Rossiter W. Raymond 



strained him, divining instantly that 

 the two visible assailants were not 

 alone, and that resistance would be 

 useless. Sure enough, at a signal 

 given, some fifty Apaches emerged 

 from the chapparal and surrounded 

 them. They were ordered by signs 

 to dismount and disrobe. Intent on 

 saving precious time, during which 

 the cavalry might come to their 

 rescue, King distracted the attention 

 of the savages for several minutes by 

 exhibiting to them his cistern-barom- 

 eter, and explaining, in Spanish and 

 by signs, that it was a new-fangled 

 gun of very long range. The delay 

 thus gained, however, did not prevent 

 their captors from preparing thongs 

 for their captives, and lighting a fire 

 to be placed upon their breasts, Ap- 

 ache fashion, after they should have 

 been laid, naked and bound, upon the 

 earth. Indeed, they were already 

 half-stripped when the cavalry became 

 331 



