Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, November 3, 1889, Page 18

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1886, TEEN PAGES. A STORY OF TWO BITS. Captain €, A. Curtis, U. 8. A., in St. Nicholas for November, 1 1 MAKE TIS ACQUAINTANCE, . Twas acting-quartermaster of a command omposed of two companies, which gar- nsoned a long fort near Prescott, Arizona, during the years 1501 and 1805, The tort was an Inclosnre of some three hundred feet square, built of thick pine logs, set up ver- tically in the ground, with regular block- honse bastions, of the colonial period, at dingonal corners; ana 1t had huge gates of hewn timbor that swung ponderously on huge iron hinges. The fort stood on a slight elevation overlooking the post corral, a structure built of the same material and in the same general manner as the fort, but in- closiug a much larger space. In this corral were gathered nightly the lorses of the cavalry troop, the horses and mules of the quartermaster, and the 300 head of cattle and 1,000 sheep of the commissary. The presence of these auimals grazing through the days on the hill-sides and plains about our reservation was a special and alluring temptation to the marauding Apaches and Navajos, and frequent chases and skirmishes were necessary to protect our stock. The garrison cons of regular infantry ted of one company and ono troop of Now Mexican volunteer cavalry, The men com- posing the troop were, with a few exceptions, Mexicans, the Spanish language, und using tactics translated into that tongue. The troop had arrived in January, after a long and fatiguing march of 700 miles, and s after their arrival their captain had turned over to me sixteen broken-down, sick and generally decrepit horses, Accord- 1o custom in such cases, I receipted for them, und in due time ordered them sold at public auction to the highest bidder. On the morning of the day appointed for the sale to take place, the fifer of the infantry company, o neat Irish soldier, known among his comrades as Joe Cain, who acted as my attendant and a general guardian of my . longings, paused in the doorway, and, raising his right hand to his cap-visor, asked if he “gould spake t the liftwent?” As I nodded, he asked: *Would the liftinent like to buy a fine horse?" “No, Cain, T have no use for two horses an I can not afford the expense of another.” “But you can buy this one for little or nothing, sor,” “How much ! “If the liftinent will let me have five dol- lars, I'll buy him the bist horse in the post.” ““I'he best horse in the post for five dollars! ‘What kind of nonsense are you talking, Cain?” und I turned to some papers on the wable which demanded my signature. But Jain lingered io the doorway at a respectful tention,” and when Isignied the last puper his hand went ug n to his visor and re- mained there until 1 suid; “*Well, what more haye you to say?" “If the liftinent will buy the borse I spake of, he will never repit of his bargain. I've Jkuown the baste for tin years, sor —from the time I jined as u music by av Fort Craig, sor.” “He must be an exceedingly old horse, then,” I saud. obody knows his age, sor; he's a vit- ; bu he's a fine horse all the same, sor, But I do not need another horse for my duties, Cam, as I told you just now: and I should have to buy his huy and grain, and that is an expense 1 do not to be put to, with no prospect for a profitable retus “Lhere necd be no expmse 2 sorplus of forage in the corry - agemaster'll lev me bave all f tne liftinent will jist give him the laste bit of @ hint.”” More to please a valued and trustworthy attendent than with any hope of securing good horse, I gave Cain the desired five dol- lars. 1 learned in further conversation, that the wonderful steed he proposed to buy for me was one of the lot to be sold at auction. 1 did not attend the sale of the sixteen horses. 1 simply noticed that the government money account had increased seventy-five dollurs by the auction, showing plainiy enough that the value of the whole number ‘was a little less than five dollars each., A ‘whole month had passed, and 1 had entirely forgotten that I had given Cain five dollars for the purchase of a horse, when one day, a8 I again sav writing in my ropm, | heurd the rapid clatter of hoofs approaching, and presently noticed that a horse had stopped outside.” 1 stepped to the door and found Joe Cain awaiting my arrival, holding by the halter strap a fine, large bay horse, in good flesh, s smooth as satin, avd bright-cyed ns acolt. *Will the liftinent plaze come out and 1nspict his horso?”’ said Cain; and they he led him out on exhibition, I was plesst o find that the horse, while in no wise 1. markable, showed many good poinis. In facl, The aunimal was a great surprise to at down on a log that had been re the building of the fort, and looked long av the metamorphosed creature Lofore 1 spoke. ou bought for tive dollars, is it, Cainf’ I bogan, “Four dollars and forty cint: bought the halter with the sixty cints that was lift, sor.” But I don’t see how such a horse can be had for that money. And this is really one of those miscrable hacks we sold at auc- tion?" “Not a bit else, sor,” said the delighted Cain, his face in & glow from the pleasure he ‘was deriving from my wenderment and evi- dent approval of the result of his vent: as ho a name,” I usked. i Two-Bits, sor.” “Two-Bits'—twenty-five cents!—how did he get that name, Cain ‘He wou iv av Iort Craig, sor, in a race in wer to other questions and after evant talk, Cain, having tied the horse to a iree, wilked slowly backward and forward beforo me and proceeded to give tho hist of the horse 80 far as he luew and_his reusons for asking me to wake the purchase, When Le went into the corral one day he said he saw one of the stable men kicking and beat- ing au old steed to wake bim rise to his fect, The animal made repeated efforts to stand, but each time fell back through weakness. Cain approached, and by certoin saddle marks and & peculiar star'in the forehead, recogmized an old acquaintance. He even insisted that the old horse knew him. F'rom some knowledge of horses, picked up in stable during o wandering life before he en- listed, the soldier perc: d, after o careful examination, that the horse was not perma nently disabled, but sunply suffering from ill-tréatment and noglect. . He began his care of the beast at once, and us soon as the auction was ordered he determined to ask me 0 buy him. ‘The first knowledge Cain had of Two-Bits was that the horse belonged to the Mounted Rifles and was with them av Fort Craig in New Mexico, in 1859, On the 4th of July of that year, the ofiicers of the fort and the civilians of the neighboring rauches got up a horse race by way of celebrating the day. The races were to be, ono for American horses over an 500 vards straightaway course, und oue for broncos, over a course of 900 yards. On the day before therace the first sergeant of the rifles waited upon a lieutenant of the regiment and requested i to euter & ‘‘company horse’—one which had beeu assigned as & mount to one of their number, ‘The request was granted, All the horses were to be ridden by solaiers. At two o'clock on the afternoon of the 4th tho horses were assowbled au the course Lo the west of the fort, Two-Bits beiug present und mounted by the boy hfer, Joe Cain, of the infantry. ‘Che ofiicers walked arouind the ‘“compuny horse” with considerable curiosity, commeuting on his appearance, uud wondering bow, if he Dossessed any werits, Lo had escaped their notice up to this time, Captain Tilford seemed Lo express the general sentiment of the officers, at the con- wlusiou of the inspection, when he said, *I would not give two bils for that horse’s clhance of winning the prize.” The raco came off, and the carefully £roomed aud gayly caparisoned horses of the oficers und clviliaus,and the plainly equipped favorite of the soldiers burst down the track aoline, to arrive scattered and blown at the #oal,with thedespised “company horse' some three lengths ahead.. And frow that day the victor was kuown as “T'wo-Bits.” Wit the breaking out of the civil war all mounted reglments were wade cavalry. This wiped out of existence the two dragoon regi- meunts and the rifle regiment, the latter being rechristened the Thira cavalry, and ordered from New Mexico to the east, for sorvice in the field. Thele horses were left behind, being turned over to the New Moxico volun- toer “"lri' Awo-Bits was ned to the £00p Wi was then & part of garrison of Fort Whipple. _In the march from the valley of the RRio Granda t the valley of the Rio Colorado he had succumbed to Mexican neglect and abuse, and fallen a victim to hard usage. And 80, by & mere chauce, tho meeting ook place between the veteran steed and his tormer jockey of the Fort Craig race. Cain had recognized his old friend of five years before, and knowing that he would not be allowed to own a horse, he did the next best thing—made me his owner, which gave him the care of the animal, and frequent opportunities to take hiw out for an airing. : From this time on, I had many long rides on Two-Bits, in the way of tiresome pursuit of the Tndians, who never neglected to take advantage of the unprotected state of the territory. 1 became very much attached to the horse and cven Look pains to win a place in his affections, often being much surprised at his wondorful intelligence aud almost 1 discernment. He would never desert or 1n a place of danger, no matter what the temptation. Three or four times when taking him out for exercise, Cain had dismounted for some parpose and Two-Bits had inmediately kicked up his heels like a colt and trotted back to his stall in the cor- ral.