Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-07-15
A Brush With ApaCheS.
BY p. WILBUR SHOOP.
THE long string of pack mules

1.-THE long string of pack mules
wound down through the dark,
marrow ravine of the Hasayampae river
,caryon, and crossing the dry bed of
the stream disappeared behind ledge
of rocks juttins out from the over
hanging cliff. 1t was a lonely spot.
Ten miles below quartz millh been
erected, and five miles UP the river was
a sheep ranch. But here no sign of life
appeared, save the sinuous line of
mules vending their way across a
stretch of alkali plain to the foothills
just beyond. The alkali dust, dry as
finder, crushed under the feet of the
animals and was waited away in little
,puffs at each successive step. I
The straps fastening the load to the
back of one of the animals became
loosened, and 1 stopped to fix them.
The other mules filed past and left me
about quarter of mile behind. AS
<vas Juggling away at the straps, with
dhe mule occasionally looking back at
ane with a quizzical expression showing
plainly on it's face, heard q sound as Of
some one slipping over the rocks above.
The mule looked up, shifted the air,
gave a sudden .lurch, wrenching the
straps from my hands, and dashed
Gnadly Off toward the animals in the
lead, probably now a mile ahead, and
already on the summit of the nearest
foothiIl. The tin buckets, provisions,
etc, that formed the contents of it's
load, were strewn over the ground quite
promiscuously.
The other animals in the train, who
previously had beer walking along in
u sleepy, mechanical way, and only
switching their ears and swinging their
tails to vary the monotony, seemed to
be infected with the terror of the ami
NAL that had broken away from me,
and joined it in mad disorder.
stepped back under the overhanging
ledge of rock, and gazed after the ami,
mails, wondering as to the cause of theil
sudden fright. Just then q sharp re-
port rang out. L felt a singing sen
sation in my right ear, and could hear
a distinct ping" 1 clapped my hant
to my ear; it was bleeding. Then the
reason for the mad fear of the mule.
came to me. A mule that has been uset
where Indians are around soon learns
to tell by intuition, it seems, wheneve
one is near and, as they have an inbor1
antipathy toward them, never lose an.
time in getting out of the reach of thei
rifles. This one had fired at M
through crevice in the rocks, but hat
done no damage save to clip off tn
tip of my ear.
We were not then expecting an out
break. A few months before Gen. Cool
had gathered in the hostile Apache
and placed them under military con
troll The former horrors were for
gotten, and we were at ease and off GU
guard. The only weapon carried wa
a navy revolver, a poor instrument t.
cope with rifle in the hands of
bloodthirsty savage.
glanced up through the break in tn
rocks and saw an Apache, in full wa
dress, peering down to ascertain til
result of his shot AS l kept still, h
thought he had finished me, and 81
losing his caution in his cupidity 70
scalps, he yentured out from behind tn
rocks ind began climbing down. Thi
was my opportunity, and / drew IN
revolver and fired al him, and had tn
somewhat grnesome satisfaction Of see