Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-21

VanclDg IN SLIaS IL hnO' - -. 80
"Now, boys, give them INIT tlat VIC are
not fooling," said the guide grlmiy.
Mark Heber and bis young cOmraueS hreu
a voIey. buuo..
came hurting toward the defenders Oh tne
camp. e.c.
'em, Whitman"
Whitman did "give it to Them" moving
down three mounted savageS, horses and
riders rolling over and over IN horrible
death agony.
The remaining savages again came to
halt, but only for an instant. With a ter
rife warwhoop, they came on again to the
onslaught, firing as they came, and looking
like incarnate demons.
GAIL together" cried the guide.
The other men and all the boys fired,
each with especial aim. Six mounted saw
ages fell before the deadly rain.
A panic Immediately seized upon the sur
yivors. In the midst of it, Whitman grim
" touched off his field piece anew.
This ended the conflict. The sayages
with horrible yells beat an instantaneous re-
treat, leaving their dead upon the field, and
dragging away their wounded.
Amory had bullet wound in his should
er. and Arnold's eldest son had a flesh
wound in his arm, but neither Of these in
juries were serious.
care YOU safe, Gay?" demanded Mark,
coming toward her.
ayes, but Pm almost smothered," an
sWered Gay. "HaVe the savages surely
gone, Mark?"
Gay cautiously crept forth while she was
speaking. The remaining wagons disgorg-
ed their crOuching occupants, women and
children coming forth pale and trembling,
but ful of joyful gratitude at their escape
from death, or a fate worse than death.
The camp took on its usual appearance
even before the retreating savages were en-
tirely lost to view in the far distance. That
night they encamped upon the prairie, and
met with no adventure. A guard was
maintained as on the previous night, but
no Indians were to be seen.
Every day for the week that followed the
encampment of the Little Blue was full Of
incident, but all of the pleasant sort, moth
ing occurring to alarm the emigrants.
And at the end of the week, to their
great Joy and relief, they arrived at Fort
Kearney.
The emigrants did not halt at the fort,
but passed on to Kearney City, where they
encamped Just at nightfal.
Here Conductor Landlord formed an
other train, the guide of which had been
stabbed the night before by notorious
man, who had escaped arrest. The train
was offered to Landlord, to be united with
his own.
The assault that had been made upon
the conductor of the previously arrived
train was made matter of discussion, and
regret that his assailant had escaped was
universal.
81 know the fellow who dirked the con-
duetor," said Landlord. oHe is perfect
demon. I know that he has killed several
men. l saw him at Denver last year. He
had Just stabbed a miner from behind, and
robbed him of all bis money and gold. He
is called Blue Jack"
'Blue Jackw cried one or two boys.
"What a name! :"
"They call him so because one side of his
face is blue, as if bruised" said Landlord.
"Looks as if the blood had settled under the
skin"
The new train was bound for Denver, as
! Ian ford had said.
Two wagons belonged to men who had
no woman with them. There were five OF
these desperadoes, and only the smallness
of their number as compared with the others
induced Landlord to allow them to travel
under his guidance and the protection of
his train.
A few introductions took place, and then
the long train took up its line of march
westward.
During the noon encampment, on the
| following day, Gay had finished her dinner,
and merry snatch of song was on her lips,
when one of the desperadOes known as
Burk came up to her, and paused beside
her, regarding her with an insolent stare.
"Hallo, younker," he said grufly. 81
noticed you yesterday, and you are the
prettiest young one ever did see. Got no
father nor mother, Ell? Going west with
your brother, Ell? Give us a kiss, there's
| a donr'
In an instant she leaped to her feet.
Child as she was, she resented the insult
that had been offered her with wOman's
offended pride and anger.
sHow dare you?" she cried. "GO away.
! If you touch me, I'll call my brother"
''Ah, now, young one, you're fooling,
| be said insolently. "YOu act older than
took you for. I'll warrant no boy except
your brother has kissed them lips o. your'n
and I'm bound to have One-so nOwn'
As quick as fash, she drew fir ON hel
pocket a pistol Mark had bought her al
Leavenworth, and which he had since
taught her to use skillfully. She cooked
the pistol, and its four small dark tube
were promptly presented to the eyes o
BuTk for inspection. He started back il
unaffected horror and amazement.
"The little yiXenr' he muttered. Ssh
acts like highwayman instead of a shrink
ing girl. She beats all"'
Il was only fOoling," he said aloud. Il"
didn't mean nothing. Don't say nothing
young one. I'm off,"
And he fastened to beat a retreat to hi.
own proper quarters.
Gays light laugh ran after him mock
ingly.
course herr muttered Burk. "Blue JAG
would tame that wildcat spirit of herr
and wish he may do it, that's all. III max
'em acquainted, blest if l don't"
The train was ready to resume its marcel
"COme up into the wagon, Mark sal
the girl, coaxingly. 81 have something t
tell you"
Mark climbed up beside Gay, his boyis
face full of tenderness and affection as h
locked down upon his adopted sister.
''Well, what is it, little Gay" he said, q
she hesitated
"Have you noticed that man Burk, VIII
Joined us with the other train at Kearne
City," asked Gay.
give seen him and noticed him." sal
Mark. "Mr. Landlord has poor opinio
of him. He's a confederate OF Blue Jacl
the outlaw. What have you to say aboU
him, Gay?"
ale wanted to kiss me back at the halt,
said Gay composedly, sand, as you wei
busy, just pulled out my pistol and scare
him. He thought l meant to shoot hin
/ and went off to the rear of the train"
SHARKS boyish brOws grew stern, an
his eyes flashed.
"The coward and villain" he exclaimed
sT'n horsewhip him for that. How dare
he?"
eDon't get into trouble on my accoun
dear Mark ~ exclaimed Gay, in alarm
''He's a bad man, and he might kill you
He didn't kiss me, and have taught him
keep his distance, so that he won't trOubl
me again. Don't speak to him, Mark, plea:
dOn'tr -
But Mark would not promise.
About sunset Landlord beheld in the di
to1oa a eolitory l,orcapap who imam lOol