Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-10-12
FELIX NARCHANT.
By CLARENCE PuLLEI.
(copy right. lss. By the Ausaos.i


fCopy right, ispg. By the Authoei
CHAPTER XIII.
That there was prospect Of heavy
rains to come upon us that day would
be more evident to one who knew the
country well than to tenderfoot. on
to the south the mirage phantoms
danced and floated as lightly ~ they
had done at any time before during the
day, and from the clear sky the sun
shone in the southwest as brightly as he
had beamed throughout the morning. IL
was in the north aud northwest that the
thickening sky BODIED rainclouds. which
might linger in the mountains to dis.
charge their contents among the peaks
or might drive forth above the plain TO
fall in heavy showers Of rain, character
isiic of this region. At this time Of the
year, after weeks Of clear weather, the
rainy season might be supposed to have
ended, but it often happens in New
Mexico and Arizona that such days OF
brightness prove only the prelude to
terrific rainstorm which gives the
grand finale to the rainy season in true
melodramatic fashion, with the accom-.
paniments of wind, hail, lightning,
crashing thunder and inundation.
The rainstnrms Of this arid region
come from of the mountains, ns in the
coast regions they come from of the sea.
So the increasing haziness about the
Peloncillos and the Burro range. though
far away, indicated possible trouble later
for MS ont upon the plain. The pleasant
southern breeze that had blown through.
out the morning had fallen, and there
were boiling stiffness and mysterious
electrical quality in the half sultry nil
that oppressed the spirits and filled the
minds Of all our party with vague un-
easiness So we travelled silently forward
over the trail, and when one Of our
number spoke what he had to say was
said briefly and In monosyllables With.
out the appearance OF great watchful-
ness. our eyes closely scanned the coun.
try far and near, from the distant noun
tains from which Apache smoke spires
rose fitfully here and there to the rocks
and eminences and hollows, the yuccas,
cactuses and mesquite clumps closer at
hand. Whenever our party drew near
point where the trail descended an ar.
royo, rs the dry water courses OF the
country ere called. or tarncd tho base OF
o foothill. Felix CT rcdc forward in ad-
vance of the carriage to explore the
ground ahead and see that 1t sheltered
no Indian a,lbuscadc. Not less we
watched well 10 the rear lest Apaches,
lying unseen as we passed, should dash
upon US from behind, their chosen meth.
cd of attacking "A travelling outfit.
One thing which surprised us was
that we had seen nothing Of the two
prospectors. They had started from the
station r:uch earlier than we, and we
knew how astonishingly far the long,
swinging pace of men like these. accus.
toned to cover long distances on foot,
will carry them in the day round. Still
it ceemed that we ought ly this time &c
have sighted them somewhere i'll the
distance before u. That they wero yet
ahead Of rs we could tell by their tracks
ard the hoof prints Of their horses upon
the trail The buZzlrds that We had seen
gathering in the mir were now circling
above point we were approaching neal
ut hand. II was evident that they were
only waiting for some one to go away
and leave them q clear field before set.
Ting down upon prey that they had
discovered.
All, hsre were signs that night ac-
count for the presence OF the buzzalds'
The tracks Of the prospectors and their
horses were lost in confusion OF hoof
prints Of horses and mules which re.
Gently had crossed the trail. A little
farther along dead burro, which we
recognized as one Of those driven by the
prospectors, lay dead. sho, with u bullet,
beside the trail. Cautiously we went on,
scrutinizing every object to left and
right that might conceal an enemy. A
quarter Of a mile farther along. against
a rocky slope grown mp with scrub oak,
our mules suddenly shied away to the
right, swerving so much that it was
with difficulty that Manuel held them
to the road.
We were not kept waiting long 70
learn the cause Of the mules alarm.
Out Of the bushes rose man, who waved
his hat rs signal for us to stop and
then came down to meet us, carrying
his rife, mrzzle forward, on his shoul.
der in token of his friendly intentions.
Behind him second man appeared,
pale and disheveled, his arm supported
by sling made from cotton handker-
chief. He slowly followed the other
down toward the trail They were the
two prospectors.
We paused at their approach and after
q nod Of recognition waited to hear
what they had to say.
docs any one Of you happen to be
surgeon?" asked the foremost man.
NO." answered What's the mat
ter? Has your partner been getting
hurt?"
Nothing but an Apache's bullet
through his arm. The Indians jumped
US from ambush, just back Of here,
while we were travelling along the trail
Came pretty near getting Us too. But
we got up the hillside. in among the
chaparral and kept our rifles pumping
wherever a redskin showed 80 much as
n CLINT of nm eve After n few minutes
they sneaked to where they'd left their
horses and stolen stock and rode TO the
south. Our skirmish was pretty hot
while it lasted, though. They killed one
Of our burros ut the first fire, but the
other two followed us into the brush and
staid as closely by rs dogs, 30 the
Apaches couldn't stampede 'em.
what they would. They knew the In
dians too we'll to let that happen. But
Jim's wound here needs dressing. He's
lost considerable blood and feels pretty
bad. I don't think he'll be good for
much travelling afoot for good spell
yet, and it's . bad country to be left in
wounded. was in hopes one Of you
was q doctor and would find some way
the green slope, with the feeding mules
and horses, and in the background was
the cloud pail that covered the noun
tains, rent BY vivid lightning flashes
that were accompanied by the frequent
crashes and constant deep toned mutter-
inRs of the sullen thunder.
ma. ~.o,,o~.l ,n,,,-,o ~ tho srrowo vvna