* But once at a good distance from the post or train, or in a situation of dunger, and he would stay by his rider when free to go. This statement may appear doubtful to many, but every man who was stationed at Fort, Whipple during the time thut Two-Bits occupiod a stall there, believed more than I have stated. Two instances, which 1 will rolate, so impressed me that I can havebut one opinion of this noble old horse. Once, when I had ridden down the valley of tho Rio Verde, some thirty milos from the fort on a soliatary fishing ex- cursion, | strolled along its banks for several hours, standing by poois and handling a rod, while a carbine rested in my left eloow and two revolvers hung at my waist. 1 looked over my showlder more frequently for In dinns than tne fish favored me with bit Suddenly Two-Bits who had been grazing close by, unpicketed, came trotting down to me in consideravle exeitement. Without stopping to inquire the cause I aropved fish- 1ng-tackle and basket, mounted and rode to an eminence, from which 1 saw on the oppo- site side of the stream half a mile away, u party of mounted Apaches who had not been visible from my fishing place because of a fringe of willo! As 500 as they discov- ered me they whooped and gave chase; but the long legs of Two-Bits mude nothing of running away from thewm, and I was soon far beyond their reach. Uhe second incident occurred when I was returning from a visit of iuspection to a huy camp ten mites from thopost. 1 was riding ata walk along a level road, which was skirced on my left by tuick sage-brush. My left foot wos out of the stirrup. A sudden shot from cover cut my coat collar and caused the horse to jump suddenly to the right. Haviog u. support on my left, and being taken off my guacd, I toppied from the nd fell to the ground. but fortun- v landed on my feev and facing the am- cade, 80 I quickiy covered the spot_with my rifl did not stir after I fell, and 1 walked baciwards around to his right verse of custom, still ring the possibic enemy, and rode away, t slowly and then at a run, until beyond riflerange. Then 1 saw three Apaches rise {:om the brush, Again, when Lieutenant R— and myself with ten men, bad been four days in pur- suit of & band of Indians that had ran off the stock from a neighboring ranche, we found oneof our men unable tosit in his saudle from wounds, We removed the saddle from his horse and bound him at length along the . ana did our best to make him as com- ble s possible. He rode along quietl ome time,and then asked to be put op Two-Bits. After this, the horse was 1y greater favorite than over with the Not one of onr party could have been u to believe that 'Two-Bits did not und the necessity of treading gentl seusitive burden; and I must when our road lay down some strewh declivily, the horso seemed sclect the places for his feet, and cortainly waus tediously slow. [ confess Iam of the opinion of tho men; [ believe the horse fully understood the condition of his charge, and the necessity of going slowly and _gently rough places. ‘The man 4 the post hospital in safety, and recovered; and from tho day of his recovery Two-3its had another devoted friend and guarnian. imit that bowlier- areful to poroached, in the dearth of otier muterial and the abund- ance of horses, the citizens of Prescott de- termined to offer a series of horse and pony races us attractions, and there was at onco considerable excitement in hor: ircles in consequence. Ofticers of the garrison caught the excitement, and vied with the ranchmen and miners, and began looking over their favorites with a view to capturing the va- riousy bridles, saddles, ete., offered as rizes, Oue race was to be for American horses this name being used to distinguish valry horses and those brought from the east, from the mustangs, Texas ponies, and bronchos. The gait for all borses was 10 be a run, under the saddle, over distances ranging from five huadred to cight hundred s, according to whether the contestants helongzed to one or the other of tho classes Ieeationed —the longer distance being for the American horses. /i few anys after the conditions of the race w2 published, Cain proposed that I should enter Two-Bits for the eight hundred yurd race, nssuring me that if I would do 80 I was sure to win the pri But 1 poob-poohed the suggestion at once, and ever ridiculed Cain for his folly in imagining for a moment at Two-Bits “could compets with such Is as were aiready entered. 1soon found at 1 had plunged the ambitious fifer into the depths of despair. Kor several days ho moped about his duties in a silent and dejected manuer, until his evident misery aroused my cowapassion. S0 one morning, after he had completed the house- work of ny quarters, I asked him to remain @ few moments, and then referred to the subject, which I knew had full possession of his tholghts, with the question : “You do not suppose, Cain, that 8o old a horse as Two-Bits would stand any chance in this race?” “He would, jist, sor!” he answered with emphasis, “But he is very old, Cain. twenty, at the very least.” *'Yis, sor, aud he grows faster as he grows older, sor. Evidently there was no use in arguing against Two Bits, with @ person so preju- diced as Cain, but I continued: “Your love for your old favorite, Cain, misleads you as to his capabilities. 