Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1877-09-22
Little DAM"

1t is about two hundred miles from
Fort Territt Texas, on the head-wa-
ters Of the Llano river, to Fort McKa-
vette, on the head-waters Of the San
Saba, and Fort Mason. in the big bend
ofthe Llano, is abont the same distance
to the east, inclosing triangular spot
of country half as large as the State of
Rhode Island. A continuation Of the
Apache Mountains, called by hunters
"Gray Horse Hills" incloses the tri-
angle on the West, and over the prai-
ris thus shut in the red man is king.
Six men, none of them hunters or
Indian fighters, but all we'll ar med,
had been escorted from Fort Mason to
Territt, but on reaching thatpoint the
Indians were found to be SO numerous
and troublesome that a military escort
to fort McKavette could not be spared.
There were forty-one soldiers at the
post, hardly enough for its defense.
and it was plain, without aword from
the colonel. that not a manseould be
spared. r;f.fu .tsss ogss ...< e5
There are redskins enough between
here and McKayetts to destroy d reg
iment of veterans" hs remarked as
the chances were being canyassed.
"The best scout on the plains could
not ride over thirty miles per day and
he would be almost certain to lose his
scalp before he was out Of sight Of the
/, post. Take this glass and tell me
what you see."' ;.,.. -ss
It was;half an hour before sundown.
The glass revealed Indians in every
direction. Some were riding at swift
pace, others motionless on the knolls,
and the fort was completely encircled.
"Theres thousand if there is one, !"
continued the colonel, as he received
the glass, and must get ready at once
for hot times" e fti.s5
Those six men had an errand and a
message of the utmost Importance, and
they could not delay. There were
two veteran scouts at the post, but
when offered any sum to pilot the par
ty through, they shook their heads and
said:
The hull triangle is chin-deep with
reds, and no living white man could
avoid them"
| Yet the determination of the six men
to 60 on was not shaken.
You are lunatics |" exclaimed the
colonel, when his arguments were
found to be of no avail !"and I'll close
the gates and prevent you from go
ingT'
| Never leless, an hour after night
fall, he came down to where the six
were saedling their horses, and said :
"It's nothing less than murder, but,
if you will go, let our little Dan 60
along. He knows the route, is brave
and coolheaded, and if you'll take or
ders from him there's one chance in a
thousand that he'll take you through" ;"
! And "Our Little Dan" soon ioined
the party. He wasn't an Indian, nor
yet Mexican or a white man. He
was neither boy nor man. He was a
human being less than FIVE feet in
height, weighed about ninety pounds,
had long, brown hair, coal.black eyes,
a long jaw, aallow cheeks and the big
gest hand Of any man in Texas. As
he stood looking at the party, the col
onel 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 disappeared in the dark
ness without word, and in ten min
utes he was at the gate ready to 60.
He was mounted on the largest mus
tang ever seen around any of the West
ern forts. He had strapped on a
blanket for saddle, filled his canteen
with whiskey. and his pockets with
provisions, and he had Henry rife,
two revolvers and an Arkansas bowie
knife for weapons.
(which way shall you start out?"
anxiously inquired the colonel. as all
were ready.
The dwarf pointed straight toward
McKayette for reply.
"Well good-by each one"
As the party passed through the
gate, little Dan motioned for the men
to ride one behind the other, and then