The Young Trail Hunters

tely sent for him, and he came, accompanied by Don Ignacio, who, hearing the disturbance, had come over to ascert

akened by hearing his beautiful, his darling, shriek. He had sprung to his feet, half asleep,

r seized her maid in the same way; but she, poor girl, made such a desperate resistance that the savage brutally pl

the terrible fate in store for her. Offering half-yes, the whole of

ew every foot of the country, with the message. While I was writing the note to Colonel Sewall, Hal came to me, and urged strongly to be allowed to accompany the messenger, saying that Don Ignacio thought I should send some one, and had offered to mo

the mules stolen. Jerry offered to lead the party in person, provided I would accompany it, and Don Ignacio could be induced to take charge of the ca

-here fording a stream, now thundering over a barren plain,

on his face, he rode as he had ridden all day. Every nerve was strung to its utmost tension, every sense was on the alert

animals, and partook of a hasty supper; then again took to the trail; penetrating deeper and deeper into the mountain fastnesses, over

and here we decided t

e were giving up in despair, one of the party, who was a long distance in the lead, uttered a shout: he had again found the trail. It was evident now, that, in order to dec

entered the river, that he might guide the soldiers, w

e thieves after so long a time had been given them in which to escape with their prisoners. I was much pleased, however, to hear Jerry express the opinion, that the Comanches would gladly ransom them, and that the only o

reached us from the fort, we reluc

several miles to the east of our course, and then to overtake our party at a poin

a short rest, filled our canteens with the cool, sparkling wate

Jerry uttered a low whistle, and

w eight mounted Indians; and it was evident from the cloud of du

to encounter eight mounted Comanches, well armed, up

t line six or seven miles away, we could see the spur of the mountains wher

with long travel, while it was evident theirs were comparatively fresh and

into the flanks of our horses, "set low, and bend in yo

d them forward. They appeared to understand every word spoken

ater exertions. Every nerve was braced, every muscle strained to its utmost tension, while t

on us. I looked at Jerry and then at the goal, each moment growing nearer, and still so far away that I began

ute seeme

nt so low in his saddle as to almost touch his horse's mane. On, on, we sped! Not a word was spoken-no

ut to fall; but I spoke sharply to him, and he stra

n always tell them devils," mut

Can we make it? Why don't our men

he breath of their unshod horses, as they thundered after us; but it was only the distr

r? I hear Jerry mutter something between his closed teeth; and,

orse, throw myself out of the saddle, and sink upon the ground, when the faithful creature, com

take. I've been chased many a time afore, but never come so near a go, ez

mounting, we set out for camp, which we reached late in the afternoon, to learn that neither

? Could they hav

ur pursuit; and nothing that we could say, afforded him any comfor

reason of the non return of our messengers; and then, as nothing further could be done, "turned in

Hal or the messenger had reached the fort; but Colonel Sewell had, upon Don Ignac

e band that attacked our camp; and, although myself, greatly depressed by the uncertainty attending their absence, I endeavored to assure Don

o. We got under way about noon; and, with sad hearts, followed the windings of the road through the Ca?on de los Camenos, and on to the Rio Grande

at Anastacio, who had been captured with Hal, was an old scout who had been in his employ for years. He was not only trustworthy, but thoroughly acquainted with

enlist the Mexican authorities in the matter, in case the Indians

at El Paso, as this would give our animals an oppo

h an extent, that I must do something to rouse him from the apathy into which he had fallen, and for this purpose prop

y so much, that, accompanied by

ced to take shelter beneath a grove of cedar; and, while waiting for the storm to pass over, Jerry's k

e mouth of the opening, Jerry entered it, and in a few mom

, but there's some kind of a critter got

what appeared to be a large crack between the rocks; but, upon

n this protest of-its occupant,

omeway," said Jerry, "and the sooner

y smoking him

ire here." We shortly had some splinters from a prostrate pine that lay near, and in a little while a brisk fire w

ed to make an examination for the cause. We found that the bear had adva

The only way is to meet him, on his own ground. I'll fix him! You

revolvers in the other, but his low, angry growl caused u

ressing Ned, "and hold it so you kin see, and then I kin. M

ment, and another gr

rry, "I see him;" and th

had subsided, holding our torches so as to throw the light as far in advance as

"We've got him! Ain

critters in, and have bar meat for supper, sure." The apartment in which we were standing was about tw

ut, for we discovered unmistakable evidence that Indians were in the habit of visiting it. We determined to pass the night there, however,

up in large leathern buckets, by mule power, attached to a windlass. Such portions as were deemed sufficiently rich were at once conveyed to the smelting

was conducted upon the old Mexican plan. Ned was particularly pleased with t

the contents so closely, that all friction was avoided. Two of these sacks, each contai

re, extracting the gold, roasting, grinding, etc., and the following day retu

pture of a portion of our party, and from him learned the startling intelligence that a scout from Fort Stanton, had that day arrived at the post, reporting that, the day prev

feet, exclaiming, "That's them! that's them! Hurrah! we'll find 'em, sure