The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-03
CHAPTER v.
Apaches.

~ OF Sleet and snow ragged through
- the mountains for three days,
which kept us confined to the house for
that space Of time. 1t was the first
severe storm that we had encountered
and we were pleased to have such COM
Portable quarters in which to protect
ourselves from 1t.
Again We resumed mining and all
went we'll for a time. One day Billy
and Wahkena returned from a hunt
ing expedition down the valley and re-
ported having seen quite large party
of Indians about twenty miles away.
We were filled with alarm for fear
that they might discover our camp and
try to capture or drive us out. What
were we to do to avoid this? We
finally decided to send q scout down
the valley each day about three miles.
to a pointed knob that commanded Il
view Of the main valley for some miles
in the direction that the Indians had
been seen, SO that should they ap-
proach we might have timely warning.
We also had the Mexican remain at or
near the house armed. so that should
anything happen to our scout, or should
they succeed in evading his vigilance.
they could not steal our animals and
without our being apprised of the fact.
We went to our work each day heavily
armed and prepared for battle at a
moments notice.
Ten days passed and nothing having
been seen of the Indians, we decided to
send Billy and Wahkena down the val
ley. where they had seen them on their
former expedition. We cautioned them
to exercise the greatest discretion for,
were the Indians to learn by any means
that white men were in their country
they would not rest until they had
driven us out. Departing on their
journey, they penetrated fifty miles
down the valley. returning on the third
day. They reported that the band Of
Indians that they had seen on their
former expedition had moved down the
valley and that they had failed to see
one on their trip. From this report we
believed ourselves comparatively safe
and withdrew our scout but left the
Mexican on guard.
kartna had become very much inter.
ested, during the meantime, in our
machine to discover gold under the sur.
face of the ground and spent larger
portion of her time in moving it around
ana looking down in the earth and tell.
ing US what she had found.
One day. about a week after Billy
and Wahkena had returned from their
scouting expedition, she came hurry
Ing down the creek, her face all,
wreathed in smiles. and exclaimed: II
have found lots of gold"
We paused in our labor. when she
said: Come with me and will show
you more gold than you can carry"
We dropped our shovels and followed
,er up the stream for some little dis
ance until We came to where the in
'trument stood, when the Professor
slanced in for moment and then said
IN an agitated voice: "Karina has
aade the most wonderful discovery OF
ii. There is an abundance of gold
ere. The richest placer diggings, /
Ierily believe, In the whole world"
One after another of our party
glanced in. after the Professor had
stepped to one side, and then we hast
ened back to our sluice-way and. pro-
curing picks and shovels, hastily re-
turned.
We set to work to uncover the treas
ure hidden beneath the soil and labored
until dark. The next morning we re-
turned and at last had the satisfaction
VI cceinS IL uncovered. IL seemed to
be what Is termed. in mining parlance,
. pocket Of gold. Several huge mug
gets lay exposed to view. Billy exc
cuted a dOuble-shuffle, such as had
taken 30 we'll with the pretty girls back
In Pennsylvania. while the Professor
with dilated eyes, sprang down in the
hole and bending over grasped one Of
tho nuggets and endeavored to raise It
from the bed in which 1t had lain so
Ions, But the weight was such that he
was compelled to release his hold. As
he Strengthened up and placed one
hand on his back, crack! bang! bang!
went the report of firearms in the
direction OF our ranch.
Charles\cried out: 1.-THE Indians have
attacked the Mexican. Let us hasten
TO his rescue"
eeising our rifles and belts of cart.
ridges, we advanced on a run In the
direction Of our quarters. having FIRST
bi9den Karina to hide herself until we
came for her. The firing continued for
some moments and then all was quiet.
We soon came In eight OF the house
and advanced swc hundred