The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-20
IN SUSPENSE.
.et-ee .3-@3-
By AN OLD MINER.
.sao5<. HERE were len Of Us in u

( ! : Hardyviile, Oh The Great
%foN~ Colorado. for Central Ari-
zoua and the mountains south Of Zuni
over 800 miles OF deserI, mountain
ana canyon we passed and at last the
Sierra Blanca. south Of Zuni, was
sighted aud we were in ;he land Of
gold and the Indian.
! had command of tile party, having
been through that region before with
General Beale, and gave strict orders
against separating when we reached
the head waters Of the Chiguito. where
our prospecting was to begin.
From the very first hour we wera in
luck Never had any Of US seen such
indications, and we were All sanguine
that in few months we could turn
backy with our pack mules and horses
laden down with gold dust and gold
nuggets.
We were nj work for 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.
did not like this; but the fact gave
us no trouble, and that day, in com
pany with Sam Howard. / ascended
an arroyo, along which the indications
Of gold grew better and hetter as we
advanced.
We were on foot. with our trusty
rides on our shoulders. and felt safe
from the attack Of Indians. particular
" 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.
zone week at this is all 1 want.
exclaimed Sam, looking around, like
Dne in d delightful dream, at the prodl-
gal prOfuslon Of golden particles.
"Well, Sam, what will you do with
all your wealth when You have got
back / asked. as we proceeded
farther and farther across the mesa.
seeing no diminutlon in the visible
wealth it contained.
Il will make Z bee-line for home,
and just as soon as Julia can get reaGy
| win 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 felIowy'
II left home, Sam. to win wealth
for the wife and two little ones / left
behind years ago. That wealth Sc
cured, I will go back, get 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 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 El Dorado, |
and when this was done, to 90 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
circuits-stopping at times to examine
the ground. and to put nuggets into
our bags-thas 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 keen relish the
bread and meat we had brought with !
US. We had walked a ;ong distance, |
but knew we were not over two miles /
in a straight line from the head of the /
arroyo; SO when the meal was over
and washed down by a draught OF
water from Sans canteen. we started I
back. half intoxicated with delight, I
while Sans boyish shouts came back /
in laughing echoes from the rocks and 4
PERCEPTIONS walls of the mesa.
Hold, Saml7
l laid my hand restrainingly on his 1
arm, for / heard a shfill yeil following
his last shout. and my trained ears
told me at once it was not an echo
We both listened breathlessly. aud in
a few seconds again came the yell 4
from a rock about 800 yards in 'front.'
and this was answered, not BY echoes. I
but by a chorus Of fierce yells that I
seemed to come from the walls Of the
mesa around US.
"Indiansv' calculated Sam, with
pale face.
Yes. Indians. and all around u.s. /
replied. for the yelis increased in fury. /
and heard the zip zip o. arrows on
the rocks about us. though the arcEers
were not visible.
sect your rife ready. Sam, and fol-
low mef'
I 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
ia there. 1 thought our friends below