Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-02-20

A startling outcry cut short the sem
tence-s blood curdling. raspins scream
Of rage; then another and another. fol.
lowed by the sharp report Of gun and
. muffled yell. The sounds came from
close ahead. around turn Of the main
gorge. Without hesitation, with one
impulse Quin and Calkins dashed for
ward. almost plowing furrow through
the bushes that here obstructed the
trail.
Twenty yards or 20 and then they
pulled up short Their rifles few to
their shoulders. They had emerged up
on the scene Of the disturbance, and a
thrilling sight Il was. A few feet away
at one eide Of the valley IN Indian was
feebly struggling in the grasp Of 9 huge
mountain lion. or puma, whose furious
snarling quite drowned the voice Of his
victim. A dark hole in the rocks might
have been the beasts den. The redskin
had evidently come across It unaware
and fred hastily and missed
"Don't shooti" exclaimed Quin.
You'll hit the man"
"Hes scarcely kickin nowl" shout
ed Calkins Hes goner II We don't
plug the critturl"
Just then the puma, hearing the
voices. swung its head around and saw
the intruderr. Instantly. with pas.
sionate screech, il sprang Oh the pros
trate redskin. crouched for second with
lashing tail and bounded forward.
Calkins fred. but failed to stop the
animal Then he lost his head, and.
turning, he bolted like deer down the
ravine.
Run for your lifer' he yelled.
But Quin held his ground. His rife
was leveled. and his eye travelled keen
" along the tube. Tho puma was &C.
tually in the air and almost upon him
when he pulled the trigger. He could
not see the effect Of his shot for the
smoke, bat he took no chances and
jumped 10 one side. The next instant a
msddened scream rang in his very carr
and humping blow on the shoulder
sent him backward TO the ground.
He got TO his feet without delay.
bruised p little and slightly stunned.
and expecting to be pounced upon at
once by his savage enemy. Then he
took heart, seeing the puma struggling
in the bushes dozen feet beyond him.
His shot had severely wounded il, and
IL was bleeding from the neck.
''L0ok outr" shouted Calkins from q
ledge where he had taken refuge. 81
can't help you. I've dropped my weap-
on"
But Quin needed no assistance. he
lifted his rife. aimed calmly and fred.
The second shot finished the beast. II
gave one or two convulsive leaps. then
rolled ever and lay quite still. The
bullet had penetrated between the eyes.
Calkins left his shelter and hastened
to the spot, picking mp his rife as he
came He kicked the dead puma con
temptuously.
you've settled the crittur," he ex-
claimed. "For an eastern tenderfoot.
you're the coolest hand ever seen.
hanged If you amt. Ever stand up to
q wild beast before,"
"Well. yes" Quin modestly admit
ted. "I've bagged . few lions and
tigers and that sort Of thing. Let's
have look at the Indian" he added.
"I'm sfraid the varmirt is dead,
said Calkins
On inspection such proved to be the
case. The redskin. who was stalwart,
evil faced fellow. had Just breathed his
last One hand clutched the half drawn
knife at his belt, and his discharged
rife lay near by. He was torn and
lacerated from head to feet. but the
injury that had 30 quickly proved fatal
was frightful bite in the throat.
THAT was savage crittur," said
Calkins. ut was a female puma, and
she likely has cubs somewhere about
Il was tough luck for the redskin to
run agin her-by lingo. here's mess"
He stared at the Indian. with alarm
and CONSERVATION depicted on his rug
ged face.
Whats wrongt" Quin asked.
Heaps" replied Calkins. "This
fellow is an Apache, and he's rugged
out in full war paint. Lookl"
He pointed to the dabs and streaks OF
greas. paint that the blood oozing from
the half naked body could not hide. to
the scalp lock decorated with bright
feathers.
what does it meant" exclaimed
Quin. "A risingf"
That's just it" was the startling
answer 1.-THE Apaches on the San Car
los reservation are up. and worse lot
of devils amt to be found in Arizona.
They've sent this chap ahead to do the
spyin. and the rest can't be very far
behind.
He listened apprehensively for mo-
ment.
"I reckon they didn't hear the shoot
in," he added. ''but they'll be comm
along soon. Wen make tracks, pard.
There's our own safety to look after,
and we must warn the settlers yonder
across the Gila and get word to the
fort"
"By all means" Quin sssented.
THAT is our first duty"
He was considerably alarmed. for he
knew well what an Indian outbreak
meant The possibility Of such a thing
had not entered into his plans. The
two hurried down the valley, and as
they passed the mouth Of the cross
ravine they heard . duh dumping noise
in the distance.
''It's the camels." said Calkins.
They've been scared by the shootin
and are movin this way. We won't
get them this trip"
"I'm afraid not. Quin answered re-
gretfully. but I'll have try for them
later II get the chance"
They pushed on rapidly through the
gathering twilight. dreading each mo-
ment to hear the gorge behind them
ring with savage warwhoops, and it
was q great relief when they saw the
friendly gleam Of the campfire. A little
later they had joined their comrades
and were narrating their adventure to
q circle Of eager and anxious facea On
one point all agreed without dissent
ing voice that the presence Of the red
akins in war paint In the valley meant
an Apache rising and IN early inGp{-
sion into the settled country northsof
the reservation. But the cowboys were
divided in opinion % to when the ap-
proach of the Indians might b ex-
pected