The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-14

hunting ground. InlS was III looV, III
other fights being from 1861 up to tn
; close of the Confederate war, some o
them during the '70's.
Luz took the trail of his horses-h
had seven-and soon found party o
nine Comanches We're out on the sam
business. They had killed two of tn
horses, broken the leg of another, ant
had two ponies and mare and tWt
year-old colts in their possession.
The Indians We're doubtless enjoying
a feast of roast horse ribs and othel
dainty tid-bits, but also keeping an eye
open for the owner, but Luz was toe
old ranchero to be caught in q traI
and dropped down in a little sWag at
soon as he discovered them. 1t was
open all around, but he had no time te
choose fighting ground. Only two Co.
manches showed themselves at first
and began a pow-wow to try and get
LUIS Winchester first and scalp after
wards They first spoke in broken
English, saying, "if you give us your
| Winchester, we won't kill you"
Luz made no answer to this kind in
vitation. They then spoke in Spanish,
making the same proposition. Luz an
swered boldly, knowing any sign of fear
would seal his fate: Here is my Win
chester, you can come and take it If
you want it, but I won't give it up
| The Comanche spokesman then said,
You give up your gun and we will go
off and won't hurt you. You can bring
it to us or leave it and go off yourself,
If you don't we will never leave until
we kill you.'
Luz answered. "Bueno, If you kill me
you get my gun, but I will kill as many
Of you as L cam
Saying this, he fell down on his back,
and crossing his feet to give him a rest,
fired at the same time with the Co.
manches.
They exchanged a number of shots
and seven more Indians showed up,
who were hid in dry ravlne, waiting,
no doubt in hopes he would bring his
gun up and surrender it, when they
could kill him.
The fight now being on, the Indians
got all around him, but he had the ad-
vantage of being in the lowest place,
and when they showed up he let drive
at them-their bullets all passed over
him. He kept in his low place and re-
volved around to answer their shots.
But this running around was made to
cover a move Of one of the warriors
who was trying strategem, as lying did
not succeed. Hardly any of your read
ers but have noticed during the spring
months round plant that becomes
broken off at the ground, and during q
high wind goes bounding along the
road to the alarm of your horse. One
Of the warriors had put several Of these
together and pushed them slowly ahead
of him, reserving his fire until pretty
close, and the first notice Luz had of
his trick was the sharp crack Of his RI
de and a bullet went through his left
leg just above the ankle.
Good God, where was that shot from? |
was his thought. The next shot struck
his leg just above the knee. The next |
shot went through the fleshy part Of his
thigh, but did not strike the bone.
This time he was getting near the VI |
ais.
He probably thought his first shot
was near the head, but Luz changing
1is position by turning around had
saved his life. He located the Indian
oy the smoke Of his gun this time and
aking rest on his feet, put bullet
through the bunch Of weeds. The Indi-
IN fired also, and graZed LUIS ribs.
The warrior sprang to his feet and
rave yell to his men, staggered for
ward few steps, and fell on his face,
md as he rose Luz saw the blood squirt
ng from his breast, and as he turned
lie saw great red spiotcf on his back
N lypa,u ho 1roc Wiz IF I,i,,,
This put quite a damper on the In
ians, who now drew off. They had
'een fighting on foot and evidently
we're well armed. From the rapid fir
lg Luz thought they had Winchesters
r United States breech loading rifles.
After the firing ceased the chief de-
armined to have one more shot and
ode back, thinking doubtless he would I
ave a better chance from horseback, I,
that he, too, made a better
lark. LUIS sharp eyes discovered him
8 the sound of the horses feet had put !
i'm on his guard-they had been fight
lg two hours or more and LUIS belt ! |
nat had one hundred and fifty cart ;
dyes when he began, now was empty -
nd only one remained in his gun
He saw the horses ears appear and
len the Indians head. Taking good
m he fired his last shot and heard the
ldian fall and heard the horse run
ack to the other Indians. The bullet
ad struck him square in the forehead.
he seven Indians then left, thinking
ley had patd pretty dearly for trying
get a gun.
Luz was now in a pitiable condition
: had left his camp without any
and had bled so much that he
as too weak to walk, even If his
ounds had not been so severe; he had
a coat and managed to tear it up
ID bandage his wounds so as to partly
eek the flow of blood. He lay there r.