Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-09-07

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CHAPTER VII.
In the high altitude Of the San Simon
plain the September nights are always
cool. and in the growing chill Of the
cutter air our little company was not
tempted 10 sit long before the station
door First the herders got up and went
to take look about the corral before
turning in for the night Next Don Ra-
mon, his mind made easier by my report
about the harness for his mules, retired
to rcpose upon his cowskin baceta spread
on the station floor. The two prospecton
went down to where their luggage lay
heaped by the ashes Of their campfire.
urougnt tne donKcys mp rr0m tneif gras-
ing, tied them to bushes near by and
then rolled themselves up In their blan-
kets somewhere, not fur away, in the
darkness. Keeping me company, the sta
tion keeper still remained seated ON the
bench by the door, and the glow Of his
pipe, reddening and subsiding ms we
sat talking in low tones, was the only
sign of human activity in the scene ex-
cept where q candle burned somewhere
In the showman's tent, family illumi-
Mating the canvas and suggesting that
some life was stirring within its walls.
As we talked Of various matters the
keepers thoughts reverted to the buck
boards due from the east and the west,
and he was loa,h TO abandon the idea
that they might yet arrive that night.
Reluctantly he gave it up at last.
"NO use keeping awake any longer
for them, he said. rising and knocking
the ashes from his pipe. "One Of two
things has happcned-they've either
been jumped by Apaches on the road, or
else to avoid the Indians they've delayed
starting until evening 20 as to travel all
the way in the darkness, and in that
case we may look for both Of the stages
to come rolling mp to the station IN the
morning. In either event can't see
anything better for me to do than turn
in.
"where'll you spread your blankets
tonights" he added Hadn't you bet
ter come into the station? There's lots
Of room.
my pard and I have arranged to
sleep in the corral shed, I answered.
We'll be near the horses to help the
herders out in case Of any trouble dur.
ing the night.
'That's a good idea in case the rus
tiers should come prowling round. In
dians we don't have TO look out for 50
much mt the station That tent there Is
of itself enough to keep 'em at dis
tancc. No matter how big or how bad q
band Of Apaches may be, they're slow
to come near where big tent Is set up.
Some say it's because they've got a su-
perstition against attacking anything
white. They worship white birds. Per-
haps you've heard? But the story that's
generally told runs in this way: A good
many years ago war party Of Apaches
crept mp to where big tent was pitch
ed on the prairie. It looked all quiet
and peaceful, and they allowed they'd
give whoever was in il an unpleasant
surprise. Well. when they got through
chuckling over the fun they meant to
have they jumped it in great shape,
whooping aud yelling But the surprise
didn't come in the way they'd counted
OH. The tent turned out to be full OF
soldiers, lying all ready for 'em with
guns in hand, and the way they thinned
out the Apaches that morning was q
caution to red evildoers everywhere.
Those Indians that got away and those
that grew up after 'em have had pref
udice ever since against jumping ut any
inclosure where they don't know what's
} inside il, and the very sight Of white
tents makes 'em skittish. BY the way.
haven't seen your pard for good bit
Of time. I reckon he's visiting the
showman's party. They're still keeping
IL up inside the canvas.
From the interior Of the tent came
the tinkle Of n guitar and the low sung
notes Of Spanish melody. These 70
mantle sounds, doubly beautiful in the
moonlight that now flooded the scene,
did not avail to detain the station keeper
from his slumbers, and he entered the
station, leaving me to wait alone FOL
Felix. The sound Of guitar and singing
ceased, but the light in tho tent contin
ued, and my comrade still did not up.
pear. 1t was wearisome to wait longer
and unadvisable 10 30 in quest Of him,
90 went to the open shed Of the corral,
where our blankets already had beer
carried, spread them out and, rolling
myself in mine, dropped lightly of &c
sleep. 1t was full hour later when,
reused by the restlessness Of the mules
and horses, I woke to see tall figure
crossing the corral. Hailing him In
low voice, was answered by Felix.
raised myself on my elbow. 'Whai
have you found out?" asked when he
had come to me- did you learn what
the Mexican girls tantrum was al
! about?"
"I found out something. he answer
ed. Then, glancing significantly toward
the herders lying asleep at the other end
Of the shed: "We'd better talk 1t ovel
where we shan't be overheard. Let's &c
, outside the corral.
Irose and silently followed him from
the inclosure. The full moon, now risen
In the east, bathed the plain In mellow
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