Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-08-14
CHAPTER VIII.

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cattle were carefully secured at night;
two or three Of the native dogs were fast
ened up, down at the fold; one of the
mastiffs was kept at the mems hut, while
the others kennel was placed by the
house; the retrievers as usual, sleeping
indoors. A flagstaff was erected upon
the lookout, with red flag in readiness
to be run up to summon those who might
be away on the plain, and gun was kept
loaded to call attention to the signal. The
boys, when they went out for their rides,
carried their carbines instead Of their
guns. The girls fulfilled the duties of
lookouts, going up every half-hour from
daybreak to dusk. One day Mr.. Hardy
had ridden over to Canterbury to arrange
with his friends about hiring shearers
from Rosario for the united tiocks. The
boys and Terence were in the fields plow-
ing, at a distance Of half a mile from
the house, when they were startled by the
sound Of a gun. Looking round, they
saw both the girls standing upon the
tower; Maud had just fred the gun, and
Ethel was pulling up the flag.
BE jabbers! and the Indians have
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they all three started at run.
Maud turned round and waved her
hand to them. and then she and Ethel
continued looking over the plain. At this
moment they were joined on the tower by
Mrs. Hardy and Sarah.
ut is all right" Charley, who was Of
an unexcitable temperament, said THE
Indians must be long way off, or the
girls would be waving to us to make
haste. Take 1t easy; we shall want to
keep our hands steady"
So they broke from the headlong speed
at which they had started into a steady
trot, which in five minutes brought them
up to the house.
What is it?" they exclaimed as they
gained the top of the tower.
"Oh, dear, oh, dear!' Ethel said. "They
have got all the animals"
"And l fear they have killed Gomez
and Pedro" Mrs. Hardy added.
1t was too evidently true. At dis
tance Of six miles the boys could see a
dark mass rapidly retreating, and numer-
Gus single specks could be seen lowering
round them. Two miles from the house a
single horseman was gnlloping wildly.
The girls had already made him out to be
Lopez.
The whole party went down to meet
Lopez, who was just riding up to the
inclosure. He was very pale, and his
horse was covered with feam.
"Are the poems killed. lopez" was
Mrs. Hardy's first question.
II do not know, signora; but l should
think so. The Indians caught them;
heard scream" and the man shuddered.
How was it that you were surprised,
lopez" Charley asked. "You were SO
particularly ordered to keep a good look
out"
well, Signor Charles, l was keeping
good lookout, and 1t is lucky that was.
l was further away than ought to have
been-l know that, for the signor told me
not to go far; but | knew that the rise
that l took them to was the highest in
that direction, and could see for miles
away into the Indian country. SO l got
out there, and Pedro and Gomez had got
the sheep and cattle all well together,
and there was no fear of them straying
for the grass there Is very good. SO the
men lay down for their siesta, and was
standing by my horse looking over the
campo. Some Of the beasts seemed un
easy, and thought that there must be q
lion somewhere about. SO l got on my
horse. and just as l did 30 l heard u
noise; and looking behind, where l had
never dreamed Of them, saw lot Of In
dians coming up at full gallop from the
hollow. The cattle went off at the same
instant and gave shout to the men and
stuck my spurs into Carlos. 1t was O
near touch OF Il. and they gave me a hard
chase for the first mile; but my horse was
fresher than theirs. and they gave it up. y
How many Indians were thereT
Charley asked.
IL don't know. Signor Charles. 1t was
only those In front that | caught sight Of
and never looked round after | started
Some OF them had firearms, for eight OF
ten OF them fired after me as made off
and the arrows fell all round me-"
what do you think. girls, about the
number?"
The girls were silent. and then Ethe
said: They were all in lump. Charley
One could not see them separately"
The lump seemed to be about the size
that our cattle do when they are close
together at the same distance. Don't
you think so, Ethel?' Maud said.
"Yes." Ethel thought they they were
"Then there must be from one hundred
60 hundred and fifty OF them," Charley
said.
II wonder what papa will do! One OF
us had better ride off at once and fetch
him."
II will CO." Hubert said, moving away
to saddle his horse.
"Stop. Hubert" Charley said; 81 think
you had better take Lopez's horse.
don't know what papa may make up his
mind to do, and II Is better to have your
horse quite fresh"
Hubert agreed at once, and was mount.
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