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

mouth, like a mad dog, and roared in his
mad excitement. But he soon quieted
down, and after trying my bullets and
finding them considerably too large for
his rife, he spoke to me calmly as he
had anytime dming the day done
"This is bad, Leftenant-mighty bad.
But we must make the best we can oft,
and trust to Providence and our horses
bottom. But look ye here, lad!" he
sung out, just as we gained the crest Of
the ridge-''two Of them red devils are
better mounted than we are. / have
seen that since we began climbing this
ridge. And now with your assistance,
Lefienant, I'll try and clip them two
fast ones at one shot, after which we can
settle the last one unless he runs away,
or run away ourselves, just as we
please"
Old Judy dismounted as he spoke,
and giving me the bride of his horse,
which he requested me TO lead down the
hill side at a smart gallop, and in a
straight line as we had been going, he
began looking about him for some place
of concealment. His quick eve caught
a cavity in a huge old chestnut tree.
close By the side of the trail, and as !
urged my two horses down the slope at
their best speed-which, considering
that the descent was at an angle of full
thirty>fve degrees from the plane of the
horizon, was not at a 2 40 speed, or in
the most approved style Of equestrian
elegance-as | went down the hill | saw
Old Jude crawl into the hole in the old
tree, and disappear-man, rifle. hunting
shirt, eggins, wolf:skin cap and all.
/ was half way to the bottom of the
hill when two sharp reports, and mo-
ment later, the Kissing of two bullets as
they cut the air Il guessed) within ten
inches on either side of my head, told
me, beyond all question, that my Indian
friends-two of them certainly. were de-
termined to keep up leaden corresPon-
dence with me at least.
A single quick glance over my shoul-
der, showed me the two Crows urging
their horses down the steep slope at
their bes: speed, while, by the way they
had slung their rifles across their shoul-
ders, without reloading them, | knew
that they judged my companion must
have fallen from a wound received on
the other side Of the ridge, and as they
considered me sure game, they did not
deem il worth while TO lose anything of
the distance between US, by refining in
their horses TO reload their rifles,
Thirty seconds might have pissed af.
ter the two shots were fired, and | had
almost gained level ground, when |
heard most unearthly whoop, which !
knew in a moment to come from the old
hunter. and turning In my saddle, ] saw
the two Indians who had fired at me,
stopped. stock still, and were loading
their rifles, apparently in the greatest
possible hurry; while some hundred and
fifty yards farther up the hill side, stood
Old Jude, just in the act of taking aim
at the third savage, who had raised the
ridge and now came sweeping down the
trail. with his rifle levelled on the hun-
ter.
At the instant that | was looking for
the fash of my companions rifle, the old
frontiersman LET fall the muzzle of his
we pom, and breath later, dropping it
entirely, he drew himself up TO his full
height, and turning towards the single
Crow, he uttered a peculiar taunting
whoop of defiance which drew forth a
wild yell of rage from the savage, who
came driving on with furious speed, still
covering the hunter with the muzzle Of
his rife.
He was scarcely thirty yards from the
old backwoodsman, when without check
ing the speed OF his horse in the least,
he fired. But his bullet whistIed harm-
lessly by, over the PROSTATE form of the
wary old hunter, who, quick as thought,
dropped to the earth at the fash of the
Indians rife.
The tremendous whoop OF the hunter
had startled the two Crows beneath him,
and with their half loaded rifles they sat
there apparently wildered and half
stupefed by the sudden appearance Of
Old Jude there in their rear; while the
single warrior came laundering along
down the hillside, his horse grown un-
manageable, his rife unloaded, and him
self, accustomed as he was TO rough ri
ding, scarcely able to maintain his seat,
in his wild, plunging course down that
rugged steep.
Almost before one could have counted
ten, the horse had borne his savage rider
to the spot, where The hunter, now no
longer PROSTATE, but standing in the
path, grasping in his right hand a fragN
ment of rock that a giant might have
failed to WELD, while his left was out
stretched, as If to-the next breath re.
vealed his whole intention: for as the
horse came dashing on, the veteran hun.
ter grasped him by the nostrils with such
a powerful grip, that in an instant the
frightened mustang was flung quiverine
back upon his launches. while the Grow
was hurled violently to the earth, which
he had barely touched when down came
the ponderous, rock, upon his naked
head, mangling and crushing his fact
and skull out of the very shape OF hu
manity.
Scarcely had the rock left mis- hand
when Old Jude snatched his rife from
the ground, Ieaped upon the back of tht
I L > Il L.