Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-07-05
NO.23.

and then from across the canon would
come a series Of faint. mournful
sounds. such as sorrowing ghosts
might be expected to utter. began
to understand how Domlnguez came to
lose his mind through his experience
in the canon, and TO wish that | were
anywhere else. when the wind died
away as suddenly as II had risen. and
there was absolute silence. fell to
watching the stars again, the hours
dragged slowly by. and at last fell
into half sleep
Suddenly ! awoke and sat bolt m
right, straining my ears for a repeti-
tion of the sound that walked me. Soon
| heard it again. it was Helen whis-
tling and plunging in fright. He was
picketed behind a point Of rock where
J could not see him Hastily / felt
under my pillow for my revolvers. but
could not find them. Helen's snorting
and plunging grew more violent with
every moment, and at last. fearful lest
he break his rope and we lose him,
gave up hunting my revolvers and
started running toward him. The
moon was now shining brightly. and
when | came to where could see the
mule, saw something just beyond
him, something that brought me to a
sudden standstill. and that seemed to
freeze the blood in my veins-a beau
tifully marked piebald pony. its legs
moving naturally. but its feet seeming
not to touch the ground. And it was
moving directly toward me-
Paralyzed with terror stood as
though grown to the spot. nearer came
the pinto. and tried TO veil tn Lew.
but a harsh rattle was the only sound
my throat would make Ouivering
with fear. Helen was standing as close
to me as he could get. his rope
stretched to the breaking point Now
the pinto was passing close beside
him. when he suddenly wheeled round
giving a wicked squeal, and like
streak Of lightning. his heels flashed in
the moonlight. striking the pony with
a surprising crash fairly in the side.
Giving a strange grunt for a pony the
pinto staggered and fell on its side,
fioundering helplessly; the next mo-
ment. however, its side burst open,
and a naked Apache Indian sprang
out and ran at me. long -bladed
knife glittering in his hand. Instant
Iy my superstitious fears vanished and
my muscles regained their power. Tn
armed, | turned to run; but my foot
tripped. and fell with the Indian
sprawling on top of me. ! realized
that il was a struggle for my life. and,
yelling to Lew at the top of my voice.
grappled with the Apache Back
and forth we rolled and tumbled.
trying to obtain possession of the
knife, and he to put an end to my
struggling with it. neither gaining any
advantage over the other. Minutes
seemed hours. Could Lew never hear.
| wondered. MY breath coming in
sharp gasps. my strepg r almost gone
How long we fought I can only con-
lecture: the Indians powers of endur-
Anee were greater l nan NINE ana at
last he forced me over on my back. his
one hand clutching nv throat. his
other, grasping the knife. raised to
strike. I saw the steel fash and glitter
in the MOONLIGHT. and q sickening fear
shot through me: the knife was in the
act of descending. when two shots
rang out in quick succession. and it
flew to one side. while the Indian sank
down on me, quivering in death The
sudden reaction from utter hopeless
ness to a sense of safety was NOR sth,n
my tortured brain could bear, and I
tainted where lay. the next thing
/ knew Lew was pouring water on my
face, and saw that day was breaking.