Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-05-20
A TIGHT PLACE ON THE RIVER.

nail, and Sandy swore with big oath
that better boy never passed in his
checks" Wolford kicked the poor fell
lows bloody hat to one side and de.
nounced the mysterious tragedy as a
"shame;" I"felt bad" along with the rest.
"This thing must be looked into, said
Sandy, seriously, "or the balance of us'll
soon be tagging after him."
No Usage ever spiked man as neat
as that" said Wolford, contemplating
with professional eye the round bullet
hole in the dead mans forehead.
There you're right, said Sandy in a
tone of admiration, gazing intently at the
wound. That's mighty neat job, who
ever done it. / couldn't beat that my
self. The ball went right straight home.
Look around again"
"No Arapahoe ever spiked man as
neat as that" continued Wolford, still
staring at the wound like one trying to
read out problem that sorely puzzled
him.
"There you're right again. said
Sandy. "Some Texan horse-thief pulled
that trigger And it must been done
while Joe was sittin' by the fire. You
see he lays just as he fell, exactly. Ii
he'd been standin' up when he was hit
he'd been jumbled all out OF shape
But you see he lays there quite respecta-
BILE like, with his toes turned pleasantly
and his head on the grass. Wonder If
our ponies are all rights"
Walking to a little mound close by
he looked down the alluvial valley of the
river, and with savage oath reported
them gone.
Heres business for US, sure. We
amt been gone an hour. Somebody's
around" exclaimed Wolford, picking up
his rifle.
i never come to this Arkansas River
yet without a brush with somebody"
just then wild war-wnoop was heard
some hundreds of yards away, and we
could indistinctly perceive a large band
of Indians rapidly galloping through
the timber toward us. As quick as
thought we formed a rude barricade
with couple of oak logs and our camp
eauipage, and lay down behind it with
our rifles ready for action. We were on
the brink of the swift.fowing river, and
luckily our enemies attacked US only
from the front.
We had left Joe in charge of our camp
and ponies, in the afternoon, while we
prospected along distant ravine on the
opposite side of the river, where it was
incorrectly reported that gold had been
found some years preceding. The In
dams had evidently stolen upon him un
awares, and murdered him, and after Sc
curing our ponies had secuted in every
direction, in the hope of finding US, for
by the appearance of our camp they
could form very good estimate of our
number.
"This thing looks bilious, rather" re-
marked Wolford, sliding the barrel of
his rifle out on the log to his front, and
putting himself in position for an ac-
curate aim.
Didn't tell YOU" responded Sandy,
that some horse-thief superintendent
that shot? Don't you see that white
devil among 'em?"
"Iperceive him." said Wolford, sand
when they get little higher I'll send
him one"
had seen all kinds of civilized war
fare, but was a novice in this kind of
work. Several weeks in the rifie-pits at
Vicksburg, however, had taught me that
by GOODNESS, patience and persistence the
poorest shot finally succeeded in drop
ping man"
Unfortunately our assailants did not
allow their superiority of numbers to
overcome their sense of discretion. AS
soon as they got within fair rifle range
they dismounted and sent back their
ponies, and, concealing themselves in the
underbrush, endeavored to approach us
as nearly as possible without discovery.
"Pve had two good shots" said VOL
ford, coolly ejecting an ounce OF tobacco
Juice, and biting off another "chaw."
"I'm looking for him, though"
Sandy pulled his trigger. There was a
demoniac howl In the brush fifty yards
distant sort of scramble and then eV-
erything was quiet.
land there he is" replied Sandy,
complacently.
Are you sure you hit him? Amt he
playing off on us?" asked Wolford, I'M
easily. as though he feared that the rem
egade was really dead and he had been
cheated of the pleasure of killing him.
"Where did you hit hims"
"Right between the eyes and little
above-just where he hit Joe. He's
colder than wedge by this time"
pulled my trigger, but the Indian
"iuked" and / missed him. l reloaded
quickly.
SECT out your small shooting irons"
exclaimed Wolford, laying his revolver
on the log. "They're coming for US"
We obeyed with commendable zeal,
for long, irregular line of braves had
sprung to their feet and was rushing
toward us with reckless fury.
Sandy fired his rifle and an Indian
dropped. Wolford initiated his exam
ple with like result. fired at an In
dams breast and shot him through the
thigh. A voley of bullets that hew IN
comfortably close to us was the only
answer we got, and the storming party
fell back to cover.
1t was then but an hour until sunset
We husbanded our ammunition, managed
to devour lunch, and anxiously awaited
events.
When darkness set in our peril was
only increased. They might rush upon
us at any moment That we might pos
sibly be deluded into fancied security
however, they made no demonstration.
/ half believed they were gone, bu. my
companions were not deceived. Ihey
were old Indian fighters, and were thor-
ouphly versed in frontier strategy DO
we maintained strict vigilance
"Them's not Osages,' at length sald
AAAA