Andres was the youngest son, and perhaps, physic ally, the Weakest in the household, but of quick wit and acute mental perception. Living on the frontier, exposed to the frequent marauding, plundering expedi tions of the various tribes Of wild Indians wandering over the country, they grew up inured to dangers and equipped for emergencies. People by necessity be come quick witted and skilled in the midst Of the trying emergencies that come up in a frontier life. Many a latent power and sleeping faculty have been stirred to life and called into action in the face Of a great danger or extreme emergency, that, in luxury and ease, would have slept on forever undeveloped. Trials, con?icts, emergencies, are necessary to arouse and develop the latent faculties Of our being, hence we should count it all joy when they come. Often had the Martinez family to guard themselves against the stealthy attacks Of the Wild Mescaleros and other marauding tribes, and at the time this history begins (i866), there were rumors that the Apaches were prowling about in the vicinity, but as such rumors had been constantly circulated during the past month, the community had grown careless and no watch kept up. Evil be the day when a man ceases to watch.