1 know him to be easy and frce under the saddle, and the best horsesI ever rode, but it is not reasonable to expect bim, at his age, Lo beat young horses, after all the ill-treatment he has undergone.” 1 wish the liftinent would jist give me the thrial of him, that's all. There's not a baste in these parts can bate him,” “But_you are not reasonable about this, Cain. Recause Two-Bits won a race five years ngo, itdoes not follow that be can do 80 now, There is that fine black of King Woolsey's—what possible chance is tberc that any horse in Arizona can take the lead of him:"” “That's jist it, sor. The consate of that man Woolsoy nades a rebuke, sor. Two-Bits can give bim one, asy. I know the horse, sor, 1f the lifunent will pardon an ould soldier for makin’ so bold as to sit up an opinion ag'inst s, 1 beg lave to remoind him that I have vode the winning horse at miny & race iv the ould country and in this, and while 'm free to admiv that Two-Hits does not aquel the racin’ stock o’ the quality and gintry, he is far beyant auything this side 0' the wather.” 4 *Well, Cain, leave me now to consider the matter, and call again in an hour.” Left' alone, I was not long ing to the conclusion that soldier should be indulged in his wish w enter Two-Bits for the race. Ac- cordingly, when the fifter returned for my decisiou, I said: “1 am going to allow you to run him Cain. 1100k upon the borse as your discoyery. He has cost me literally vothing.” “Thank you, sor, and you'll win the prize,” said Cain. *“No; I don’t care for the prize, 1 will pay the entrance fee, and if you win the race the prize shall be your own," Whean [ recalied the many evidences I had bad 0 T'wo-Bits' speed in pursuit of Lndians, and in retreats when the Indians in turn were pursuers, and my life had depended upon his {'" and bis endurance, I could not but hope e would win. On the day of the race I sat, by no means @ caln ahd disinterested spectator, on a Dench near the goal. After the race of po- nies, mustangs and broncos, came the prin- cipal race—that of American horses. 1 will He must be in com- the old *Note—To show that be was no rospector -of persons, 1 must admit that be twice did the same for we, spare the reader details of the race further than to say that, to the surprise of every- body but Joe Cain, it ended as at Fort Craig, Two-Bits came in with dilated nostrils and blazing eyes, amid the thundecing cheers of the soldiers, fully two lengths ahead. Cain led bim back to the fort, escorted the wnole distanco by admiring blue-coats, At the stables Cain sat on an_inverted grain moas- ure and toldover for the hundredth time the the horse received the name of Two- Bits, una how he had discovered the old horse, friendliess and broken down, in the Whipple corral, and having built him up to his present beautifn! proportions, had once more ridden him to victory. Ihave rolated the foregoing incidents in an attompt to intercst tho reader in the per- sonaliy of my horse. He 1s the hero of the story—the men are ouly acoessories. The incident to which all this is a preface must have a chupter by itself. 111 HE RUNS COURIER. In the fall of the year 1365, the Indian troubles bocame so serious that only with the greatest difficuity could we maintain our municition with the outside world, litslo while an express-rider fall to make his ap- appearaace when due, and an expedition sent in search of him often found his body in the road, in_some rugged defile or thick chapar- ral, stripped, scalped, and disfigured, itents of his express pouch scattered for yaras around, all letters broken open, and the illustrated papers torn into shreds, while the newspapers wero simply thrown aside. The perit became so great in time that single riders could not be hired for the service, and at last only cavalrymen in par- ties of five were sent on this dan: : Even numbers was not always a vrotection, as 1 found once whe ok for a miss ing express, 1 discovered all the men dead togethe On the 20th of Ociober a dispatch was ro- ceived with accompanying instructions that it should be forward Sunta Ie. According], express ridor, offering the highest pay al- lowed for the service. The route on the northeast was not considered to be so dang- erous ns those Fying to the cast, south, or west, Still there was no response to my offer, and 1 began to consider the expedi- ency of asking for a detail from tho cavalry, when a proposition came from an unexpected quarter. Tha man whom 1 before mentioned as having been wounded during an Indian expedition and brought to tho fort on the back of Two-Bits, came nto my ofice, and offered to carry the dispatch, proyided I would let him ride Two-Bits, This man’s name was PPorter. He was a Londonderry Irishman by birth and was now sergeant in the infantry company. Years afterwards we learned