Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-11-15

CHOSEN Dy the general, but who enter
tanned a profound respect for the integ-
| rity OF their limbs and were but very
slightly inclined to have them injured in
| so disadvantageous a contest with people
who would not recoil, were disposed to
| follow the advice of the capataz and re
tire before retreat became impossible.
Unhappily, the Zaragate was among
the poems. Believing from his conversa-
tion with the colonel that he knew bet
ter than any one the generals intentions,
and attracted by the hope of a rich re-
ward IL he succeeded in delivering him
of his enemy, that is to say, in killing
| Valentine; and moreover, probably i'm
PEELED by the personal hatred he enter
tanned for the hunter, he would not listen
to any observation, and swore with hor-
rible oaths that he would carry out the
generals orders at all hazards, and that,
since the persons they were ordered to
stop were only few PAGES before them,
they ought not to retire until they had,
at least attempted to perform their duty,
and that If his comrades were such cow
ards as to desert him, he would go on
alone at his own risk, certain that the
general would be satisfied with the way
in which he had behaved
After a declaration so distinct and
peremptory, any hesitation became i'm
possible, the more so as the horsemen
were rapidly coming up, and IL the capa
taz hesitated much longer he would be
attacked in the rear. Thus driven out of
his last intrenchment, and compelled
against his will to fight, Carnero gave
the signal to push on ahead.
But the poems had scarce started ere
three shots were fired, and three men
rolled in the dust. The newcomers, in
this way, warned their friends to hold
their ground and that they were bring
ing help. The dismounted poems were not
wounded, though greatly shaken by their
fall, and unable to take part in the fight !;
their horses alone were hit, and that so
cleverly that they at once fell.
"Eh, eh!" the capataz said, as he gal
loped on; these picaros have very sure
hand. What do you think of it?"
II say that there are still four of us I;
that is double the number of those wait
ing for us down there, and we are suffi-
cient to master them"
Don't be too sure, my good friend,
Zaragate," the capataz said with grin /;
they are men made Of iron, who must
be killed twice over before they fall"
The Tigrero and his companions had
heard shots and seen the poems bite the
dust.
There is Valentine" said the French
man.
81 believe So" Don Martial replied.
"Shall we charger
"Yes."
And digging in their spurs, they dashed
at the poems.
Valentine and his two comrades Bel
humeur and Black Elk (for the French
man was not mistaken, 1t was really the
hunter coming up, whom the Canadian
had warned) fell on the poems simulta-
neously with Don Martial and his COM
panion.
A terrible, silent and obstinate strug.
gle went on for some minutes between
these nine men; the foes had seized each
other round the body, as they were too
close to use firearms, and tried to stab
each other. Nothing was heard but an
CRY curses and painting, for what is the
use Of. insulting when you can kill?
The Zaragate so soon as he recognized
the hunter, dashed at him. Valentine
although taken off his guard, offered a
vigorous resistance; the two men were
entwined like serpents, and, in their ef-
forts to dismount each other, at last both
fell, and rolled beneath the feet of the
combatants who, without thinking of
them, or perceiving their fall, continued
to attack each other furiously.
The Zaragate, some years younger than
Valentine, and possessed of his full bod
lily strength, while urged on by the love
Of rich reward, made superhuman ef-
forts to master his opponent and plunge
his navajo into his heart.
Still Valentine felt that his strength
was becoming exhausted, the unexpected
resistance he met with from an enemy ap-
parently so little worthy of him exasper-
ated him and made him lose his cooness.
Collecting all his remaining vigor to at
tempt a final and decisive effort, he sue
ceeded in getting his enemy once again
under him, and pinned him down: but.
at the same moment, Valentine uttered a
cry of pain and rolled on the ground
a horses kick had broken his left arm.
The Zaragate sprang up with a tigers
bound, and bursting into a yell of de-
light, placed his knee on his enemy's
chest, at the same time as he prepared
to bury his navajo in his heart. Valen-
tine felt that he was lost, and did not at
tempt to avoid the death that threatened
him.
"Ah, ahW the Zaragate said, with a
ferocious grin. II hold my vengeance
az length, accursed Trail-hunter."
He did not complete the sentence /.
suddenly seized by his long hair, while