Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

593 A CAMPAIGN OF STRATEGY. one or two wrists were iron or brass bracelets, to which were attached long wisps of horsehair, which fluttered in the wind created by their own motion. It was evident that the stillness and absence of visible life about the ranch puzzled the hostiles. Did it mean that no one was inside, that the women were huddling together in helpless terror, or that the men were calmly await- ing the moment when the bucks should come within easy range? It was important that this question should be decided before the ball opened. ‘he Apaches came to a halt some two hundred yards distant. This was for consultation. ‘They were in such clear view that the two women noted their gestures and saw the glitter of their serpent-like eyes, when they looked at the house, which they frequently did. The decision of the conference was a singular one; one of the hostiles, pointing the head of his pony toward the building, rode forward, with the animal on a walk. The action indicated that he was the leader or one of the leaders of the party. He advanced deliberately, his eyes were centered on the building until he was within a hundred yards of the porch. Then he checked his horse, and his eyes roved over the front. He was a striking figure. He was not tall, but stockily built. His long black hair hung about his shoulders, and his ugly countenance was orna- mented in a most remarkable way. ‘The forehead was gridironed with white and black stripes, the same favorite pattern showing on the cheeks, breast, and wherever space could be secured. When that was lacking, tiny crosses and dots were the style. Each eye was encircled by a white ring, suggesting huge spectacles, but as the mouth was inclosed in the same fashion, it may be said that the horrible face of the Apache resembled only itself. Like all his companions, the leader held a Winchester rifle across the horse in front of his thighs, grasped with one hand and ready for instant use. In the top of the breech clout was a large knife, and there could be no doubt that more than one of them in that party were already crimsoned with the blood of innocent mothers and children. The women expected the buck to address them, doubtless with a view of uncovering the strength of those in the building. However, he displayed no flag of truce, so that which followed cannot be said to have been in viola- tion of the law of civilized nations. While the miscreant sat motionless on his motionless horse, the bird-like flitting of his eyes was noticeable. There was not a square foot of the front of the building which was not rapidly scrutinized. The women could tell when he was looking at some remote points of the house, for then the whites of his eyes showed, while, when only the jet black pupils were observed, he seemed to be staring so directly at them that each shrank timidly back, fearful of being seen. CHAPTER V.—BRAVE WORK. Av this critical moment, Mrs. Bozeman was startled by the crack of her sister’s Winchester almost in her ear. At the same instant the miscreant seated on the pony a hundred yards away, emitted a screech and, throwing eonniclbooks.c@ a)