Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-07-20

But there were seven of the warriors on whom
in all that desperate we had not gained sim
gle inch. :. -
-Four of these were of the party of the ridge,
while the other three were of those who had fol-
lowed along the plain. -
"Look We here Leftenant-this won't never an
swer,' said old Judah, suddenly refining in his
horse and at the same moment grasping the bri-
die of mine and almost fiingng him back on his
launches. ---... a., 90. -....-> .-.:.
81 tell you sir, we must drill hole or two in
them fellows skulls or they'll cut us off, sartin
sure, before we can get across the ridge. Now
my advice is Leftenant, that you take these three
rascals on the prare in hand, while 1 look after
them other beggars on the hillside.
"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 flat
along their horses neck, it may be, drop right
down along side the animal, so that your bullet
I'll go whistling by without touching nothing. So
you see you must aim just a few inches above the
horses, weathers, and ten to one you'll bore a
hole square in the top of Mr.. Crows head.''
The last words had scarce passed the lips of
l.
letter, by singing out the foremost Indian, and
drawing 'bee' on him, or rather his horse just
clear of his shoulders. I observed that at the
flash Of my rifle, every one of the three Indians
fell PROSTATE on the necks of their horses, with
their heads no higher than those of the animal.
My customer was mistaken that time, however,
for moment after fred, he sprang bolt upright,
dropped his rifle, and after inging 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 of exultation the sharp crack Of
his rifle followed mine, and one of the side hill
riors plunged headlong from his saddle-"that's
the way to talk to 'em lad. Both them chaps got
our bits of lead square in tine top of their gourds
right through their brans-if SO be these infer
nal 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
it! soon as you're ready we'll both fire togeth-
er-but this time aim about four feet from the
horses back--just about their heads as they
sit in the usual way. What say-are you ready"
"Aye aye, Judah-all ready"
"Well blaze away-Fre!"
At the simultaneous flashes of our rifles, the
five surviving Indians leaped to their feet on the
backs of their horses, and then quick thought.
two of them dropped their weapons, clapped their
hands to their breasts and plunged headlong for
ward over their horses heads to the ground.
"Fooled again'' shouted the old hunter in an
| off Df of
these red western niggers that's got cunning
enough to play rife and tomahaWk with old Judah
Calmly"
ssBut look you hear-we may venture to try the
crossing of the ridge now," and within fifteen min
utes we were dashing up the ascent, across the
Indians course at right angles, not only 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 sum-
nit of the ridge, and then ride back to the steam
er more at leisure.9
We were half way up the hill, with our rifles
loaded, and just about to rein up for another pop
at the Indians, when I made the discovery that
somehow in dashing through the brushwood, the
hammer. of my rifle had got caught and wrench
ed entirely off, SO the gun was useless.
l Almost at the same moment that I discovered
the accident to my rifle, exclamation of des-
pair from the lips of my campanion, fell upon my
ears, and as soon as he could speak coherently
learned that he had met with accident little less
= serious than mine, inasmuch as he had lost his
bullet pouch somewhere below us, and there he
was, with only single bullet, and that in his
gun. -,.,...... ..r.:....+ : t ea sa-...
For a few moments the stalWart, hard featured
old hunter fairly foamed at the mouth, like mac
dog and roared in his mad excitement. But ht
soon quieted down, and after trying my bullets
and finding them considerably too large for his
rifle, he spoke to me calmly as he had during tht
day, done. -. ..... .-r. - .:.s 9 r. s..-
''This is bad Leftenant-mghty bad. But w
{. must make the best we can of it, and trust t
e Providence and our horses bottom. But lool
e you here lad'' he sung out just as we gained tn
crest of the rdge-stwo of them red devils ar
r better mounted than we are. 7 have seen tina
Y since we began climbing this ridge. And witt
: your assistance Leftenant, I'll try and clip then
two fast ones at one shot, after which can set
tie the last one unless, he runs away, rul
), away ourselves, just as we please" 5.- ,.s-.
el Old Jude dismounted as he spoke, and givn
|, me the bride of his horse, which he requeste
: me to leaddown the hill side at a smart gallon
g and in a straight line as we had been going, h
e began looking around him for some place of con
r cealment. His quick eye caught a cavity in
o huge chesnut tree, close by the side of the trai
n and urged my two horses down the slope q