The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-09-27

was now in sight of Lennox and hi
companions.
Follow me p' / shouted, wheeling
my horse and waving my hand t.
them, as spurred at full speed in thu
direction Big Nick had taken.
On we dashed through brush ant
brier. Louder grew the tumult be-
low, and the rattle of firearms became
more and more frequent. On the
brow of the hill overlooking the camp
we met Big Nick, bearing Olive Bel
KNAPP before him as he spurred his
painting horse upward. The bullets
were flying thick around him, but he
paid no heed to them. The savages
were pressing close in his rear; but
he looked neither to the right nor left.
His pistols were empty and he could
only fly. We. received him with a
ringing shout, and letting him pass,
dashed down among the Indians, whom
after a sharp conflict, in which the
advantages were all on our side, we
routed and put to flight, leaving a
number OF their dead upon the field.
Then we returned sated with slaugh-
ter, to look after Big Nick and his
precious charge.
We found him but q little way from
where we had met him, when we had
dashed into camp; but the sight of
him dampened the joy of our triumph,
and caused the eyes which had so late
ly flashed with the light of battle, to
grow dim with unbidden tears. He
lay upon the ground, his head resting
upon the lap of the girl he had rescued,
the blood oozing from wound in his
chest, and his eyes fast glazing in
death, while the faithful Indian boy
stood beside him, holding gourd of
water to his lips. He rallied a little
as We came up, and, dismounting,
gathered in a sorrowf:il circle around
him.
"Tts all over with me, boys" said
be. "Pve got bullet right through
my lungs, and Pm a-bleedin' inwardly
4 kin teel it. I'm not sorry to go,
for Pm dyin' just as I always wanted
to die-a- givin' my life for my friend.
You remember, Ollie, how told you
once, when you said you wouldn't
never marry me- cause you liked Jim
LennoX better, that if ever you got
into difficulty, you'd allus find a firm
friend in Big Nick-one that 'ud give
his life for you any day-and I've
done it! Don't cry, Ollie; Fm glad
of the opportunity of showin' how
much l loved you; and this here hole
in my buzzum's mighty certain cure
e.. ho oh 1oH n
month. 1 feel happy now-happier
than Eve been for quite spell. Don't
take on, Ollie, it's all for The best.
II want you, Jim, to take mighty
good keer OF that girl-remember, she
has no one else to keer for her now.
know thai you are worthy of her,
and that you'll do what's right by her
aud so / die contented. Give me yer
hand, Jim, and accept dyin' mans
blessin'.
"Tm goin' fast, boys. My eyes is
gettin' mighty dim, and my hearts
almost stopped beatin'. But 1 was
goin' to say, George, 1 meyer know'd
that are gull of yourn was pet, or
I'd never a shot it. Indeed l would
Mt. You believe me now, don't you,
George :"
eyes, Nick God bless you, I knew
it all the time," [ answered, almost
overcome with emotion.
"That's all. Goodnight, boys
just one kiss, Ollie, before-we-
part"
With the pressure of her dewy lips
still trembling upon his own, he breath
ed out his soul to the God gave 1t.
Solemnly and sadly we took up all
that was left Of him, and placing his
body upon the horse, which, though
several times struck by the Indians,
bullets had almost miraculously es-
capped serious injury, we bore il back
to Excelsior City, where we gave it
respectful sepulture; and, as soon as
the return of peace permitted us leis-
ure to attend to it, we caused to be
placed over the grave a tablet, bear
ing Underneath the usual record, the
inscription: 'Greater love hath no
man than this, that he give his life for
his friend
James Lennox and Olive often Wis
it that grave, and this writer has more
than once dropped tear upon it.
FINS.