The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-09-25
6. Injuns About,

Orleans Ptcayune, tells a good story in
one of his letters of "a surlv faced .
grizzly haired, cuffy and mooreyed chap, "
who prosecuted certain rougish damsel
with his attentions, but was finally thrown
off of the course of true love, by the
following ruse
1t being watermelon season, and Bet
ty's father having fine supply, ali the
Youngsters for miles around assembled
there on the holidays, TO feast on mel
onS.
c. was prominent in the circle till the
afternoon. Betty held private inter-
views with the other young men, and ar
ranged that G. should be decoyed from
the house and frightened by the cry Of
Indians from. some of his comrades,
which it was thought would wound his
pride and drive him away.
Five young men, with c., walked out
A bath in the river three hundred yards
distant, was proposed by one, and Sec
onded by several. OF course poor c.
was "in."
They went down to the ford by the
melon patch, and began undressing. In
the meantime eight or ten others, with
guns had gone down under cover of the
bank, and secreted themselves along the
path, from the bathing place to the
house.
"Now boys" said one, "who shall
be the first to dive in that ere pool 20
Il will" said c.; "an't first with
the gals In course I'm first here"
Off went coats, shoes. pants, DC. Just
as G. had doffed everything, barring n
short flannel shirt-bang bang bang |!
Who-wo-oeh bang went one, two,
three, four guns-loud and shrill went
the Indian yell in the dense brush, and
under the bank.
80, Lord am a dead man, boys :"
said James Simpson.
"My leg is broken. O, save me-"
cried George Williams.
Run for life, men Run-(or mer-
cy sake, run !" cried Jack Parsons.
" One of my eyes is out, and both
arms broken p all being said in an in
stant.
Do you see that red blaze along the
path ? Look a moment-what velocity /,
That Jagged hair all straight out behind
that's C., sreaking for the house,
shirt and ALL See him about the corner
OF the field, by the thicket. Bang
bang-went half a dozen pieces; louder
than ever rose the hideous war cry.
20, Lord !" said c., doubling his
speed-the red blaze getting larger
bunches Of his bushy hair dropping out
as he "spread himself" See him leap
the yard ieuce-high in the air-red
shirt and all.
The porch was fun Of ladies--otf went
Two or three more pieces. c. glanced
At the ladies, then at his short red shirt.
Run for your life, c." screamed
Betty, the house is full of Indians =
Fathers dead and brother Sam is
wounded. Run. Speed -
In the twinkliug of an eye, c. was out
Of the yard and supposing the premises
surrounded, off lie shot, the red blaze
more brilliant than ever, and striking di-
rectIy into a thick thorny bottom, he
reached and swan the river, and al
though il was near sunset, c. got into 4
settlement fifty miles distant, to break
fast next morning; still retaining the
sleeves and collar of his red shirt, and
reported all the family, visitors, &c,
among the slain. AS for himself, he
said he fought as long AS lighting would
do any good.
It's unnecessary TO inform you, dear
reader, whether or not Betty WAS troub-
led with &. after that snap.