The Afro-American advance., 1900-05-19

usually hoft and shy. would falfiy Diaz'
with venomons hatred. and knowing
something of Mexican nature. and how
handy they are with a knife. came t6
the conclusion that If / werr In Bill's
place. | would do one of two things:
apologize 10 the Kid and let him alone
or-kiIi him. | thought of speaking to
Bill about it.but meddiing in another
mans row was unhealthy business in
those days, so | ended by keeping 81.
| lent
KID did not disappoint Ore
| night. as / "a reading in my tent. there
came from the outside a sharp exclama-
ton that was followed Immediately by
the sounds OF a struggle then pierre
ing scream. and / heard unmistakably
in Bills voice Yer mis'rable. sneak
in little kyotet Put er knife in me In
III dark would yer? Wall, reekin not!
An now III just give yoa er taste Of II,
fny little snake~in-th grass. .
Grabbing up ny gun. knowing that
nothing short Of that would have any
weight with Bill. hurriediy threw
open ny tent. and. the bright light Of
ny lamp flashing out. I saH Kid fiat on
/ his back with Bill kBeeling on bis chest
one hand gripping the boys throat.
and the other grasping a knife. upFaised
TO strike. In Kids face there was a
look of horror that will remember a.
long ~ I live The sudden food Of
light caused EiII to pause and then his
arm sank" slowly 20 his side. the knife
slipping from his hand. WALL" he
calculated and letting 70 Of Kids
throat ne stood up. Icould see nothing
70 Justify such change in bis attitude
and ! was amazed TO see him now reach
down and take Kid's hand.
'Git up" he said. grufily: ain't er
goin' ter hurt yer never would a
teehed Yer ef I'd knowed what ! know
now. an I'm sorry done t." He helped
Hid to his feet aud went on: ''Now 20
back 10 yer tent; amt a-goin' ter blow
oH yer an won't bullyfag yer no more
-sabe7 III keep the knife. though
so's yer won't git inter no more mis-
chief with II. -
Kid made no answer. and could not
see bis face. but | did SEE bis hands
suddenly clincb as he went away into
the darkness. Having watched him
out Of sight, Bill walked of without
even a glance in my direction. was
greatly puzzled by what had occurred.
and my curiosity being reused. de.
termined 10 find BIN the next morning
aud get him to tell me what Il was that
had caused his sudden change toward
Kid. but that day was Sunday, and he
left the camp At daybreak on an ante
lope hunt, 80 I did not see him. Turn
ing the affair over in my mind that
morning. came 10 the conclusion that
Bil's heart wAs too large for his judg-
ment, and that Kid would yet avenge
himself; and ! was not wrong. though
he did II in a way that could not have
expected.
Our camp was pitched on a low hill
that rose island-lIke IN the midst Of
grassy valley On the west side this
valley WAS bounded by range of
rugged mountains that came down 10
within "A mile of the camp, and on the
east by chain of high hills. to the
north and south, where the railroad
came in and went out. the grassy level
stretched away farther than the eye
could reach. TO eeonomize In feed IL
was the custom TO pasture the mules
ia this valley whenever they were not
At work. on Sundays and at night. and
they went out as usual on the day
following Kids attempt to knife Bill.
though not under charge of the night
herder, he aud the old gray mare hav-
ing 10 remain in camp 10 rest and sleep.
When the gong sounded for supper.
about an hour before sunset, the herd
was In plain view from camp, and not
over half mile away, so the herder
galloped In 10 his supper. leaving them
unguaTdcd until the night herder
should go out aud take them.
As we were in the Apache country.
II was very foolish thing for him
to do. He had scarcely unsaddled his
horse and gone into the grub-tent.
when shrill yells and whoops. mingled
with the thunder of pounding hoofs
coming from the valley brought every
man running out. Watching their OPP
p0rtunity from their lurking place In
the mountains, a band Of half.naked
Apaches had slipped into the herd.
aud running about among the mules.
lashinR and striking. were trying to
stampede them. They would have sue
cesded mules being mortally afraid
of Indians, but that the night herdcr.
preparing tn so on duty. had brought
the old grHy mare 20 the grnh-tent
TO wait while he ate his supper. where
she stood in plain sight from the val
ley, The mules were running away
southwark when the leading ones spied
her, aud, making wide detour To avoid
the Apaches who were gallopIng as
fast as their legs could carry them,
the entire herd came galloping In.
Yelling with rage and disappoint-
meat, the Apaches turned TO go back
TO the mountains. when white man
rode out from the mountains before
them aud started across the valley TO.
ward camp By his horse. which We
recognized, We knew him To be hin
Smith, The Apnehes opened fire the
moment they saw him. and. changing
his course so as to avoid them, he as
promptly spurred his horse into a gal.
Top, and we thought he had got safe
~ out OF range, when the animal sud.
denly went down, falling on Bill. stun
ming, aud plnnlng him 20 the ground.
/ Instantly yell Of eNultatlon went up
q a. a l..