Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-12-17

observed that the bucks were mus
cular and tall as the Navajos, ant
that neither men nor women wore
any clothing save raw-hide sandal,
and cloth about the loins.
Approaching a squaw, who wa:
pounding corn in followed stone
with stone pestle, addressed hel
In Spanish. A shrug and a grunt
was the only reply. lighted pipe
and handed it to an old man who was
lying on BEARS skin in the sunshine
He took it and smoked away in 81.
lence. L gave trinkets to some OF
the young people, unsaddled my
pony, hohbled and turned him loose
to Craze. A squaw was striking a
flint to start fire. struck a match
and started blaze, at which she
seemed astonished. Stretching out
on the ground waited patiently till
the women cooked their meat and
baked bread without oven or pan. /
drank goats milk from gourd, and
sitting tailor fashion on the ground,
part0ok of the food, including
baked peppers and squash.
At bedtime l wrapped in a robe,
made of the skins Of the wild leop.
ard cat, and stretching out on the
ground slept soundly.
At sun-up 1 saw a runner coming
swiftly-his limbs bleeding from
contact with the cat's-cIaw cactus
and other thorny plants. He has
tened to the head chief. There we're
few words and significant grunting.
In twinkling the young we're
painted, feathered and armed with
guns, bows and arrows. The chief
gave some instructions to the old
men. and taking the trail walked
hurriedly to the east, his braves fol-
lowing. Slipping my Winchester
from the scabbard on my saddle,
olouRuI up tHe rear.
We went at double quick till noon,
when, in dreary, rocky prairie, we
hid ourselves-thea ambuscade being
semi-circular with the opening to the
east.
We had not long to wait. A body
Of Mexican rurales walked into the
trap. They fired rapidly, aiming
low, as one would at kissing reptiles
hidden in the grass. From every
direction arrows and bullets hailed
about them. They fell as beeves
fall on ration day, when hungry
Apaches surround herd. At length
only one soldier was left standing.-
He looked like he might be twenty.
l shall never forget his look of de-
spair as he saw all his comrades ly-
ing dead or writhing in agony. But
the firing ceased, and l saw an In
dian spring forward to catch the boy;
he got a bullet in his brain for his
pains. A moment later, however,
the boys arms were pinioned, and as
prisoner he saw his fellows scalped
and mutilated.
Briefly stated, the Indians had
made forage, so common in Mexico,
driving home cows, ponies and sheep.
Soldiers followed the raiders and
none returned to tell the the tale.
Returning to the village / joined
the women at work in the patches of
corn and cane. l helped to hoe and
irrigate. And ! went off with the
boys to herd the flocks, and with
them ate prickly pears, pinyon nuts
and wild grapes.
One evening party of young peo-
pie who had been on visit to a
neighboring village came in. Among
them was a young girl of perhaps
eighteen. Her form was perfect, she
was quite fair and had auburn hair.
tried to accost her but she was as
shy as Texas range cow cut off
from the herd.
An incident that threatened a
tragedy brought us into closer rela-
tiOnship. The Mexican prisoner,
who had beeen closely guarded. was
brought out TO be shot. The fair
girl seemed deeply moved and plead
earnestly with the chief, who seemed
to be her father, to spare the boy,
but all in vain. He was tied to a
quaken aspen tree, and a dozen In
dians stood in front of him with
loaded guns. AS they raised their
pieces l was seized with an irresisti-
BILE desire to save the young mans
life, and, running forward, with a
blow of stone hatchet | cut the
thongs that bound him, and, taking
his place, barred my breast to the
savages. The guns were lowered,
and, at a motion of the chief the men
went to theif tepees. The chief
asked the prisoner if he would join
the tribe; being answered in the af:
firmative the young Mexican was
set at liberty.
His gratitude was unbounded. ]
asked his history. He told me he had
been discarded by one Of the lowell
est of women, and i'm a fit of despera
finp onliafaH in fna ornu nd