New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-29
NETWORK TRIBUNE ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT

fire the moment they him. and. changing
his course to avoid them, ne promptly
spurred his horse into d gaop, and thought
he had got safely out Of range, when the animal
suddenly went down falling on Bill. stunning.
and pinning him to the ground. Instantly a
yell of exultation went up from the Apaches,
and they dashed toward him, racing with
another for his scalp While the occa-
sionalIy killed one OF their number themselves.
it quite another thing to see one butchered
by the Apaches, and they groaned with horror.
for they could do nothing but stand idly look
ing on
Kid had run out Of the tent with the others.
and was standing near NE when Bill went down.
In the excitement Of that moment I lost sight
Of him, and when ! saw him again he had
eaped astride the old gray mare and digging
his heels in her tanks. started at a furious GAL
lop toward the Apaches. At this another groan
went up, for it seemed that the boy was only
riding to his death a moment later We saw
three hundred pairs Of long ears cooked toward
the old gray. three hundred shaved tails flew
upward. and the ground quivered beneath the
pounding Of twelve hundred hOOfs as the mules
dashed away after their leader Soon they
took her and, ranging themselves behind and at
her sides, bore down in solid phalanx upon the
ApaChes, racing along as though for their lives
on, what d howl Of delight went up from the
men when they through Kids design! The
Apaches heard il and. looking behind them saw
their peril. As one man they halted and fired
into the mules. then scattered on the run the
greater number making for the mountains the
others still holding their course toward Bill
his scalp was too great a prize to be lightly
given up Stretched out flat on the old gray's
back, lid rode straight for these. and presently
( they dropped their rifles and ran for their lives
but il was too late one af4er another they dis
appeared in a mass Of switching tails and flash
! ing heels. 70 go down under the herd trampled
and crushed into a bloody pulp Of flesh and bone
When the last Of them had fallen Kid refined in
and, getting off his horse. started staggering
toward Bill. but before going far he fell Imply
+ to the ground
! We saw this while running across the valley.
for the moment understood what Kid was
doing every man in camp started at the top of
his speed for Bill Those Of Us that went 10
where Kid lay found him insensible and bleed
/ ing profusey from a ragged tear where an
Apache bullet had pIOughed through his
! shoulder Quickly took him in my arms. and
tearing open his shirt to better see the wound
made startling discovery-Kid was a woman.
Bill soon recovered sufficiently to ride the old
gray back TO camp but We had e AIRY Kid, and
! never was babe held with tenderer care by a
mother When she recaned cons -iGusness she
/ sent away all but the boss and me and told
us all about herself. Her right name was Luisa
Montez. She was born and reared On a ranch
/ back in the mountains. where the Apaches had
killed her parents. Without friends or relatives,
compelled 20 earn her own living in a land where
women are not supposed to do anything Of the
kind she wandered up to Paso del Norte, and
was almost starved when it occurred TO her TO
pass herself off as a man. and she was given a
/ job in outfit.
When we left her Bill went in and had long
talk What passed between them We never
knew, but he immediately took charge Of her
and as carefully Il woman could have done,
nursed her until she was sound and well again;
and the next thing anybody knew she took him,