Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-08
A Tight Place on the River.

Yes, Joe was dead, There was no mistake
about that-deader than n door-nail, and
Sandy swore with n big oath that better
boy never passed in his cheeks Wolford
kicked the poor fellows bloody hat to one
side, and denounced the mysterious tragedy
rs a " shame" with very strong adjective
prefiXed. | " felt bad" along with the rest.
This thing must be looked into" said
Sandy, seriously, cor the balance of us'll
soon be tagging after him."
"No Usage ever spiked n man rs neat rs
that" said Wolford, contemplating with q
professional eye the round bullet hole in the
dead mans forehead
There you're right said Sandy in tone
of admiration gazing intently mt the wound
"Thats mighty neat job, whoever done it.
l couldn't beat that myself. The balls
went straight home. Look around again"
mo Arapahoe ever spiked man as neat
rs that" continued Wolford, still staring at
the wound like one trying to read out prob
lem that sorely puzzled him.
There you're right agin," said Sandy
Some Texan horse thiefpulled that trigger,
And it must been done while Joe was set
tin by the fire. You see he lays just rs he
fell, exactly. Ifhed been standin' up when
he was hit he'd II been jumbled all out of
shape. But you see he lays there quite re-
spectacle like, with his toes turned pleasant
ly, and his head on the grass. Wonder if
our ponies are all right"
Walking to little mound close by, he
looked down the alluvial valley of the river,
and with savage oath reported them gone.
Here's business for us, sure. We amt
been gone an hour. Somebody's around
exclaimed Wolford, picking up his rifle. II
never come TO this Arkansas river yet with
out brush with somebody
Just then wild war whoop was heard
some hundreds of yards away, and we could
indstinctly perceive large band of Indians
rapidly gallopng through the timbers to-
wards us. As quick MS thought we formed
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 ofour camp and
ponies, in the afternoon, while we prospect
cd along Il distant ravine on the opposite side
of the river, where it was incorrectly report
ed that gold had been found some year $
previous. The Indians had evidently stolen
upon him unawares, aud murdered him,
and after securing our ponies had secuted in
every direction, in the hope of finding us,
Tor by the appearance of our camp, they
could form very good estimate rs to our
numbers.
This thing looks bilious, rather" re-
marked Wolford, sliding the barrel of his ri
he out on the log to his front, and putting
himself in position for an accurate aim.
Didn't / tell YOU" responded Sandy,
"that some horse thief superintendent that
shotp Don't you see that white devil among
emp
IL perceive him." said Wolford, and
when they get little higher, I'll send him
one"
had seen all kinds of civilized warfare,
but was n novce.i in this sort of work, Sew
eral weeksin the rifle pits at Viokburgs, how
ever. had taught me that by GOODNESS, pa
thence and persistence, the poorest shot can
finally succeed in dropping man.
Unfortunately, our nssailants did not allow
their superiority of numbers to overcome
their sense of discretion. As soon rs they
got within rife range, they dismounted
and sent back their ponies, and concealing
themselves in tho underbrush, endeavored to
approach us as nearly as possible without
discovery.
1--WE had two good shots, said Wolford,
coolly Cjecting an ounce Of tobacco inice, and