Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-04-16

treaty on his Own responsibility.
Besides. he knew that IL it came to
battle some of his men would be
killed, however the affair turned i'm
the end.
"'We may settle the matter an.
other way il you choose he said.
Come ont and fight me single
handed before oil our men.
Face to face we will decide whether
! or yoS- geople shall have the girl.
Qf 4 ron are too old, send one OF
y5lix yo1n = zssn.
'fHe looked as be spoke at Fraa-
cisco Segura. standing at Manueli-
ta's side. At his word Francisco
took step forward.
"'l will fight you he called out.
Don Porfirio. give me leave to fight
the Comanche chief
"Santarito looked at him, and
his lip curled. Il am a chief, he
said. 'and he is only a cowherd.
But let him come out and be killed.
| will carry his scalp on nv lance
when ride with Manuelita back to
our rancheria.
=" Go, since you ask it, and God
DC with you, said the don to Fran
cisco. But ride my black horse.
You know him, for You broke him
as colt. He will not finch or fail
you.'
''On the don's black horse, the
swiftest in the Rio Grande Valley,
Francisco rode out to meet the chief.
He carried in his hand a gun, and
upon his saddle horn his braided
lasso was losely coiled. The women
lamented and the men looked very
grave at his prospects. for he could
give but u 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, aud Francisco had none.
"Santarito rode back, keeping to
.L. ins. rrt;l ho bod .o.,.oS IL.
equally distant from his band and
the caravan. Francisco took up Q
similar position on the right, and
the two faced each other a hundred
PAGES apart. The Indian laid his
laace in the loops of his saddle and
took his bow and half dozen ar
rows in his hand. Then with
shout to his pony he dashed upon
Francisco, waiting to receive him
with fusil raised. Half way to him
the Comauche swung down side
wise from his saddle, so that his
pony's body should completely pro.
tect him from q shot, and swerved
the animal to pass Francisco in
circle. At the same time from un-
der its neck he sent arrow after ar
row at him as fast as one could
count.
"The second arrow sent struck
Francisco's saddle, and the next
passed through his sleeve, grazing
his shoulder. At the same moment
he fired, aiming to hit the Conan
che's head beneath the pony's neck.
The bullet missed Santartto, but it
was a lucky shot for all that, for it
struck bis bow. breaking it. In
stantiy the Indian swung up in his
saddle. grasped his lance and charg-
ed straight at his enemy.
Francisco set spurs to his horse
to meet the charge, ct the same
time lifting from his saddle horn
the coils of his lasso. With the
gun held in bis left hand, be par
ried the lance thrust, wheeled his
horse behind the Indians pony "a
it went by like flash. and flung
his lasso after Santarito. His aim
was true. The moose fell over the
Comanche'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 fanks. With bound
the fiery animal was of and auay,
jerking the Indian from his saddle,
over his pony's back, and dragging
him helpless over the prairie. As
he fell to the ground the lasso slip
ped above his shoulders, but tight.
ened again about his neck. and
held.
"At sight Of this, the Indians
gave their war-cry and started for
Francisco. He did not pull rein
until they we're half way TO him.