The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-10-23

until we can get out"
At the end of Ave minutes the Indians
were heard advancing, and presently
their conversation could he plainly made
out. All were mounted but seemed in
no hurry; some rode around the head of
the rayine, and others were heard cross
ing it lower down Huddled together in
the darkness were the seven white men;
each one holding his breath, and EACH
horse trembling with excitement
"We'll be discovered sooner or LATER
whispered Dan, "and we'd better get in
the FIRST bowl Draw your revolvers,
ride three abreast, and Ill lesd!'
He waited minute for the men to
make ready, and then raised the widest
yell ever heard by Indian or white man
its ferceness fairly appalled, his compan
ions for an instant. but as his mustang
sprang forward they spurred aftef =
Charging straight down the ravine, with
that wild scream echoing from bank to
bank, they bad gone nearly half mile
before the surprised Indians comprehen-
ded the situation and made pursuit The
rsviue bent and turned for miles, and
while some of the Indians folio we'd down
it, others rode along the banks firing at
random and screaming in their rage
IA mile further down." called little
Dan as he turned in his saddle, "a trail
crosses the ditch; we'll turn to the right
and make for the Injun village. II you
shoot straight we'll give these devils a
chance to attend q dozen funerals at
home."
Not shot had thus far been fred BY
the party. Two or three mounted Indi-
ans had been encountered, sitting on
their saddles, and wondering over the
alarm, but they had been knocked down
and leaped over like so many toys. The
little band we're quarter of mile ahead
Of pursuit as they vhiried to the right
dashed up the bank, and made for the
hundred camp fres mile away.
"Six abreast now follow mel" shout
ed the dwarf. 81 want to charge right
through the center Of the villages and III
kill as many as all Of you can wound =
Fire at everything on legs,and keep yell
ing like devils p
Had they kept on down the ravine, it
would simply have been Attest of speed
between horses, with odds in favor of
the white men. Little Dan had doubled
back on their track instead of running
away, and was headed of hy a big vii
lage alive With excitement. The Indians
kept along the ravine, not yet having
caught sight of the pursued, but still
knowing that they were chasing white
men.
"Now raise yellw shouted Dan as
the band neared the village: "raise the
worst yell you can, and don't forget to
keep shootingl"
His peculiar scream was again sent
forth. and the other six riders hurrahed
at the top OF their voices. Dan and his
mustang we're wonderful sight the an
imal forged ahead at a steady gait, his
ears laid back and his mouth wide open,
and he swerved aside for nothing: be
jumped a blazing fire. ran directly over
log, picked up boy in his teeth and
flung him aside, every instant utering q
neigh which was almost roar of rage
A revolver in either hand, little Dan
swung himself from side to side, bio wing
a warriors brains out on the right, and
then sending bullet through the head
of an old man or squaw to the lett -
Pop! pop! pop! rang his revolver, and
above the awful din created in the sur.
prised and frightened camp could be
heard his wild yells and the. tigerish
neigh Of his mustang The six fred as
they could, sweeping trail of death
forty feet wide through the village
Hardly shot was fred in return, hut
one of the few sent alter them struck
and mortally wounded bronze-faced
griszly-haired veteran, who. was three
times hit at Antietam. He fell forward
clung to his horse, and when the band
halted on the prairie beyond The village
he fell to the ground
In three minutes We shall have two
hundred bowling fiends after u.s.! said
Little Dan, as he dismounted This mar
is fatally wounded, and he'll be dead ir
half an hour. We can't take him along
and we can't stop here !"
While be was speaking he was busy
searching the pockets of the unfortunate
rider. Watch, money, photographs o.
loved ones, revplvers and sabers were
taken and distributed among the party il
thirty seconds, and then the dwarf ben
down and asked:
"Comrade, can you speak"
81 understandable all right ?" was th'
whispered reply
"Here's your rife" said Dan; "if tb
Indians rush upon you, shoot yourself
If they don't find you for an hour you'I
he dead Good.by. God forgive yo,
and US, it's the only wayp
| Leaping TO the hack of his mustang
be turned for the "White Horse Hills.
lust as q terrible wall of sorrow, mingled
with a cry for vengeance, rose on th
cool night air from the village Tn
horses had not galloped a mile befor
they were pulled up. The band was sal
for a moment, and each heart was heav
, at the thought of the comrade dyin
,, among the lrampled flowers. Each hea
was bent that way, and each heard til
, rush OF Indians in that direction. The
rode as straight for the dying man as
it had been broad MONDAY sudde
shout proved that they had found hir
hut it was hardly raised before the repo
OF q rifle kchoed across the prairie.
"He was a brave man" whispered Ii
: tie Dan.
"God pity the poor ones at home
echoed the others,an they rode forwa
at full speed, knowing that they had n
one chance in ten of reaching Fort NJ
Kavette.
/ But they did reach it after days Of ri
= ling, starving and thil sting, and the ord
: : was delivered, and Western Texas saw,
% from the horrors Of an Indian war.
!. Before the wild winds of winter swe
. the bleak plains, solitary horsem'
! rode from Fort Territt atnight, dodgiI
: Indian scouts, and never minding Il
= gaunt wolves which galloped close b
= hind him with their red tongues hangil
~ | torrshIo 10 mo uo oorooood n