The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-04-02

hIlOut tDIahS up otiohV suO ohihioao,
and began shaking the rattle box. IL Is
made of deer-skin, and filed with buffalo
claws and bits Of flint As he shook the
rattle and yelled, the herd stampeded, and
roaring, .snorting and believing, the
mules and oxen dashed over the prairie.
An Indian seized the dead herder's horse,
and was upon hts back and after the fly
Ing herd In no time.
The others, whose ponies were hid In n
rayine near by, mounted and followed,
yelling at the animals and thrusting their
spear points into the sides Of those who
Jagged. 1 reached camp. The train had
been raised by the yclls OF the savages.
Twenty-four hunters Joined us the day be-
fore. Their horses were picketed near
the wagons. AS rode up, the party were
mounting. 'How many redskins are
should think On they rode after them.
1 rode back to where I had lain, to get my
saddle. Ifound Il, and was buckllng the
rirth, when heard low, moaning
sound. i turned quickly and listened.
The night winds were signing In the trees
along the opposite shore of the Platte.
The slightest sound alarmed me. was
about 10 mount. But there, in the noon
light, with his face upward, lay the
young hertler, with an arrow through his
heart
The old man paused. His voice shook,
and tear fell upon his hand.
1T was the first man had seen killed by
an Indian. 1t impressed me. Ineyer can
forget it. r-rr..
The old man had forgotten, In the MEM
ories his story had awakened, to make use
Of fl,a oI xxynr.Ia nd RnrIar farms that
marked his conversation mt the start. His
roughness of language and manner had
vanished rs he warmed into his story. Af-
ter pause he resumed.
'Illtted the dead body from the ground,
and laid his head upon my knee. The ar
row had gone through his body. The
point came out through the shoulder blade.
Did YOU ever see an Indian arrow? turn
Ing to Meredith. .. ..f..-.,
NO, sir; / never did, .....
4 have one In my wagon. I will bring
it. .. ....-..
This Is Sioux arrow. II Is singular
that The arrows of every tribe differ. !
said il was no use TO attempt to pull the
arrow Out-fOr see here
The young men gathered around.
DO you see this little groove, running
from the point down to the featherp They
cut that I'm their arrows, so the blood will
not clog around the point, but will flow
till the victim bleeds to death. The red
devils do not mean that you shall with
draw the arrow, for IL you attempt Ii, II
makes n wound that rarely or never heals.
Well, the young hcrder had been scalp
ed, and the blood trickled down over his
handsome face. laid him down. mOut-
ed my horse, and rode on swiftly after
the hunters, who had passed out OF sight.
knew that they could not be far distant.
/ fancied heard rushing sound. as OF
the wind, In the distance. / checked up
my horse. Nearer and nearer Il came.
could hear yells and the sound OF fire.
arms. Presently horsemen came In
sight. The hunters were retrcating.
Full two hundred Indians were behind
them. .-
Fly for your lifeg shouted the fore
most hunter as he came near me. On we
dashed back to camp. 1t was narrow
escape, for they had almost Overtaken us.
The Indians halted just beyond rifle
range, and remained In consultation. We
waited an attack. | learned from one
of the hunters that they came up TO the
Indians about three miles from camp.
Just as they were ready TO fire upon
them, Indians rose from the grass upon
all sides, and they were surrounded. They
dashed through, followed closely by the
savages.
1T was upwards of an hour before any
movement was made by the Indians
against our camp. At last with yell
they dashed upon us.
They never come in platoons, but form
n circle, and ride, one after another,
around your camp, TO select the weak
point. Ii they find IL, they charge you
there. Ii you stand up well you are safe
II YOU finch you are lost. AS they drew
near, we fired. You never can tell how
many of them are killed or wounded.
The moment an Indian falls from his po-
nv, he Is picked up by another, who throws
him across his pony, and carries him away
and often they are tied fast In the saddle.
Their ponies are trained. II their riders
get killed or wounded, they gallop with
them to the rear. We fired; they saw we
were prepared, and retired, taking their
killed and wounded with them. lsaw five
or six drop, but they were instantly taken
off.
Soon after the Indians retired, six hunt
ers. armed and mounted, set out TO notify
the garrison at Fort Kearney Of our loss.
It was ride of thirty miles. The moon
had gone down. IL was very dark. and
once away from camp, they had little TO
fear, rs the Indians never attack In the
dark. Silently they rode out OF camp.
Their horses hoofs had been mufiied. SO
rs to make no noise when they reached
the wagon-road. We all shook hands ut
the corral; for perhaps we might not
meet again In this world. Then out they
rode into the night. We listened, with
our ears 20 the ground, to hear II they
were attacked. But not sound was
heard.isave the bowling Of wolves far In
the distance.
Hay down TO rest; drew my blanket
over me, but could not sleep. The pale
face of the herier, with the blood upon
his forehead. was constantly before me.
thought OF the poor fellow lying unbur-
led on the prairie, and It worried me
I rose-walked out; passed the guard,
and crossed to the camp of the ox-train.
They were all awake, and many started
TO their feet as entered their corral.
Poor Shirleyr said the wa gOn-master
Twas. Il won't know what to say to his
mother ....r... . i
Il cannot Sleep said /, while the
tnOuEnt OI tnat poor DVy lylnS unUuIcu
Is In my mind. l know where he lies,
and IL you will help me, will so now and
bury him.
Il will 20 with you.' said he.
The others tried TO reason us out of Ii.
We went. We soon found the wagon-road
and we were travelling along noiselessly.
1T must be near here, i said In whis-
per; wonder Is the ravine.'
Suddenly the wagon-master caught me
by the arm, and forced me down on my
knees. Look he said, huskily, 'what Is
thatg
1T was moving object of some Kind. l
cooked NV revolver.
Don't fire! don't fret he whispered.
we may have the whole bowling pack OF
redskins down on us In moment
we crawled nearer the object, our re-
volvcrs In our hands. In a moment my
hand was upon the dead body Of the herd
er. | saw the CLEAN OF eyes that darted
forth tightening, then low growl. /
started with a horror. II was WOLF :.
drew match from my pocket, liz it