The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1904-08-05
lnE cr,r lne hrna d hIs d,Inr hcrs..


loose from lis fnstenings. Thus Il hap
pcncd that as he clambercd TO his feet, |
he held his rifle In his left hand and !
his rope 10 his right. and stlll grasped |
them as he dashed forward.
Twenty steps further and he found |
he had rushed into Qulcksond AT
the same moment he caught sight Of
/ the three Apache lorsemcn, who seem.
ed 20 have sprung from thc ground.
! They had halted several rods distant
and made mo- attempt 90 get beyond
range. They must have known OF the
quIgkmnd. and skirung TO- laid their
plans TO eutrap him. and did it to per-
fectiou.
In his rage. Juan paid no attention
90 first 90 his sinking feet, but brought
his Winchester TO o. level aud aimcd
ut one OF the bucks All three threw
| themselves ON the other side OF their
ponies. but. meaning TO ire through the
bodies OF their beasts. Juan pulled the
trigger
TO his iuoxprrssihle chagrln. the
weapon could not be discharged In
Ibis fall he had Injured the lock be-
yond repair for the time.
tlingIng aside the useless gun. he
reached down for his revolver when he
recalled IL was IN the holster Of his
saddle. lie was without any weapon
ut all. unless bis knife should be con.
sldered such.
The bucks had certainly risked
great deal In their effort TO entrap the
cowman. but they had succeeded 90
perfection. lie was caught inextri.
cably In a Quicksaud ana had not a
single lrearm with which to defend
himself
The Apachcs comprchendcd his
frlghtful predicament and boiled over
with delight
one Of them could speak tolcrablo
English aud begun haunting the poor
fellow.
Extending his hand. he said,
"IIowdyf' ANA urged him TO come for.
ward ana shake his palm. lie accused
him Of being under the influence OF
ircwutcr so that he could not walk,
and at sight OF the furious but vain
struggles Of the helpless victim. the
three broke into uproarious laughter.
Surely they had not had one-half as
much fun since they were born.
Now nothing would have been easier
than for any one or an three OF the
bucks, from their coign OF vantage.
TO shoot the r1nchmun, but that would
have ended his suffering and terml.
mated their enjoyment
IL would be hard TO picture the hor-
rible peril In which Juan Ricardo was
caught None knew better than he the
nature + the trcachcrous soil beneath
him.
As soon as he was freed OF the pres
ence Of the Apaches. Juan began strug.
Cling with the energy OF desperation.
lie knew It was useless to shout, for
his voice could not penetrate half way
to their dwelling, or to. where some OF
his friends might be looking after the
cattle. He had neither gun nor pistol
to attract attention by firing In the
, air.
The afternoon was wearing away.
, Not living person was In sight, and
Juan reflected that Il was not likely
his friends would discover hls fate for
several days and then they would
learn Il only by seeing the carcass OF
his horse, showing where he had shot
over his head and plunged into the
gulcksand.
He was saddened az sight OF his
faithful beast. who had given up his
life in the performance OF duty, just
as he himself was about to do. He
looked at she saddle the cinch. the box
stlrrup lying loosely against his side.
the bride aud the horn OF the saddle,
, around which he was accustomed TO
, coil his lasso, ana as his eyes fell upon
Il the rauchmnn was trlllcd from
head TO foot by thought which came
like an inspiration.
The next moment he had coied the
rope ana began swinging the end round
his head. In the fashion that no man
could do as well rs he. lie was AT
much disadvantage. for his body was
held firmly, but his arms were free,
ana he was as cool and self-possessed
MS when about to throw running bull
OF tuHukc III one ol AHt liltHul9 Iuu-
tests with some of his friends.
with the matchess SKIN he had 80
often displayed he shot the loop for
ward, ana the next second Il settled
around the horn or hook In the saddle.
Just as he knew It would do. and be
drew It taut.
Communication was thus established
with terra hrma, but the danger was
that In endeavoriHg to pull himself out
OF the quicksand he would pull the
body OF the horse into It. without help
ing himself.
lie worked with infinite caution. He
moved the heavy form OF the pony sew.
eral times. and more thdn once thought
lie was going 10 spoil everything; but
as a small piece OF wood viii support
man In the water, the resistance he
was able to Offer prevented his sinking
deeper, and by and by he was able
gradually TO approach the more solid
ground. until at last he crawled out
and knowing he was saved. sot down
TO rest himself.
Ills fear was that the Apaches would