The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-05-15
Running the Gauntlet.
BY A ROWING AMERICAN.

1t was many years ago that the story
} l am about to relate occurred. -Four
young men, together with myself
started on a hunting expedition. My
companions We're wild and reckless fell
lows, afraid Of nothing. 1t was, I of
ten think, their recklessness which
caused their death.
Shortly after our arrival at our des-
tlnatiOn one of my companions shot an
old squaw-merely for fun, he said
But it proved dear for him, for shortly
after he was found dead. Nor did this
appease the wrath of the Indians; for
one after another, my other three
friends were killed, and I also came
very near losing my own life, as the
following will show.
One evening, as / was sitting in my
log hut quietly smoking my pipe,
heard the sound of footsteps, and, in an
instant, | was startled by a rap at the
door. Without waiting for reply, the
stranger opened the door and entered
the room. He accosted me by saying
How are you, stranger? Mighty
glad to see you"
/ replied to his salutation, and asked
him to take a seat, at the same time
motioning him to rude bench which |
had constructed.
"DOn't keer if l do, seein' how it's
you" he said, as he sat down.
:, Are yoIu. trapping around about
Well, yes, some," he replied hunt
ing and trapping, together with fight
ing redskins. Probably you have
heard of me W shook my head. "My
name is Bill Rogers, the Ingen-fghter,"
he said. I can whip more Ingens,
catch more beavers, kill more bars and
Tpn faster than any other man in old
Kentuck. But what's your handle,
stranger, and where did you come
from :"
"My name is Charles Grafton and |
came from St. Louis, together with
four other young men, who have all
been murdered by the Indians" re-
piled.
"Well, amt you afraid of the pesky
Ingens?" he asked.
No more than am of the bears or
other wild animals" / replied.
Well, stranger, you're in a mighty
dangerous situation, If do say it. The
place."
Ireplied that I intended to depart in
a short time.
As it was nearly dark, my newly
found friend asked permission to stay
all night with me. To this | readily
consented, and we passed the hours of
the evening in lively conversation un-
til our fires became extinguished. We
then wrapped our blankets around us
and lay down On the floor, where we
soon fell into a quiet slumber. How
long we slept know not, but we were
awakened by the barking of my friends
dog, which he had left outside the
door. Arising, asked Bill what was
the matter with his dog.
Matter enough" was the reply;
there is Ingens around here, and we're
mighty smart if we escape their toma-
hawks tonight"
| was soon at one of the lOopholes,
with which my cabin was amply pro-
vided, and discovered, by the dim light
of the moon, dark objects fitting to
and fro. AS I watched them. / saw
them coming towards us. When within
about twenty rods of our cabin, | was
startled by the report of Bills rifle.
Looking around, | saw him cody load
ing his gun.
"There's one of the pesky thieves
gone !" he muttered, as he rammed the
ball down.
On looking out again, not a sign of an
Indian could see. This ! mentioned
"Never mindm he said; "they'll be
back soon enough. Keep watch, and
shoot the first one you see!"
Thus admOnished, / again looked
out. About half an hour passed, during
which time no sound occurred to break
the stiffness which pervaded the wood;
after which, was again startled by the
discharge of my friends rife.
There goes anOtherp said Bill,
lowering his weapon as he spoke.
The next instant saw about fifty In
dians emerge from the forest, and set
ting up ? hideous yell, dash forward.
When within about, one hundred. feet
of us, / gave them the contents of my
gun; in a second after Bill also fired,
and two Savages bit the dust. Nothing
daunted at this, ON they came. We
both drew our revolvels, and sent their
contents into the thickest of them. AS
they had now lost ten men, in killed |
and wounded, they thought it best to
retire. We had now an opportunity of |
relOading our weapons.
About an hour elapsed, and as they |
did not appear. asked my companion |
if he could assign the reason,
Some new scheme, | suppose" was |
the curt reply.
As we were watching, each moment |
expecting to see them burst forth from |
the forest. We were suddenly startled, |
by sharp, cracking sound proceeding |
from the opposite side Of the cabin,
HeaYens!" exclaimed Bill, in alarm
g they have set the house ON fire, and |
intend to burn us up!s
The truth was too apparent to be dis
puted, ard the room was soon filed
with smoke. !
!" You go back and keep watch, while /
endeavor to subdue the hames,n said
Bill, eKcitedly,
] returned at once to my post, and
soon observed an Indian approaching
us, bearing aloft a white cloth, which
be kept waving to attract our attention.
When within speaking distance, I
opened the door, and called out:
What do you want ?n
"Will yOn snrrendera' he asked, in
broken English.
's'0n what terms ~ / asked.
/" We win give you a chance for your
life, he replied. If you fail, your life
shall pay the forfeit; if you succeed,
you are at liberty to go your way un-
After consulting with my friend, we
resolved to accept their terms, as it
would be quite impossible to hold out
longer,
We accept your terms, proud war;
eior,o said, advancing to the door.
Turning round, he motiOned for his
men to advance. Upon asking what
chance we were to have, he told us that
He we're to run the gauntlet is,
stati0ning the indians in two lines,
facing each other, about four feet apart,
u L. II