The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-04-11

hand for an instant Raymer went out to
oversee the preparations for the march.
In the army men are accustomed to
sniden surprises and they learn to act
promptly in emergencies. Consequently
in a little time four Of the mules were
made ready for riding, and two soldiers
skilled in packing were filling the pack
saddles of the other two with ratiors,
ammunition, cooking utensils and other
necessary articles. The two bronchos
mentioned in previous chapter as kept
for emergent service and the boys pony
were ready to be mounted.
Telling Sergeant Mulligan to follow
as rapidly as possible with the pack ami
mails and the IL men on foot, Lieuten-
ant Raymer and seven mounted men
started at rapid pace on the Abiqui
trail. As the soldiers passed round the
headland into the northern half Of the
valley they saw the shadows cast by the
western range were creeping fast up the
forest clad slopes Of the valley and the
middle basin already deepening into
darkness
A flock Of ducks nesting in the reeds
by the brookside, alarmed by the gal
Looping column, fiuttered noisily across
the stream; hare leaped out of tuft
of grass and disappeared in 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 tho
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 wh'sperings, sighs
and groans, cluclsings 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 and became SO restive that
it was with great difficulty he could be
controlled Turning to the men, the
lieutenant commanded
"Halt! Dismount! Hold your animals
as still as possible aid listen!'
With the 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
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 saw an object lying across the path
a 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
f,o1,, 1nnl tr,,,,1-c of Tho to1,
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 a saie distance ON each side
of the trail, now and then broke into a
chorus of howls and snarls, accompanied
by fierce swapping of jaws.
Corporal Coffey, have you any idea
where we aro?' asked the lieutenant of
soldier who stood by his side holding
a 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?"
eyes, sir 1t has cross cut on the
west side, and sandstone bowlder leans
against the opposite side"
"That is right. Whileyou 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 a 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 a 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