The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-12-20
BY FRANK n. sPEARMAN

NO Ilxeu plan was dTTlVeU az tuos
night. The men chosen were only
told to look to their arms, their
ammunition, their mounts, and to
hunt up a few knots for torches.
Bowie understood the value of sus-
pense to worry defenders of post
and made no move to leave the
rancho until the next day had
passed. It was after midnight when
he called together his men and rode
quietly away for the river.
Carmen had refused to 60 to her
room until he started. She was UNI
nerved by the situation and the dam
ger, and she stood with him at mid
night in the patio until the last mo-
ment. Tears glistened in the MOON
light as she lifted her face to the
stars in prayer when he rode away.
The raiding party made wide
detour in their approach to the
squatter quarter. They forded the
river well above it and came slow
" down through the hills on the
farther end of the settlement.
The moon was high but the chap
arral along the river near the Me-
lena afforded some protection as
the horsemen wound their way
through it.
In the silence after the next half
hour one man, Bowie, emerg-
ing from the shadows, stepped to
the ramshackle door Of the nearest
shack. It was built with a, patch
work of boards picked up wherever
found and dragged by lariat, be-
hind horse, to the camp site; will
low poles chopped from the Melena
swamp had been added, together
with strips of condemned sails
picked up from the water front of
Monterey.
Bowie knocked with the butt Of
his pistol on the flimsy door. "Hellol
Inside there, boys! Hello!" he
called.
A second and louder summons
brought a tardy and profane re-
Spouse. "Get up" said Bowie sharp
ly. 81 want to talk to you"
There was some moving and FUN
bling about inside with more pro-
fame questions.
''We're friends" said Bowie, an
swering a question, provided you
behave yourself. Open the door,"
"Open it yourself" came the true
ulent challenge from within. Bowie
kicked the door open and sprang
to one side. At the same moment
a pistol shot rang from within the
shack.
what are you shooting at?"
asked Bowie casually. why waste
your ammunition? There are twen-
ty men out here. If you hit one
you'll be shot or hanged in ten
minutes. We're going to fire your
shack. If you want quarter, come
out now, while you've got a chance.
A tall, gaunt and dirty specimen
of the American outlaw frontiers
man of his day slowly emerged
from the interior darkness into the
clear moonlight that shone into the
doorway. He was rugged in loose
ragged shirt and loose ragged trou-
sers. He cursed and growled;
swore he knew nothing of any sum-
mons, had been in Yerba Buena for
three days, and ordered the mid
night trespassers off his premises.
Bowie made no effort to appease
him. He repeated bluntly, Get
your belongings out of this shack if
you don't want 'em burned up
The squatter flew into a rage
apparently a planned one, for he
ended it suddenly by pulling a pis-
toll, hidden under his trouser band
where his shirt hung loose, and fir
ing it straight into Bowie's face.
1t was not quite fast enough. Bow
lie knocked the barrel aside and laid
the butt Of his own pistol heavily
across the squatter's head as the
man sprang to clinch him. He
slammed the squatter aside just as
a second man sprang like panther
through the doorway, knife in hand.
1t was a knife with long blade.
Bowie, taken somewhat by surprise,
confessed next day it looked yard
long. He ducked to one side, but
the second squatter, smaller and
quicker man, got the knife point into
Bowie's left forearm before the lat
ter could escape it. The stab served
only to enrage the Texan, and the
.wiry squatter took a fast beating
from the pistol butt while Pardaloe
and Simmie threw and bound the
tall fellow.
This buck is a wildcat" ex-
claimed Bowie, turning his smaller
captive over to Pedro. 'Look for
his knife, Pedro. It's here some
where on the ground. Felipe. fire
this shack. No matter about the be-
longings. These fellows don't de-
serve any consideration. But first
make sure there isn't someone
drunk and asleep inside"
Felipe, with lighted pitch pine,
hurried into and out of the empty
cabin. The next minute it was
ablaze. The two squatters were
dragged away and left bound in the
chaparral to work themselves free.
Move fast, boys" counseled Bow
lie as he galloped with his men down
+he ~;xyar ssrTha sxyl,o1o yoSf will ho