Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-12-05

a AN you guide me to Mason's
n RanchY
" Eyes. senior"
VERY well, | shall expect 10 start at
sunrise tomorrow
II Will be ready, senor.'
Can you furnish two good horses y
l asked.
Yes"
"Then you may come at the appoint
ed time"
With low bow, the Mexican guide
turned and strolled down the street
I was seated on the piazza of large
two-story frame house, which possess
ed the distinction of being the only
hotel In Mutt Station, little town stu
ated on the Santa Fe Railroad, 10
Southern New Mexico, twenty-five
miles from the Mexican line.
| had just arrived from Las Vegas,
and was on my way to Mason's Ranch,
which lies forty miles to the north
west OF that place.
The guide whose services | had en-
gagged was a young Mexican not over
10 years of age. He was slender in
build, with hair of jet-black and skin
of u deep copper color.
He might easily have passed for a
full blooded Indian, so dark was his
complexion, yet there was an indica-
ton of intelligence In his face and
something of shrewdness in his deep
black eyes.
Though only youth, he had been
recommended to me as a thoroughly
competent person to guide me any
where In the Territory.
| had very little doubts but that
could have found my way to Mason's
Ranch without II guide had | possess
ed any kind of a conveyance. Yet,
even in that case, l might still have
required the services of guide. for
there were rumors of a threatened out
Victoria, and as the country through
which | was to pass was known to be
infested with rowing bands of these
predatory savages, | thought it best to
not attempt the journey alone.
1t was just sunrise. the next morn
ing. when my youthful guide. Manuel
Garcia, made his appearance at the
hotel with two horses. bridled and sad
died, ready for our journey.
He was armed with repeating rifle
and two pistols. while l had only one
pistol-a small thlrty-two which | al
-t.N1 In, t,,ox -alks
However, seeing that Manuel had
thought 1t necessary to be well armed,
procured a rifle and hundred rounds
of cartridges before leaving the sta
ton.
Thus equipped, we set out upon our
journey, taking course TO the north
west. In the direction of the San Fran
cisco range of mountains.
The plain over which we We're travel
Ing soon began to give place to a more
hilly and broken country, with here
and there narrow canyon that wound
It's way through ranges or low hills.
1t was In the afternoon. We had
travelled twenty-five miles. at least,
and were making our way across a
strip of barren plain, when suddenly
Manuel refined In his horse and dis
mounted.
Bending down, he examined the
ground closely for some time; then he
east hasty glance about rs.
Los Apache," he said, making a
gesture to the west with his hands.
do you think there are Apaches In
this vicinity?" l asked, in alarm.
He nodded his head and pointed 10
the ground
glanced downward and could plain.
ly see the marks of unshod hoofs in
the sandy soil.
Perhaps we had better turn back. y
l suggested. Il am not anxious to en-
counter band of hostile savages"
But Manuel assured me that such a
course of action was not TO he thought
Of There might be no danger after
all; but. If there We're. it could not be
averted by returning. 1t was just as
probable that we might encounter the
Apaches by doing so as by continuing
on our course. So, after a few mo-
ments spent in considering the matter,
we resumed our journey.
We rode on three or four miles far
Their. wwhen. in crossing little hill,
we came suddenly In sight Of a squad
of perhaps twenty Indians, advancing
from the north, and not more than a
mile away.
Turning our horses quickly about,