The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-10-26

would have been a collision and butch
cry. For three or four minutes the
little band sat like statues, and it was
a happy relief when the dwarf whis
pered:
Follow each other at walk
Seven midnight shadows crept SLOW
ly over the flower sprinkled grass FOR
long half hour. The horses were be
coming nervous and impatient, when
all of q sudden a halt was made Lit
tie Dams mustang stood looking TO-
ward Fort McKavette. and he was
riderless. The others halted beside
him, and after minute the dwarf re
appeared.
"Over the ridge here in front OF us
is an Injun camp" he whispered, ''or
band of Injuns are breaking camp!
Injuns are moving ali along our front.
and wolf couldn't sneak through!
We must hide till they pass-follow me
softly"
He turned to the left again, follow
ed the base of the ridge for mile. and
the party entered dry ravins With
banks from five to eight feet high.
The bed mis ht have been wet in tine
spring, but was dry then, and quite
free from distractions. As soon as
shelter was obtained, Little Dan again
disappeared. He was gone some five
minutes this time, and when he re-
turned be said:
There's millions OF 'eIn, There's
been big camp in this neighborhood
for three or four days, and the war
riors are now moving for the for. 'eav
ing paps aud squaws behin' Keep
quiet until We can get OUT"
At the end of five minutes ;h.- indi
ans were heard advancing, a.; pres
ently their conversation could plainly
be made out. All were mounted but
seemed in no hurry. Some rode
around the head of the ravinc, and
others were heard crossing it lower
down, Huddled together i'll iie dark
ness we're the seven white r' -. each
one holding his breath, and sac hcrse
trembling with excitement.
We'll be discovered sooner or Ia
ler," whispered Dan, land we'd better
get in the first blow! Draw your re-
volvers, ride three abreast. and I II
lead!"
He waited a minute for the men to
make ready, and then raised the wild
est yell ever heard by Indians or white
man. Its fierceness fairly appalled, his
companions for an instant, but as his
mustang sprang forward they .purred
after. Charging straight down the
ravine, with that wild scream echoing
fro,r i-a'k 10 hank. they had gone
nearly half n mile before .he snrpr;-- 4
Indians comprehend i.s- = 'ior.
and made pursuit. The raviue b-rt
and turned for miles, and while some
of the Indians followed down il, others
rode along the banks, firing at random
and screaming in their rage.
"a mile further down." called little
Dan, as he turned in his saddle, "a
trail crosses the ditch. Well turn to
the right. and make for the Injun vii.
lage. If you shoot straight, we'll give
these devils chance to attend dozen
funerals at nome"
Not shot had thus far been fired
by the party. Two or three mounted
Indians had been encountered, sitting
on their saddles, and wondering over
the alarm, but they had been knocked
down and leaped over like so many
toys. The little band were a quarter
of mile ahead of pursuit as they
whirled to the right, dashed up the
bank, and made for the hundred camp
fires a mile away.
six abreast, now, follow mer
shouted the dwarf. Il want to charge
right through the centre of the village,
and I'll kill as many as all of you can
wound! Fire at every thing on legs,
and keep yelling like devils."
Had they kept on..down the ravine,
1t would simply have been test Of
speed between horses. with odds in
favor of the white men, Little Dan
had doubled back on their track in :
stead of running away, and was headed
off by a big village alive with excite
ment. The Indians keo ot along the
ravine. not yet having caught sight Of
the pursued, but still knowing that
they were chasing white men.
Now raise yell!" shouted Dan, a:
the band neared the village-''raise
the worst yell you can, and don't for
get to keep shooting"
His peculiar scream was again sem
forth, and the other six riders hurrahed
at the top of their voices. Dan and
his mustang were q wonderful sight
The animal forged ahead at steady
gait, his ears laid back and his mouth
wide open, and he swerved aside fol
nothing. He jumped a blazing fire
ran directly over a log. picked up 6
boy in his teeth and flung him aside
and every instant uttering a neigh
which was almost roar of rage.
A revolver in either hand. little Dar
swung himself from side to side, blow
ing a warriors brains out on the right
and then sending a bullet through the
head of an old man or squaw to the
left. Pop pop pop rang bis re-
volver, and above the awful din Gre
ated in the surprised and frightened
camp could be heard his wild yells and
the tigerish Nigh of his mustang. The
six fired as they could, sweeping trail
of death forty feet wide through the
village. Hardly shot was fired in re-
turn, but one Of the few sent after them