The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1899-01-13

Here we in turn became prisoners.
and at once began TO pick of our as
sailants. who had formed IN a circle
around the mound, snortlng and
grunting ~viciously, but apparently
without the sense or ingenuity OF
climbing up after rs.
Our b~roadsides had laid nineteen Of
them low, but somehow this did not
seem in the least to discourage them.
for they still circled around the
mound. intent upon holding us prison
ers until the last one Of the drove
should be killed.
We had now about run out Of am
munition, but Just then a shot q
L from the timber, ana then in quick
succession another and another, each
one Of which settled the earthly ca
reer of a isbali.
Our two friends, coming down from
their original tree and following our
retreat, had mounted a second tree,
where. at close range, they we're able
to render us valuable assistance. Each
snot told, and finally we counted thir-
ty-nine jabalis lying dead on the
ground at the base OF the mound. The
remaining survivors. six in nunsber,
now rave MP the fight. and with a last
savage, angry snort, trotted away and
were 500 lost to view in the thick
chaparral and stunted brush oak tim
Der.
We descended, Joined forces, and
then started on the back trail.
Our comrades had lost their oppor-
tunity for a hunt, so We picked up
the venison, which still lay where it
had been dropped, and just about dark
resumed our march In search OF the
ponies. The copse where they had
been picketed was found without much
difficulty, but here a second and awful
surprise was awaiting us.
Two Of the horses lay dead on the
ground, and a third was so fearfully
mangled that we shot him out Of
mercy. The fourth one was entirely
missing. It was a plain story to be
read, as plainly and as clearly as from
a written or printed page. In the soft
mud were innumerable huge tracks,
which indicated that the four lions
mentioned by the Mexican officer had
been at work. The poor, tied ponies,
with possibly oDo exception, had no
doubt been attacked and literally torn
to pieces by this quartet of fierce
brutes. In this helpless condition they
had been pounced upon by the lions,
and after being killed had been partly
devoured by their terrible enemies.
1t was a dangerous position for us
to be placed in; and so-not waiting to
secure brides or trappings, and hastily
gathering an additional supply Of am
munition from the saddle pockets,
without losing any more time than was
absolutely necessary, we once more
set out on the back trail, and made all
speed to reach camp.
Marching in single file with the
Mexican guide leading and carrying q
resinous torch, about midnight a de-
tachment from the camp with the
Mexican officer at their head, met us,
and from them we learned that the
missing pony, badly frightened and
f~earfully scratched and clawed. had
come galloping back to the camp three
hours before. Our friends Immediately
set about to organize a search party,
and it was with a great feeling Of re-
lief that they at last found us safe and
sound, for they had almost given us
up as dead or lost in the wild and des-
olate country that marks the interna-
tionai boundary line.=J M. T. Par
tello.