The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-08-19

navy revolver, poor instrument to
cope with a rifle in the hands CT \
blcodthirsty savage.
l glanced up through the break in the
rocks and saw an Apache, in full war
dress, peering down to ascertain the
result of his shot. As l kept still, he
thought he had flushed me, and so.
losing his caution in his cupidity for
scalps, he ventlred out from behind the
rocks and began climbing down. This
vas my opportunity, and l drew my
1evol, CT and fred at him, and had the
somewhat gruesome satisfaction of see
ing him fall across a rock. His rifle
dropping from his hands, bounded
down the rocks and fell at my feet.
picked it up. l had previously sup
posed him to be alone, but now a dozen
or more yells burst from among the
rocks, and knew that was in for it.
Keeping close to the rocky cliff and
lodging from bowldcr to bowlder, ran
for some distance up the dried-up bed
OF the river unpercei' ed. l hid as best
| could, and looked back. There were
so or more warriors, it seemed to me,
examining the place where ] had been
when the shot was fired.
Apparently there was no time to be
lost, and taking advantage of their
searchings, ran as rapidly as the
rocky ground would permit me. |
gained the shelter of a ravine that ran
| down the river. | clamhered up the
sides. | was not now mora than quar-
ter of a mile away from q, ,here shot
the Indian, and could tasty hear
their yells when they realized their
prey had escaped. To my relief, their
cries grew fainter and fainter, and in a
few minutes they ceased altogether
They were looking in the wrong direc
ton for me, and had passed down in.
stead of up the river. This gave me
some relief, but was still in danger
Gus locality. For aught knew, other
bands were in the vicinity and anxious
for the scalp of anyone who might ap
pear.
Accordingly l carefully and eau
tiously picked my way along; creeping
most of the time and always keep
ing close to the protection OF a rock
or large tree. Seeing no signs of In
dams, lost much of my fear and rar
openly across the hills. l ran on fol
some distance, and was finally brought
up sharp Ey fairly running into caml
of the Apaches. They had built sinai
fire and were devouriug the provisions
that our excited pack of mules hae
spilled. All were so busily engaged II
eating, however, that l was unper
ceived. l retreated carefully, but sen
tinel that they had posted saw me, ane
sent rife ball whizzing in my direc
ton, much too close for comfort, car
assure you. l ran madly along, STUN
bling over logs and rotten stumps.
had good start, and kept in advance o
them, quite out of gunshot. Severa
shots were sent after me, but all ap
parently fell short. | continued run
ming, scarcely knowing how or where
and at length came out upon the alkal
plain. | had run in a circle of abou
six miles in circumference, and hat
arrived at the place where the mules
had stampeded. l was so exhausted
could scarcely move.
l was now in desperate straits, in
deed. l could still hear the yeIls of TIL
Indians, although their cries were be
coming weaker. l looked over towar'
the foothills, expecting to see some on
coming, and to my intense relief | saw
partly obscured by the flying dust,
troop of cavalry from the fort. l coul'
make out the tints of their uniforms
and nothing have seen, before o. since
was us pleasing as that army blue. Ih
fort was only about 20 miles away, an
word had been received that afternoo
that a portion of the Apache tribe ha
escaped and were on the warparh, an
this troop had been sent to intercep
them. l guided the soldiers to the IL
dian camp, where the Apaches had a
returned, having given up their scare
for me.
When they saw they were surrounde
by the soldiers, they submitted withou
struggle. Their arms were take
away from them, and they were force
to return to their reservation, yer
sullen, it is true, but without furthe
hostilities.
Thus ended my first experience wit
the redskin warriors, and | am perfec
ly willing to let it be the last. At ths
time was so much so, in fact, that n
signed my position as pilot of pacl
mule train and returned to civilize
region.-Peterson's Magazine.
, Natures Shrewdness.
When anything ceases to be usefl
| -, 4,,,.a Eon: 1Enrly at once to get rid [