Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-01-07
IN SUSPENSE.
~e%~e%-+9~ ~
BY AN OLD MINER.

General BeRle, and gave strict orders
against separating when we reached
the head waters of the Chiquito, where
our prospecting was to begin.
From the very first hour we were in
luck. Never had any of us seen such
indications, and we were all sanguine
that in a few months we could turn
back, with our pack mules and horses
laden down with gold dust and gold
nuggets.
We were at work for a few weeks
before we saw any signs Of Indians,
and then but the track uf one, who
must have passed through, or rather
close to, our camp the previous night.
did not like this; but the fact gave
us no trouble, and that day, in COM
pany with Sam Howard, l assembled
an arroyo, along which the indications
of gold grew better and better as We
advanced.
rifles on our shoulders, and felt safe
from the attack of Indians, particular
ly on the mesa, for the sides of the
table-like hill were nearly PERCEPTIONS,
and the only visible means of ascent
was by the arroyo up which we had
come.
zone week at this is all want"
exclaimed Sam, looking around like
one in delightful dream, at the prodl-
gal profusiOn of golden particles.
''Well, Sam, what will you do with
all your wealth when you have got
back" l asked. as we proceeded
farther and farther across the mesa,
seeing no diminution in the visible
wealth it contained
II will make Decline for home,
I will marry" he answered, gleefully,
as he saw in Imagination the bliss
of such an event. Then he turned and
asked, "What will you do, old fellow?"
II left home, Sam, to win wealth
for the wife and two little ones left
behind years ago. THAT wealth Sc
cured, will go back, get a farm, and
be happy with the dear wife who has
been so true, and in seeing my children
grow up with more of the blessings Of
wealth and education than l ever en-
jOyed," was the reply.
My first impulse after making this
discovery was to send down for my
companions, but the fascination of the
place was too great to leave it for a
moment; so l determined to make a
thorough exploration of this Ell Dorado,
and when this was done, to go down
and report to our companions, whose
delight at the discovery it gave me a
great deal of pleasure to imagine.
We walked so slowly, and in so many
notwithstanding at times to examine
the ground, and to put nuggets into
our bags-that the SUI: was nearly
down when we halted under the shell
ter Of rock at the further side of the
mesa, and ate with keen relish the
bread and meat we had brought with
u.s. We had walked long distance,
but knew we were not over two miles
in q straight line from the head of the
arroyo; so when the meal was over,
and washed down by a draught of
W ulCl AlOlu sam VIC oNutACu
back, half intoxicated with delight,
while Sans boyish shouts came back
In laughing echoes from the rocks and
precipitous walls of the mesa.
Hold SAM
1 laid my hand restrainingly on his
arm, for l heard a shril yell following
his last shout, and my trained ears
told me at once it was not an echo.
We both listened Ereathlessly, and in
a few seconds again came the yell,
from a rock about 800 yards in front,
and this was answered, not by echoes,
but by a chorus of fierce yells that
seemed to come from the walls of the
mesa around us.
"Indiansw calculated Sam, with a
pale face.
Yes, Indians; and all around usr'
replied for the yells increased In fury,
and heard the zip zip OF arrows OH
the rocks about us, though the archers
were not visible.
Get your rife ready, Sam, and fol-
low me!'
knew that our only hope of safety
depended on getting into the arroyo
before dark-indeed. it was the only
means of descent knew Of-and once
in there, thought our friends below
might hear us, and come to our as
sistance.
We both had our rifles and pistols
ready, and dashed ahead.
The gold specimens were now a bur-
den, but we chung to them as II they
were dear ms life.
We had not gone over 400 yards
when, in the indlstinct light, We saw
the head Of the arroyo: but, to our
horror, 1t was guarded by band of ex-
ultant Indians. To add to the danger
of the situation, the savages seemed
rising boldly from the rocks about us.
Together we raised our rifles aud
fired at the Indians before us; Their
drawing our pistols, we dashed for
ward.
I was strainlng every Eerve, when
heard a groan behind me, and turn
ing quickly, saw Sam stagger and
fall, while not ten yards behind him
was q pack OF exultant demons.
knew my young companion was
wounded, IL not dead, and that In
few seconds the Yavapais would be on
him with their glistening knives. u
sprang back and reached his side in
time to bring my dubbed ride down OH
the head of an Indian in the advance
The suddenness of my action checked
the rest. Without a moments hesita