The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-28

ing. they should attract the Indians. IL
was the individual belief of everyone
that the Indians knew of their pres
ence. and that Indian spies had been
watching their every movement; put
face to face with danger. men neglect
no precaution that may contribute 10
their safety. The man that was sent 10
warn the herder was fully tustihed IN
the belief that Indian spies would see
him leave the camp. but he made no
protest. 1t Is easier TO tempt fate tnan
lie and wait supinely for Its final stroke.
The freighters pulled the wagons TO-
gether In an attempt 10 make ruue Tor
tifications. Nellie and her husbanu
were awakened and told Of their IAN
ger. The girl did not beg to be killed II
the ndian came. but there were sew.
eral among the company that debated
with themselves whether or not a piston
bullet was not more merciful than
Apache torture. Her natural protector
was simply stupeied by the danger. He
lay on a blanket and buried MS tace y.
his hands. The girl was Drawer. put
she. too. trembled like n leaf. and held
the rough, calloused hand Of a freighter
between both her own.
The glare Of the flames grew brighter.
The yells OF the Indians could be heard
plainly now. Sometimes the snort;
sharp crack of a Winchester reached
the ears of the freighters. but whether
Il was the signal of death for friend or
foe could not be guessed. for Geroni-
mos band had modern weapons. sew
eral among hat company fancled they
heard the imploring accents OF a wo-
mans voice. but in times like this the
senses are not TO be trusted. At last a
cracking of the bushes was heard. The
men set their teeth and waited. but just
when they had nervod themselves for
the conflict they heard the voice OF the
man who had been sent to warn the
herdcr. When he got to the camp he
said that neither the night herder nor
the horses were to be found His words
merely confirmed a suspicion that ev-
eryone had harbored. and the only won
der felt was because he returned awe.
AT length the suspense became almost
intolerable. One of the men started
across the open space between the
wagon and the bushes N paid no
head to the entreaties Of his COM
panions to return. Carefully and with
the feeling that he was treading on
the domain OF death stalked. he made
his way toward the burning cabins. The
wild rose bushes grew In great profus-
ion. and were very tall. As he crawled
along on his hands and knees the
wounds made by the cactus plants drew
blood. but caused no pain. IL seemed
strange to him that such n little wound
would cause a mans blood To How.
WIN MS mlnt Ctuplfu by 'h' tlN"'
central thought. a thousand little fan
cies. some OF which were even amusing.
intruded themselves to relieve a tension
that seemed too great To be borne.
While he yet fancled himself a quar-
ter Of a mile distant from the hous he
suddenly poked his head through an
opening I'm the bushes. and saw dark
forms Hitting about He was less than
two hundred yards away from the
burning cabins. Fifty yards away some
Indians were guarding the horses. pf
| the others. The brutes seemed Tighten
J ed at the fearful work their masters
Z were performing. sitting on a blooded
horse that could not possibly be mis-
taken for a cayuse of the plains. was
the thief who directed the movements
OF those who had dismounted. Almost
instinctively. the f%reighter gradually
brought to the muzzle Of his weapon
round TO bear on the savage chief. To
some men there is n fascination about
killing such "A foe. Some sights are so
awful that the brain departs from rou-
tine methods. and Il almost seems a
pleasure to give one life for the salts
faction Of killing.
Geronimo was sitting on his horse
looking at the sight. The light from The
burning cabins showed every lineamen
OF his feature as plainly as In daylight.
The freighter lay very still and quiet.
but kept looking at Geronimo across
the sights Of his rifle barrel. The In
dams were stripping the body OF a cow
boy OF it's clothing when an Indian
mounted on n horse reeking with foam
abruptly refined his horse In front OF
Geronimo and said something TO him.
The renegade chief waved his hand.
There was a general shout. In a trice
the Indians were on their horses and
riding away. The freighter lying In the
bushes still sighted his gun at the chief
and watched him until he was out OF
sight. Then he felt angry with himself
ing Geronimo to pass by. but when he
thought of the little Ohio girl In the
camp which the ndlan were riding al
most directly away from he was thank.
full that he had been able to hold him
self i'm check at the only Of MS
life in which ne knew there was such a
thing as an Irresistible impulse to Kill.
The night herder returned with his
horses before the freighters left the
burned cabins. He said he had not been
asleep and had seen no Indians. Before
the ~freighters were fairly on their way
the next morning "A trooper. whose com
manding officer had deserted them with
a field glass. rode up and asked which
way the Indians had gone. Uncle Sans
cavalry was In pursuit, but IL was a fu-
tile chase that time. The messenger
whom the freighter had seen ride up To
Geronimo had warned his chief In time,
and the redskins escaped to the noun
lain fastnesses.-Philadelphia Times.
DNt- A.s anIA 80 m nnNalftaa a ~