Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-08-17
II the closenes Of what might have
happened.

If the closenea Of what might have
happened.
az believe got scratched ON my
shoulder" I answered, when l had
made my examination and ascertained
that was hit in no other place. Its
Of no Importance. Are you all Hght!
Sound as q dollar, Felix replied.
"But some Of 'em came mighty closo. !
think I got ventilating hole in my
nat, for bullet or the wind Of one took
it of my head. What do you think?
Will they come again, or have the
Apaches drawn of for goodi'
~ believe they've got enough Of rs, :"
l said. "They have no reason for stay
ing around here and losing time trying
to take us in. Their only hope was to
surprise us Now that they've failed Of
that think they'll get away as quick
ly ms possible.
That's my idea," said Felix III
you'll keep watch. I'll slip buck and
reconnoiter ON the other side Of our
camping place and see il the rest OF our
company are all right.
II was near daybreak. the chosen
time Of Indian attack, and we anxiously
watched for what the lifting Of darkness
might bring. The gray light Of dawn
was bringing into view the darkened
plain and the sky was reddening in the
east when the sound Of u rapid volley
Of shots came faint in the distance
from the direction Of the Mexican's
camp. The shooting ceased and quickly
fire blazed up where IL had occurred.
We sat III expectancy with weapons in
readiness, waiting for the attack ON us
which now seemed certain. But II did
not come. We were left undisturbed,
and soon our attention was attracted to
a weird and ominous apparition in an
other quarter The sky behind the Pc
loncillo mountains was now flaming
with the dawn. and through cleft the
level sunbeams came in wide shaft Of
light upon the plain. Across this illu-
minated space. like shadows against a
screen, n procession Of horsomen passed
in single file between us and the noun
tains Their forms, mufiled in blankets,
and their attitude in riding showed
them to be Indians We counted 10 in
the party Nearly all were leading
horses behind the mounted animals
They passed beyond the light into the
duskiness and were lost 10 sight in the
shadow against the dark continuation
Of the mountains.
Dawn frightened into sunrise, and
the San Simon plain in the daylight
looked fresh. fair and peaceful. Some
dark moving objects could be seen near
the playa. but there were no signs Of
danger To us We offered the girls the
last Of the water in the centeens, and
then. having packed our limited equi-
page, we all, by common consent, started
over to visit Don Ramon camp. which
in the daylight was now distinguisha.
bic about mile away. gave Carmen
my horse to ride and walked in compa-
ny with Dolores, WHO looked thorough.
" unconcerned and munchcd piece Of
bread rs she trudged along. Carmen's
face was tear stained and melancholy.
and che seemed unconscious Of the rents
and tatters in her dress, which testified
woefully to the thorns and briers that
had lain in her path the night before.
But her mantilla was becomingly ar.
ranged and she looked the lovely incar.
nation Of grief and grace.
Don Ramon's camp was a picture OF
rack and ruin, mute memorial Of the
courtesies Of The Apaches The ancestral
carriage was on its side with wheels IN
the mir, its glass windows broken, sew.
eral bullet holes through II and an ar.
row sticking in panel A fire had
been started under it. but had gone out
with no further damage than to char
portion Of the woodwork. The harnesses
Of the mules had been cut to pieces and
the straps carried away. The baggage
had been rudely ransacked, and those
things that the Apaches had left were
strewed about and partially destroyed.
Carmen's guitar case and her book OF
devotions had contributed to the fire
under the carriage, while her guitar,
smashed almost beyond recognition,
hung forlornly with dangling stringa
from the bush against which il had been
flung. Her little leather trunk had beer
cut open and despOiled Of her finery,
while broken glass and an odor-noth.
ing more-of aguardiente indicated that
the quality Of Don Ramon's special
commissary supply had been approved
BY the marauders. Moccasin tracks were
plenty and marks Of the hoofs Of unshod
ponies AS we locked over the scene Of
disaster. Felix lifted the water keg. the
head Of which had been smashed, and
shook il, listening There was splash
within.
Here's luck. he cried-"water! We
can have some coffee.
Surely enough, there was gallon o,
two Of water still in the keg. There
seemed for the present nothing better tc
do than to prepare breakfast So, gather
ing materials for fire. We fell to boil
ing coffee in our tin cans and frying
bacon in a battered pan found among
the wreckage. Dolores. stimulated BY
the prospect Of something to eat, assist
ed us with alacrity, but her mistress sal
downcast, giving no attention to oui
proceedings, nor would she afterward
join Us ut the repast, not even SO much
as to touch the tin cup Of coffee gallant.
ly rendered her by Felix. The rest Of NJ
had no lack of appetite. After our trou-
bled night the strong, black coffee wa
ambrosial ard we did the fullest justice
to our simple fare.
Midway in the meal Felix touched
me with his elbow and signaled with
hia avoa that I shon1d lOOk dOwn the