Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-03-25
THE gun :" cried Landlord.
- fo,,, yUb;t,,,,,, ~

ing down three mounted SavageS, horses
and riders rolling over and over in horri-
BILE death agony.
The remaining savages again came to
| halt, but only for an instant. With a
terrific warwhoop, they came on again to
the onslaught, firing as they came, and
| looking like incarnate demons.
"All together :" cried the guide
The other men and all the boys fired
each with especial aim. Six mounted
savages fell before the deadly rain.
A panic Immediately seized upon the
survivors. In the midst of it, Whitman
grimly touched off his field-piece anew
This ended the conflict. The savages
| with horrible yells beat an instantaneous
retreat, leaving their dead upon the field
and dragging away their wounded
Amory had bullet wound in his
shoulder and Arnold's eldest son had a
flesh wound in his arm, but neither OF
these injuries were serious.
Are you safe, Gay ?" demanded Mark.
coming toward her.
'1es, but I'm almost smothered," an
swered Gay. "Have the savages surely
gone, Mark P'
Gay crept cautiously forth while she
was speaking. The remaining wagons
disgorged their crouching occupants,
women and children coming forth pale
and trembling, but full of joyful graft
tude at their escape from death, or a fate
worse than death The camp took on its
usual appearance even before the retreat
ing savages we've entirely lost to view in
the far distance. That night they en-
| camped 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 on the Little Blue was
full of incident, but all of the pleasant
sort, nothing occurring to alarm the emf
grants.
And at the end of the week, to their
great joy and relief, they arrived at Fort
kearney.
The emlgrants did not halt at the fort.
but pressed on to Kearney City, where
they encamped just at nightfall.
Here Conductor Landlord found another
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 a matter of discussion,
and regret that his assailant had escaped
was universal
81 know the fellow who dirked the con-
ductor," said Landlord. ''He is perfect
demon. know that he has killed several
men, | saw him at Denver last year. He
had just stabbed a miner from behind.
and robbed him of all him money and
gold, He is called Blue Jack"
blue jack cried one or two boys.
l"What a name ~
They call him so because one side oil
his face is blue. as if bruised" said Land
ford. Looks as if the blood had settled
under the skim
The new train was bound for Denver
as Landlord had said.
r Two wagons belonged to men witt
. had no woman with them. There wer
= tive of these desperadoes, and only tn
: smallness of their number As compare,
: with the others induced Landlord to ALLOW
them to travel under his guidance and tn
protection of his train.
A few introductions took place, an,
then the long train took up its line Q
j.. march westward.
. During the noon encampment on tn
r following day, Gay had finished her din
n ner. and merry snatch OF song was Of
4 her lips, when one of the desperadoe
/ known as Burk came up to her, ant
n paused beside her, regarding her with al
: insolent stare.
= Halo, younker," he said gruflly. .
. noticed you yesterday. and you are the
r prettiest young one l ever did see Go
. no father nor mother, Ell? Going ives
with your brother, Ell Give us kiss
+, there's doll ~
, In an instant she leaped to her feet.
, Child as she was, she resented the in
. suit that had been offered her with wo
mans offended pride and anger.
GLOW dare you p' she cried. acc
away. If you touch me, I'll call m.
brother"
"Ah, now, young one, you're fooling,
he said insolently. "You act older thar
, l took you for. I'll warrant no boy ex
cept your brother has kissed them lips G
U your'n, and I'm bound to have one--s'
now ?"
p AS quick as flash, she drew from he
; pocket pistol Mark had bought for he
: at Leavenworth, and which he had sine
q taught her to use skillfully. She cooke,
tire pistol, and its four small dark tube
n were promptly presented to the eyes O
, DuTk LOT luSpecllOn. lie started Dack II
unaffected horror and Amusement
, 1.-The little vixen !" he muttered. Ssh
acts like a highwayman instead of
shrinking girl. She beats air.
81 was only fooling," he said aloud
II didn't mean nothing. Don't say moth
ing young one. I'm off.
And he fastened to beat a retreat to hi
own proper quarters.
Gays light laugh rang after him mock.
ingly.
Course her!" muttered Burk. "Blue
Jack would tame that wildcat spirit OF
her'n, and l wish he may do it, that's all.
III make 'em acquainted, blessed if
don't !"
The train was ready to resume its
march.
"Come up into the wagon. Mark" said
the girl. coaxingly. 81 have something
to tell you"
Marked climbed up beside Gay,'his boy
ish face full of tenderness and affection
as he looked down upon his adopted sis