Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1896-05-02

IL so,' said on Porfirto, growing angry
In turn. Il have offered you oil l hav,
to give
"Santarito gave swift glance round
toward his band and lifted his lance
But he remained where he was, end
did not give the signal to his men &C
attack. He was not the head chief OF
his tribe, and II was a serious thing
for him TO break a treaty ON his own
responsibility. Besides, he knew that
IL il came to battle some of his men
would be killed, however the affair
turned in the end.
"'We may settle the matter another
way il you choose he said. Come
out and fight me single-handed before
all our men. Face to face we will de-
eide whether l or your people shall
have the girl. Or, if you are too old.
send one of your younger men,
ale looked as he spoke at Francisco
Segura, standing at Manuelita's sife.
| At his word Francisco took a step for
ward.
az will fight YOU he called out
Don Parfirio, give me leave to fight
the Comanche chief
"Santarito looked at him, and his lip
curled. Il am a chief he said, aud
| he is only a cowherd. But let him come
out and be killed. Twill carry his scalp
on my lance when l ride with Man.
uelita back to our -ancheria.'
"'Go, since you ask it. and God be
with YOU said the don to Francisco.
But ride my black horse. You know
him, for you broke him as a colt. He
will not finch or fail YOU
ION the don's black horse, the swift
est in the Rio Grande valley, Francisco
rode out to meet the chief. He car
ried in his hand gun, and upon his
saddle horn his braided lasso was loose
~ coiled. The women lamented and
the men looked very grave at his pros
poets, for he could, give but a single
shot with his gun, while the Indians
culver was full of arrows, every one of
which he could send in surely in the
time it would take Francisco to reload
his piece. And then there was the
lance, and Francisco had none.
"Santarito rode back, keeping to the
left until he had reached point equal
ly distant from his band and the cara
van. Francisco took up similar posi-
ton on the right, and the two faced
each other 100 hundred PAGES apart.
The Indian laid his lance in the loops
OF his saddle and took his bow and half
"A dozen arrows in his hand. Then with
a shout to his pony he dashed upon
Francisco, waiting to receive him with
fusil raised. Half way to him the
Comanche swung down sidewise from
his saddle. so that his pony's body
should completely protect him from a
shot, and swerved the animal to pass
Francisco in a circle. At the same time,
from under its neck. he sent arrow after
arrow at him as fast as one could count.
THE second arrow sent struck Fran
cisco's saddle. and the next passed
through his sleeve, grazing his Shout
der. At the same moment he fired, aim
ing to hit the Comanche's head be-
meath the pony's neck. The bullet
missed Santarito, but it was a lucky
shot, for all that, for it struck his bow,
breaking it. Instantly the Indian
swung up in his saddle, grasped his
lance, and charged straight at his enc.
my.
Francisco set spurs to his horse In
met the charge, at the same moment
lifting from his saddle horn the coils OF
his lasso. With the gun held in his
left hand, he parted the lance thrust, |
wheeled his horse behind the Indians |
pony as it went by like flash, and flung
his lasso over Santarito. His aim was
true. The moose fell over the Com.
anche's head and shoulders, and, before |
he could throw it of, Francisco had
caught turn Of the braided rope about
his saddle horn, wheeled his horse, and |
set the spurs hard into his tanks.
With a bound the fiery animal was off |
and away, jerking the Indian from his
saddle, over his pony's back, and drag.
ging him helpless over the prairie. As
he fell to the ground the lasso slipped |
above his shoulders, but frightened |
again about his neck, and held.
AT sight of this, the Indians gave
their war cry and started for Francis
co. He did not pull rein until they were
half way to him. Then he checked his |
horse, leaped to the ground, threw the
lasso from the Indians neck--the neck |
was broken-plunged his knife twice
into the Comanche's heart 10 make his |
work sure, took the gold star from the
chiefs breast, and springing to the
saddle, dashed back to the caravan with |
a score of arrows whistling after him
This is the story of the duel at Las
Salinas. Francisco, of course, was a |
great hero after the affair. He married
Manuelita that fall, as he had wanted to
do for years past, and he became head
Naquero on my grandfather's ranches,
so they were both prosperous and hap
Ply. When, after many years, his work
ing days were over, his son took his
place on my father'e estate"
just as Don Mariana finished his
story the sound of hoofbeats near at
hand caused the two TO look round. |
The approaching wagons were still
mile away, but the foreman had ridden
ahead to select the spot where they
should haul up. He was stalwart,