El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-19

their commander would, and that he,
for one, was not afraid of the Chiri-
cahua Apaches. 1t being evident
mounted, 1 dismounted and gave
nav bride rein to one of the scouts. aud
instructed them to watch and give me
what protection they could; but II L
was killed, or so badly wounded as to
be unable to get back to them, to keep
together and defend themselves, and
work back to the cavalry command.
After most carefully examining my
and ready to fire at flash, with 3
great show of boldness I struck out on
the trail, INDUCING in little parting
bravado that could whip the whole
Apache tribe Advancing into
the defile 1 soon lost sight
of the scouts, and as I approached
the summit, only few yaras
at most could be seen either to the
front or rear, as the trail ran through
turns and angles. Constantly expect
ing to hear the sharp crack of q rifle,
tried to see in front, behind and above.
lest q hideous Apache should quietly
poke his gun over the edge of the
chssm and shoot me in the back. So,
with every nerve strained to the ut
most tension, cautiously crept from
angle to angle, crOwding in one side to
avoid downward shot, yet frequently
side of the deile to see If the muzzle
of gun or an ugly Apache face might
show in that direction. Finally,
reaching q point only a few feet from
the mouth of the passage, l took
shelter behind projecting angle and
peeped through the mouth or doorway.
realizing that the passage ended
abruptly at the end of the perpendicu
lar walls. and that just beyond was
nearly smooth floor walled
in in every direction, the rocks de-
creasing in height rs they approached
the further eide, finally falling away
and leaving an open passage out right
opposite my position. 1 could also see
scattered about this circular basin
several small mounds of ashes, show
ing where the Indian camp fires had
been. At this moment 1 was startled
by the breaking of a twig underfOot to
the rear. Whirline instantly
with cooked carbine, I saw Yuma Bill,
his hand upheld in warning,
who had become ashamed and fol-
lowed me on the trail. He advanced
cautiously. furtively glancing around
in every direction, closed in behind
me and took look at the little basin,
and said, below his breath. Apache
there: want you to come outn Whis-
if Apache here,' I quickly crossed the
space to the mouth of the defile, and
then thrusting my head forward. I
took one sweeping glance around. A
Indian belongings used in camp
ing scattered among the sur
rounding rocks, that was all. Bill
came across to where I was, and then
stepped out several PAGES into the open
None appeared. In a moment I said,
Bill. me no believe Apache here He
sprsng up on a projecting ledge, and
looking across the open, said: Yes, no
trail go over there An examination
gave US plain view of the trail going
out of this basin. and with the eye we
could follow it nearly a mile ahead,
showing different s color in that SOIL
Examining the ground in the
vicinity, Bill told me that
the Apaches had lain in ambush here,
but seeing the smoke from their camp
fires still hung over the place, had
abandoned it. Rssumiug our march,
we followed the trail with Hankers out
as at first; within three miles, however,
it grew larger by the addition of the
other Indians, and my outs grew
frightened aud difficult to handle.
The two Moiave Indians, especially
the old one, Moh-kay-nay-hah Mount
sin-deer Killer), were stampeded, and
had such an influence over the young
err one, Quay-day-lay-th (Blood),
that they fingered behind and were
of no use. It occurred to
me, though, that in the case we
were attacked they would probably go
back to the cavalry and give the alarm.
On reaching the top of the first high
ridge on the eastern side of the range
we could distinguish the trail for a
distance. 1t seemed to
lead down the mountain-side towards
the foothills, as if tending towards
the great ella Plain, in q northea= "rly
where we could see til line
of the ella River as it flowed down
from the mountains in New
Mexico into Arizona. Turning to Bill,
l said: Bill, Apaches cross plain to
ella river to kill people in settle
ments!' Me think so too was the re-
ply. just after we entered the foot
hills. on the line of the trail, we came
,sssssss zee 80 zee % % . - 90 esSes