The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1877-10-18
hTFTLE pAs

tbe LlAno river, To Fort MeKAvcsie, on
lha heaa.waiers of ihe san sabA, and
Fort Mason, IN ihs big bend of The Llano
i shout tbe same distance 10 the east, To-.
closing triangular spo, Of country bali
A. large - TIC state Of Rhode Island. \
continuation Of the Apache Mountains,
called by hunters Cray Horse Hills, IN
closes The triangle on The West, and over
the prairie thus shut 10 the red man l.
king.
! SIX men, none Of them hunters or In-
dian fighters, but all well armed, had
been escorted from Fort Mason TO Terrii,
bat on reaching that point the Indians
were found 70 be so numerous and
troub lesome that s military escort to
Fort MckSyelte could not be spared.
There were for,y-one soldiers At The post,
hardly enough for Its defense, aud Il was
plain, without word from The colonel,
that not a man could be spared
There are redskins enough between
here aud Nckayctte to destroy regi-
ment Of veterans, he remarked as the
chances were being canynssed. The
best scout on the plains could not ride
over thirty miles per day, and be would
be almost certain to lose bis scalp before
be was out Of sight of the post Take
this glass and tell me what you see.
1t was half an hour before sundown.
The glass revealed Indians in every di.
rection. Some were riding at swiit
pace, others motionless on the knobs,
and the fort was completely eneircled.
There's a thousand If there is one, con-
tinued the colonel, as he received the
glass, and must get ready at once for
hot times.
Those six men had an errand aud a
message OF the utmost Importance, and
they could not delay. There were Two
veteran scouts at the post, but when Off
cred any sum to pilot the party through,
they shook their heads and said;
The hnl triangle is ehin-deep with
reds, aud no living white man could
avoid them.
Yet the determination Of The six men to
go ou was not shaken.
You are lunatesl exclaimed the col
onel, when bis arguments were found TO
be of no avail, and III close the gates
and prevent you from goingl
Nevertheless, an hour after nightfall,
be came down to where the six were sad
ding their horses, and said:
It's nothing less than murder, but, if
you will go, let our little Dan go along.
lie knows the route, is brave and cool
headed, and II you'll take orders from
him, there's one chance in thousand
that he'l take yeu through.
And Our Little Dan soon Joined the
party. lie wasn't an Indian, nor yet
Mexican or wmte man. lie wac moi
ther boy nor man. lie was human be-
ing less than five feet in height, weighed
about ninety pounds, had long, brown
hair, coal-black eyes, long jaw, salow
cheeks and the biggest hand of any man
in FsIss.ilAs, helstspal looking at, tho
party, the colonel said
Dan, these riders must be at Fort
McKavette at the earliest possible hour.
They put themselves under your orders,
and you will be ready IN fifteen minutes
to start.
| The being disgpPeaIed in the darkness
without word, and in ten minutes he
was at the gate, ready 10 go. he was
mounted on the largest mustang ever
been around any OF the Western forts.
lie had strapped on a blanket for sad
die, filed his canteen with whiskey, and
his pockets, with provisions, and ne had a
Henry ftad, ,tw b taY0IVsre Iqpd ant Ark
ansas bowie-knifc for weapons.
Which way shall you start out? anx-
iously inquired the colonel, az all were
ready.
The dwatf pointed straight toward
Mekavette for reply.
Well, goood-by each one.
AS the party passed through the gate,
Lhlle.Dan motioned for the men to ride
one behind The other, and then be spttr.
red forward aud took the lead. His mus
tang went off at an easy lopc, and the
pace Of the other horses was regulated
accordingly. lie rode wit bis rifle rest
lug in front Of him, having no stirrups
and holding no rein, but guidiug the
horse entHelY by the pressure Of BIS
knees. The feet Of tic horses made
scarcely sound as they cantered over
the thick grass, aud The voice Of the pra-
rie cricket sounded terribly loud and
harsh to the anxious riders.
fTwo miles from the post Little Dan
suddenly turned TO the left, rode for
twenty rods at faster pace, aud then
came 10 dead halt. Listen be whls.
pered to the circle around him, and each
ear was strained to catch the slightest
sound, In the course Of sixty seconds
each man plainly made out for himself
that detachmeP ioi 4ndiaas1wers pass
Ing them not over three hundred yards
away. Dan had been warned not a sec
ond too toob. 'flht for the swefye to the
len, there would hsye been q collision
and bulehery. For three or four minutes
The little band nalikl aa.luss, laAsI bb
was hsppy relief when the dwarf whls-
pered attt tys..5s4st tff -.
Follow each other ~ 8 walk
seven u,idGSsht sils aQtyg. crept slowly
over the Aower-sprinkled grass for long
bali ApGr Tha llofsas were becoming
,nerSoas aud impatient, when ali Of
sudden bait was made. Little Dams