The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-07-26
The Shadow in the Valley.

Up and down the valley through
which Custer made his last charge
along that creek where so many OF
Ren0's men fell dead from their fran
tic and struggling horses the
thickets and along the raviues, n
shadow Turks day aud night. The
last scalp had hardly been torn from
the head Of the cavalryman who had
crept into the tall grass to die, when
this shadow skulked in the valley OF
death and began dealing out retri-
button.
Tho chief Dull Knife, had much to
say about it the other week, when he
surrendered. He spoke in whispers
when he referred to it, aud he look
ed suddenly around and was fearful
that it was softly stealing upon him
10 stab him in the back.
Crazy Horses men had nothing to
say about it when they surrendered,
and whom white men asked them
who or what tho shadow was, they
shook their heads and whispered
ave killed EN- all, but yet there
is ono left ! 1t is n white man
There is blood on his face aud cloth
ing. lie carries a sabre and two re.
volvers, anl the night wind blows
his long yellow curls over his shoul
dors. 1t is spirit sent bo tho
Great Manitou to watch over the
graves of the white soldiers !"
White men have seen the shadow
Hunters, trappers, and scouts who
have built their camp fires near that
valley, through which the big noun
tain wolf sku!ks and prowls all nigh,
long, have felt the presence of the
mysterious shadow, or have seen it
They have fled from their blankets
ut its soft step, and they have fired
at it when only ten feet away, and
yet it glides. off unharmed.
IL is not a shadow of sentim ent
but a being which demands venge.
ance for the awful hutchery of thai
little band of heroes-for the two
brave brothers who grouped them
selves around the noble Custer and
fought to the death, each ono lying
within arms length OF him who
fought fiercest and longest. When
tho soldiers moved out of the valley
leaving near three hundred graves
behind them, tho wol,es rushed out
from canon and ravine and den, to
dig up the fresh earth and feast on
the brave dead. Tho shadow was
there before them, q solitary, mys,
terious and vigilant sentinel to guard
those sacred mounds IL. screamed
and gestured at the fierce beasts, ii
fired upon them with rifle and revol'
YER, and struck at them with bright
keen sabre. Tho wolves ran here
and there, from grave to grave
gnashing their teeth in anger, buI
the shadow closely pursued. They
formed in groups In the midnigh,
darkness and waited for the shadow
to tire out, fall asleep or so away
but II paced up and down over til,
graves, vigilant aud unwesried, ant
daylight came to hurry the wilt
beasts TO their lairs until another
night. Hunters and scouts hav,
been there to SEQ tho sentinel's boa
over the graves-seen IL in tho ligh
OF MONDAY, when men could not b.
mistaken. II IL a we'll beaten patti
which runs from grave TO grave
curving and winding to take il
every one, and now aud then j
comes close enough TO tho crock fol
the strange sentinel to hear the bah
bling OF tho waters. Scouts say
IL path boaton by human feet. Th'
rod chiefs say that shadow on spir
II could alone remain there in tina
lonely spot, having only the compan,
Of tho wild beasts and the graves
butchered mon,
Onco when Dull Knifo and trus
ty few were scouting TO learn th
whereabouts OF their whito foes, tho.
onoampod in tho valloy for the nigh,
Tho shadow stole among them a
they slopt, and whom fierce scroau
aroused tho band from slumber a. '
Of ths rod mon had boon murlerc
--oach bronsad throat slashed acros
with y koon knife. Tho shade,
stood little ways oil aud jocrod th
living, who huddlei togothss lik
frightened children. When thoy flo
A. Atas. l,v.. IA puesual ll..u, ,.,tl