"Frank, show the light. Men, ready!"
EVERY RIFLE IN THE HANDS OF THE WHITE MEN IN THE TWO BUILDINGS SPOKE.
The lantern flashed from the window, quickly answered by a flash on the bank, and a mass of red flame threw its luminous tresses skyward, bathing the whole scene in light. In the notch, half-way up the slope, stood a momentarily paralyzed group of nearly a hundred painted warriors. Every rifle in the hands of the white men in the two buildings spoke, and instantly the notch emptied itself pell-mell of its living throng. Only a few prostrate bodies showed the Apaches had been there.
With the discharge of firearms a silence immediately fell upon the scene in marked contrast to the shrieking and yelling of a moment before. The bonfire burned low, and went out. Once more we were in darkness.
We believed the Indians would make no further demonstration; for the manner of their late reception had shown them that the ranch had been re-enforced. We waited nearly an hour, and then placing two-thirds of our force on the crest of the river-bank, where they could command the opposite side, I took the remaining third and forded the stream. We scouted the bosque to some depth, and right and left for a considerable distance. The Indians had gathered their dead and departed. Returning to the ranch, sentinels were posted, the ambulance run in by hand, the stock fed, and a midnight meal cooked.
While sitting by the camp-fire, listening to the sizzling of the bacon and sniffing the aroma of the coffee, Mr. Hopkins introduced me to his men and guests, and I heard an explanation of the tracks and blood at Soldiers Holes.
Early that morning three gentlemen who had passed the night at the ranch started for Prescott. They were a Mr. Gray, a Scotch merchant of La Paz; Mr. Hamilton, a lawyer of the same place; and Mr. Rosenberg, a freighter. When near the Holes, Mr. Hamilton, who was riding in advance, was shot by Indians concealed in the sage-brush. Mr. Rosenberg's mule was wounded, and plunged so that his rider fell to the ground. Mr. Gray, seeing the plight of the freighter, rode to his side, seized him by the collar, and aided him to leap to a seat behind him.
It is probable that this act of generous daring might have ended in the death of both men, but for a diversion caused by the sudden appearance of the military express-man. He came up a slope from a lower level, and taking in the situation at a glance, let fly three shots from his breech-loading carbine that caused the Indians to lie low. The three men rode to the ranch, and Mr. Hopkins and his three men accompanied them to bring in the body of Mr. Hamilton. The Indians did not begin to concentrate at the creek until after the burial.
Supper being over, the boys and I were getting into our blankets for the rest of the night, when Mr. Baldwin, who had been getting ready to depart, came near to bid us good-by.