Year: 1869

A moments exultatlon swelled his heart,
as he looked up to the glorious skies bend
ing above him but he had little time to
spend in place that had SO few attrac.
tions. He snatched piece of dried meat
from the stores of his captors, and was
creeping softly away, when he saw pony
that he thought he might secure without
disturbing the sleepers. Cautiously ap-
preaching the animal, he led him as quiet
ly as possible to safe distance before he
mounted; then, shaping his course by the
kindly stars that flashed above him, he
started for freedom.


All that night and until near the close
of the following day he hurried on as rap
idly as possible; but his pony was now SO
exhausted that it became evident he could
travel but little longer before he would fall
by the way. Well knowing that if he fell
under him at night he would have no means
of concealing his trail, Armsdell thought
best to abandon the animal before dark;
and riding down into shallow stream, he
dismounted there, and standing in the wa
ter, he turned the horse toward the north,
and the tired pony wandered slowly off.
The fugitive waded down the stream some
distance, and crossed over. Carefully con-
cealing his trail, he proceeded little far
ther, and then threw himself down to
sleep.


The Indians followed his trail without
difficulty until they reached the spot where
the pony was abandoned. Here they came
down to the stream, where the rider had
apparently watered his horse and then
turned to the northward. Never doubling
that Armsdell still rode the animal, they
impatiently followed until the pony was
found dead in the wilderness Finding no
trail from that point, they were at loss
to know where the rider had dismounted
Completely baf1ed by the shrewdncss of
the white man, they finally retraoad their
steps, searching carefully but vainly for
the lost trail.


Although resting upon the ground, be-
meath the open sky, and pursued by a score
of hostile Indians, the wearied fugitive
slept soundly until daylight. and then pur-
sued his journey.


1t was night when he reached the Bate
man rancho and sought its hospitality
He found Mrs. Bateman in her terrible
grief, and it did not take him long to learn
of the lawless act which had taken place
few hours previous. Words could not ex-
press his indignation but he assured her
that before he slept he would seek the camp
and save her husband from a fearful death.
He waited only to partake of some refresh
ment, and then, although foot-sore and
wearied, he started for the brow of the
Gaudaloupe.


The mountain path became narrow, and
so deeply shaded that even the starlight
was almost excluded, as slowly through
the darkness he wended his way. Moth
ing but the strongest sympathy for the un-
fortunate man, and deep Indignation to.
wards his comrades, sustained him in that
dreary night pilgrimage; and towards
morning, when only mile or two from
his destination, while resting for few
minutes by the wayside, nature gained the
victory and he sank into deep slumber.
How long he slept he knew not, but when
he awoke the sun was already high in the
heavens, and he impatiently pursued his
way, haunted by terrible fear that he was
already too late.


AS he neared the mines, he looked
through an opening among the trees upon
a scene that seemed to freeze the blood in
his veins. Poor Bateman was pinioned,
over the cross-piece and held by Casey on
the other side, while the rest of the miners
stood near him.


Armsdell shouted frantically, but they
did not hear; and in moment more two
or three others had taken hold with Casey,
and the struggling man was raised several
feet from the ground. But Armsdell's
steps quickened into run, and he bound
ed into their midst like a mad man. More
than one face turned pale at the sudden
apparition, and Bateman was quickly low
cred to the ground.


Armsdell did not speak until, with his
own hands, he had taken the rope from
the neck of the victim and then, as they
began to question him eagerly, he shower
ed upon them such a torrent of indignant
invectives, that they shrank away from
him almost in fear.


Bateman was indeed rescued from
fearful death. And as the sense of life
and freedom flashed over his brain he fell
upon his knees and offered up, in broken
sentences, his tribute of gratitude and
praise to Him who careth for the least of
His creatures. So simple, earnest and
heartfelt the petition, that silence rested
upon the group so unused to the voice of
thanksgiving; and before he had finished
more than one fell upon their knees, while
the tears rolled down their rough and wea-
ther beaten faces.


After few minutes silence, Armsdell
told the story of his capture and escape to
the group of interested listeners; and af-
terwards, while speaking of their own act,
he said: II didn't think you'd do it, boys,
1 thought as like as not you'd get fright
ened and leave the diggins; but l didn't
think there was a man here that would be
fool enough to hang white man, just be-
cause the redskins got hold Of me, or to
condemn decent fellow on the testimony
of lying dog of an Indian. You would