West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-01-07

got TO put me out OF business before
they can 20 on" he rumlnated An
Apache IS n good deal OF coward
when he's lighting for pleasure. but
just corner him. and. great snakes and
spittin' wildcats. what game he does
put up, must save my cartridges. for
one things sure-they won't waste any
Of theirs. They're not rs good shots as
white men. for ammunition is too
scarce with them for use in gun prac-
tice. SO they won't fire TIL they've got
me dead to rights. Let me see. There's
about dozen left I'm the party. and
have fifteen cartridges. That's three in
reserve for my own outfit II some OF
the others fail TO get their men. Those
red devils enjoy skinning an animal
alive as much as torturlng n man, and
YOU can bet they won't save me any
bullets 10y shooting Nance and jimmy"
Reasoning that the Indians would
not dare to attack by way OF the open
trail In front and that 1t would take
some time for them TO make the de-
tour necessary TO approach him from
above, since they would have TO leave
their ponies below and climb on hands
and knees over jutting ledges and
around broken granite blocks, Lane
coolly proceeded TO drink his coffee
and cat his lunch Of hard bread and
cold bacon rind. After he had finished
he gave lump OF sugar TO each Of his
animals and pressed his cheek with an
arectionate hug against the side Of his
horses head.
"Old girl" he said, I'm sorry we
can't take parting drink, for I'm
afraid neither Of us will reach our
next water hole But you can count
on me that the red devils won't get
YOU"
Then. going TO his pack, he undid II
and took out n double handful OF vel.
low nuggets and number of canvas
bags. These he deposited I'm the pot
hole and, prying up the fiat stone of
the fireplace laid It over them and
covered the stone with embers.
ITS ten to one shot that they fin
ish me-" he reelected, but the wages
I've paid for by n year of hard work
and absence from her side stay Just
as near Echo Allen as | can bring
them alive and, II there's any truth in
what they say about spirits disclosing
In dreams the place of buried treas
urc, with the chance OF my getting
them 10 her after am dead"
Taking the useless powders from
The edge Of the cllf but carefully, so
ns not to expose himself to the fire OF
the Arachcs he piled them on top Of
NfF. l..
form little turrets. He left an open
Ing IN each, through which he could
observe I'm turn each point OF the com
pass whence danger might be expect
cd ana could fire his Winchester with
out exposing himself Then lie began
going from post TO post on contln-
uous round OF self imposed sentinel
duty. "If ! could only climb the So
huaro.' he thought. "and fly my red
shirt os n flag to let the rurales know
I've iIanked the enemy. it might hur-
ry them along in time TO put n crlmp
I'm these devils before they get me.
But itll have 20 be hold the fort
without any oh, say can you seer
business. Anyhow, I'm flying the rat
tlcsnake flag OF Bunker Hill, Don't
tread on me! Whether the rurales
see 1t or not, I've saved their hides.
If the Apacbes bad got 20 this fort
FIRST, gee, how they would have crum-
pied up the greascrs as they came
along the trail"
Rendered thirsty 10y his exertlons
Lane remembered the canteen In tho
bisnaga, which he had forgotten among
his other preparations for defense. lie
cautiously reached his hand over the
ledge and secured the precious vessel.
but MS hc was Withdrawing It. ping.
came bullet through the cantcen,
knocking It out Of his handl As Il fell
gathering down the side OF the ledge
he groanCd. Good shootingi They've
probably left their best marksman be-
low with the ponies. No hope for es-
cape Oh that side. Well, there's some
consolation IN the thought that they'll
undoubtedly finish me before / yet too
thirsty Glad 70 wasn't my hand"
Although the period he spent wait.
Ing for tho attack was less than an
hour by bis watch. u seemed TO Lane