The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-05-20
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4 TIGHT PLACE ON THE RIVER.

lows Bloody hat to one side and de-
the mysterious tragedy as a
shame;" I "felt bad" along with the
rest.
This thing must be looked into, said
Sandy, seriously, Tor the balance of us'll
soon be tagging after him.
No Usage ever spiked man as neat
as that" said Wolford, contemplating
with-s professionals 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. I couldn't beat that my
self. The ball went right straight home.
Look around again."
"No Arapahoe ever spiked man az
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. If
he'd been standin' up when he was hit
he'd a 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 right?"
Walking to little mound close 10y
he looked down the alluvial valley of the
river, and with savage oath reported
them gone.
"iere's business for US, sure. We
amt been gone an hour. Somebody's
around" exclaimed Wolford, picking up
his rifle.
C. never come to this Arkansas River
yet without brush with somebody"
Just then a wild war-wnoop was heard
some hundreds of yards away, and we
could indistinctly perceive a large band
the timber toward US. AS quick as
thought we formed a rude barricade
with couple of oak logs and our camp
equipage, and lay down behind it with
our rifles ready for action. We were on
the brink of the swift-flowing 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
AoAAN 9oAAAS yS0Ao procuring. LIZ LII
dians 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 &C.
curate aim.
Didn't 1 tell you," responded Sandy,
that some horse-thief superintendent
that shot? Don't you see that white
devil among 'em?"
"Iperceive him." said Wolford, "and
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 rifle-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
oOOA do tA1Cy SOG Wltlllu 1dlI IlllC lduEG
they dismounted and sent back their
ponies, and, concealing themselves inthe
underbrush, endeavored to approach us
| I've 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
| 6nnnnion howl IN, no oh ff<1r ~
distant, a sort of scramble and then ev
erything was quiet.
"And there he is" replied Sandy
complacently.
care you sure you hit him? Amt he
! playing off on us?" asked Wolford, un.
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 him."
| 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
| "juked" and l missed him. l reloaded
quickly.
"Get out your small shooting-irons,'
exclaimed Wolford, laying his revolver
on the log. They're coming for u.s."
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
pie with like result. / fired at an In.
dams breast and shot him through the
thigh. A volley of bullets that flew I'm.
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 anxiouslv awaited
events.
When darkness set in our peril was
only increased. They might rush upon
us at any moment. That we might pos
sibly he deluded into fancied security,
however, they made no demonstration
half believed they were gone, but my
companions were not deceived. They
were old Indian fighters, and were thor
oughly versed in frontier strategy. So
we maintained strict vigilance.
"Them's not Osages," at length said
Sandy. 1t was the first time we had
thought of the matter.
"No, they hain't come within a mile
OF hitting US" rejolned WolfOrd. "They
are Arapahoes. know their yell. I've
heard it before"
"Quite So" said Sandy.
To me the hours seemed to drag by
with terrible slowness. My friends also
became dissatisfied At about midnight
Sandy broke the silence:
"11l tell you what it is" said he,
"we're losing time that's valuable
We've only got grub enough for break.
fast. They'll stay in them woods till we
starve."
":Well?" asked Wolford.
"Several of the boys" continued
Sandy, went over to Schmitger's, on the
Verdigree, the other day, to sell their
skins, and guess they're there yet. I
move that one of US take a trip over
there tonight and get help"
cit might be done," admitted Wolford.
cit must he done," replied Sandy.
"Tll 60. I know the way like book"
My two companions talked the matter
over for some time. I WAS silent. for I