The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-11-09

straightway he began to turn over in
his mind how he could escape the fate
which the redskins had planned for
him. He knew that some distance ahead
the mesa s.cped to the edge of the can
yon, where was an abrupt fall OF 20 or
80 feet. The bed of the gorge was fill
ed with scrub pine, which, could he
gain them, would hide him from the
eyes of the Indians, and escape might
be possible. Then another thought
came to him. Could he leave Sam to
the mercy of the savages? What would
Sally say if he returned without her
lover? He shut his hands hard, for he
knew the customs of the Indians. II
one prisoner escaped, they would dou-
bly, torture his companion.
A quarter of mile down the trail
some one had located claim. leaving
n nile of rocks on the edge of the mesa
to mark the spot. 1t was at that point
Law the descent to tie bed of the can
yon.
Ac the mules came abreast of the de-
serted claim Packsaddle made a ges-
ture to the Apaches that he wished to
stop for a moment He knew the In
dian craze for anything in the shape of
firearms and decided to try trick on
them.
.Sam," said he, speaking so all the
braves could hear him, "just step over
to the edge of the canyon and get the
rife left there on our last trip-at the
edge of the pile yonder."
But you didn't leave a gun, Parks.
replied Porter, surprised at the request.
You Just go and look" said Pack
saddle sharply, land l reckon you'll
find it,
Sam started toward the canyon, two
of the Indians following him. When
he reached the edge, Packsaddle lei
out yell of agony.
Jump, Sam, jump he shouted. Il II
knitted. and I'm dyin.'
, Sam was so scared lie didn't wait tt
j look back over his shoulder He was
over the edge into the canyon like {
flash and had disappeared in the scrui
, pine before the astonished Apache
came to their senses, and Packsaddl
; knew he could make good his escape Il
: Fort Bayard.
When the Indians realized how the.
: had been fooled they set up terrifi
!, yelling and started for their remain
. ing prisoner, but Packsaddle Park
4 didn't wait to receive them. AS Sar
went over the side of the canyon b
n bounded away like frightened ante
lope trailing it over the mesa SO faS
I. it would have taken a pretty good IL
), dian to catch up with him.
A dozen OF the braves started in pu
g suit, but an Apache is a poor runnt
and PacksadGle rapidly gained upo
a them. Then the chief called to thos
who were following to drop down al
!, a shower of arrows flew after the i
:. treating white man.
!. A sharp pain in his foot told Parl
=, he had been hit, but yanking out II
:, shaft, he kept on until he reached
/, thick growth of brush, which hid hi
:. from the redskins.
- How he got back to the ella he cou
!, never exactly tell, but, having throy
=. off the Indians, he travelled all til
:, night, reaching the ferry early in
= morning 1t was a sorry sight viii
greeted him-the dead embers of t
NC ferryhouse, the boat cut adrift a
e stranded upon the mud flats of I
ne river. and not a living soul to ansW
sh his cautious "Hello, there!'
1t did not take Il second glance to t
en him the Indians had been there, burn
sf- the house and killed or carried off y
ne and the women. He reconnoitered
awhile to make sure the savages we
OK gone, then swan the river and
M preached the ruined ferryhouse.
ny The first thing he saw was Ab
mutilated body lying upon the groul
az A sickening fear seized him-the wo
as en- had been carried off by the Apach
He sat dcwn upon the ground. ours
OIL the fate which had taken him and S
ihe Porter from the ferryhouse, then S
denly started and land his hand VI