clear sky would not have astonished me more.

The thought, that Hal or Ned might have been killed, passed like a flash
of lightning through my mind; for the dust was so dense, I could not
distinguish friend from foe; but I heard Jerry shout, "_Adelante!
Adelante hombres_!" and forgetting for the moment that I was already
in the advance, in obedience to the order, I spurred my horse forward,
just as the Apache war-whoop sounded, apparantly upon all sides of me.

The spot selected for the ambush was at a point where the road passed
though a large body of prickly-pear, the terrible thorns of which, in
connection with the sharp-pointed leaves of the Spanish-bayonet, formed a
natural _chevaux-de-frise_ that no living creature could penetrate.

I soon discovered this; and, in the expectation of reaching the train,
turned my horse's head and rode blindly back through the thick dust,
although unable to see more than a few feet from me in any direction.

Suddenly I found myself surrounded by Indians. One stout, sinewy fellow,
naked, with the exception of a breechcloth, seized my horse by the bits,
and by main strength, forced him back upon his haunches, and in the
twinkling of an eye, I lay upon my back in the dust of the road, deprived
of my weapons, with an Apache, whose nude body had been well smeared with
grease, sitting squarely astride me, with a knee upon each arm.

It was impossible for me to move; and I gave myself up for lost, as I
noticed the wicked, fiendish expression upon the hideously painted face
of the savage, and heard him mutter a malediction in Spanish through his
closed teeth. The next instant, the welcome crack of three or four rifles
greeted my ears. The Indian gave a start, and I saw the blood spurt from
his side.

He gnashed his teeth, uttered a harsh, fierce exclamation of rage, and
seized my throat with one hand, while he made a desperate attempt, with
the other, to grasp my knife, which, in the struggle, had fortunately
fallen just beyond his reach.

As he stretched forward, I felt his hold upon my throat relax; and,
making a tremendous effort, I succeeded in pitching him over my head;
then, springing to my feet, ran like a race-horse in the direction of the
shots just fired; and, the next moment, was with Jerry and the boys.

I was so excited and bewildered, that, for a few seconds, I could hardly
realize what had passed. I soon learned, however, that, immediately upon
the attack being made,