Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-05-13

I
He did not wait for US to ask for an ex,
PLANTATION of his call. Pointing to the
bluffs on the northern side of the basin,
he calculated the single word: Look!
leaving us to observe and draw our own
conclusions from what we saw.
"Indiansl-and big bunch Of EN-!
cried Baker, who was the first to glance
in the indicated direction.
There's just 10 of 'em," said Harris.
IF they are hostiles and discover US"
Discover us!" interrupted Hinman.
GLOW can they help discoverin' us when
they'll strike our sign the minute they
start down in to the basin?'
eff they failed to see our Sign they
couldn't very we'll overlook that bunch
of saddled bosses standin' at the foot OF
the HILL" said Winston, arising and
starting down the path at rapid pace
1--WE can't afford to let 'em get the
outfit" he said, as we overlook him at
The bottom; so We'll just lead the
bosses to the bottom of the crater, and
find standin' room for 'em on the in
side"
The suggestion was adopted. Mount
ing our horses, we drove the pack AMI
mails to the bottom of the ascent, and
sent them all up the winding path at a
pace that must have astonished them,
/ since heretofore they had good reason
to regard us as men merciful to their
beasts.
Securing the horses to blocks of lava.
on the inner slope, which afforded n
somewhat precarious footing for them,
we again centered our attention upon
the causes of our disquietude. They
were riding along at the same slow trot
rs when first seen, and were now within
100 yards of the trail leading down to
the basin, which it was evidently their
intention to enter.
All doubt as to the warlike mission of
our visitors was removed as they de-
scenicd into the basin and followed our
trail toward the spring, at long, swing
ing slope. The absence of women, chill
dren and dogs, their painted faces and
the fighting trim" of their scanty ha-
biliments, proclaining them a war party
Of Apaches, while the confidence with
which they advanced unquestionably
indicated that they had already gath
cred from the trail an approximate idea
OF our numbers and character.
They seemed to consult together for
few minutes, and one of them finally
stepped out of the group and advanced
to the foot of our stronghold, holding
his hands above his head with the palms
to the front, as assign of his amicable in
tentions.
"Buenas dias, amigos!" he hailed in
Spanish, with which language the south
western Indians are generally con-
versant.
They know we're here, an we might
as well talk to 'em," said Human,
No one objecting, he rose to his feet
nd answered the salutation of the
dusky herald in the tongue in which it
was given.
'Buenas dias! Que quiere usted?'
| (Good-morning! What do you want?)
understood Spanish sufficiently well
to enable me to follow thu conversation
that ensued, and knew enough of In
dian diplomacy not to be particularly
surprised by the herald's propositions
on behalf of his very hospitable COM
patriots. These involved nothing less
than the turning over Of our horses and
arms, and the giving up of our persons
10 as bloodthirsty band of cuttaroats
as ever harried the defenseless citizens
of the border. The Indian prefers arti-
flee to fighting in his efforts to discom-
fort his enemy, and this band was only
following the instincts Of their craft.
''If my friends will only come down, y
he said, "they shall be entertained like
chiefs. The hearts of the Apaches are
full of love for our white friends, ana
we would like to take them by the
hand"
Eyes, and you'd like to take US by the
hair, too, which you've forgotten to
n.ention," said Hinnan, with snort
of disgust.
'Now, Senior Apache, you travel back
to your compatriots, and tell them that
we're kind of solitary outfit that
don't believe in promiscuous handshak-
ing, nor have we any desire to be
treated as big chiefs. Vamos!"
Our inhospitable reception of the mes
senger was the signal for hostilities tn
commence. No sooner had he com
inundated the result of his mission to
the band, than three of them drove the
ponies I'D the trail to the mesa, where
they could Craze secure from our fire;
the others taking shelter among tho
rocks that lined the sides of the basin.
We could easily have killed come of the
ponies, but we had no desire to injure
dumb brutes; and, besides, we preferred
to have the first overt act come from the
enemy.
We had not long to wait. Harris in
cautiously exposed his head for mo-
ment; keen eyes were searching the
crest of the mound; the crack of dozen
rifles awoke the echoes of the basin, and
he lodged back with q bullet hole
through his hat that evidenced the skill
of an Apache marksman.
"How about your superstition?'
growled Human, as he commenced to
arrange Jumps of lava into sort OF
breastwork on the crest in front OF him.
The spirit amt commenced to spit
out fire yet" Winston replied, tapping
the butt of his Winchester in sugges-
tive way.
So far we had not pulled trigger, and
finding us so undemonstrative, our foes
gradually grew careless Of their person
al safety. They commenced TO expose
themselves in the most tempting way,
openly passing from one rock to another
IN a spirit of bravado that presaged an
epidemic of sudden mortalities in the
band should it continue. We were only
waiting for enough of the band TO show
themselves to make simultaneous tar
gets for each mans aim, and the chance
49,. o,.;o liua6