Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1902-05-23
NJ A r a T A..

OF their band. l happened to be near
one of the mess fires where the men
were cooking supper, and one of them
used some coarse ribaldry in his refer
ence TO Marata, for such was her name.
Quick as a flash one of his compa mons,
plalnsman. sprang at him with the
ferocity of tiger, and thenceforward
the careless jester carried gap in his
teeth as a memento OF his rashness.
One day late in July the sun had
dropped SO low that we were In the
grateful shadow of the hills to the
westward. and the. small mess fires
We're beginning to show their yellow
glare among the trees in preparation
for the evening meal. Robson was talk
ing earnestly with Marata.
Am never to see you where | can
talk to you as | want?' he asked in the
Navajo tongue. "You know | love you.
Marata, and that l shall make you my
wife when / get my discharge, and we
shall be happy then together. But it Is
too long to wait. | must see you and
talk to you of the plans | have for our
lives"
He told her that he was TO be on
picket duty that night. and she con
sented to join him and fly with him.
Their signal was to be the howl of a
coyote.
When they were gone, another figure,
crouched in a clump of bushes.
Strengthened itself from its cramped
position and raised its hand with a
savage gesture.
1t was the Indian Wild Horse. who
had slipped into this concealment.
where he could hear the lovers inter
course and Marata's promise.
When Robson went to his post on
picket that night. it was with heart
beating high and eyes kindled with
gleam Of satisfaction.
With step as light as a boys he
paced back and forth, back and forth.
humming to himself. beneath his
breath the melody Of fervid Spanish
love song
"Only 0 O'clock" he said impa tlently
yet, for she said she would not come
until all was quiet. but | would wait
for years If | expected her TO come at
last
Hark, 4 dreary, dismal howl came
TO him on the night air, making his
heart leap. Could II be the signal? Yes,
there ii came again and again, Surely
10 81. a
and waned. long drawn and sad as the
cry of the lost. Robson hid his rife in
thicket. then drew 1t out again.
Il must have my rife in case
should be seen by one of the other
pickets," he said. He slung it across
his shoulder and stole with stealthy
step cut into the shadows.
"Maratar'
Here" a voice answered him from
the darkness
Aud the impatient lover swung him
self down the cliff with the aid of the
overhanging bushes and stunted trees
"Maratar he called again eagerly.
And again the voice answered close
at hand, and he saw dim figure out
lined in the obscure shadows of the
canyon. where the starlight only pene.
trated ftfully. Ii was not Marata, for
the dim light showed him an uplifted
arm and the pale glitter of a steel
blade descending, and he felt the sharp
pain of the knife in his shoulder, STUN.
bled and fell. sliding helplessly down
the slope 10 the bottom of the canyon.
1t was the fall that saved him, fol
otherwise his assallant would hav.
leaped upon him. and another thrust
of the cruel knife would have sent him
out into the unknown. As ii was. h,
had time TO recover himself, stagger to
his feet and draw his own knife before
Wild Horse could swing himself down
the wall of rock to renew the attack.
Robson's years of frontier service had
made him as skiilful with the knife as
the Indian himself, aud he was no less
1.-THE and strong in body and courage
GUS in heart. but as they bent, swayed
and struggled, watchful and wary. the
wound In Robson's shoulder began to
tell and the loss OF blood to weaken
him
A strange feeling of languor took pos
session of him. the glitter of the stars
seemed farther away, and then they
danced before his very eyes as he stun
bled and slipped over the rough stones
Blindly he staggered. His neryeles>
hand could hardly hold the knife. II
was growing darker. darker. Suddenly
there came a fash and roar from the
wall of the canyon. Wild Horse
screamed i'll agony. threw his arms
aloft and fell upon the stones. Bui
Robson did not heed nor See. The whole
earth reeled before him. and he sank
into unconsciousness. When he awoke
a fire lit up the canyon. a group of Gu
rious soldiers stood about him. and his
head was pillowed upon Marata's
breast.
Wild Horse came first" she whis
pered when he could listen. 81 saw him
slip away and steal down the canyon
and | followed as fast as could. for
knew he meant harm, but | could not