The Empire County argus., 1854-06-03

how in dashing through the brush-wood, the ram
mer of my rifle had got caught ana wrentched en-
tirely off, so the gun was useless.
Almost at the same moment that discovered the
accident to my rife, exclamation OF despair from
my companion fell upon my ears, and as soon as he
could speak coherently, learned that he had met
with an accident little less serious than NINE mas
much as he had lost his bullet pouch somewhere
below US. and there he was, with only single bull
let and that in his gun.
For few moments the stalwart, hard featured
old hunter fairly foamed at the mouth, like 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 rifle, he
spoke as calmly as he had during the day
"This y bad, Lieutenant-m bad. But we
must make the best can of it. and trust to Prov
idence and horse bottom. But look sou here lad !"
he sang out just we had gained the crest of the
rdge--"two of them red devils ore better mounted
than we are. have seen that since we began
climbing this ridge. And with your assistance,
Lieutenant Iii try and clip them two fast ones at
shot, after which we settle the las. one un-
less be runs away, or run away ourselves, just as
we please"
Old .Iude dismounted as he spoke. and giving me
the bride of his horse, which he requested me to
lead down the hill ut smart gallop began to look
ing around him for some place Of concealment His
quick eye caught the cavity in hugh chesnut tree
close by the side of the trail and urged my two
horses down the slope at their best speed-which
considering the descent was at angle of full thir-
tv-fve degrees from the plain of the horizon, was
not at 2,4O speed in the most approved style of
equestrian elegance--as | went down the hill saw
old ude crawl into the hole in the old tree, and
disappeared man rife, hunting shirt eggins, wolf
skin cap and all
was half way to the bottom of the hill. when
two sharp reports and moment later. the kissing
Of two bullets as they cut the air within ten inches
on either side of my head told me, beyond all ques
ton. that my Indian friends-two Of them certain
ly. were determined to keep up leaden correspon.
dence with me at least.
single quick glance over my shoulder showed
me the two crows urging their horses down the
deep slope at their very best while by the way
they had slung their rifles across their shoulders
without re-loading, knew they had judged my
companion must have fallen from wound received
on the other side of the ridge, and they consid
cred me sure game they did not deem it worth
while to lose any of the distance between US, by
refining up to reload their rifles.
| Thirty seconds might of passed after two shots
were fired. and had almost gained level ground
when heard a most unearthy whoop, which
knew in q few moments to come from the old hun
ter. and turning in my saddle saw two Indians
stopped stock still, and were loading their rides in
the greatest possible hurry while some hundred and
fifty yards up the hill stood old Judah just in the
act of taking aim at the third savage who had raised
the ridge and came sweeping down the trail with
his rifle levelcd on the hunter.
At the instant was looking for the flash from
my companions rifle, and breath later dropped it
entirely he drew himself up to his full height and
turning to the single Crow. he uttered peculiar
taunting whoop of defiance which drew forth yell
of rage from the savage who came driving on at a
furious speed still covering the hunter with the
muzzle Of his rifle.
He was scarcely thirty yards from the old hunter
! ~, Jorh L.
fired. But his bullet whstled harmlcssly by the
prosrate form of the wary old hunter, who quick
thought dropped to the earth ut the fash of the
Indians rifle.
The tremendous whoop of the hunter had star
ted the two Crows beneath him. and with their
half loaded rifles, they sat there apparently bewil
dered and half stupc6ed by the sudden appearance
of old Jude now in tho rear, while the single war
ror came laundering along the hill sidc his horse
growing unmanageably, his rifle unloaded, and him
self accustomed Ms he was to rough riding scarce
ly able to maintain his scat in his wild, plungng
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 hand fragment of
rock that giant might have failed to weld, while
his left was outstretched. as if to-the next breath
revealed his whole ntention--for the horse came
dashing on, the veteran hunter grasped him by the
nostrils with such powerful grippe that in an in
slant the frightened mustang was tug quivering
upon his launches, while the Crow was flung vio-
lently to the earth which he had barely touched
when down came the ponderous rock upon his ma
ked head, monglng and crushing his face and skull
out of the very shape of humanity. Scarcely had
the rock left his hand, when old Judah snatched
his rifle from the ground leaped upon the back of
the Indian horse and with another unearthly whoop
dashed right on down the steep pathway towards
the two remaining Crows, who as if panic stricken
at the death of their comrade, and the strange
stratagem of the old hunter, turned and fled for
life, while the cause of their terror camo yelling
and whooping on in swift pursuit.
When the Crows dashed by mo, they were so
near and wholly dcfencecss that | could easily
have brought either or both of them from their
horses with the butt of my crippled rifle But |
was so absorbed by the interest of the singular
race that scarcely noticed the fugtives, and pcr-
mitted them to pass by unmolested
AS old Jude drew up with me- observed that he
was guiding his horse from side to side he dashed
on along the trail, holding the hide rens i'll his
teeth while he every few seconds pointed his rifle
an instant and lowered the muzzle again, until
comprchended mis- attention to get them in
range he could cover them both with his rifle,
lie had passed me some thirty yards and the
| Crows were some fifty more in advance of him when
a sudden turn in the trail brought them in line,
and in less than three seconds the bullet from old
Jude's rife had sped on its mission of death
Striking the nearest Indian in the back Of the
neck at the junction with the spine. it passed out