The Monitor-register., 1897-07-23


Inc country lying between Mohave and
Prescott is repetition of sage bush
plains. surrounded by sandy mountains.
Now and then small patch of bottom,
with murmuring creek and a few
cottonwoods or oaks, would form an oasis
for the dust-oovered traveller and his
thirsty horse. 10 one of these little groves
OF cottonwoods Don Marcus and his com.
panions had inadvisedly camped.
When Bergh reached this place he saw
remnants of the burnt wagon of Don
Marcus. Here the German dismounted,
and went to the creek to water bis horse
and fill his oante.p.
Here he found thing of inestima able
value to him in his hungry condition. It
was a neatly-dressed jack. rabbit, tied to
a string and let down into the running
water-a MEXICAN expedient to make the
flesh tender. hergh surmised that Don
Marcus had left the rabbit there, and had
no fear in taking possession.
! The long tramp and excitement OF the
day had much tired the mail carrier.
Contrary to his usual custom, he un-
saddIed, cooked and ate the rabbit and
lay down by the creek. 1t was a rash
thing to do, but fatigue overoame his
caution.
Before lying down, however, he had
taken the precaution to hang his blouse
on cross made of sticks in suoh man
ner that when his hat was placed on the
upright, over the outstretched blouse, the
whole would seem. to a ldfklBg- ssyage,
to be soldier sitting down to rest. so
the tired man slept, while Billy peace
fully browssd on the tufts of grass along
the creek.
Morning vas just breaking, when
Bergh awoke in an instant, as Billy
gallope6 past him into the thicket. A
shot was fred, and Immediately afterward
the grotesque figure of tall Indian,
dressed in lady's nightgowp, appeared
In break of the willows that skirted the
creek. AS Bergh sprang to his feet the
savage disappeared, but the German fred
two shots into the thicket. They we're
followed by loud splash in the water.
Bergh smiled at the thought of that
nightgowu, probably stolen from the
baggage of some officers wife, Il Dating
loosely around the s~ arthy savage as he
swan.
Just then Billy came trotting up to his
master. Bergh ooolly led him into a
little recess among the trees, aud saddled
him. Then he cautiously crawled up to
his hat and blouse, which were still rest
ing on the crossed sticks. There was a
bullet hole in the blouse between the
shoulders,
dot Indian can shoot not bad" said
Bergh. Veil, l show him Something's to
shoot at some more"
He filled his pamela bag with grass,
put his hat upon it, stuck the filled bag
on his gun-barrel, and carefully crawling
to the crest of little eminenoe, slowly
raised the improvised head to draw the
savages' bullets Four shots we're fred
at it instantly.
-Four, eba" said Rergh "They'll
have me surrounded if dop'd get oudt OF
here quick ="
He fred three shots with the utmost
rapidity, and ran back to his horse while
the trees still rang with his fire. Bergh
mounted and galloped opt of the grove.
Looking hehind him he could see no sign
of the enemy.
| But he was certain that his troubles
had but just begun. He must outwit
the lurking savages, or never leave the
valley. He believed they would head
him off in larger numbers farther along.
After leaving the cotton " oods, the road
turns to the right; then it goes straight
on, then turns to the right again. 1t was
easy for the Indians to out off these sharp
turns and get ahead Of the mail rider, 10
cate he should stick to the road.
Bergh could not 60 back, for he was
there to go ahead, and go ahead he " ould.
In two short stages he could make
| Miller's ranch. He rode we'll into the
open, ooolly dismounted, and made
breakfast off the remaiDs Of the rabbit.
Then, walking ahead of his horse, he re-
gained tbe road and trotted awhile, to
give the Indians the impression that he
meant to follow it,. At the next group
| of trees be halted, lay concealed, and
| had Z h..S iofa 80
Indians strike out as he had expected, to
! get ahead f him and lie in ambush at
the SECOND turn. When they passed out
of sight, Bergh, followed by his horse,
took direction that would bring him
past the second turn, aud leave the
Indians to lie in wait far behind him.
He had been travelling thus for about
two hours, when he heard a distant, yell
ing, and surmised that the Indians had
discovered his stratagem. Concealing
the pony in depression of the ground,
| he stood for an hour on the elevation near
and watched fr the savages in vain.
| Then he concluded they we're not on his
trail SO he struggled on over the hot,
rough ground and among the sage.
On reaching the road, where he had
expected far beyond the second turn, he
was nearly worn out His moceasins
were torn and cut and his feet bleeding.
So far the Indians had been utwitted :,
he thought for a moment But there 10
the dust of the road were the fresh
mocca sin tracks of four Hualapais, lead :
ing back Bergh pondered the situation
carfully and concluded that these tracks
we're not made by his assailants of the
early morning. If they had suspected his
plan, they would have gone past to the
third turn and waited for him there.
They would certainly not have tired SO
soon of the ambush and returned ON the
road to ward the cottonwoods 10 which
they had attacked him. These tracks,
he reasoned, must bs those of four
Indians who had not yet seen anything
of him. but we're going to join the party
he had encountered. Therefore, the road
was probably clear ahead.
In spite of bis bleeding feet, Bergh
buried forward on foot, saving his
horse to the last. He believed it was
only question If time when the eight
Indians would be in pursuit. The mus
tang, spared though he had been, felt the
effects of the journey, and Bergh could
not hope to outride them for distance
go long as that to M ller's ranch.