Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-06-21

the gold hunters taunting and joking, anc
others fearful that the two would be butcher
ed by the Indians before the day was over
When the whitetopped wagons were so fal
away that they seemed no larger thar
his hand, Joseph moved along on the trail
his face stern and dark, and 80 busy with BIZ
thoughts that he did not hear the consoling
words
Never mind, Joseph; we are trying to dc
right"
That night, when the wagon train of the
gold hunters came into camp, they could moi
see the lone wagon, though many Of the men
ashamed of their conduct, looked long and
earnestly for it. They had seen Indians afal
of, and they knew that the red devils would
pounce down upon single team as soon al
they sighted it.
Darkness came; midnight came, and the
sentinel heard nothing but the stamping Of
the horses, and the howls of the coyotes. Al
two o'clock the reports of rifles and the fierce
yells of Indians fosted through the valley
and the camp was aroused in moment.
"The devils have jumped in on Joseph and
his brother!" whispered one of the men, as he
stood on knoll and bent his head to listen.
"Good 'nuffl Cowards have no business
out hereW growled the Texan.
The first speaker wheeled, struck the ruff
fan sledge-bammer blow in the face, and
then, running for the horses, cried out
"Come on ! come on! A dozen of us car
be spared for the rescuep
Sixteen men swept down the valley like
the wind. The firing and the yelling contin'
ued, proving that the man who had been call
ed a coward was making a heroic E yht. In
ten minutes they came upon the one camp
made as light as day by the burning wagon
Fifty feet from the bonfire, and hemmed in
by circle of dancing, leaping, bowling saw
ages, was Joseph's brother standing over 10.
seph's dead body. The gold hunters heard
the pop! pop! pop of the boys revolver as
they burst into view, and the next moment
they were charging down upon the demons
using rifle and revolver, with terrible effect
In two minutes not live Indian was in
sight, Joseph's brother stood over the body
an empty revolver in his hand. The men
cheered wildly as they looked around, but
the boy looked up into their faces without
sign of exultation, surprise or gladness.
There were three dead Indians, beside the
wagon, killed where the fight commenced
and the corpses in front of Joseph's brother
numbered more than the victims Of the six.
teen men.
"Is Joseph badly hurt ?" asked one of the
men, as he halted bis horse beside the hoy.
"He is dead !" whispered the white-face
defender.
"He is! God forgive me for the part
took last night"
"You called him coward" cried Joseph's
brother, "and you are to blame for this !!
Was he coward? Look there! and there
and there! We drove them back from the
wagon-drove them clear out here! Joseph
is dead! You are his murderers !"
Every man was near enough to hear hls
voice and to note his action as he picked up
the rifle of an Indian and sent a bullet
through his own head. With exclamations
of grief and alarm trembling on their lips
the men sprang from their saddles. The boy
was dead-dead as Joseph-and both corpses
were bleeding from dozen wounds.
"We'Il carry 'em up to the train and have
q burial in the morning." said one of the men,
and the bodies were taken up behind two OF
the horsemen. They did have burial, and
men looked into the grave with tears in their
eyes, for they had discovered that Joseph's
brother was woman,-yes, a woman with
the whitest throat and softest hands. 1t might
have been Joseph's wife, or sister, or sweet
heart. No one could tell that; but they
could tell how they had wronged him, and
they said as they stood around the grave
1--WE hope the Lord won't lay it up agin
usw-Neu York Sun.