New-York tribune., 1896-10-18
MAN AND SNAKE.
TRAGEDY OF FRIENDSHIP.

ego +" said the Ranchman. Ticking the ashes
<ror, b;s cigar II might call it the story oi
oodarn Damon nd Pythias but for the denoue-
ment. which l warn YOU is not particular!
iovful one. STILL if YOU fellows don't NINA 'he
tragic. here goes. ~
about twenty years ago TWO young 'V"'"''
whom We'll call Tom and jack s'ar'eu ou' ~
seek their fortunes ranchng IN Arizona ine
r.rch fever WAS Just Their about at its
height England and Aus'ra'ia as we" "a"
mr. own East were sending out ldio's !"
- o. tho West Young fellows. many
of ,bcm we'll educated and of good oirt"
-, .o,,ah, nm to every luxury. SIMPLY
-. ud over the primitive freedom OF mat
.s,.o,,urous life until with capital exhausted
s,,;ch. hard work anl privation ineNitap''
-. .r,s "a wish Heaven knows how bitterly
- t then, wished it--that they had never
r.,ccd the commonplace comforts OF cN'h-
.,,r for tho intoxicating uncertainty ot IRON
A.. ufa These two youngsters having t'hF
-, - cani,al between them on coming ot age
concluded IN invest IL In cattle. and liNcd upon
Ar,,cna as the most favorable spot for theT
financial experiment
an surprisingly shor; time they han con'ue'
ID every difficulty and made good START l"'F
built themselves snug little house were 'o'"'
owners Of quite a bunch of cattle ana nao SeN-
sral boys as helpers. They had always peeh 'he
.,o.es, NJ cbums these two. born in the same
,oun schoo|n,ates in hoyhood. classmates at the
uriversity-you never knew two chaps more de-
voted
"Tom was a big fellow. blond. with rudy
akin, honest blue eyes. and laugh-wei' 'ei
vol, II did fellow good just to hear MIN roar III
his hearty way when any one got off Joke.
lack was little fellow. bit delicate. not
really equal to roughine il. He used 10 COM
plain that Tom did the biggest share of the
r-ork: but Tom never would hear word of that,
and while they smoked before the rough stone
fireplace in their one room of evenings 10
hear Tom defer to Jacks judgment and consult
about business matters was to think Toms lit
lie mariner one OF the biggest and cleverest
business heads of the age.
For some time there had been rumors OF an
indian outbreak The Apaches We're getting
restless and already several small bands had
stolen away from the reservation 10 hiding
olaces in the mountains. There was. of course
4 big scare. people leaving homes and property
especially where there were women ana chill
dren to he considered
"rom and Jack talked 1t over and decided to
stick to the ranch. To leave was TO lose every
thing. the hard-won result of months of toll; for
of course il they deserted the boys couidn he
expected to stay There was bare chance oi
things blowing over. and in any case Watchfu'-
ness and systematic defence might save them
II the worst did come.
$50 the ranch was prOvisioned Tor a siege ana
fortified in every way: adjacent outhuildinss'
which might through nearness TO the mann
building become dangerous, were removed
everything. in short, which could insure safe'y
when the critical moment arrived was antci-
pated and done.
.One day a cowboy from neighhoring ranch
same riding in like mao, nat gone pi""u
streaming down his face.
.tI,s ta1e was If the worst. HIS ranch had
h.en attack.d ID the house burned. and every one
killed but hi..,s.f. He, although closely pur-
sued. had suc,e -ded in Guiding the Apaches'
who were howeve:. close behird him.
"Tom-he was naturally the leader-at once
called in all the boys; doors and WINDOWS were
barricaded, last details NJ defence completed.
The horses were brought inside to place already
nranared for them go that II need he there would
he means for attempted flight and possible es-
cape Every man had his station. some at the
ioopholes some at the water casks in readiness
TO nut out the fires which would inevitably he
started.
1T was not long walt. In very snort tlne
the ranch was surrounded by a large band of
the house as unprotected the one they had
Just destroyed. for. without moments pause
they made wild rush toward H.
'"They were met by withering volley from the
various loophoes and fell back with consdera-
BILE loss which, az a wholesome lesson. had its ef-
feet but yet undoubtedly reused the Indians to
a still greater pitch of frenzy.
Three days went by. days Of constant vigil
ance and steady fighting. The Apaches tried
every dodge known to their mode OF warfare
without any success. Toms really mastery line
Of defence and the plucky cooperation or the
boys seemed to make it probable that they would
be able 10 hold out until the arrival of the troops
who were known to he hot upon the trail OF the
Indians. The greatest danger to be feared wa:
fire. Already the Apaches had made several at
tempts to fire the house by hurling burning
brands against II; but the boys at the water casks
had been too quick for them. while the aim O
those at the loopholes was so deadly that non'
Of the Indians had succeeded in getting nea
enough to really start a blaze which would b.
dangerous.
Still, it was an anxious time The day
went by the strain was beginning to tell OIL
them all; several Of them wounded ant
sufferinC had made them lose heart: they hat
given up hope Of the troops or Of tiring out tn
Apaches. The Indian loss indeed, had been s.
heavy that every knew the price whicl
would be exacted by savage revenge. Still
there was nothing TO do but TO hold on. tn
Apaches lay hidden but If by chance any on
showed himself at the ranch there was an In
slant rain OF spattcring bullets.
ITO cOmplicate matters. the water supply be
gan to run alarmingly low; there was barrel
enough for the horses and men, none to spar
for the lavish use demanded In putting out eve
a small blaze. The suspense was horrible Tor
saw that something would have to be done
That something was very suddenly precipitate
by the Indians themselves.
Creeping up as close to the house az possible