The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-10

ter of a mile I saw that the Indians were
swarming found it, dozen started in
pursuit Ct me, but they did not follow
me fa:."
viii stood as one thunderstruck.
But low can thsy have got there, An
1orio?"
They must have ccme by WI at is call
ed The httl- gap. You know it, senior
that val ey that runs OFF from the other
cary al r asst of the hacienda. Follow
ing that and crossirs a should r you cross
town on to the river some 10 miles high
er up They must have crossed there by
swimming in the night"
But the chef said he had scouts
there"
They could hardly watch 20 miles of
the river, St nor, besides the redskins
would have sent over two or three swim
mers to silence any one they found near
the place where they were to cross"
BY this iims a dozen other vaqueros
who had been warned by Antonio as he
came Down. joined them.
I'VE must ride for the hacienda at
once VIII said, leaping into the saddle
No use, senior no use / should say
there must be 400 or 500 Of the redskins
and we may be sure that there is not a
soul alive now at the hacienda or at the
huts. They will be here in a snort time
OF that there is no doubt probably half
will come down re valley, and half will
60 up. We must ri e for it. sir, follow the
yer down till we are past the hills; there
is not moment to be lost.
The poems who had gathered round
gave cry of des air. You can go, If you
like, Antonio; l can see we can do moth
ing at present; but l win not leave the
place"
What will you do then senor?"
I'VE will take the RATS aud pole them
across the river there arc TO signs of
Indians there, and it is not likely there
will be now" Then he turned TO the
poems. You have Heard what 1 said. Get
TO the RATS at once; there is not a mo-
Ing wildly; you may be sure that the
redskins are after them"
The sencr's advice is good" Antonio
said, and there is not moment to be
lost. Get on board, all of YOU. comrades
tie your brides o the rafts"
All hurried on to the RATS the ropes
that held them 10 the shore were cut.
and the pc ons, putting out the poles, push
ed them into the stream. The RATES were
already h avily laden, by far the greater
portion of the cargo having been placed
on board Nest OF the vaquorcs had their
rifles slung across their should RS, as they
had heard from Antonio what the Indian
had said, and had on artiug out taken
their guns with them.
"One never can tell what will happen"
Antonio said, lit is always we'll 10 he on
the safe side"
Although the poems exerted themselves
TO the utmost, the RATS moved but slow
ly, and they were but seventy or eighty
yards from the shore. when a large blnl
OF Indians rode down 10 the bank and at
once opened fire. As they approach d
VIII shouted to all the men to take heir
places on The other side Of the piles OF
hide, and, using these as a breastwork
those having guns at once retuinel = IN a
Indian fire. Five or six of the redskins
fell, and the plungng of many hors 3
showed that they were wounded. chief
who seemed TO be in command waved his
hand and shouted to his followers who
were evidently about TO urge their horses
into the river when VIII, who had held
his fire, took a steady aim at the chief
and the latter fell dead frcm his horse.
"Will they take 70 the water. Anton.o?''
he asked the vaquero. who had takel hi 5
place on the raft with him.
II do not think so, senior; IL is not IA
indian nature 10 run such a risk ~ that.
We should shoot down numbers OF them
before they reached us, aud they would
have tough job then. for the poems
| would fight desperately with their long