Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-11-30
Wild West Story.


Mexico, by the clear swift waters Of
the Gila river and within the shadows
of the wooded sides of the bold-peaked,
crooked White Mountain range, Il small
band of daring, whiteskinned adven-
turerS We're encamped.
The camp was on little island in the
center of the stream.
Few white men had set foot within
that valley; fewer still had lived to tell
of it; and yet the little band-siN, all
told-lounged as Careles ly by the river,
as if they We're in civilizations center,
instead Of being intruders upon the do
main of the bravest race of savages
that tread the soil of North America.
Could it be possible that they knew
not their danger? Were they not
aware that the red Apache braves
guarded their hunting grounds with all
the jealousy of the Eastern monarch
watching over his hundred wives?
Had they not seen the thin columns
of smoke stealing upward on the clear
mountain air from hilltop after hilltop
while they wele penetrating farther
and farther into the wilderness? Did
they not know that the smoke columns
told every redskin within sight that a
foe was advancing and warned the
savage braves to prepare for blood and
slaughter?
Yes, the adventurers knew their dan
ger only too well; cool and hardy noun
tain men were they, well used to the
custom of the Indians, and not apt to
run heedlcssly into danger.
They knew the risk and boldly took
the chances. \ golden vision led them
onward, and blindly they followed.
There We're rough Ben Todd, little
Montana Mike, swarthy Dick Peters,
the Kcntucllian; old, burly Mountain
Ned, the trapper; huge-bearded John
Onderdoni from Frisco and slender,
handsome Spanish Charley.
How much farther?' asked Noun
tain Ned, thoughtfully glancing up mt
the mountain peak that frowned down
upon the little camp.
"One more days march and we will
strike the mine," Spanish Charley re-
piled.
Are you quite sure there is no mis-
take about the location?" the Old
mountain man asked, his face grave
and his whole manner giving proof
of breat anxiety.
Not u doubt of it," the young man
replied, gayly "From two different
parties l have received descriptions of
the place, and l think you will own
that l have exhibited q pretty knowl-
edge of the country so far"
Eyes, but we're running an awful
risk" the old trappar observed, soberly.
"The Indians are lowering around us,
thicker'n 'skeeters in blackberry
patch. The first thing we know they'll
try to lift our hair"
Did the Indians tell you of this
mine" demanded the Kentuckian, abb
iNptly.
Yes; perhaps you remember that l
had little Injun wife about year
back" Spanish Charley said, with
laugh. She was pretty little thing.
l picked her out of the ella one day
when her pony had upset her into the
drink, and, TO make long story short,
she took notion to your humble SER
want and left her tribe to live with me.
She came of good blood, too her father
was the old chief of the White Noun
tain Apaches. She told me about the
rich placer by the bend of the Gila and
how the warriors OF her tribe dug out
the red metal to Makc bullets for their
guns. 1t must be rich stuff, and pretty
pure, too for she always said it was
more red than yellow and that her peo-
pie always termed the slugs red bull
let's.
"What ever became Of herr" little
Montana Mike asked suddenly.
Spanish Charley appeared confused
and hesitated moment.
"Well, to come to the rights OF the
matter" he said, slowly, 1--WE had some
hot words one night when | came home
late from fandango and l jest gave
! her a couple of cracks so as to let her
know who was boss of the shanty, and
Sne got so nlau aDuul IL Inal Sne went
right off and drowned herself in the
river"
Then an awkward silence fell upon
! the party for few minutes.
/ "That was rough" the old mountain
man observed at last.
"Yes; and the worst of it was that
4 all her tribe accused me of numbering
her." Spanish Charley said.
"And didn't none of 'em try to square
the account?" the Frisco sharp, John
Onderdonk, asked.
you bet" responded the bereaved
husband, tersely. "One copper-colored
imp lay for me and plugged me with a
slug-a regular red bullet, too; thar she
is," and Charley drew the rudely
formed and now flattcned slug from
his pocket, "rhe wound didn't amount
to much, though, but the will was good
enough"
~ 9 a.