Weekly journal-miner., 1911-01-11


 ly, held up his hand in warning, and the command instantly stopped on the trail. Standing perfectly still, Nantaje leaned forward, evidently listening intently. A moment later ne turned to Mcintosh, who was almost touching him, and whispered Apache. Motioning the others to stand fast, Nantaje, Mcintosh, Eel mer and Lieutenant Ross erept slow ly forward to where there was a turn in the trail, knelt down and glanced carefully around. One quick glance, and Ross had taken it all in. Less than forty yards beyond the angle in the trail, behind which he was croucning, was the Apache stronghold. About four hundred feet from the rocky crest of the wall of the canyon was the wide mouth of an open cavern. A few feet in front of this opening was a natural ram part of almost continuous great blocks of stone, ten or twelve feet higher than the trail which led up to it, and just at the mouth of the cavern, in full view by the light of the camp fire, was a band of warriors, sing ing and dancing, while half a dozen squaws were busy cooking them meal on their return, red-handed, from their raid in the Giia Valley. After a whispered consultation, the men silently crept forward on the trail. and under instructions from Lieutenant Ross, each man carefully cooked his piece, and then, by the light of the Indians camp fire, each singled out the Indian that was his best mark, and at the word, all fired together The crack of the rifles and the deafening echo of the canyon was succeeded by wild shrieks | from the Indians, as six of their braves fell dead at the first volley The frightened savages, for a mo- ment or two, sought only safety in the interior of the cavern and be- hind the natural stone rampant in front of it, but Lieutenant Ross and his men continued to fire as rapidly as. possible into the open cave and at any Indian brave whom they could see. Within less than three minutes, however, the astOnished Apaches be- gan to rally, and grasping their rifles, commenced to return the fire of their assailants, whom as yet they could only dimly see in the early morning light. About this time, however, Lieutenant Bourke, at the head of forty-five or fifty men, came rushing and leaping down the narrow and dangerous trail with reckless ress only warranted by the desperate need that Ross might have for re endorsements.
 "Maior Brown, having thrown Bourke and his men forward, instant ly on hearing the echoing roar from the Salt River canyon, which told them that Ross was engaged with the Apaehes, and Bourke came none too soon to save Ross and his men from a eounter-attack from the say ages. In a few moments Ross and Bourke had taken positions on either flank of the Apache cave, and shelt- cred their men behind the adjacent rocks, so that they were comparative ly safe from the Apaches' fire.
 "Lieuteuant Bourke had been told by Major Brown not to attempt to do more than hold the Indians, in case he found they had attacked Lieutenant Ross, until he could get up with the rest of the troops. So Bourke and Ross simply kept up a sharp fire on the enemy's flank, and waited They did not have to wait long for the Major soon made his appearance with the rest of the com mand, and assumed control. Just as the reserve appeared one of the Apaenes endeavored to crawl through the rocks around the right flank. He had almost succeeded, but he could not resist giving a war-whoop of de- fiance from a high rock, which drew shot from one of the men, which instantly killed him. After realign- ing his troop behind the rocks, di- reetly fronting the enemy's position, Major Brown formed a second line in their rear on their Hanks, com pletely covering them in front and flank. Besides, he wished his sec Ond line to be able to turn and face a new enemy, in case of a rear at tack by any Apaehes who might come to the rescue of any of their be- leagured ones from any raneherias l bot Ia yifbip faxv