The Empire County argus., 1854-06-03

helpless and impotent in the center of the vast
herd while at short intervals could hear the sharp
ringing report of the Crow rifles. followed by the
whistle of their bullets and if as by miracle. for
full twenty minutes, during which time the herd
was confined between the belt of brushwood and the
ridge, we were hurried along with them, without
any of our number receiving the slightest injury
either from the bufaloes or our friend the Crows.
At last when the head of the belt of timber was
gained and the herd began to spread out and sweep
to the westward by some singular chance the old
hunter and myself were flung together and at the
same tine out clear of the buffalo stream on the
left.
For single instant we reined in our horses and
as we did So pointed to the Indiane-some fifty
in all. | should think-who had ridden along the
summit of the ridge, keeping about the same dis
tance from US they had been at first.
Yes, ! sec the red thieves said my companion
very calmly. as his eyes followed the direction of
my finger, see them Lieutenant, and | can tell
you they all carry the CINCINNATI rife. Too light
to kill hard shelled old fellow like me, this dist
ance. But boys are all eff west with the buffa-
loes and we are left here to play hop and dodge
with these thevin' Crows
well we must back towards the river, and ford
it somewhere, for you them skunks are dividing
about forty of 'em are coming down to follow the
buffaloes and our feers, and them other sneaks--
ten of 'em-will hang round until they wing us
unless we play the Indian better than they can.
Come Lieutenant" and the next breath we were
dashing away towards the river.
Were were within perhaps two hundred yards of
the bank when the heads of at least thirty Indians
thrust up above the feahery scarf of fern that
along the very edge of the bank.
That won't do Lieutenant said the hunter, ap-
parently not the least moved. as far as could dis
cover. 1T won't do SIR and he caught my left hand
bride rein, whirling my horses head away from
Al ~,
dashed off the ground just Travelled, old Judah
went on
It's no use Lieutenant to try for the river now.
There's five hundred of the thieving Crows on the
other side. and our only chance now is to distance
them devils on the hill there and get far enough
ahead of them to cross the ridge and pull out for
the steamer. And now, Lieutenant. don't worry
down your animal in the start nor above anything
else don't waste q single bullet. We shall want
EN- every one before we get clear
At the moment we turned to retrace our steps,
the savages whose heads we had only seen above
the fern now rose fully in view, horses and all, as
they rushed up to the bank and in less than thir-
ty seconds fifty of the red iends were laundering
along the narrow prairie on our trail while ten
warriors on the hill side came yelling on after US.
keeping up dropping fire which we were too busy
to reply to, until they would come within surer
range of our heaviest pieces; which at the rate we
pect Of their doing.
For nearly ten miles along the north west base of
the ridge of one flight had continued the herd of
huffaoes. with our companions, had long since dis
appeared in the northern bend. the Crows had
dropped of, one after another until not more than
a dozen besides these on the ridge continued the
race. and these were mostly mile behind and los
ing ground every moment.
But there were seven Of the warriors on whom,
n a. nat tp rcc had mad O,
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 ye here. Lieutenant--ths wont ever an
swer' said old Judah suddenly reigning in his horse
and at the same time graspng the bride of mine
and almost finging him back on his launches.
4 tell you sir, we must drill a hole or two in them
fellows skulls or they'll cut off sartn sure before
we can get across the ridge Now my advice is,
Lieutenant that you take these three rascas on the
prairie in hand while look after them other beg.
sars 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 ut the
flash of your piece, they'll fling themselves fat
along their horses neck, or it may be drop right
down along side of the animal. so that your bullet
II 20 whistng without touching nothing So you
you must aim just few inches above the horse
weathers, and ten to one you'll bore hole square
in the top of Mr.. Crows head
The last words had scarce passed the lips of nv
companion when followed his advice to the letter
by singing out the foremost Indian and drawing a
bead on him, or rather his horse Just clear of his
launches while they dropped with their heads no
higher than those of the ANIMALS
My customer was mistaken this time, however
for the moment after fired he sprang bolt upright
dropped his rife and after finging his arms about
in the most violent manner, for n few breaths, he
toppled over backwards and fell heavily to the
ground
That's the fashion to count up our tales on the
blondy red thieves Lieutenant observed old Judah
in tone of exutation the sharp crack of his RI
he followed mine, and one of the sdc-hill warriors
plunged headlong from his saddle-'that's the way
to talk to EN-, lad. Both them chaps got our bits
of lead in the tops of their gourds-rieht through
their brains--if so be these Internal skunks have
got any brains
They're cunning devils, though and our next
bullet would mt wing 'em in that way. No, no. you
hold your fire, till you see how--no, hang it ! a.
soon as you're ready we'll both fire togcther--but
this time aim about four feet from the horses back
Just abou. their heads as they sit in the usual
way
What say-are you ready!
Aye, blaze away--Freh
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 clasped their hands
TO their breasts and plunged headlong forward
their horse heads to the ground.
Fooled again y shouted the Old hunter in ex-
ultant tone Lieutenant there il not many of these