that he was of gentle descent, and a graduate of Edinburg uni- versity. He was a handsome, soldierly fel- low, of refined features, gentiemanly bear- ing, wood height, and undoubted courage. Ho entered my oftice, as I before stated, ana said he would take the mail to Fort Wingate il I would iend him Two-Bits. “But T'wo-Bits is my private property, geant, and is not subject to such service,” I replied. [ know that, sir; but he has. many qual- ities whicn fit him for it “Not more than half a dozen other horses in the cor ergeant.,” “No horse has just his qualities, especially fitted for dangerous service such us this, He is fleet, he wili not whinny nor do anythiog to attract attention 1 an Indian country, He will not desert his rider if turned foose, and he will not be stampeded 1f his rider sleeps while he grazes.” *'You seemn to have studied his character well.” not of the He 15 wi Eve: would I advertised for an ir, T know Two-Bits very well; but er than yourself, or most of the men garrison. Ho is a remarkable horse. driiled and he is very intelligent. He always seems to understand what is ex- pected of him,” ‘“*But realiy, sergeant, 1 do not hike to let him go on such a trip. I fear I should never nim again. The trip would be a tremend- 1in upon the old horse.’ Lhave the tenderese cave, sir. I him as he deserves.” “I have no doubt of that, sorgeant. He would ve treated well by all of our men. In fact, be 18 always made a pet of by every one. I will think of it. Call again later,” After Sergeant Porter went out, I walked over to the quarters of the commanding officer and told him ot the proposition, He atonce fell in with the plan and advised me to let the horse go. He said the horse could not be in better hands, and that doubtless he would o through safely, without fatigue, and return 10 me in a few weeks. He said he would convene a board of officers to ap- praise the horse, so that if he should be lost I could put in a claim for reimbursement. 1 agreed, and next day the board sat and ap- praised the value of my five-dollar horse at nearly $200 in gold. On the morning of the 25th of October, Sergeant Porter mounted Two-Bits, rode out of Fort Whipple, amid the hearty good wishes and handshakes of men and officers, Ho carried a mail pouch weighing twenty pounds, an overcoat and three blankets, a carbine and two revolvers, and six days’ rations. The adventures of horse and rider, after we saw them disappear behind the ‘red rocks,” five miles below the fort, were re- lated to m 1867, at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, by Porter, who hadin the meantime been appointed lieutenant i the army. I had not seen him since he started on his journey. For three ys the ride was without inci- dent worth ating. On the fourth he did not leave his stopping-place until 1 o'clock in the afternoon. At 2 o'clock he found him- self on the crest ef a range of hills overlook- ing a plain which extended right and ieft almost to the horizon, and in ftront at least twenty miles, to the broken and hilly coun- try beyond. It was level as the surfaceof a lake. "From the edge of the plain stretched the narrow thread of the military road, straight across to the foot hills beyond. The road down the declivity to the plain beyoud bemng rough and stony, the sergeant dis- mounted and followed his horse, allowing bim to pick his way and take his own gait. When he arrived at the foot of the range, he noticed that there lay between him and the plain and parailel to its edze, a long low ridge. He halted in the ravine formed by the ridge and foot hills to lll.*llc!l girth and reaajust his luggage before taking the road over the plain. While engagea in this opera- tion, Porter noticed that, at the point where he stood, the road divided into two; these passed over the ridge a hundred yards apart, descended on the other side, and met again out on the plain. The reason for this divi- sion was that the left hand road had become badly gullied in one of the rare and violent ramnfalls peculiar to that region, and the wagoners hud made a new one to avoid its rougkness, Finishing the adjustment of the saddle and its attached parcels, the sergeant still postponed remounting, and followed his horse slowly up the ridge, leaving the choice of theouas to the anitmal, it veing a matter of indifference to a horseman whether the road was gullied or not. Two-Bits took the lefu hand road, and moved leisurely up the slope, raising his head high as he approached the st to look beyond it. Suddenly he stopped sud stood perfectly rigid, his ears set forward and his eyes fixed upon somo object, evidently in alarm. Porter t carefuily forward and looked beyond the ridge. Behind a mass of granite bowlders which squirted the leit of the other roaa, four Indian ponies could be seen picketed, vidently their riders were among the rocks \ing for the express-rider they had seen descending from tho range. They naturally = supposed that he would