bowl
der, but which. as l have stated, left
their heads aud shoulders in plain
sight
We arranged ourselves with great
care, 50 as not To alarm them and to
screen ourselves while we fired.
They were three fine-looling fellows,
with their long. coars, black hair
gathered and tied behind by strips of
red flannel. their ugly features daubed
with paint ard their shoulders with
out any covering. Their bronzed skin
was insensible to the suns rays, which
blistered our hands when exposed too
long to its power. | could hear the
occasional murmur of their voices. and
once or twice when one of them turned
his head. ! saw him grin, as he certain
ly had warrant in doing. They felt
themselves in no danger, and our
friends in the valley must nave seen
their faces very often, for they ex-
posed themselves, no doubt, for the
purpose of drawing their fire.
We spent several minutes in study
ing them AMI discussing what we
should do. While whispering no
ticei that one seemed TO be occupied
in scrutinizi.g the troopers. as though
he had discovered son ething deeply
interesting. II he spoke, as ! suppose
he must have done, he did not turn his
head nor look around, but continued
intently watching our friends below.
Not only that, but he was much more
exposed than either r his companions,
not only TO those in the valley, but to
Us. 1t was this which caused him to
be singled out as our first prize.
Since there were three on a side. il
was ar. anged that each of us should
select his man. so as not to throw
away a shot | was to take the far
thest one, Masque the next, while
Pedro was to pick off the one whose
attention appeared 10 be absorbed by
the doings of the horsemen IN the
valley.
Ii sounds like a shocking arrange
ment, and perhaps il was, though you
can't and a trooper or ranchman that
has lived in that section who would
condemn it. BE that as it may. how
ever. the little scheme failed to work.
A full understanding having been
E a.. L.
presto, the two hostlles selected by
Nasque ami me wers invisible. Some
slight noise must have told them their
peril. for they had dropped down be-
hind the bowlder. and were as much out
of sight as il they had sunk hundred
feet into the earth.
But the third man. PedrO's, hadn't
moved. and. fearful that he would
vanish the next moment. the friendly
let fly at hirl-
You have missedt'' : muttered il
disgust; you are too Hurried. I'll
finish him"
confess l was little clustered my
self but the distance was short and
needed but a second or two.
'Huhr' exclaimed Maseue. you
have missed. too.
To my amazement the Indian did not
stir. What could IL mean?
Me show-me fetch hin!''
Masque incautiouslv raised his head
bove the stone IN front To make his
aim sure. and. was sighting his gun,
when from behind the bowlder came a
shot, and the poor fellow tumbled
over backward without speaking. The
ball had passed through his head At
the same moment the remaining hos
tile vanished.
Now that the Apaches had diseov-
cred presence, and we knew what