The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-16

that there were about nifty oil tnem.
Creeping quite distance further, ON |
their hands and knees, they discovered
that the Indians had erected two rough |
forts, and that they had divided into
two parties. Just inside Of one OF these
forts were tied the stolen horses OF the
trappers.
The Crows were in jubilant spirits |
over the result of their thieving excur-
sion, and were holding dance by way |
of celebrating 1t. This proved that the |
Indians haG no suspicion OF danger.
aud that there was free opportunity
for Carson and his men to display their |
courage and stratagem.
As the Indians numbered four times
as many as their pnrsuers, and as 1t was
we'll known that the crows would tight
tiercely for the stolen properly, the
hunters concluded to wait until they
were all asleep before making their at
tack. This proved severe ordeal, as
the redskins were exceedingly hila-
rIous, dancing and yelpiug in the most
extravagautly grotesque manner, ana
We're ip no particular hurry TO bring
their celebration to a close.
Besides that, the weather had grown
much colder since noon, and " was Sill
becoming more severe. The trappers,
being compelled to maintain crouch
ing pOSlLlOn III Iu6 SuoWS buuciOu Si iooe-
| ly from the exposure, several times be-
ing compelled 10 withdraw and restore
| their benuD,bed circui ation by rough eX-
ereise and swing ny of their Limos. But
all things must nave an end; and hnaliy
| the crows grew weary OF thelr iestivI-
ties, and, lying down, speedily sank
into Profound slumDer.
The time for action had come. Kit
| Carson and live OF his companions began
crawling toward the s,olen horses,
which they reached without exciting
alarm. These were easily freed oy cut
| ting loose their .haltels. Ihey then
threw snowballs at them, and in this
way gradually drove them out of the
grove without alarming The ludlans.
Inc remaining strappers, VINO acted
somewhat as a reserve party, speedily
ioiued Kit and his companions, and
thus reinforced the entire company
withdrew from the wood until they
reached a safe place, where they halted
for consultation.
A difference Of opinion soon mani
Tested itself. Most OF the men were in
iayor Of returning, as they had recoY-
cred their property; but few, includ
ing Kit CaIson, were ANXIOUS to give Inc
Crows a thorough ch lstlsement for the
outrage they had committed. Alter con-
| tSluGEdUlO uipSuootOh tAlU dhh Aho AAASHAS
prevailed, and 1t was decided TO make
Lne attack.
| Carson's first action was ito send
three oil his men, with the recovered
horses, back to the camp. Then, with
his comrades, he advanced directly upon
| the Indian camp. They moved silently
and rapidly, and were within few
PAGES when an Indian dog gave the
alarm. The moment the dog gave his
| bark, the Crows sprang up and became
lair targets for the unerring rifles oil the
trappera. SO rapid and murderous were
the volleys poured in among The red
skins by the whites, tnat they were
compelled to retreat to the nearest fort,
from which they began rapid return
| fire.,
This was what Carson and his men
had been expecting, aud every one had
taken shelter behind the trees, While
they proceeded to reload their guns. ln
this manner dropping fire was kept up
until daylight, when the Crows discoy
cred the weakness OF their enemies and
determined on charge, fully satisfied
that lucy could vanqulsh them. The
trappers were prepared for tals, ana
keeping we'll out of view they waited
until the indians were fully exposed
They poured another volley into them,
winch lalQ nVe OI bhe aSSaHdnIS uSdu III
the snow. This SO discounted them
that they retreated again to the fort.
Here they remained but short time,
when they determined upon another
sortie. This charge was made with
sucn determination That it couli not be
withstood, ana the trappers were COM
PEELED to fltl back, retreating inch by
inch, and loading and firing as rapidly
as possible.
About this time the three hunters who
mad taken the recovered horses 10 camp
appeared upon The ground, having be.
come satisfied, from the severity OF fiji.
ing, that the contest was becoming
critical, and their services were un.
douDtedly needed. Thus reinforced, the
trappers made stand, fighting win
sucu fierce bravery that The Crows once
more fell back to their fort, from which
they did not venture again.
Both parties had enough of fighting
and it Was not renewed. The trappers
had several wounded, but none killed
while fully fourth Of the savages had
fallen before the deadly aim OF the hun
ters' rifles. Having accomplished al
that they desired, larson and his com
pauions drew of, and, soon alter, re
joined their companions on Arkansas
River.