d carried
deer on other occasions. But a bronco, like a mule, is never
altogether reliable, particularly as to the action of its heels. With
some delay in getting started and in somewhat of a demoralized
condition we mounted and rode home.

Soon after the accident I had a chill which was followed by a fever and
there was much pain and swelling in the knee that was hit. A ranch
house, if it happens to be a "stag camp" as ours was, is a cheerless
place in which to be sick, but everything considered, I was fortunate
in that it was not worse. By the liberal use of hot water and such
other simples as the place afforded I was soon better; but not until
after several months' treatment at home did the injured knee fully
recover its normal condition.

The excitement of running cattle or hunting game on the open range in
those days was mild in comparison to the panicky feeling which
prevailed during every Indian outbreak. The experience of many years
had taught the people of Arizona what to expect at such a time and the
utter diabolical wickedness of the Apaches when out on the warpath.
During the early eighties many such raids occurred which were
accompanied by all the usual horrors of brutality and outrage of which
the Apaches are capable.

When it became known in the fall of 1885 that Geronimo was again off
the reservation and out on another one of his bloody raids the people
became panic-stricken. Some left the Territory until such time when
the Indian question would be settled and the Government could guarantee
freedom from Indian depredations. Those who remained either fled to
some near town or fort for protection, or prepared to defend themselves
in their own homes as best they could.

What else could the settlers in a new country do? They had everything
invested in either mines or cattle and could not afford to leave their
property without making some effort to save it even if it had to be
done at the risk of their own lives. They had no means of knowing when
or where the stealthy Apaches would strike and could only wait for the
time in uncertainty and suspense. Many who were in this uncomfortable
predicament managed to escape any harm, but others fell victims to
savage hatred whose death knell was sounded in the crack of the deadly
rifle.

Some personal experiences may help to illustrate this feeling of panic,
as I happened to be at the ranch during the time and know how it was
myself.

One day in the