pass along the usually traveled road. Notaing but the accident that Two-Bits ok the old road pre vented the sergeant from falling into the ambuscade and ending his life there. From the nld road the ponies were plainly visible in a nook among the bolders; from the nower road they could not have been seen. ‘The sergeant backed T'wo-Hits suficiently to put him oat of sight of the Iudians. When all was ready, Porter patted the old horse affactionately on the néck and said, “Now, old fellow, everything deponds upon your legs. Porter always mawntained that Two- 1Bits understood the coming struggle as fully @s ho did himself, When all was completed, Porter mounted and rode slowly over the ridge and slowly down the opposite slope. He was anxious that the lundians sbould not discover him until he should be well beyond the gullies in the road. These he passed safely,’and, as herose to the level ground beyond, be no- ticed that one of the mustangs in the bow!- ders was holding his head high, watching his wmovements. It ocourred to the sergeant that to kil @ pony would be equal to killng an ndisn. He took @ ecartridge in his palm, so that he could reload without & seconds deluy. avd, almiog carefully, fived, killing the povy in- staotly, He roloaded, aod as wa ladian sprang from cover 10 see where tue ahot camo from, he caught the second bullet and fell across the dead pony, _Not another In- dian showed himself until Porter was well out upon the plain then ho heard the shrill staccato of the Navajo war-whoop, ana glancing backward over his shoulaor saw three Indians pursuing at the top of their speod. Two-Bits throw himself into Kk of ranning away from the mustangs with all the elasticity and grace that bad dis- tinguished him on the race course, and had always lod to victory, He sottled down to a long and steady pace which promised soon to leave his pursuers far behind, The sol- dier was beginning to _congratulate himself upon his wisdom in insisting on having Two- Bits for his sorvice. With every spring the old horso seomed to bo fast widening the distance botween the Indians and their in- tendea victim, aud this continued for about half a dozen miles, when Portor reluctantly observed that no further change ib his favor was evident, In fact, it Soon became evi- dent that the Navajos were slowly but surely closing up on him, This was not at all strange. Two-Bits was an Americanfhorse, acoustomed in gar- rison and camp to his twelve pounds of grain daily; & kind of horse that will invariably run down in flesh on a erazing diet. The mustangs lived entirely on grass and grew fat and kept in good condition even when subjucted to the fhughest usage. Two-Bits was beavily londad and had tasted no for four duys;: the mustanes wer: mounted and filled with their ac forage. Two-Bits was old and the were young. Ihe odds were decidedly against the vetoran war-horse; but ho kent on with his long, powerful galop, while the Indian ponies caiie on with a short, quick, tiveless atter which never changed its cadence and threat- ened to overtake the sergeant before he could gain the shelter of the hills, still many wiles away. ‘he flight and pursuit over the plain had to be confiued closely to the road, Outside of the track the vegetation would seriously wound and disable an animal attempting 0 g0 through its spiked obsiructions. At last an arrow flew between Porter’s shoulder uud ear. Turning in his saddle, he fived, breaking the leading Favajo,s arm aud causing him to fall into the roud, while his riderless pony stopped by the wayside and began at once to graze. As the sergeant dropped his carbine by his right side to place a new cartridge in the breech, an arrrw struck his left hand, his fingers relaxed, and the precious weavon dropped into_the road. tie could not stop to recover it—it would be ussless with a badly wounded hand—so he plunged wearily on, looking at the broken fingers and flowing vlood, with nis first seri- ous misgivings. His chance of getting out of this scrape alive seemed desperate indeed, With his skill a8 a marksman, he had_all along thought that he could soon pick off all his enemies; but witb no carbine and a use- less right hand the chances were much against him. Resolying, like a brave man, to die_game, Porter hastily bound his handkerchiof about his wounded hand, and drew a revolver in his loft. Turnng; he fired shot after shot, but without effect except to keep the two Indians baoging over the sides of their hor until, conceiving a contempt for his i rate aim, they sat upright ana_sent arrow after arrow toward him. The distance was stiil too great for these primitive mnasiles to be fully effective, but two piecced his shoulders, and the shafts of three could be seen switching up and down in the quarters of Two-Bits as he gul- loped wearily on. A lucky shot caused one of the Indians to rein up suddenly, dismount, nd sit down by - the roadsid The last Navajo kept on, however, with all the