Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-03-01
GeIcttc0 nlistcIlnnp.
On the Verdigree.

Those were lively times on the Nerdl9fee.
The redskins had sent us their ultmAtum.
There sat their envoy extraordinary, half MAJ
ked on his NANCY steed, armed and equipped
for war, and erect aud as i!nperturable as Bis
mark The noon-day breeze just moved his
trailing scalp-lock, else he might have passed
for painted statue. llerndon sat on n hewn
sGtblof oak beating the ''lung roll with the
fragments of broken ramrod, and Iaughingly
commanding US to fall into line But we had
no lrilliug matter before us
Early that morning we had spurred our po-
MES through the crystal tide of the Verdigree,
clambcrcd up the Western bank and after eX-
ploring one Of the most lovely villages that
ever charmed the eye of man, had each select
ed prolific tract of land, and determined to
settle there for life. The forenoon had been
passed in cutting timber for our cabins But
The jealous Osages had resented our summary
procetd ngs, and had despatched to us per
emptory summons TO retire across the river, or
pay the penalty Of noncompliance with our
/ lives.
"Won You just be kind enough to ride out
to that there mound there ~ said Ben, the
| black muustnehed Missouran, to the vermllion
/ daubed SAVAGE, who partially understood Eng
| lush "We want TO take this here thing over
a litile' And he pointed to a spot about
thirty yards distant as though he expected his
request to be Immediately granted. Wheeling
his charger gracefully, the Indian aeccded
! Wl'houta word.
Our whole civil md military force had been
mustered for the occasion. There were SIX OF
us; wc were all Young and vigorous every
man had seen service, and that OF The rough
est kind. We held an impromptu council Of
war.
what do you think we'd better do, boys2'
inquired Ben, nouchalanly.
silence cnsued each waited Tor the other
to speak first. Al last TcXcan yentured TO
| express an OPINION Nhni has true name was,
never learned. FROM Ir&an, ihe lfonl'er
lingo had meiamorPhoscd his lille into IeXi-
can, and by that anomalous sonbriquet, We
knew respected and called nm.
- N ~ Tor hsht BOYS, SAID he. ms
here land can't be beai nowhere rs \, no
| One. And they ain! got any heiler right 10
| II, than sc have nud besides iilHt, lheY am
| give US decent invitation TO leave IT wonIdn
look well for us to travel OF on terms IKE
these" ANA with grating oath, he swofc
be die IN his boots before lie Il get out OF 'he
way OF set OF greasy Osagcs. lie shot EN-
anyhow, every chance he got Three seasons
preceding, the Comanchcs iiad scalped MS ~
iher on The "od Texas line aud Drained his
sister with war-club. We expected him to
talk In Just this style.
You jusi settle the matter for yourselves,
boys, whatever II is to be" inierpo5ed the
Missourian, yawning as though nothing more
Than an everyday ddemtna-a mere deal in
poker was 10 he decided.
thought it prudent to dodge the response
bllty and follow his example
IT'S very well to talk about lighting 1t out,
remarked Cotton land its likely that we've
got as much sand in our craws as any OF EN-,
but what can FIVE or six Of US do against three
Or four hundred dom like the way they
talk myself but the game is all ia their OWE
hands aud they know it ! had all the hebt-
ing wanted in the war, shooting you Texas
fellows, and don't want anymore Of it, if can
help it. We might throw our logs together,
and hold gu: own till morning, but it would
turn out an ugl" scrnpe before we get through
with it, We haven't gotta drop Of water, and
we soon run out of provisions, and they d
dance over our bones in fortg-eight hours. If
the rest Of you want to fight, why fight IL is
but think we better go little slow"
He was young, blue eye6, haxen-haircd
Minnesoian, and the border ruflians gave him
credit for being as cool as a wedge, and Sharp
Ell than steel.
am tell you what Pm in for" said lndi-
ana. We generally went by the names OF
our native States. We're all old vets in this
military business and We want 10 use little
sfraicgt with the vagabonds. They We insult
/ ed us, and for one, don ieel like falling back
without burning powder. Bat IL Just as Min
nesoH says. We can't fight en- all to any
purpose But we may beat en- after all. Now,
| move that wei pick our man, and they II
pick theirs, and let the two shoot IL out If