The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-10

ncsentIy rested. ard 50 an hour later they
were a. the opening OF Apache pSss.
where the tents were spread and camp
made for ths night The horses were
rfcksted and the guards stationed. one
few yards Up The pass and another over
Tire packered animals
Shortly after The troopers had sought
uascn-n4ede8 rest Wilson. with caroEne
sn hand. walked Up the trail To the
outer" guard ne gave orders TO main
tain sharp vigilance. Instead Of return
Ing % bis tent Wilson proceeded along the
trail. examining II closely as he went AZ
the center OF the pass il turned into a
weI-Torn path that ed up over the hin
<olselesz. yes swift. the sergeant followed
II Not a sign escaped his trained eye,
not a sound but he heard IL Once
snake ratified oHi3nously as ne passed near
its nest in the saSeorusn. but though ne
jumped quickly aside, he was careful that
net even the swapping OF a twig might
betray him TO a hidden enemy. AT q sud
den turn n the trail Wilson stopped, not
that he feared the presence OF hostile In
dams. but from force OF habit. He sank
OF his hands and knees and peered around
the curve 10 learn his ground lest he might
be taken unawsres- And IL was Wei ne
did Sc. Not ten yards from him the tran
led down into small valley. and there,
spread out n the moonlight, was an In
dian village. Sdll on MS knees. Wilson
crept stealrhfiy forward, keeping well in
the shade lest he De discovered. Shelter
Ing himself behind a large boulder he
took out his field glass and nonchalantly
commenced a critical survey OF the sur
rounGiuss. he had been thus employed
for . few moments, when two 0usky
forms issued from the shadow Of the wig
vans and made their way in his direc-
ton. The Indians were In fun war paint,
and Roy the aid OF his glass Wilson saw
that they were Comancnes.
"Humph! Comanches in the Apache
century," he muttered 10 himself. ''wnat
next?"
When within a few feet OF the sergeant
the Indians halted, and, after talking
few moments, separated. one. a stslwart.
he.ce-fsatured savage coming directly
toward Wilson's hiding place, and the
other going il an opposite direction. AS
the Indian passed the sergeant crept
steaithily around the rock He clutched
his carbiae ready for instant use, as he
fully realized the danger OF his position.
But the Indian failed 70 see him, and
passing around tho curve Of the trail was
quickly out Of sight
What the Indians purpose was in GO
ing back over the trail will probably
never be known, as Wilson, versed though
he was in interpreting the sign language,
without which the Comanche cannot
little out OF their cOnyersauo
TO better present what subsequently fol-
lowed l will return to the camp OF the
soldiers. When relieved the sentry had
forgotten 10 appriss his successor OF Will
sons absence. and so the latter, being
naturally greatly fatigued and not being
cautious, spread his heavy coat (which he
had brought with him for the express pur-
pcse) on the ground under the shade OF
a large bunch OF chaparal and lay down TO
calm survey OF the southern sky. He
had been in this position for perhaps an
hour, and. though ne gave no sign OF il,
vas probably still awake when the crack
ling OF a twig awoke MIN from a pleasant
reVerie TO the stern reality that (as he
thought there were rattlers In his imme-
date vicinity. Turning in the direction
from whence the sound had Issued he OBJ
served not reptile but an Indian in fun
war paint. Both soldier and redskin were
taken equally by surprise, and for a mo-
n-ent glared at each other. The Indian
however. was the first TO act. Before the
dazed scout could bring his rife into posi-
ton or draw his Colts the Gomancne had
hurled himself upon the sentry.
With grip that prevented any attempt
10 cry out, the Indians left hand closed
about the throat of the scout. Whipping
ais ugly bowie knife from his belt he
rail- ed his arm to strike. The sentry
closed his eyes He was almost dead from
the pressure brought 10 bear on his wind
rire. and too feeble 10 resist the death
that seemed now inevitable.
The Indians arm descended. At the
saline moment the sharp report IF a car
bne awoke the echoes of the hill. The
Indians grasp was released, the knife
failed 10 even pierce the clothing, and the
Comanche fell dead with bullet through
the brain at the side OF the half uncon-
cc.ous scout. The sentry aroused him
self Just in time to see Wilson with the
smoking carb.ne in his hand issue from
the shade of the chaparal. Approaching
the Indian he gave the body a kick
Then turning 10 the sentry, remarked
With his characteristic 'drawl: Kind of
vicious, wasn't he" Observing the coat
spread upon the ground. he said sharply:
Men have been shot for such as that"
BY this time the whole camp, which
had been aroused by the shot, came tum-
bling along the TRAN. rubbing their half
closed eyes with one hand and holding a
Carbine or revolver In the other. to learn
the cause OF the disturbance. Wilson ex-
planned briefly the situation. How he had
found the nest" the narrow escape he
had had from being discovered. how he
had traNed the Indian and arrived In time
to save the Gentry from being too rudeiy
arcrsed from slumber.
IT'S almost 3 o'clock now" he said
"and We must act quickly. Every man to
'bCCts and saddles and make haste. Muf-
n the hoofs OF every horse"
Ten minutes after the order had been
gi1 en- the troopers were again in the sad
d. and were proceeding cautiously over
TIA NH. When within a short distance OF
the curve In the trail Wilson explained
that he w&s going 20 capture every d.
Indian in the camp, and that il any got
away Il would be because they had made
a quick Jump into Kingdom Come. The
troopers were then spread out so as 20
completely surround the village, and at a
given signal sweep down on IL. firing a
Volley, as the surprise must be complete
owing 20 the superior number OF the hos
tales. who, II given a chance to recover
might make things interesting for all con-
coTned. <oiselsssly the scouts took the
positions assigned them aud removed the
sacks from the horses hoofs.
fog was now rolling ever the hills
settling into the cut below and replacing
the bright moonlight with a dun, gray
gloom. The wigwams. scarcely discern
ibie through the mist. doomed up in uu-
certain alignment. and the varying drift
Of the fog floating swiftly silently bv
tmed 70 lend 20 them gnostIy. ever
changing shadoNs-shadows that would
give 20 superstition "a basis for her iEu-
aEtuary productions CT the uncauny
The silence was disturbed By the firing
q a revolver. Whooplng and yelling ike
demons the troopers swept down on the
village Stumbling. ScFamb,ing forward.
the horses tore m3d}y down the hillside
When upou the wtgwans the scouts open
e. a fasilsde with their revolvers. and
many 8 2usky savage who had scrambled
from his wsEwam AZ the frst shot. threw