cager. ness with which he began the chase, appar ently unabated, and soon he wounded Porter again, and this time along the ribs. In ve desperation, the sergeant then suddeu turned his horse to the right-about down_auickly upon the Indian pouy. fore bis rider had time 1o recover trom his unexpected attack he seat his sh shing 1nto the brain of the mustang. The httle horse swerved outof the track and fell headlong intwo a cactus, and vefore the Indian could extricate himself Two-Bits and nis rider had wheeled and were out of arrow range. “'he pursuit was at an end, and it would no doubt be pleasant to the reader of this stor: f Icould say tnatthe sergeant -Bits swere now safe. But the, were very far from it. When well boyond eny chance of pursuit from the last und vonyless Navejo, Porter slid_painfully from his saddle to examine into his.'own and his horse's injuries. No arrows were left in his own body, but he was badly lacerated and bled profusely, until he was scarcely able to stand. The horse had received seven wounds, and three arrows were still sticking in his flesh. These were not deeply in, and wero easily removed; but a long cut along the ribs, from hind to fore quarters, had torn tho skin badly and still bled profusely. Por- ter bound up hisown wounds with fair suc- cess, but he could do nothing for the horse, Neither could he relieve Two-Bits by walk- ing. The horse.refused a ration of hard bread offered him, and there remained noth- ing to_be done but for il nt to drag himself painfully into the saddle and resume his journcy. Remouuting was not accom- plished without great difiicuity, and oaly by the aid of a date tree which forked, conveniently, two feet from the ground. Speed was now out of the qu and the horse simply limped along ble walk. The excitementof the chase was over, and the nerves of both man and beast had lost their tension, When the pursuit ended Porter found him- self near the border of the plain from which the road led up 1nto a rugged and hilly coun- try, and it was already growing toward twi- light. 'Phe miles stretched wearily out, and there seemed no better prosy than to dismount and t to find resi, even though rest for the a horse in a desert country without wate might unfit him for further effort, and with- out a horse there is no hone for the man to pass over the long remaining distance to Wingate. It was this very hopelessness which caused the soldier to press on in tho increasing darkuess, putting off a halt which be felt must be final. Still creeping slowl. along, he at last surmounted a beight ove looking a narrow valley, and on the other side saw a bright fire burning, which occa- sionally disappeared and reappeared, as if persons were passing baforo it. The hope: of the soldier were at once revived at the prospect of reaching friends and assistance, but the hopes were as quickly depressed by the fear that the fire might be that of un en- emy,—probably a party of the Navajos, for this "was their country. But even a foe might prove to be a friend to one in his plignt, 8o he pressed on. 1'wo-1its was 80 wealk that e hardly more than moved, and hours elansed before the valley was crosscd and he brought his riaer near the fire. He was ascending the hillside on the hillside on which the fire was burning when the rattle of halter-chains over feed- boxos—a sound familiar to soldier's ears— came plainly through the ving air, and Porter knew that ho was near a government train. With the weicome sound hoe grow faint and fell from the saddle to the ground senseless. Two-its kept on into camp, ap- proaciied the camp-fire, looked into the Taces of the guard which sat about its chee ful blaze, turned, as if to retruce his steps, st fell, and died. The unexpected appearance of a horse, saddled and bridled, a mal-bag strapped on his buck, his suddle covered with blood, bis body wounded in half a dozen places, bis sudden fall and death, started the wholo camp into activity. The military escort was toon under arms, horses and mules were quickly saddled and lanterns were soon hur- rying down the road. The searchers had not far to go before they came upon the ser- geant, lying apparently lifeless. He was taken' into camp, tenderly cared for, and next day taken 10 Fort Wingate, the place for which the tram was bound. Was Two-Bite left to be food for the coy- otes? No. Sergeant Porter told nis story, and the command being of the company sta- tioned at Fort Craig at the me of the first race mentioned inthese columuns, 1t was not diMeult to find a few sympathetic old sol- diers who yielded to the curnest request of the wounded exoress rider and burie equine friend and comrade deep! heaped & mouud of stones over his grave. - Kennedy's Bast India Bitters are guar- anteed absolutely pure and recommend- ed by many eminent physicians. e Chops His Wood ar Ninety-One William Slavon, of Ravenswood, W. is ninety-one vears of age. 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