White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-07-22


the midst of their drunken orgies, with
oaths and imprecations on their lips,
others where they sat playing cards exul-
ting over their success, or in the midst of
unfinished games with the uplifted cards
in their hands.
While the rifles thinned them out by
scores, the dragons with cleaning sabres
pursued them over the moonlit field, and
hewed them down in their tracks as they
fed and screaming for mercy. An hour
of terrible retribntion had fallen upon
them, and retnorselessly was the penalty
of their many crimes exacted in this hour
of unsuspecting security. The carnage
was over in a brief space, and the victors
were the masters Of field which was
covered With the dead and the dying.
Michael had promptly been released by
his comrades, whose arrival had been so
opportune for him, and so soon as he W as
freed, he was fortunate enough to secure
horse which came galloping riderless
past, and calling to one or two of his
brother dragons to follow, he vaulted
into the saddle, and putting spurs to his
horse, rode fercely away.
When the troop first broke from their
cover, scarcely waiting to ascertain the
extent of the danger, Harrison, trembling
for his safety, had turned his horses head
across the field, hoping to escape by a
timely and PERCEPTIONS flight. Mounted
upon an iron grey charger Of uncommon
aeetness and strength, he confidently ex-
pected to make good his retreat unpursued,
or at least to distance any one who might
be tempted to pursue. But horseman
whc rode at the head of the troopers of
Marion, favored by the noon like bright
ness of the night, had already marked
his flight, and separated from his troop,
to follow in pursuit. Dressed in a suit
of black velvet from head to foot, aud
riding horse as black as ebony, and
with a single ostrich feather of snowy
whiteness waving from his black cap, he
indeed presented an ominous appearance,
as gracefully sitting upon his stout char
ger, with his flashing sword in hand, he
Numbered on in pursuit. Not shadow
of emotion, anger, revenge, or joy dis
turbed the calm gravity of his handsome
features. His dark, full. bold and lustrous
eye, turned neither to the right or left, to
regard the screaming fugitives, who cow
cred from his path as he swept impetu-
ously by. but was fixed mcanin8ly and
sternly upon his unforgiven foe.
Hearing the thickening fall of feet be-
hind him, when he begun to fancy him
self secure from pursuit, Harrison turned
in his saddle, and his cheek grew pale
with fear, when in the sable horseman he
recognized the bold and daring Convers,
whom he had wronged beyond forgive
ness. Behind him, at scarcely the dis
lance of hundred yards, followed his
inveterate foe, and before him lay fence
with a double ditch, which must be leap
ed fearlessly, and at killing pace. De-
structIon followed in his steps and he
dared not hesitate. Pressing his gallant
horse to the utmost, he cleared it at a
bound, and with smile of triumph
refined in his horse, and wheeling round,
with his sabre uplifted, stood ready to
confront his advancing adversary, and
hew him down before he could recover
himself from the perilous and difficult
leap.
Conyers saw at glance the design of
his enemy, and though he might have
avoided all hazard by drawing the pistol
from his holster and shooting him dead
as he stood, yet he preferred to encounter
him in a manner better calculated to sa-
tiate those stern and vindictive feelings
that had been stirred up by injuries too
great to be forgiven. Therefore, finding
that bis enemy awaited him, he frightened
his rein and permitted his horse to ap-
proach to the difficult leap, with slow
and measured strides. Fixing his eye
firmly upon Harrison, and sinking low
in his saddle, he touched his charger
gently with the spur, and the leap was
gallantly made. With the point of his
sword lowered and extended beyond the
head Of his horse, he received the fercely
aimed blow of Harrison, and skilfully
parried It with an upward stroke. 1t
required the quick eye of the eagle and
the mistaken nerve of the lion to accom-
plish so difficult feat as warding of the
sword stroke of we'll posted adversary
IN a flying leap, but it was dexterously
done, and the sword of Harrison glanced
harmlessly above his head. Before his
discom6tted and astonished adversary
could prepare to repeat the blow, Con-
yers had wheeled upon him, and was raj
sing a storm of blows about his head
In vain the terrified tory put forth his
utmost skill and strength, and taxed his
powers to their full limit he was soon
convinced that he lay at the mercy of
Conyers, who prolonged the contest, only
to lengthen out his agony. Feeling that
he was powerless in the hand of an ad-
whose sword seemed living
part of the arm that welded it, he uttered
an sgonizing cry for mercy, which was
only answered by descending blow that
laid open his sword arm to the bone. and
freed the weapon from his grasp. With
an oath Of desperation, and cry of pain.
he again turned his horses head, and
driving the spurs deep into his flank at
every stride. frantically sought to escape !;
out like bird of prey thirsting for his
blood, the cleaning sword of ConyersI
flashed above his head, now rising to give
the fatal blow, and now lowered aschance
or increased the space between
them. Again as Conyers. with uplifted
sword, gained position side by side
with him, so that their knees suote in