The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-01

Jump, Sam, jump he shouted. I'm
knitted, an I'm dyin'."
Sam was so scared he didn't walt to
Took back over his shoulder. He was over
the edge into the canon like a flash and
disappeared in the scrub pine before ,he
astOnished Apaches came to their senses,
and Facksaddle knew he could make good
his escape to Fort Bayard.
When the Indians realized how they had
been fooled they set up a terrific yelling
and started for their remaining prisoner,
but Packsaddie Parks didn't wait to re-
seVe them. AS Sam went over the side
of the canon ne bounded away like a
frightened antelope, trailing it over the
mesa so fast ii would have taken a pretty
good Indian TO catch up with him.
A dozen of the braves started in pursuit,
but Apache is u poor runner, and Pack
saddle rapidly gained upon them. Then
the chief called TO those who were follow
ing TO drop down and shower Of arrows
flew after the retreating white man.
sharp pain IN his foot tod Parks he
had been hit. but yanking out the shaft,
he kept on until he reached thick
growth of brush which hid him from the
redskins.
How he got back to the ella he could
never exactly tell, but having thrown off
the Indians, he Travelled all that night,
reaching the ferry early in the morning.
1t was a sorry sight which greeted him;
the dead embers of the ferry house. the
boat cut adrift and stranded upon the
mud flats of the river. and not a living
soul to answer his cautious Halo, there!'
It did not take second glance TO tell
him the Indians had been there, burned
the house and killed or carried off Abe
and the women. He reconnoitered for a
while, to make sure the savages were
gone, then swan the river and approach
ed the ruined ferry house,
The first thing he saw was Abe's mutila-
ted body lying upon the ground. sick
enlng fear seized him--the women had
been carried off by the Apaches. He sat
down upon the ground cursing the fate
which had taken him and Sam Porter
from the ferry house then suddenly start
ed and laid his hand upon the haft
Of his hunting knife His ears, trained to
catch the slightest sound had caught a
sob arising seemingly from the ground
at his very feet.
who's that?" he cried, sharply facing
the body of the murdered Abe. Packsad-
die Parks amt no coward but if"
us that you, John?" sobbed a voice
Were here, John, in uncle's potato"
Then Packsadde knew it wasn't Abe
Bendums ghost come back to the ruined
ferry house. 1t was Sails voice which
had called 10 him, and she was hidden
in Abes potato cellar. which was careful
ly sodded over to keep out the frost in
winter.
TIE next moment he had torn off the
covering 20 find Sally crouching there and
beside her Mrs Bendum, in q faint.
He was down in the hole in an instant
lifted the women out and followed them.
You've come to save US, John" said
Sally, Simply; then she caught sight Of
Abe's body and tainted away.
where's MIR. Porter?" she asked sud
denly, when Packsaddle. having carried
her to the river, had brought her to-
"They have killed Sam and -"
Sam is in Fort Bayard," said Pack
saddle wishing TO calm her anxiety; then
he told her about the scene on the mesa.
The girl looked &C him. a deep flush
reddening her Checks. 80 Sans saved
himself" said she Mr.. Porter always
was a good runner"
Packsaddle nodded. Il reckon" said
he. wed best be movin. Sam is a
clever chap. an he'll be waitin for you
over there"
But it wasn't such a simple matter 20
take two women across a country filled
with numbering Apaches Packsaddle
knew the Indians and that they Were
sure 10 be in the nelghborhood He sat
down to think the thing over, finally
reaching the decision that the only safe
way was by the river. The water was
swift at that time Of year. and night
would float them 90 the very gate of the
fort
on the bank OF the stream were a
score of logs, ten feet long and as light
as cOrks. He hoated two of these to-
eether. bound them again each other with
grape vines. and a the first signs or
darkness told the women TO lay them.
selves fiat upon the primitive raft
Then. for fear the current might wash
them off. he passed another grape vine
around the .ogs and their bodies. and
pushed the raft into the swifter waters
Of the ella, swimming behind that he
might guide it.
All night long Packsaddle Parks pushed
the logs with their burden down the cur
rent of the river He was exhausted with
his long run across the prairie, the wound
in his foot tortured him and his body was
bruised in a dozen places by coming "a
contact with floating obstacles in the
water.
Once, his foot striking pointed rock.