Year: 1875

erly as possible, ana then we pore the
body to the house, and left her alone
with the dead.


We next visited the corral, to find its
heavy gate still barred, and its massive
walls apparently untouched. Here at
least, the savages had been foiled.
On entering, however, not an animal
was TO be seen of the sixty we had left
there the night before. A large open
space in the thick wall revealed the Sc
cret of their disappearance.


By drawing their hair lariats swiftly
over the top of the wall, the Indians had
through the abode an aperature suffi-
GENTLY large to admit the passage of an
animal.


We comprehended the situation in an
instant They had but little the start.
1t was daylight, and the trail could be
easily followed, especially as the savages
had SO large number of stolen animals
to drive before them. But there was
not horse on the rancho!
Charley and Walter at once started to
arouse the nearest neighbors. In two
hours we had party of twelve men
ready to take the trail which led directly
towards the Santa Rita Mountains


Placing ourselves under the guidance
of old Pedro, an experienced Mexican
trailer, we set out. Charley and Walter
rode next to Pedro, at the head of the
party.


I had endeavored to persuade the
boys to remain behind with their mother,
but decide refusal and determined
bearing showed me that my remonstran-
ces would be in vain.


For hours we followed the trail, halt
ing only at some little stream, to give
our animals water.


Scarcely a word had been spoken
since the start. Each man kept his
eye on the tall form of old Pedro, who
rode short distance in advance, his
body slightly inclined forward, that he
might note any alteration in the trail,
while his long black locks, floating loose
ly on the wind, gave to his stern face
the look of a Nemesis.
Suddenly we saw him halt. AS we
rode up, pointing to the ground, he ex-
claimed, ''De trail has seperate at last. :"
We could plainly see the diverging
trail for ourselves. Now what was to
be done2


Pedro rode slowly forward and sur
| veyed the two trails then, dismounting,
he examined the earth carefully, scrutin-
lied each blade of grass, and the print
of each animals foot. Hesitating but
moment, he mounted his horse once
more, and crying "Adelante % we
again moved towards the still distant
| mountains.


Another hour we rode swiftly on. Our
heavy weights began to tell fearfully
upon our horses, but those ridden by
the boys seemed almost as fresh as at
starting. We knew that we were ap-
preaching the mountains, and if the
savages once found shelter within their
rocky Businesses the pursuit must end.
AS we pressed on, each eye anxiously
scanned the horizon in search of some
sign of the foe.


We needed neither the scorching rays
of the sun, the foam hecked sides of our
painting steeds, or the fact that we had
not tasted food for twenty-four hours.
Everything was forgotten save that we
must overtake the Indians before they
reached the mountains.


to spot on the far-distant plain. We
all see it. There they are!


With yell that gives fresh courage
to our weary horses, we push forward.
See Charley and Walter are outstrip-
ping the guide, in their eagerness to be
in the fray. Their horses are fresh,
compared with ours.


Suddenly one of the party cries, ''They
see us boys p


Another yell, and our tagging steeds
bounded forward. Now we were gain
ing on the Indians. They see this them
selves. for look they are separating.
They have left their herd of animals be-
hind, and are trying to reach the noun
tains.


Some one cried, "Now we've got
'em !" and we thunder on, not mile be-
hind.


We can easily .count the Indians.
There are but seven in all. Hurrah,
boys not one apiece" somebody shouts
'tWe shall hare 'em yet l'' Yes, if our
weary animals will but hold out little
longer. We are gaining on them steadi-
ly.


But the the boys, with their light
weights, have completely beaten us IN
the race. We can see the gray, ridden
by Walter, far in the advance


Suddenly the boy raises his rifle to
his face. A little puff of white smoke
rises on the still air, and an Indian reels
in his saddle and falls to the ground


Another puff of smoke, and another
dusky form tumbles headlongi Still the
gray is in the lead. He is almost up
with them when he stumbles. For an
instant we can see nothing but cloud
of dust, then the gray is again visible,
and Walter firmly seated upon his back.


cheer goes up from the throats of
the men, as Charley rides up beside him
with old Pedro close behind.


We are almost up with the savages,
when one of them turns in his saddle