The National tribune., 1900-06-07

Il southerly direction. | was beyond tn
murmur of the river, but | knew that m.
| comrades were south OF me.
WITH FRIENDS AGAIN.
| | was vexed and bewildered, and in ever!
other state of mind that a man lost in
strange country and among the encm,
could be. | feared that the band woul,
| travel without me if the river should ~
down | didn't think they would try il
maddenlng current while il remained rs i
was TIE evening before.
| had not Travelled far when heard thu
sound of voices. but whether it be friend ol
foe | could not say. The speakers were
many and they all seemed to be excited
! came closer; there saw my friend Dcgiff
| the scout and WhStiing softly, he stopped
| and listened. Speaking in an audible
| though cautious tone, | said: Texas
| Ranger"
AT the sound of the words he knew 50
well, he shaded his eyes with his hands
| looking at me, remarked:
Alive. so help me, and jumping off his
horse ran to meet me with an OutStrctched
hand. | greeted him kindly, saying:
BE kind to friend, but likewise be cauti-
Gus Of the foe"
He understood me at once ] referred to
his leaving the horse aud coming TO mc,
whercupon he remarked:
in the direction of the voices, they have
caught Mexican spy and are going to
shoot him. Haven't seen any GrcaserS
this morning, have yOu:" he asked, with Il
hghtncSs OF tone as though he was asking
about parridges.
replied that had not, but saw some
during the night He wanted me to relate
my adventure, and | accordingly did so,
suggesting that he had better look out for
the enemy. Il left him and hurried to camp.
found every one in Il high state of excite
ment, save the Lieutenant, who seemed as
cool as ever.
had heard of men making speeches to
inflTiatcd mobs. quelling their excitement
and winning the admiration Of every one,
and | thought would try the experiment.
] accordingly mounted a log, and with Il
wave OF my cap ] shouted a few excited
sentences, and seeing that all were agitatad
] stepped down and went 10 the Lieutenant
and asked him what was to be done. He
looked at me with that steady gaze of his
and remarked:
This man Is Mexican spy. Death is
his reward" and turning aside he gave
the order 10 q subordinate officer to arrange
the prisoner for execution.
How that scene presents itself to me now,
at this period, which is 50 years since il was
enacted in that beautiful valley near the
Colorado. The Mexican stood firmly while
the officer tied the red handkerchief over his
eyes, fastened behind him his hands, and
calmly awaited the word. / admired the
nerve, the self possession of tlfat Mexican
spy.
While I was watching Lieut.. Small
calmly approached me with loaded mIsket.
placed it in my hands and remarked:
"Ccnt"r. bacl; of head" and turned away.
! had been detailed as the cxccutioner,
| was struck dumb. How could | put this
man to death: stepped back and turned
10 leave, when the subordinate shouted:
Quick. five seconds; fire," He knew
that would not shoot the man, but he was
trying me. | stopped, laid down thegun,
and walked off. About dozen of voices
shouted:
IN doit."
At this instant Degiff came up. The
subordinate Immediately appointed him
TO execute the spy. bat Degiff looked coldly
AT the officer, and with his voice raised to
lawyers pitch, proclaimed: Karl Prest
and John Degiff are the detailed scouts.
They will not execute a prisoner Our
business is 10 guard your men from the
sudden attack Of the enemy. Detail Mat
Gordon; he is ready 10 suck the blood of this
man" With these words he turned his
horse and galloped off to scout the rear. |
left for the Lieutcnant's quarters, obtained
Il new horse, and rushed off TO join Degiff
The Lieutenant never asked me about
the spy, but wanted to know something of
my adventures during the night. | told
hIm few things, and with "a promise To
tell more IN the future / hurried off. |
heard the gun fire that probably killed the
SPY, though do not know To this day who
killed linn, or how it was done, for never
asked any one about it. and no one yolun-
teered any information.
AMONG THE APACHES.
When ! joined Degiff he reported that the
river could he crossed and we hurriedlv
secuted the surroundings, reported to the
lieutenant, and received orders to scout the
front, while the band followed on the wav
to the border again.
We never saw anything more OF the
MeXicans., 1t was peaceful travelling
through the country. We were cordially
greeted AT the settlements along the waV.
IL was very mild weather there in the South.
though our Northern friends were experienc,
ing the dead Of Writer.
At the San Antonio River we ran onto
about 200 Apache Indians. We took them by
surprise and put them to a retreat Instantly
Degln had sighted them mile ahead. so
we were ready for them, us they were al
ways on the war-path. Only few of our
men Ii! frGd on them, but the result was one
Indian killed and hole in my coat-slceye
made by an arrowhead. The Indian who
shot at me was the one killed; he received
his dcatil-biow from Degiffs muskct iIst
as he was III the current of the stream
a shrek, a jump, and the Indian went
with the river.
AS We stopped for dinner that day the
Lieutenant said we would get call from
the red men that night, so as darkne came
on nan dozen men stood picket guard
At midnight the guards were changed:
was put on the last guard.
Far in the distant west was TO be seen n
light upon the sky. Degiff mentioned il.
but ! coolly suggested il a weather-light'
though ! could see that he was uneasy.
he came 10 me and said something about
the wind from the west and smoke in it. i
told him | expected it WAS sign of cooler
weather. He went away with a hint that
1t would be hot weather before daylight.
knew he thought it was a prairie fire, but
didn't believe it was
After AN hour or so didn't see anything
that showed any sign of hostilities or immi.
nent danger, so sat down on the soft grass
and was soon in dreamland The other
Pckets had crossed over TO that blessed
land an hour ago.
suddenly awoke to find Degiff in a high
state OF excitement, trying to pull me onto