The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-05-25

Mhkpf auMbNeEt AlAh un htAVW WeNa0 -
his arm, and what was worse, his horse
had received several OF the deadly mis-.
siles, and soon began to show signs OF
failing strength.
Things looked dark for oil three Of
them, for the Kiowas were evidently
preparing for another rush.
fThe wagons can't be far away now"
said Sol "but II may be we're too
late to do them any good. Wen try,
though"
The poor Delaware spnrred desper.
ately athis unlucky mustang, but II was
clear that he could go but little further.
Again the deadly rife shots warned
back the two daring redskins but
somehow the mustang was fated to be
hit, and he sank TO the earth.
Cup, behind me, quick |" said Sol.
II was o heavy load, even for the iron
limbs OF Captain; but the brave horse
strobe on without 0 sign Of restiyeness,
with the additional weight OF the Della.
ware. And Soils determination TO save
his red companion turned out well for
little Abraham, II not for himself, for
the Kiowas, enraged at thus losingtheir
victim, now followed more and more
clossly for q short distance, until o
lance, hurled by some arm Of unusual
yigor, buried lis iron head deep in tho
back Of the unfortunate Delaware.
With one long and ringing death
vhoop he reeled off upon the grass |;
and Sol saw only too clearly that fur.
ther attempts TO aid him would be only
suicidal. The point Of the lance had
even slightly grazed little Abraham, in
spite OF his living shield. With q deep
vow Of vengeance, Sol rode forward.
Now, however, the Indians ceased 70
follew him, rs II by common consent |;
and fewminutes more brought him in
full sight Of the white tops OF three
wagons, peacefully plodding along over
- afm Sol Brantly, the scout, . he said
as he rode up. "Here, put the little
fellow into the wagon. Push on as fast
as you can. We must get TO Q place
where We can stand o long fight, and
we can't do it here on the open
prairie"
aBe you q son Of old Deacon Brant-
", Of Edgar 2" here again broke in the
feeble voice from thewagon.
Yes, ma,am he was my father"
"Then, Elisha, he's m old neighbor
OF our'n, leastwise his father was.
Mary, don't you remember little Sol
Brantly, that rised 10 play with You :"
Mary, or anybody else, might have
been puzzled 10 detect any resemblance
between her curly playmate and the
bronzed, bearded youth before her !;
bnt the discovered acquaintanceship
was promptly acknowledged by all par
ties, and one look into Mary's blue
eyes was enough TO solidify Soils deter
mination to stick by that party Of emil
grants, como veal, come woe.
Sol was OF once recognized as the
leader OF the little band, and under his
orders the patient mules-and they
woreo OF the very best-were urged to
their utmost exertions over the by no
means rough or difficult road. Sol ex-
plhined his purpose as he went along.
Ths Kiowas by this time were fast
coming up; but well aware that o sur
prise was now impossible, seemed in
no hurry TO make an immediate attack,
doubtless considering their prey safe,
and willing TO wait for the arrival OF
additional numbers.
That mile seemed about the longest
anybody had ever travelled. The wag-
ons were kept closely together; the
men, who were all mounted, riding on
either side, and keeping q keen look
out for the sayages.
Old Mr.. Bonner and his sons were oil
pretty good marksmen, and they fol-
lowed so sltillfully the example and nd
vice OF Sol Brantly-shooting OF horses
when they could not hit Indians-that
the Kiowas speedily became somewhat
more wary. A prairie Indian has very
reasonable horror Of being dismounted.
The very mules seemed 10 understand
that there was o reason for haste, and
before long, what Sol called the sink
hole was reached. IL was singular
natural depression in the surface Of
little prairie, not circular, as such phe-
nomena- generally are, but an oval,
about forty feet wide at the widest,
about sixty feet long, and perhaps
twenty feet deep in the center.
Into this the teams were hastily
driven, and the wagons were quickly 80
arranged as TO constitute q sort Of inner
fort, or citadel, strengthened as much
.as possible by piling their heavier con-
tents around them.
The greatest difficulty was the ami
mails but these were secured against
stampeding as carefully as possible.
Not having expected TO reach water
that night, Mr.. Bonner had provided o
couple Of barrels full at his last halt
and 80 Sol felt quite sure that he could
stand short siege. His greatest fears,
were that the cavalry would
take the regular trail, and that they
were sure 10 do unless the Delaware
found them in time. IL
Great was the surprise and disgust OF
the Kiowas when they witnessed the
sudden and unaccountable disappear.
ance Of their Prey, and they were not
long in comprehending the nature OF
Soils stroke Of generalahip. To be sure,
there was nothing to prevent them from
riding round and round the sink.hole,
and firing unlimited arrows at IL; but
they clearly understood that il was dam
gerous for such cavalry as theirs TO
charge upon such o natural rifle.pit
and while they were debating what
might be their best plan Of action, Sol
and his friends had time to complete
their preparations.
Twice the Indians charged down up
nm the wagons md twice thew were