Year: 1872

OF the lower settlements that Would re-
quire his absence from home several
days. Admonishing his foreman to
guard against an attack from their ever
watchful foe, the Apaches, and playfully
advising Inez not to permit any OF her
gallant suitors to run away with her, he
kissed her a cheerful good-by and started
forth.


He hurried his business to q close and
fastened homeward, delighted in think
ing that he would give Inez happy
surprise by his arrival so much sooner
than she would look for him. In the
gray of breaking dawn he reached his
homestead, to find the buildings masses
of smouldering ruins, many of his de-
pendants stretched lifeless around them,
and the dead body of his murdered
Inez lying in her gore, that was yet
warm, just outside her burning home
Pinned on her bosom was a strip of
paper, bearing bloody finger stains, and
these written words: have my re-
venge. JOSEPH PROVENCE"


Some of the poems had escaped to the
settlement, carrying the fearful intelli-
gence of the night attack on Don Ro-
mans house. None of the people of
the settlement could be induced to ven-
ture beyond its limits until daybreak !;
and, when they reached the ruined
homestead, they found Dor Roman
living senseless across the lifeless body of
his beloved Inez.


When he recovered consciousness he
manifested no outward grief, but listen
ed in a frozen manner to all that was
known of the terrible massacre. The
attack had been made about midnight,
while the people of the house, unsuspi-
cious of danger, were soundly sleeping.
No defense was made, and most of the
defendants had been butchered while
attempting to make their escape into
the grounds. The attacking party had
not been large-perhaps not more than
d zen in number. They were
Apaches, led by the fend Joseph Pro
vepcio.


A shallow grave was hurriedly scooped
out for the reception of Inez's body.
For a moment the childless father wept
over the pulseless form, with his hands
raised to heaven and all heard the ter
rible VOW that he made to follow in the
track of her murderers, and deal out to
each one as horrible death as they had
visited upon poor Inez. He kissed the
forehead and lips that were as lovely in
death as they had been in life, and
waited until the last handful of earth
had been thrown upon the grave; then,
with all the eagerness of sleuth-hound,
he dashed away upon the trail of the
mnrderers, followed by some of the men
from the settlement.


The trail soon broke up into several,
that led in diverging ways. This was
evidently done by the murderers to
avoid pursuit. The Mexicans also di-
vided into number of parties, each one
taking up and following one of these di-
verging trails. The quick eye of Don
Roman speedily detected the one taken
by Joseph Provencio and it was this
trail that he followed, accompanied by a
number of his neighbors.


The trail soon led into the bed of the
stream. Search was made along the
banks of the stream above and below,
but no trace of the broken trail could
be found. In this dilemma appeal was
made to Don Roman but it was discov-
cred that he had disappeared. Whittier
he had gone, and what course he had
taken, none knew; and after waiting
unavailingly most of the day, in the be-
lief that he would return to them, they
returned sad and dispirited to the set
tlement, firm in the belief that Don
Roman already was, or speedily would
be, victim to his daughters muir
derers.


The pursuit of the other parties who
had followed the diverging trails proved
unavaiting, and they, too, speedily re-
turned to their homes. Aweek passed,
in which all believed Don Roman had
ceased to live, when they were startled
nay, wonder stricken-at his sudden ap-
pearance in their midst, pale, haggard,
wild in his appearance, but with fierce
glean of exultation in his eyes.


He answered no queries, vouchsafed
no information, but manifested the ut
most anxiety to get away beyond the
society again. He had come in for some
upplies-ammunitio salt and some
bread-and as soon as he had secured
these he fastened away again. Some
people of the settlement were led by
their curiosity to follow him but when
they saw him go within the fearful jaws
of the Cajon de Nacosari, they fled back
in terror, believing that his grief had
crazed him.


Don Roman knew full well how wild
would be the hope that any of those
who were with him could be induced
to accompany him there; and while
they were engaged in their fruitless
search ne continued on directly to the
ravine.


In one of the hundred caverns that
its precipitous walls contained he care
fully concealed himself all the day and
night without seeing aught of the MUIR
derer. But his faith did not desert
him; he knew that the Apaches would
return through the ravine to their
homes, and that Joseph Proven clio
would accompany them.


Toward the evening of thesecond day
his patience was rewarded by the ap-
pearance of several Apaches at the
mouth of the ravine, where they lin.
gered and at intervals were Joined by
others, until dozen of the iends laden
with plunder from his own homestead,
had gathered there so close to him th at
he could have sent bullet era. hing
| through any of their brains.


He began to grow fearful that Joseph
Provencio might not join them, but as
the dusk of evening began to settle that
worthy also made his appearance, ac.
companied by several more Apaches. A
consultation was at once held among
the party. which was overheard by Don
Roman in his place of concealment, and
it was determined that they should pro-
ceed up into the ravine for about q
league, and there camp during the
night. They were well aware that nc
party of pursuing Mexicans would


under any inducement, venture SO fal
| between the gloomy walls of tine fearf,1