Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-12-15

charge from the army had been given
him, he fastened to select both land
and wife. and finally established his
home in a rude hacal on his claim in
the fertile valley Of the San Saba.
He had scarcely gotten well settled
him one day that a war party of Kick
epoos were moving down the valley in
his direction. The report seemed quite
unreasonable to the old soldier, in view
of the fact that the tribe had become
nearly extinct, and to show how little
faith he had in its truth he took a
couple of his neighbours boys and went
fishing along the stream in the direc-
ton in which the Indians had last
been seen.
At moor the little party halted for
a midday luncheon, after which Tim
disrobed for a bath in the stream. In
the abseuce Of a bathing suit he ap-
peared presently from the cover of
some willow bushes, wrapped in his
red saddle blanket, and on reaching
the bank dropped the blanket and en-
tered the rievr in a nude condition.
His young companions watched him
for awhile as he sported in the water, ,
and then, in a spirit of fun, secreted
his clothes in the forks of an adjoin-
ing tree. Using some feathers shed by
wild birds along the bank of the
stream, they adorned his hat in Indian
style and were about to hide them
selves that they might the better en-
joy the joke they had perpetrated,
when a mar suddenly made his appear
ance riding rapidly down the trail
along the river. Catching a view of
the boys he called to them in excited
tones. warning them of the approach
OF a band of Indians. Without giving
a thought to their companion in the
water, the boys FASTENED to mount
their horses and Immediately galloped
sway towards their homes. The ami
NAL ridden by the soldier at once be-
came restless and finally broke loose
fl rom it's fastenings and galloped away
after the other horses.
On hearing the warning cry of the
nan Tim, now thoroughly alarmed,
FASTENED from the water intent on
hurrying home for the protection OF
his wife. To his surprise and confus.
ion. he was unable to find either horse
or clothing, and at last. in utter des-
peration, wrapped himself hurriedly in
his red saddle blanket, placed his dec
GRATED hat on his head and, Selling
his rife, started down the trail on the
run.
He had not gone far when a turn in
the trail brought him in view Of a farm
wagon coming in from a side trail. A
couple of women occupying the back
seat of the vehicle at once became ter
rified at the sight of the supposed In
dian, and the driver, no less alarmed.
made a hurried shot from his rifle at
the old soldier and then, turning the
horses. galloped away over the prairie
as rapidly as possible.
He came at last within sight of the
hacal and, hoping that his troubles
were now nearly ended, hurried to-
wards the house. AS he drew heal a
bullet from the building suddenly
Kissed past his head, followed instant
II by the report of a rifle. Dropping
quickly to the ground he crawled for
protection and ~concealment into a
thicket of wild plum trees not far
from the house. From this vantage
ground he began to call Justify to his
wife, and eventually succeeded to his
delight and relief in making himself
known.
H. r. BRINKERHOFF,
Col, U. s. A., Retired.