The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-05-14

wanting Tor enough of the band 10 show
themselves To make simultaneous tar
gets for each mans aim, and the chance
soon matcrializcd.
-Four OF them soon stepped out from
Iehind their shelters. and commenced
a disgusting series OF antics for our edifi-
cation. We improved the opportunity.
our rifles spoke simultaneously; and
two of them measured their lengths on
the sand. while another scrambled TO
cover with a hating motion that indie
Gated a serious weakness in one of his
eXtremities.
After this lesson no further active hos-
Utilities were INDUCED in by either side.
We were careful to keep well under
cover, they commanded the water sup
ply, and we were willing 10 play a wait
ing game.
When the sun dipped below the hori-
zon we separated, taking stations at
such points around the crest as would
best enable us To command the entire
outer circle of ascent. The horses were
secured anew, and we settled down TO
a night Of anxious alertness.
Several hours passed without Incl
dent. the only sounds breaking the
deathlike stiffness of the scene being
the uneasy stamping and paving of the
horses as they endeavored to achieve q
more comfortable footing on the steep
slope of the inner side. Old Barney. the
mule hat carried our blasting outfit.
was particularly FESTIVE, and ! was
strongly tempted to lead him up to the
CT est and secure him there for the night.
A Discrimination to lead a mule loaded
with explosives up a dangerous ascent
in the darkness prompted me more
strongly to leave him where he was,
however. and / c%ontented myself with
slipping down TO him and ascertain
ing that he was securely tied.
The atmosphere had been very heavy
and sultry AL the afternoon. and l was
not surprised 10 see the heavens giving
every indication of a storm before mid
night. which augured i'll for the securi-
ty of n position. as it would enable
the Apaches to scale the mound with
but little danger of detection.
The advent of the tempest was soon
after heralded by a vivid flash hat
Illuminated the basin beneath as
though an enormous are light had sud-
denly been turned upon it. followed
by a chorus of reverberations that
voiced the intentions of the murky
heavens. / tool advantage Of the light
TO search the ground beneath me, and
| was sure that / detected several dark
figures about midway of the slope.
In a few minutes the rain began TO
descend in a saturating torrent that
resembled a miniature cloudburst, and
the side of the crater was converted
into a watershed. down which innumer-
able tiny streams trickled 10 the lake
below. Flashes of lightning OF daz.
zling brilliancy were followed by crash.
ing peals of thunder that seemed to
shake the universe, while the impact
OF the raindrops on the lake resembled
the steady roar of some mighty cat
aract.
Suddenly that intuitive consciousness
las certain as ocular knowledge itself
-of the presence of some other human
being near me warned me to be on my
guard. Rising slowly TO my feet. /
waited for the next flash as n double
medium of enlightenment.
II came. and with il n singing pain in
my shoulder and the bear-like hug Of
n pair Of sinewy arms about my body
that told only too plainly the nature Of
the crisis.
Instantly recovering from the cf.
fects of the knife thrust and the SUR
prise. / made n mighty effort that freed
me from the grasp of my enemy. and,
springing backward. I graspcd my
heavy rifle by the barrel and cndeav-
ored to beat him TO the earth with il.
Round and round we circled in the
darkness. the constantly recurring
flashes revealing TO me the demoniacal
visage of n brawny Apache brave rs
he danced just without the deadly
sweep of the gun. The blood was flow
ing from the wound in my shoulder,
and a creeping numbness began to in
wade my entire body. warning me that
my powers of defense were rapidly
waning.
Suddenly a volume of light seemed
TO leap out of the heart of the little
lake at the bottom OF the funnel-shapcd
hole: the mass of lava beneath my feet
trembled and shook as though stirred
by an earthquake. all accompanied by
n dcafcning roar that hushed even the
tumult Of the storm. l was hurled to
the ground as though Frustrated by
the hand Of a giant, my cad coming
into violent contact with n lump Of lava
in the fall, which deprived me OF O n
seriousness.
When my senses returned another
day had dawned. and | found myself the
center OF an anxious group, from which
none seemed to be lacking. | was
lying beside the little spring. and from
the surfeit Of moisture in my hair l
concluded that some of its product had
been recently applied to my aching
craninm.
We've been waiting for you to wake
up, so you could help us to hunt up the
, fragments Of old Barney" said Hin
man. as l opened my eyes.
.Vhere arc the Apaches?" / asked.