The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-01-11

E1dtuS NNle, oh lne She"I
Sso~ Colorado, for Central Arl-
zoua and the mountains south of Zuni.
Over 300 miles of desert. mountain
aud canyon we passed, and at last the
Sierra Blanca, south OF Zuni, was
sighted and we were in the land of
gold and the Indian.
I had command of the party, having
been through that region before with
General Beale, and / gave strict orders
against separating when we reached
tue 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 tarn
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 Of one, who
must have passed through, or rather
close to, our camp the previous night.
Ibid not like this; but the fact gave
us NO trouble, and that day, in COM
4 pany with Sam Howard, / assembled
an arroyo. along which the Indications
i OF gold grew better and better as We
advanced.
We We're on foot, with u trusty
rifles Oh our shoulders, and felt safe
from the attack of Indians, particular
ay on the mesa, for the sides Of the
table-like hill were nearly precipitous.
and the only visible means Of ascent
was by the arroyo up which we had
come.
"one week at this is all I want"
exclaimed Sam, looking around, like
one in a delightful dream, at the prodi-
gal p%rofusion Of golden particles.
.!Well, Sam, what will you do with
al; your wealth when you have got
back" I asked, as We proceeded
farther and farther across the mesa.
seeing no diminution in the visible
wealth it contained.
II will make a bee-line for home.
and just as soon as Julia can get ready
I will marry" lie answered, gleefully.
as he saw in imagination the bliss
of such an event. Then he turned and
asked. What will you do, old fellow?'
Il left home, Sam, to win wealth
FOR the wife and two little ones I left
behind years ago. That wealth Sc
DE 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 I ever en-
joyed," was the reply.
Ny 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 4
moment: so I determined to make a
thorough exploration Of this Ell Dorado,
and when this was done. to so down
and report to u companions. whose
delight at the discovery it gave me q
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 a rock at the further Side of. the
mesa. and ate with a keen relish the
bread and meat We had brought with
us. We had walked a long distance,
but I knew we were not over two miles
fin q straight line from the head of the
arroyo: so when the meal was over.
. AL ,,-z-l,1I I0r-~ 1r n 3roy0If re
, water from Sans canteen. we started
back, half intoxicated with delight.
while Sans boyish shouts came back
In laughing echoes from the rocks and
PERCEPTIONS walls of the mesa.
Hold Sam" -
I laid my hand restraininsly on his
arm. for I heard a shrill yell following
his last shout. and my trained ears
told me at once twas not an echo.
We both listened b%reathlcssly, and in
d few seconds again anne the yell,
from a rock about 800 yards in front,
but by Il chorus Of fierce yells that
seemed TO come from the walls Of the
mesa around us. ''
:.Indians!" CALCULATED Sam, with q
pale face.
. Yes. Indians; and all around us!' I
replied, for the yells increased in fury.
and 7 heard the zip zip oc arrows OIL
the rocks about us, though the archerS
were not visible.
Get your rife ready, Sam, and fol-
low me-
I knew that our only hope of safety
5epended on getting into the arroyo
before d~ark-indeed, it was the only
means of descent I knew of-and once
In there. I thought u friends below
might hear US, and come to our as
distance.
We both had our rifles and pistols
ready, and dashed ahead.
The gold specimens were now 4 bur
den. but we ciung to them as if they
were dear as life.
We had not gone over 400 yards
when, in the indistinct light, we saw
the head of the arroyo; but, to our
horror, it was guarded by z band of ex-
Iu!tant Indians. To add to the danger
Of the situation, the savages seemed
rising boldly from the rocks about us.
Together we raised u rifles and
fred. at the Indians before US; then