The National tribune., 1902-11-13
repacking Ell sabio, got back to the trail

Ell SabiO's good qualities: wise and brave,
and sure OF foot, unquestionably, he was.
With never a misstep, he led the way
along the toughest of trails. skirtins the
bank Of frightful canyons, where shiv-
cred to follow. and up and down the steep
| places, without ever firing. And he
| proved himself to be very friendly, and so
| ciably inclined, now that we We're better
| acquainted; in fact he seemed TO have no
doubt that he was a full member of the
| family. Whenever l stopped to cook a
meal, he would hobble around, watching
| for n chance to put his nose into coffee pot
or frying pan, waiting as patiently az he
could for his share, which consisted of a
spoonful of salt. For dessert he preferred
more salt, but my boots, or hat, or any
other article Of clothing that was salty
| from perspiration, would satisfy him-he
| ate away half the brim of my hat before
l discovered that he had such chronic
craving for salty things.
had seen nothing more that was suspi-
cionsly human, but did not let that cause
me to relax my watchfulness; and, when
night came, l repeated my ruse of getting
away from my camping place, and hidin.
in the rocks. And FL Sabio again played
the alarm-clock on me, but this time call,
ing me at 3 4. ID. l was very sleepy. and
started to hit him with a stone to teach
him not to come so early, when it occurred
l.
start while it was still dark.
felt sure. that some of the greasers
had followed me from Santa Cruz.
expecting to sneak up and knife me
while slept; but they might have rifles,
and a greaser occasionally hits what he
shoots at, even moving figure. As 1t
was, 1 saw nothing of them. and the day
passed uneventfully. The next night
found me at the crest of the range, where
the trail ran acress n level spot perhaps
two miles: on all sides. however, the peaks
| lowered hundreds of feet above, and again
waiting until darkness covered my move
ments, l turned out to the foot OF one of
these. to sleep. The elevation made the
mir piercingly cold, and so l went to bed
with my clothes on.
One sleeps sOundly after n days tramp
in the mountains, and, besides that. l had
been awake since 3 O'Clock that morning,
so / was like dead man 10 minutes after
l hit the ground. The next minute it
seemed to ME, though it may have been
hours later, l was aroused by violent
shaking; and getting my eyes open, l
found myself in the grasp of two men, one
at my feet. and the other at my head, the
latter holding knife against my throat.
Instantly reached for my gun,~ but a
slight sting at my throat stopped my
hand.
That's right. don't commit snicide,"
jeered the man at my head .'I'n cut
your throat il yuh make another break
like that" / could not see his face, but
his English told me that he was not a
Mexican. .'----
..What do you want?" demanded.
"Nothin' but that money you're carry
in to tn mine" he answered. You've
hid it somewhere, now dig up"
''You are fooled there" I said, II
brought nothing but draft, and left that
in bank in chihuahua" The company had
fallen behind with the labOrers' pay, and
the Treasurer had intended sending this
money in cash, but changed his mind at
the last moment.
Rats snarled the ether "That amt
worth cent: don't yuh sect; I'm onto
yuh game with both feet? Now dig up,
or I'll have to kill yuh."
But l can't" 1 protested. can the
money have is few dollars of my own;
take that if You want it"
Hell" he circulated, angrily. can
right, if yuh won't open up now. yuh will
after while: we'll jest see what hunger
an thirst'H do for yuh. Lets tie him up,
Jose"
Turning me on my face, they bound
my ankles tight and fast, and then
tied by hands at my back, drawing the
thongs so tight that squirmed with pain.
Then they picked me up and carried me
about 200 yards to a shallow cave in the
side of the mountain, where they threw
me down.
Jest holler whenever ynh get ready tub
talk" the American said, confidently.
We'll get out, so yuh can think it over
quiet like. Come on Jose" And the
Mexican followed him out.
They stopped near the caves mouth.
talking, and presently l was startled at
hearing the Mexican address the other as
''Senor Smeeth.' Smith was the name
OF the mines Superintendent. l knew
now into whose hands l had fallen. and
that / need expect no mercy. 1n the hope
that l would finally tell them where to
brought, they would keep me without food
or water until l became delirious, and
then perhaps end my sufferings with a
knife-thrust. And even if l had had the
money to give them. they would have muir
dered me the moment they got it into their
hands. And l could expect no help, there
was not another human being nearer than
the mine, 70 miles away. l had been in
tight places before, but none of them near
SO tight as this one, and my heart sank
like a chunk of lead.
Presently the scOundrels moved away,
going back to make another hunt through
my things, and l began tugging with all
my might to get loose; but l was tied too
securely, the leather only cut deeper into
of despair seized me, and lay back, quiet
and still. 1t must have been only a few
minutes afterward, though it seemed
hours, l heard Il sound outside, Il light
blow on the ground it seemed and a
faint clink. held my breath to listen,
and soon it came again, when | recognized
it to be the sound made by Ell Sabio in
hobblins about. The faithful little fellow
had seen the robbers carrying me away,
and lad followed fast as he could, trail
ing me by scent. l was feeling too mis-
cradle to give him much thought, but did
notice that he kept getting nearer, and
at last stopped at the cave. Then he
came inside, shifting, and presently found
me. l lay still, face downward, as l
had been left, and he began nOsing at my
head to awake me. l c;riled his name to
make him stop, and his nose went wander
ing down my back and stopped at my
hands. | felt him lick my palms once or
twice, and then came tug at my wrists;
then another, and my heart jumped into
my throat, beating wildly with hope. He
had found the thong and was chewing it.
Would he chew it in two?" l wonder
ed fearfuily. But he had not had a NOR
sci so deliciously salty since my hat, and
there was no danger of him reinluishing
it willingly. Crunch, crunch, his sharp
teeth went cutting into it, drawing my
wrists tighter and tighter, until l could
scarcely keep from screaming with the
pain; but in Il few moments the leather
parted, when a pull and a shake set my
hands free. Then l sat up and rubbed my
wrists to restore circulation. Smith, in
his search, had overlooked small PEN
knife i'm nv vest nOcEpt and So I had no