The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-27

that we brought the water skins with us.
/ noticed that you did not fill them half
fun at the last stream we crossed
mo. it was not necessary, the horses
will have a good drink at a stream we
shall cross in a couple Of hours, and we
shall ill the skins there; beyond that we
enter the mountains and travel through
an extremely difficult pass, or rather l
should say passes, ill we come down into
the valley. Tire carts do not come this
way, they strike the Colorado river many
miles down and follow its bank 1t is at
least third longer but If it were three
times as long they would have 10 go that
way, the passes are difficult enough for
hcrses, but it would be impossible for
wheeled carriages"
After riding for 80 miles they halted for
half an hour, the horses were watered and
the men ate some of the meat they had
cooked over night and some cold pam
cakes that had been fried in deer's fat.
They were now far up on the hillside and
following a regular track.
Another hours sharp climbing and We
shall be on the top summit of the pass
See 10 the printing of your rifles and pis-
tells. If we are not attacked before we
reach the TOP / shall admit that / have
BEN wrong. and that the attack upon me
was after all the work Of street rufiians."
The four vaqueros were ordered 20 look
TO their pistol before remounting; they
did not carry guns.
do you expect an attack. master2" one
asked. Il have not heard of there be-
ing any bands on the road just lately. but
of course there may be some. and this BIT
OF road is their favorite lurking place, as
the traffic between San Fflepi and the
Chateneonais valley all comes this way
Il do not know that l expect 10 be at
tackled. Lopez but / have grounds for
suspecting that it is possible. IL We
should be ambushed, dismeunt at once
and take up your position behind the
rocks and fight them in their own way.
II the road were good enough / should
say gallop on, but Ii is too steep and too
rough for that"
win Harland soon found that his friend
had not exaggerated the dificultity OF
the pass On both sides the hills sloped
very steeply and We're covered by bowl
ders. The tract in The middle of the ra-
vine was just wide enough for a cart
but at distances OF 200 or 300 yards apart
the rock had been cut away for some
twenty yards. that two or three carts
could draw aside there 20 allow Others
coming the other way to pass. AS Il
was inconVenient for two 10 ride abreast
Juan said: I'VE had better go in single
file."
Yes. end I will ride first" Win replied.
''If there should be a fellow bidder
among these rocks. 1t will be you they are
on easy mark for them. whereas If | ar
first, they won't he able 10 aim at you
til You are pretty nearly abreast O
them"
Il don't like that" Juan began. bu
VII. pushed his horse forward Bosi
had unsluug their rifles from their shoul
dcrs and were carry them in readiness
for instant use.
'"Roep your eyes on the rocks" Juar
said to the men behind him. IF one o.
you secs the least movement give
shout and all throw yourselves at ono'
OF your horses"
It would. however have been no easy
matter 10 distinguish mans head among
the masses of rock and powders througf
which in many places brushwood and
small trees had sprung up and, although
ell kept scanning the hilsides infinitely
nothing suspicious was heard until sud
denly a shot was fired from a spot SOM
forty feet up the rocks on the left-hant
side. VIII instantly swung himself TO HI
ground. gave a sharp slap on his horse:
quarters. aud esc1nced himself behind
rock, While the animal. relieved from til,
weight Of his rider, made his way rapidly