Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-07-11

hCHO . Hucu lcli utdu from lHelf lrdDIlc
and struggling horses-in the thickets
and along the ravines, shadow turks
day and night. The last scalp had
hardly been torn from the head Of the
cavalryman who had crcpt into the tall
grass to die. when this shadow skuikpd
into the valley Of death aud began deal
ing ont rctribution.
The Chief, Dull Nuite. Lad much 10
say about it the other week when he
surrendered. He spoke in whispers
when he referred to it. and he looked
suddenly around, as if fearful that it
was softly stealing upon him 10 stab
him in the back.
Crazy Horses n4en had something TO
say about it when they surrendered, and
when white men asked them who or
what they thought the shadow was.
they shook their heads and whispered:
"We killed 'em all, but yet there is
one left. 1t is white man. There is
blood on his face aud clothing. He
carries sabre and two reYolyers. and
the night wind blows his long yellow
curls over his shoulders, 1t is spirit
sent by the Great 1Ianiton to watch
over the graves of the white soldiers"
White men have seen the shadow.
Hunters, trappers and scouts who have
their camp fires near that valley,
through which the big mountain wolf
skulks and prowls all night long, have
felt the presence Of the mysterious
shadow, or have seen it. They have
fed from Their blankets at its soft step,
and they have fired at It when only ten
feet away, and yet seen it glide of IN
harmed
It's not a shadow Of sentiment. but
a being which demands vengeance for
the awful butchery ofthat little band Of
heroes-for the brave brothers who
grouped themselves around the noble
Custer aud fought to the death. each
one lying within arms length of him
who fought fercest and longest. When
the soldiers moved out Of the valley.
leaving near three hundred graves be-
hind them. the wolves rushed out from
canon and layine and den to dig up the
fresh earth and feast on the brave dead.
The shadow was there beform them,
solitary, mysterious and vi9ilant senti-
mel to guard those sacred mounds. It
screamed and gcstared at the fierce
beasts-it fred upon them with rife and
revolver, and struck at them with
bright, keen sabre. The wolves ran
here and there, from grave to grave,
crashing their teeth in anger. but the
shadow closely pursued. They formed
in groups in the midnight darkness and
waited for the shadow to tire out and
fall asleep or go away, but it paced up
and down over the graves, yigilant and
unwearied, and daylight came to hurry
the wild beasts to their lairs till another
night. Hunters and scouts have been
there and seen the sentinel-beat over
the grayes-seen it in the light Of noon
day. when men could not be mistaken.
1t is a well-beaten path which runs from
grave to grave, curving and winding
to take in every one. and now and then
it comes close enough to the creek for
the strange sentinel to hear the babble
Of the waters. Scouts say it is path
beaten by human feet. The red chiefs
say that a shadow or spirit could alone
remain there in that lonely spot,
having only the company Of wild
beasts and the graves ofbutchered men.
Once. when Dull Knife and trusty
few We're scouting to learn the where
abouts Of their white foes, they encamp-
ed in the valley for the night. The
shadow stole among them as they slept,
and when a fierce scream aroused the
band from slumber five of the red men
had been murdered each bronze throat
slashed across with akeen knife. The
shadow stood little ways Of and
jeered the living, who huddled together
like frightened children. When they
fed for their lives it pursued them with
drawn sabre, and the chef has a scar on
the shoulder to prove that he was struck
by the blade. Next day. when full
band of Indians marched into the val
ley to solve the mystery aud secure re-
venge, they saw no living thing. The
bodies Of the dead warriors were cut
ard hacked and gashed. Five Of the
poor cavalrymen whose brains had
been beaten out and limbs dismem-
bered had been avenged.
Before the crown Of a single grave
had sunk down, Crazy Horse started to
cross the valley at midnight with his
lodges. The shadow confronted his
band and Knocked them, and as the red
men hurried along in the darkness, WV
idly recalling the mad charge of the
cavalry and the fierce desperation of the
surprised villagers, the strange shadow
skulked along with the column and
fired shot after shot into the band.
They fired at 1t, rushed out to capture
it, but the shadow disappeared as shad-
ows do. Two squaws, a child or two,
an old man and two warriors fell by the
bullets which the shadow fired. From
that time the red men avoided the val
ley as white men avoid pest houses.
They would not cross it or skirt it even
at high noon, when the sunshine beat
down upon the graves and on the waters
Of the historic creek.
re tb;S Shadn1y was Sh9d0W--o mist