New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-15
II Lord OF, the RANGE.
BY ROGER POCOCR-

had better own up at that I amt writer.
but was only raised to punch cows and not to tell
stories And. anyway this no-account story which
| have to tell IS only about q British lord which I
met with once in Arizona 1t lays no claim 10
Sunday-best English. but only stakes itself out for
being truth.
Away back in So me being FESTIVE In old Texas
and wishful just TO see the ocean. pulled out
the long trail for California
In the first few hundred miles or so I was no
way adventurous I reckon the good traveller SHES
clear of dangers before they cone. and the most
excitements happen on the worst mars journey.
Still, sometimes a danger comes along pressing.
and insists getting right in the way. Before I
left Texas i bad man tried to get my outfit. point
ing his gun from behind a rock. but he was hurt
when we parted. and needed a surgeon bad.
Then. in NewMexico. a bear haI pened into my
camp. and not disturbing me- politely walked on
seemed to stray out of my a whole let.
cautious. Near the edge of Arizona one cr my
ponies died c! rattesnake, aggravated by bullet
through the head Still, on the whole L didn't
get scalped by Indians wiped by border
any great extent. The betting Was in favor OF nv
winning through to he Pacific Ocean.
The day after my little mares death 1 was rid
ing along and driving the pack horse. when heard
IN 'e Ter SeHSG she small voice OF rifle Tar on to
in the distance. so pointed that way inquire.
After mile or so heard the rifle speaking again.
and three guns answered. spluttering quick and
excited. That sounded mighty like Disagreement.
tai at once ,, for foreign parts went on slow
from just beyond that hill and two shots an
sS eTedLm bS Loading guns AZ the same time
powder and and something else which made my horses
shy, heap bad smell they snuffled Just lqok
they snorted
Cit up said I. and charged the slope OF the
Near the top told them to DO sood or I'd treat
with my rifle crept up TO the brow Of the hill. and
At the foot Of the hill two hundred feet below
me- me mere mere was standing water a muddy pool per
plain burned out camp nP Te Beside ' cou Ph ' of
canvas covered wagons II looked as II the white
their teams all harnessed for the trail. for the
struggling heap. AS watched rife shot rang
out from the wagons. aimed ~ the hillside; but
loose rocks scattered below the slope. After
the shine on an Indians hide the CLEAN Of gun
barrel Close by was another Indian. painted for
teen Of TIE vo-st Kind OF mae Cs m
edging away iron, cover To cover 10 the ieff vbiI
out OF the wagons two rifles talked whenever they
the other scared ard panicky. but neither vas
For time 1 reckoned. sizing UP the whole propo-
sitOn. While the ApaChes down below attacked
forgotten to keep a lookout being too much inter-
ested- He never turned until he heard my horses
Ing to his crowd and boIted one Indian had tried
The wagons now the rest wee scared o. heinz sS6f
from above before they could reach their ponies.
They are making OF to the left in search Of their
sentry. boy with bow and arrows. running for
yards beyond hir-. down IN a hollow. was a mounted
man body Of the ApSchss got to their po1ies thew
could surround the hill. charge and gather In my
OF course. my first move was to M. and bolt
der OF the hill There took cover and said:
while l sighted took a steady read. and LEI ny At
the mounted Indian At nv third shot he came anne
bird. The bunch Of ponies smeit his blood. and
The Apaches being left afoot couldn'. attack me
none. II they tried TO stampede they would ~
antiy above their line cf retreat and if they
STAYED ! could add up their sCaIpS Ike sum ~
some discouraged. for they knew thev were going
10 howl. and n shot from the wagons lifted hin
for those barAarians. and % them hctsted
a rag on his gun by way OF surrender
murder ard not the honest game OF war. The
man who happens inpruGent into his own nalr
10 he warrior and putting IN white faCs- TIE
NAV bear traps now whether they liked II or rot.
There were only two white folks left alive in the
n dozen prisoners who would lie low till We give
them chance and thsn murder US s prompt os sb ne
from the wagons which gave him peace ,,a eternal
fans bv turns rs they tried to holt while the quiet
gun in the wagon camp arrested fuS1tives ana we
generous Out OF sixteen Apsches two and their
% S0y se 9at f@ry i no their fathers
when n was all over felt unusual solemn.
ming nv raw slow head TO make sure I
still had nv scalp. then collected nv two ponies
and rode around the CamD. There I ranged M with
and n man came HmuinC out from the wagons. re
carried his rife ard had yeo-tng con nv the paW
The man was rqll. clean built ard or gl''d Ss'k
certain. but his clothes were in nc to-oni-i'-
hold stvlea fe~r-stalEer can. name 81 gt9SS On me
or owe etand-up collar. sporty ne 'ktie ho'l"'l
shirt riding breeChAs with nuffed sleeves tTnost
amoziDe( and the Ices 81 his h0otS stin IKE n
braen az 'qtOva.tnes Ffis near leg was all bloody
and tied IN with 4 tourniIuct hnndaSe. As 70 bis
how lin that was Just tho uu0nt@St fhtnS in ire
wa - 81 ruD@ over saw loose On the stock range
re was knee high 10 q dawg. but tTaEed his gun
like a man and IoOFed wide awake as little
fow 7 wondered II 7 could tame him for n pet
down from the saddle I allowed I was feeling
es.T'r, sure said the man that we're obliged TO
you and your friends on the hill In fact' very
Rack In Teyas I'd seen water go to sleep with
the cold-but this man was cool enough TO freeze
a boiler. - e.., .. -, ,,. ...
come down. ia like thank them
''TlI pass the glad word" said i. my friends Ia
NY deah fellow. you don't-aw-u'ean to say
.Iujuns ca. shoot" said I. "but they cayn't
Two Of nv men ore dend and the third Is
diving T defer TO yO-'r-er-e1ncrienCe. but !
thought tkc@ cOvId-er-hit''
Then I beFHn TO reckon Ia heen somewhat
hazardous In my gun play. II made sweat to
We'll" said l. to be civil. Il carIate I'd best