Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1906-08-08
At '.IL~EEIIEIz END
OF TIE LINE
Ely CHARLES TENNEY JACKSON
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the uncouth rig-with mike" at the
lle-fope. Morse and Victoria were
padding the boat into the tule swami
IN search of a water fowl, which tna
miner had shot a few minutes be-
fore.
Inc arms OF the party were all at
the little camp, where utensils. SIM
Plies, and dust" were stored. with
no thought of trespassers. They were
IN a Wild country, but had no par
tlcular lntimation of danger, since the
turbulent Indians of the interior rare
ly came to the coast.
But a stray party of Yaouis o,,
thelr way to the annual tribe gather
ing on the Guaymas river, had han.
pened on the camp the day before,
and noted its defenceless position
seeming rich loot OF gold and equally
precious ammunition, a small party
OF warriors had trailed back. lurking
IN 1he nils for a chance to plumber.
1t came that afternoon. The wjlv
Ducks crept almost between the camo
and It's occupants, among the bou1-
ders.
Suddenly the cracking of half n
dozen rifles broke on the air. and bu;-
lets shoWered about Micheltorena
the only man visible. The Mexican
leaped on the bar and fed to the
brush.
Inc Indians ran across the omen
saw Morse and his COMPANION in
me boat, and opened fire on them.
Vlctorlo fell with a wound in the
shoulder; his weight capsized the
BOAT. The me, were f%loundering in
the muddy marsh, and the Indians,
coming up both sides of the creek,
sent the bullets whistling into the
tules where they had been seen.
Under the boat, Victorio!" whis-
pered Morse.
He dragged the frightened native
beneath the water, for already two
OF the Yaquis were wading through
Tn tules; across the stream others
prevented any escape by the open
water.
Under the capsized boat, Morse and
Victoria thrust their heads above the
water in a dim greenish light. Thew
sank In the swamp to their necks.
They could hear nothing except their
W hoarse breathing, loud in the
confined space. The air quickly be-
came foul, and Morse cautiously
raised the gunwale Of the craft.
Not twenty feet from them the back
OF a warrior showed, reflected, too. in
the clear water. He was sunk to his
waist, alert, silent, watching the
creek. The Indians supposed the
men had dived into the deeper water
course. Another Yaqui was splash
ing to the reedy margin.
Morse lowered the rim of the boat
n waited. In a moment the air
became heavy, the suspense intoler-
able. Poor Victoria, sinking in the
mud, with his wound %reddening the
water, was helpless, clinging to a
thwart with one arm. Morse feared
SAdI AS Hou1Q d1llI III IuG ClOSS jill.
Morse forced the gunwale up on
his broad shoulders. The Indians
stood silent as statues, with rifles
raised above the water, holding their
cartridge belts in their teeth, for
they, too, were sinking in the ocze.
Across the creek their comrades
were p%lundering the camp. Morse
lowered the boat and waited in
cramped despair.
Then there came a violent shove
at the boat. dragging the imprisoned
men off their feet. The Indians were
trying to force it shoreWard. Morse
sliced the thwarts. holding back, and
the warriors tried then to right the
craft. One took the rope and hauled,
and another pushed at the stern so
close that Morse could have trod on
the fellows toes in the mire.
The Indians strained and tuggei,
calling for aid. The two miners held
desperately, choking in the foul air,
and the bucks simply submerged
themselves nech-deep in the tules.
Its all up, Victorio!" groanei
Morse, when the Indians shook and
rocked the boat. Lets cut and run.
Can you swim with that ARM"
But the Indians, with their precious
rifles endangered from the water, sun.
denly left this task in disgust, and
made for the solid bank, mystified
at the obstinacy of the apparently
empty craft. After a bit, Morse eau
tiously raise the edge of the boat
The party had gathered neal the
plank dam, %hallooing to others in tn:
camp, and examining the air-puml
and the divers rigging with much in
terest.