The Opelousas courier., 1901-03-02
. . ~ o . N>
Wild West Story.


In the country of the great Apache
nation, the savage lords of Northern
Mexico, by the clear swift waters OF
the ella river and within the shadows
Of the wooded sides of the bold-peaked,
crooked White Mountain range, a small
band Of daring, white-skinned adven.
turers were encamped.
The camp was on a 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-six, all
t~old-lounged as carelesSly by the river,
as If they were 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 wives7
Had they not seen the thin columns
of smoke stealing upward on the clear
mountain air from hilltop after hilltop
while they were 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 adventures knew their dam
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 heedlessly into danger.
They knew the risk and boldly took
the chances. A golden vision led them
onward, and blindly they followed.
There were rough Ben Todd, little
Montana Mike, swarthy Dick Peters,
the Kentuekian; old, burly Mountain
Ned. the trapper; huge-bearded John
Onderdonk from Frisco and slender,
handsome Spanish Charley.
"How much fartherY asked Noun
tain Ned, thoughtfully glancing up at
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 great anxiety.
"Not a doubt Of it." the young man
replied, gayly. '"From two different
parties I have received descriptions of
the place, and I think you will w
that I have exhibited a pretty knowl-
edge of the country SO far"
"Yes, but we're running an awful
risk" the old trapper observed, soberly.
'aThe Indians are lowering around US,
thicker'n 'skeeters in a blackberry
patch. The first thing We know, they'll
try to lift our ha'r."
"Did the Indians tell you Of this
miner" demanded the Kentuekian, abb
ruptly.
eyes; perhaps you remember that I
had a little Injun wife about a year
back" Spanish Charley said. with a
laugh. She was a pretty little thing.
I picked her out Of the ella n day
when her pony had upset her into the
drink, and, to make a long story short,
she took a 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 ella and
how the warriors of her tribe dug out
the red metal to make bullets for their
guns. It must be rich stun, and pretty
pure, too, for she always said 1t 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 a moment.
swell, to come to the rights Of the
matter" he said, slowly, I'VE had some
hot words one night when I came home
late from a fandango and I jest gave
her q couple of cracks SO as to let her
know who was boss of the shanty, and
she got SO mad about 1t that she went
right of and drowned herself in the
river"
Then an awkward silence fell upon
the party for a few minutes.
eThat was rough" the old mountain
man observed at last.
"Yes; and the worst OF 1t was that
all her tribe accused me of numbering
her" Spanish Charley said.
aAnd didn't none of 'em try to square
the account?" the Frisco sharp, John
Onderdonk, asked.
"You betE'' responded the bereaved
husband, tersely. Zone copper-colored
INN lay for me and plugged me with a
slug-a regular red bullet, too; thar she
is.n and Charley drew the rudely
formed and nov hattened slug from
his pocket, ssThe wound didn't amount
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