Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-04-28

our heavier pieces; which al tne Iate
we were going, we began TO hope
there was little prospect OF their
doing.
For nearly ten miles along the
Northwestern base of the ridge,
our flight had continued; the herd of
buffaloes, with our companions, had
long since disappeared in the North
ern bend, the Crows had dropped off,
one after another, until not more
than a dozen besides those on the
ridge, continued the race, and these
were mostly a mile or more behind,
and ioseing ground every moment.
But there were seven of the war
riors on whom in all that desperate
race we had not gained single inch.
Four of these were of the party
on the ridge, while the other three
were oil those who had followed
along the plain.
"Look We here, Leftenant-this
won't never answer" said Old Judah,
suddenly refining in his horse and at
the same moment grasping the bride
of mine and almost flinging him
back upon his haunches,-
81 tell We sir, we must drill hole
or two in them chaps skulls or
they'll cut US off sarlin sure, before
we can get across the ridge. Now
my advice is, Leltenant, that you
take these three rascals on the
prairie in hand, while / look after
them other beggars on the hill side
there"
"But listen, youngster--you must mind
that the cunning devils don't dodge your
bullets. They'll expect You to aim at
their heads, and then at the flash of your
piece. they'll fling themselves fiat along
their horses neck, or 1t may Ie, drop
right down alongside the animal, so that
your bullet III go whisilin' by without
touchin' nothin'. So you see you must
aim Just a 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 of my companion, when followed
his advice to the letter, by singing out
the foremost Indian, and drawing bee
on him. or rather on his horse Just clear
Of his shoulders. l observed that at the
flash of my rife, every one Of the three
Indians fell PROSTATE on the necks oil
their horses, with their heads no higher
than those of the animal.
Nv customer was mistaken that time
however; for a moment after ! fired, he
sprang bolt upright, dropped his rife,
and after flinging his arms about in the
most violent manner, for few breaths,
he toppled over backwards and fell heav-
lily to the ground.
"That's the fashion TO count up our
tallies on the bloody red thieves, Leften-
anti" observed old Judah in tone Of
exultation, as the sharp crack of his rifle
followed mine, and one of the side-hill
warriors plunged headlong from his sad
dle-"that is the way TO talk 10 '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 in
fernaI red skunks have got any brains.
"They're cunning devils though, and
our next bullet wouldn't wing 'em in
that way. No, no, you hold on your
fire, till You see how-no, hang ii! as
soon es you're ready, Wen both fire to-
gether-b but this time aim about four feel
from the horses back-just about al
their heads as they sit in their usual
way. What say-are you ready!'
"Aye aye, Judah-all reads."
"Well, blaze away-Fire!"
At the simultaneous flashes of our ri
fles, the five surviving Indians leaped &c
their feet on the backs Of their horses
and then quick as thought, two Of them
dropped their weapons, clapped theil
hands to their breasts and plunged head
long forward over their horses heads tC
the ground.
"FooIed againl'' shouted the old hun
fer in an exultant tone; "Leitenant
there's not many of these red western
. niggers that's got cunning enough t.
play rife and tomahawk with old Judaf
} Calmly"
"But look ye here-we may venture
TO try the crossing of the ridge now,
, and within fifteen seconds we were dash
. ing up the ascent, crossing the Indians
course at right angles, not sixty yard
distant; but as there were only three o
them left, we had little apprehension oI
their account; having made up our mind
: TO pick off the three fool-hardy fellow
3 before we had gained the summit of tn
S ridge, and then ride back to the steame
e more at our leisure.
4 We were half way up the hill, witt
4 our rifles loaded, and just about to reil
up for another pop at the Indians, whel
; | made the discovery that somehow il
dashing through the brushswood, tn
hammer of my rifle had got caught an
wrenched entirely of, SO that the gu
was useless.
Almost at the same moment that
o discovered the accident to my rifle, a
e exclamation of despair from the lips c
Q my companion fell on my ears. and a
$ soon as he could speak coherently,
!. learned that he had met with an accider
: little less serious than mine, in as muc
! as he had lost his bullet.pouch, some