The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-13

5y slrfklnE the mouth sTdfIy Win tls
palm OF the hand and haiiooins al the
same time Echo after echo made 1t in
possible to tell II there were answers, or
from whence they came.
I had by this tine reached that state OF
fatigue In which the limbs mechanically
perform their work without much EFFORT
As we passed along above. the stars mir
rored in the liquid depths of the water be-
DeAth US seemed 20 spangle another sky
Looking down from an ovsrhaDging rock.
the deIusion for a m1nent made Tie so
gsddy is was with difficulty | could keep
from rolling over.
Al last. with thankful hearts. we reached
the further end and descending the now
sloping ledge. stood on the natural dam
II was fully twelve feet high. but the wa
ter squirting from between the logs from
too 10 bottom proved its comparatively re-
cent formation / hardly remember Climb
ing down into the ravine beyond. Ned said
something about keeping guard TIL day.
break and then sinking amongst some dry
sand / fell asleep.
I was awakened by the report OF rife.
the reverberations laundering amongst the
cliffs Half asleep. and still unable to
think where 7 was. ! sat up. In the gray
morning ighf saw Ned. rifle in hand,
climbing I'D the dam. and In a moment all
came flashing through my mind Two min
1
our heads above the logs. we looked
around US To our right. where the
ledge sIopei Pete was living al full
Ierght reloading MS rife. Several
indistinct figures. also on the ledge.
were in the same position at the
further end of the tank. Some splasFing
In the water under them proved our part
ner had not wasted Nis powder. Ned now
fired with no perceptible effect. az great
mass of rock struck the water immediate
ly in front of US
A pain in my shoulder as though ii was
pierced by red-hot iron. made ue shrek
and tear out the arrow that caused H.
Rocks stones. arrows and spears dashed
un the water and ratified against the dam
as they poured from the ton Of the cliffs
and Md slid backwards down the dam,
shouting Run for your lives. boys"'
/ followed In time TO help him up. A
stone had brought him to his knees the
blood pouring over his face proving how
hardly he was hurt. Pete. struck by
similar missile. fell but was on his feet
again in a moment. How We escaped so
well seemed almost miraculous. but we
managed TO get away somehow. Forum
ateiy the ravine had widened out. and by
keeping close 10 the stream we were safe
from arrows and stones The Indians. all
on the same side as ourselves. were run
ming along the top of the cliffs trying to
gain narrow part of the ravine ahead or
Us. Our only chance was to get there
first Yells OF rage and few balls whis-
tied over our heads to testify their anger
as We reached IT, a long way ahead OF
them We pa ssed through where the walls
were 80 close we had TO take to the water
SplashiBg and stumbling we were in dam
ger OF being swept away by the swiftness
of the current. and with difficulty reached
a narrow fat covered with trees.
A small tributary stream came rushlng
down small gorge to our left. whose
perpendicular sides we knew would check
for a time the Indians above. We crossed
the narrow stream. and Ned taking rest
in the notch of a tree, quietly waited Tor
the savages They soon appeared, dane
ing along the cliff with wild yells, and
swinging their weapons around their
heads. The sharp report OF Ned's rife
drove them back bat one poor wretch
jumped high in the air. his head and
shoulders hanging over the cliff showing
plainly he would fight no more.
Still! keeping on our way we ate some
ierky, and now that the danger of imme-
date attack was gone. began TO feel our
wounds again AS we reached the lower
end OF tho iat we thought at first the
creek forked. but a closer view proved 1t
to be a second tributary. 1t was slug
gish stream; as Pete expressed IL, sit
hardly made up its mind which way to
GO"
We decided 10 keep to the main ravine as
the other would throw an additional OBJ
stacle in the way OF our enemies. We saw
a wide space Of wet sand would have TO
be crossed before we could reach II. so
prior to starting Pete stopped to strap up
my shoulder. which was very painful, Ned
pushing on. anxious TO gain the shade.
The sun, which had risen above the hills.
poured down his beams with unusual
power on my inaaned shoulder, and
was glad when Pete commenced TO battle
the wound.
Suddenly Al awful cry OF fear made our
hearts stand still. Half way across the
junction our partner had sunk to his
waist the sand shaking and trembling
with his efforts to escape.
"Oh Godr' shouted Pete. at is quick
sandr'
Paying no heed to my warning cry. Pete
rushed 10 his assistance. but the surface
Of the sand had been broken through and
in such n case for quite distance II be-
comes unsafe. With an exclamation OF
horror 7 saw my second eomrade sink to
above his knees in the treacherous stuff
I had sufficient presence Of mind left to
notice ridge of rock extending from the
point on the opposite side towards me a
similar one few yards to my right ran
out 10 meet IT, and though the inter
mediate space was sand trusted should
find = footing Running with prayer on
my llps and my eye fixed on the further
side went out on the dangerous Quag-
uire. PETE could Just reach the end OF
my rife. and shouting 70 him 70 throw
himself forward, ! pulled till the blood ap-
peared ready 20 burst through my skin
As my cCmrade leant towards me felt 7
was moving him. Ny osn feet sank in
the sand. hat rested on a hard bottom
a few more seconds. and with a curious
sucking sound. pete's legs We're free A
loot more and ! grasped his hand: another
pun and he was on his feet beside ne
With shUdier and something like A sob
my partner pointed 20 the spot where
poor Ned had been. a silence fell on us
both more eloquent than words \ slight
depression IN me sand filed by a pool Of
water marked his grave.
Led the way back - our starting point
testing every step I took Following up
the tributary for short distance and
crossing on a rocky bar. We skirtea the
point ard once more pushed on.
The Precipitation running of me 7 at
triAuJei 30 nv tall exertiOus until Pete
wiring the moisture from his face. said
8oarseiy. this fearful heat means n
storm