Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-02-22


Aren't yer satisfied, gentlemen :?
cried Bill, as cool as an alligator
Put up your shootin-irons, or there1l
de more dead men here And they
put them up and said it war far
fight"
"What become of Tut ?" l asked
of the Captain, who had stopped at
this point of his story, and was very
deliberately engaged in reilling his
empty glass.
| 'Oh, Dave? He was a plucky fel-
low as ever drew trigger; but Lord
bless yerl it was no use. Bill never
shoots twice at the same man, and
his ball went through Dawes heart.
He stood stock-still for a second or
two, then raised his arm as if to fire
again, then swayed little, staggered
three or four steps, and then fell dead
Bill and his friends wanted ter
have the thing done regular, so we
went up ter the Justice, and Bill de-
lvered himself up. A jury was
drawn; Bill was tried and cleared
the next day. 1t proved that it was
a case of self-defense. Don't yer see,
Colonel ?"
answered that [ was afraid that
did BOT see the point very clearly.
"NE~i, Welln' he replied with an
air OF ompassion, "you haven't drunk
any whisky, that's what's the matter
with yer" And then, putting his
hand on my shoulder with half mys-
tcriouS, half conscious look in his
face, he muttered, in whisper:
'The fact is, there was an under
current Of woman in that fghtr
The story of the duel was yet fresh
from the lips Of the Captain when its
hero appeared in the manner already
described After a few moments
conversation Bill excused himself, say
ing;
Il am going out on the prarer a
piece to see the sick wife of my mate. F"
| should be glad to meet yer at the
hotel this afternoon, Kernel"
Il will 90 there to meet you," | re-
piled.
"Good day gentlemen" said the
scout, as he saluted the party; and
mounting the black horse who had
been standing quiet, unhitched, he
waved his hand over the animals
head. Responsive to the signal, she
shot forward as the arrow leaves the
bow, and they both disappeared up
in a cloud of dust.
That is the most remarkable char
acter | have met in four years active
service" said Lieutenant of cavalry
as the party resumed their SEATS
He and his mate-the man who
secuted with him-attempted the
most daring feat that | ever heard
Of"
As there appeared to be no bust
ness on hand at the moment the party
urged the Lieutenant to tell the story
Il can't tell the thing as it was,
: said the Young officer. at was be
yond description. One could onl,
hold their breath and feel. 1t hap
: pened when our regiment was attach
, ed to Curtis command in the expedi
, ton down into Arkansas. One da'
Y we were in the advance, and begal
e to feel the enemy, who appeared il
/, greater strength than at any time be
l. fore. We were all rather uneasy, 70
c there was rumOrs that Kirby Smit
) had come up from Texas with all hi
e. force; and as we were on ly a stron
II accommodating party, fight just the
e might have been bad for US. W
d made big noise with light batter,
d and stretched our cavalry out in tn
k opening and opposite to the reb,
y cavalry, who were drawn up in lin
of battle on the slope of the prairi
Is about thousand yards away. Thel
% we sat for half an hour, now and the
is banging at each other, but both pa
l. ties keeping pretty we'll their line
battle. They waited for us to pit(
ct in. We were waiting until more I
our infantry should come:
l, 1t was getting to be stupid wor
'e however, and we were all hopir
q something would turn up, when v
n noticed two men ride out from Il
n centre OF their line and move towal
us. At the first instant we paid b
er little heed to them supposing it sor
act of rebel brevado, when we sa
mt quite a commotion all along the er
at my's front, end then they commenc
ch firing at the two riders, and then the
en- line was all enveloped with smol
out of which horsemen dashed in pl
he suit. The two riders kept well
ler gether, coming straight for us. Th
he we knew they were trying to escal
'er and theColonel deployed our compa
of as skirmishers to assist them. The
Of wasn't time to do much, although,
~ y; | watched the pursued and their p
lat suers, and found the two men h
tch halted at what | now see was a dc
ditch, the moments seemed to be hou
ear and when they turned | thought Il
,er were going to give themselves up
wd But no; in the face of that awful
they deliberately turned back to
me, space for a good run at the ditch
md This gave time for two of their ?
ov- suers to get within few yards
the them, when they stopped, evider
cen in doubt as TO the meaning of
ach retrograde movement. But they
- not remain long in doubt, for the
Bill men turned again, and, with a sh
be- rushed for the ditch, and then
ism were near enough to see that t
were Wild Bill and his mate. B