The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-03-11


/ For nearly ten miles along the North.wesici
base of the ridge, our flight had continued
the herd Of buflaloes, with our companions
had long since disappeared in the Northerl
bend, the Crows had dropped of, one afte
another, until not more than dozen beside,
those on the ridge, continued the race, an'
these were mostly mile or more behind, an,
losing ground every moment.
But there were seven of the warriors OF
whom in all that desperate race we had no
gained single inch. ... ..
-Four of these were Of the party on the ridge
while the other three were of those who had
followed along the plain.
"Look ye here Leftenant-this wont neve
answer" said Old Judah, suddenly rein 'ng in
his horse and at the same moment graspine
the bride of mine and almost HingiDg him bach
upon his haunches.- .i. ....a .,t..,
II tellye sir, we must drill hole or two il
them chaps skulls or they'll cut us off sartain
sure, before we can get across the ridge. Now
my advice is Leftenant, that you take thes,
three rascason the prairie in hand, while
look after them other beggars on the hillside
there" j. ...r t
"But listen youngster-you must mind that
the cunning devils don't dodge your bullets
They'll expect you to aim at ttheir heads, then
at the flash Of your piece, they'll fling them
selves fiat along their horses neck, OF
it may be drop right down along side the ami.
NAL, SO that your bullet III 60 whistlin by
without touching nothin. So you see you
must aim just few inches above the horses
wethers and ten to one, you'll bore a hole
square in the top of Mr.. Crows skull"
The last word had scarce passed the lips oI
my companion, when followed his advice to
the letter, by singing out the foremost Indian
and drawing "bee" on him, or rather his
horse just clear of his shoulders. l observed
that at the flash OF my rifle, every one of the
three Indians fell PROSTATE on the necks..o OF
their horses, with their heads no higher than
those of the animal. ...
My customer was mistaken that time how
ever; for moment after | fired, he sprang
bolt upright, dropped his rifle, and after fling
ing his arms about in the most violent manner,
for few breaths, he toppled over backwards
and fell heavily to the ground.
"That's the fashion to count up our tallies
on the bloody red thieves Leftenant!" observed
old Judah in tone ofexultation, as the sharp
crack of his rifle followed mine, and one of
the sde-hill warriors plunged headlong from
his suddle-that is the way to talk to 'em lad
Both them chaps got our bits of lead square
in the top of their gourds-right through their
brains-if so be these Internal red skunks
have got any brains. -.........
"They're cunnin devils though, and our
next bullet wouldn't wing 'em in that way.
No, no, yourhold on your Ere, tHyou see how
no hang it, as soon as you're ready, we'll
both fire together-but this time aim about
four feet from the horses back--just about
at their heads as they sit in their usual way.
What say-are you ready!" ...
"Aye aye Judah-all ready"
"Well, blaze away-Fire"
At the simultaneous flashes Of our rifles the
five surviving Indians leaped to their feet on
thought, two of them dropped their weapons,
clapped their hands to their breasts and plum
ged headlong forward over their horses heads
to the ground. ........
"Fooled again!" shouted the old hunter in
an exultant tone; "Lieutenant, there's not
many of these red western nggers that's got
cunning enough to play rifle and tomahawk
with Old Judah Calmly" .... .......
But look ye here-we may venture to try the
crossing of the ridge now," and within fifteen
seconds we were dashing up the ascent, cross
ing the Indians course at right angles, not
sixty yards distant; but as there was only three
of them left, we had little apprehension on
their account; having made up our minds to
pick off the three fool-hardy fellows before we
had gained the summit Of the ridge, and ther
ride back to the steamer more at our leisure
Wewe-e half way up the hill, with our rifles
loaded, and just about to rein up for another
pop at the Indians, when made the discovery
that somehow in dashing through the brush
wood, the hammer of my rifle had got caught
and wrenched entirely off SO that the gun wa:
useless. .....
Almost at the same moment that discover
ed the accident to my rifle, an exclamation o
despair from the lips of my companion fell OF
my ears, and as soon as he could speak cohe
rently, learned that he had met with an &C
cident little less serious than mine, in al
much as he bad lost his bullet-pouch, some
where below US, and there he was, with onl.
single bullet and that one in his gun.
For few moments the stalwart, hard-fea
tured old hunter fairly foamed at the mouth
like mad dog, and roared in his mad excite
ment. But he soon quieted down, and afte
trying my bullets and finding them consider
ably too large for his rife, he spoke to m,
calmly as he had anytime during the day
done
"Ths is bad Leftenant-mighty bad. Blu
we must make the best we can of it, and trus
to Providence aud our horses bottom. Blu
look ye here lad!" he sung out, just as WI
gained the crest of the rdge--"two of then
red devils are mounted better than we are.
have seen that since we began climbing thi
ridge. And now with your assistance Leften
ant, I'll try and clip them two fast ones at on
shot, after which we can settle the last on
unless he runs away; or run away ourselves
just as we please" ~.y u..... ....
Old Judy dismounted as he spoke, and civ
ing me the bride of his horse, which he re
quested me to lead down the hill side at
smart gallop, and in a straight line as we ho