Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-28
(Continued.)

Accordingly we dismounted and drew
together in little group. Over the
top of the great ranges a gibbous moon
rose slowly. BY her dim light 1 could
make out the plunge on either side our
ridge and the other dark ridges across
the way. Behind us our horses occa-
sionally stamped a hoof or blew
through their noses.
lay fiat on my back and idly count
ed the stars. Happening to glance
sidewise, l caught the flicker of a dis
tant light.
"Bagsby,' l whispered, there's Gre
barely more than half mile away"
he, too, lay down in order to get my
angle of view.
Its not McNally," he pronounced
after a moments careful inspection,
"for it's too big a fire, and it's a lot
more than half Il mile away. That's a
good big fire. think it's Injuns."
Probably the same gang that lifted
our hosses!" cried Buck.
Probably" agreed Bagsby. He sat
upright and pcered at us through the
dim moonlight. WANT to get after
them?' he inquired.
"You bet" said Buck emphatically.
''They may have McNally, and if they
haven't they've got our horses"
There's six of us. and we can shore
make 1t interesting for that lot." agreed
Yank. Can we get to where they
| aref"
81 think So" said Bagsby.
We rode for another hour, slanting
down the mountain side toward the
tiickering fire. Every time horse roll
ed a rock or broke dried branch 1t
verberated from end to end. 1 don't
believe I allowed myself to weigh over
six ounces all told. Finally we left
the slope for the bottom of the valley.
I'D rather be below their camp than
above 1t. It's going to be hard to get
out this way" complained Bagsby,
"but it's the best we can do" He dis
mounted US, and we crept forward an
other half mile, leading our animals.
This is as close as dare take the
hosses," whispered Bagsby. "vasquez
you stay here with them" he said in
Spanish, ''and when yell twice quick
and sharp you answer, so We'll know
where to find you. Come on"
We raised our pieces, but before the
command to fire was given one Of
the sleepers threw aside his blanket,
stretched himself and arose. 1t was a
-;hlte man!
1 confess that for moment turned
physically sick.
Hello called Bagsby, quite un-
moved.
The white man seized his rife and
the recumbent forms leaped to life.
"Who are you?" he demanded sharp
ly. "Speak quick"
Keep yore ha'r on" drawled the
trapper, advancing into the light.
We're perfectly respectable miners,
oct looking for lost man, and we saw
yore fire."
The rest of us uttered yell of JOY
and relief. One of the men who had
been sleeping around the fire was Nc
Nally himself.
We drew together, explaining, con-
graduating. The strangers, six In
number, turned out to be travellers from
| the eastern side of the ranges. They
listened with interest and attention to
our account of the Indian attack. Nc
NaIly explained that he had been un-
certain of his route In the dark, so that
when he caught sight of the fire he
had made his way to it. We were still
engaged In this mutual explanation
when we were struck dumb by long
drawn out yell from the direction of
our own horses.
at Is Yasquez,' explained Barry.
HE wants to let us know where he
| Is" And he answered the yell.
But at that moment one of our own
horses dashed up to the bunch of pick
eted animals and wheeled, trembling.
Its rope bride dangled broken from its
head. Sam Bagsby darted forward to
seize the hanging cord.
"It's cutv' he cried. "Quick! Out
across the valley, boysw
| We followed him into the moonlight,
grasping our rifles. A moment later a
compact band swept toward US at full
speed, our horses in the lead, their
rope halters dangling, dozen Indians
on horseback following close at their
heels and urging them on.
"Shoot, boysr' yelled Bagsby, dis
charging his own piece.
Our rifles cracked. 1t was impossi-
BILE to take aim, and I am sure we hit
nothing. Bptsthe horses sweirved aside
from the lohgs gs6ery. flashes, and so iran
into the pieketedilot spd, stopped. The
Indians flew on: through our scattered
line. without stopping, pursued by
sputter of shots. from our Colts re-
volvers. isFS'
awhile ago was sorry we had to
stop above camp" saids Baksby. with
satisfaction, .RNtI Il TWAS aSlu6ky thing
for us. TAeyE had ito Come by us to
git oft t.,S,ssV$ aisssgss Z s9rssey-s
"And \ VasSnaE - Yank struck across
4