The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-20


tolls and a sword.
I'VE always ride armed across the hills;
We are on good terms with the Indians
near us, but might fall in with some wan
dering bands, or possibly a party of
white cut-throats, fugitives from justice
Besides he added significantly, there
may possibly be dangers on this side Of
the first range of hills.
"You think" Will began.
Yes. 1 think 1t possible that the or
ganizer of the first attempt on my life
may possibly try again. 1t is not probable
that he likes me any better for the fail
ure he then made"
Some high riding boots, a couple of pairs
of fringed Mexican trousers and a few
other necessaries completed the equip
ment, most of which was to be sent up in
the wagon with his kit bag. VIII was in
high spirits. Nothing could be more pleas
ant than the trip promised to be, ana he
looked eagerly forward to the start. The
wagons had arrived, and with them four
mounted men who had overtaken them on
the day before they reached San Diego
They brought down with them two riding
horses, intended for Juan's use.
MY father always sends two down,
Juan said, 80 that / can have change
each day, and be beyond the reach OF such
accidents OF horse strainins himseh OF
casting a shoe. Besides, on more than
one occasion have brought back friend
with me, as 1 am going to do now"
II suppose you breed good many up
there?" tf
eve breed enough for the wants of our
vaquerors and a few high-class animals
of our own riding. We don't care ABOUT
having more than necessary, for good
horse is a temptation that an Indian can
scarcely withstand. Cattle they don't care
so much for, for up In the mountains feed
would be scarce for them; besides. they
have no difficulty In getting meat, game IS
plentiful enough, deer and bear While at
times they go down into the great pain
on the other side of the Rockies and XIII
as many buffalo as they please, JERK tne
meat, and bring ii up to their villages. In
noint of fact we never refuse half a dozen
or a dozen cattle to any party of Indians
who come down and ask for them. 1t
keens us on good terms with them and
practically costs us nothing, Tor they 90
not often take the hides, preferrlnS CREAMY
deer skins for their hunting shirts and leg
einys. for which bullock hide is too heavy,
while for their lariats and heel ropes, and
40 ON. they use buffalo hide, which Is
stronger and tougher. So practically, you
see. II is only the value of the fat that we
lose" -,
Three days later Juan and Will saio
eood-bye to Senior Guzman ana MS
daughter and set out the four mounted
,,,o,, ,idine, behind them with two led ami
mails carving provisions and water skins
GLOW far is 1t before we get beyond the
settled country?
'"The country is cultivated as far as tne
Chocolate Hills, as there are several small
rivers whose waters are used Tor irrlgatihs
the fields. Beyond these nils there are
scattered villages and haeiendas, their po-
sitions being determined by the existence
Of streams coming down from a great
mountain range for although rain seldom
falls near the cost, there are heavy snow
ers there occasionally. Except IN the rainy
Jason. the beds of these streams are dry,
hut wells sunk in them at all times yield
a nlentiful supply of water. 1t is drawn
I'M nv the labor of builocks, and the
ground irrigated, and they grow oranges,
bananas, grapes, melons and all KINDS OF
fruit, in fact, in abundance. some OF
these irrigated estates are OF considerap. e
size. For the last fifty miles we ehall
come across no settlements until we reach
our own hacienda. for the country is 100
much open TO Indian forays though we DO
not suffer as much as they do on the otner
side of the Colorado, stil the risk is gfea
too great,for men who embark their cap
ital to say nothing of risking their hVes.
We are fortunate in the fact that the tribe
| Immediately in our neighborhood Is O
small one and far less warlike than many
| OF their neighbors. The goods they receive
from MS and the cattle makes them COM
| paratively rich and they have never shown
| any signs whatever of enmity against US
We have promised them that IL they are
attacked by any of their savage neigh
| bors. we viii, IL they come down to US
| assist them, and as the hacienda Is strong
lv built. and we have a supply OF arms
| sufficient for all our men we could resist
any attack. / think this feeling has quite
| as much to do with their friendly feeling
| toward us as the benefits they receive
| from us"
ut must be a very large valley to be
capable OF sustaining so vast herd as
that of your fotherY
Eyes. the valley Is not very wide at
| the lower end near the river, but the hills
open out and form basin some ten miles
| wide and twenty miles long. Beyond
| that It extends a considerable distance,
| but narrows fast a stream runs down the
center and during the rainy season and
at the time of the melting of the SHOWS
| there are innumerable rivulets running
down from the hills and In consequence
the grass is sweet and long. Our herds
amount to about 1000 head. and we do
not let them exceed that number. We do
not use the upper part OF the valley. By
our agreement with the Indians that is
to remain untouched as hunting ground
for them"
That night they slept at the hacienda
OF some acduaintances of Senior Sarasta,
where they were most Hospitality enter
tanned; the nexb day they halted for a
few hours at San Feiice. and rode on as
soon as the sun had lost Its fun power.
They were now beyond the region of gem
eral cultivation. the plain was. however.
fairly green, as a short time before the
unusual circumstance Of heavy rain had
occurred with the result that In the
course OF a few days the whole face Of
the country was changed. As soon as the