Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-20
LITTLE DA NJ"

distance to the east, inclosing a triangu ar
spot OF country half as large as the state OF
Rhode Island. a continuation of the A pache
Mountains, called by hunters "Gray Horse
Hills" tncloses triangle, on the west, and
king.
Six men, none Of them hunters or indian
fighters, but all well armed, had oeen es-
eorted from Fort Mason to Territt, but on
reaching that point the Indians were found
10 be so numerous and troublesome that
military escort TO Fort MeKavette could not
be spared. There were forty-one soldiers at
the post, hardly enough for its defense, and
II was plain, without a word from the col
onel, that not a man could be spsret.
"There are redskins enough between here
and McKavetta to destroy a regiment of
veterans" he remarked, as the cha ICES were
being caDvassed. The best scout on the
plains could not ride over thirty miles per
day, and be would be almost certain TO lo,e
his scalp before he was out OF sight of his
post Take this glass and tell me what you
1t was half an hour before SHUTDOWN. The
glass revealed Indians in every direct ON.
some were riding at a swift pace, Others mo-
nonless ON me kuolls, and the fort was COM
pletely encircled.
'sThere's thousand IL there is one" con-
tlnued the colonel, as he received the glass,
"and must get ready al once for not times
Those six men had an eTraud and a mes
sage Of the utmost importance, and they
could not delay. There were two veteran
heads aud said:
and 10 living white man could avoid them -
Yet the discrimination OF the six men 20 go
on was not shaken.
"YOu are lunatics!" exclaimed the col
onel, when his arguments were found TO be
OF no avail, "and I'lI close the gates and pre-
vent you from gOing!'
Nevertheless, an hour after nightfall. he
came down 10 where the six were satdling
their horses, and said:
sits nothing less than murder, but, If you
Will go, let our little Dan go along. He
knows the route, is brave and cOJl-healeI 1,
and II you'd take orders from him there's
one chance in thousand that he'll take you
through"
And aour little Dan" soon Joined the
party. He wasn't an Indian, nor yet
Mexican ora white man. He was neither
boy nor man. He was a human being, less
than t1ye feet in he ght, weighed about ninety
pounds, had long, brown hair, coal black
eyes, lOng jaw, saIlOw cheeks, and the big
gest hand OF any man In Texas. As he stood
looking AT the party. the colonel said
"Dan, these riders must be at Fort McKs-
yette at the earliest possbl hour. They put
themselves under your orders, and you Will
be ready in fifteen minutes TO start"
The being disappeared in the darkness
without word, and in ten minutes he was
AT the gate, ready to go. He was mounted
On the largest mustang ever seen around any
OF the Western forts. He had strapped on a
Dlanket for saddle, filled his canteen with
WHISKY, and his pockets with provisions
and he had Henry rifle, two reviewers aud
IN Arkansas bowie-knife for weapons
(which way shall you start Out?'' anx-
lousy inquired the colonel, as all were
%.s dwar. ~ointed straight toward Mckay
ette for q reply:
"Wen, goodby; each one"
AS the party passed through the gate,
11.slIe Dan motiOned for the men TO ride one
behind the other, aud then he spurret for
ward and took the lead. His mustang went
of al an easy lOpe, and the pace OF Inc other
horses was regulated accordingly. lie rode
with his rifle resting in front Of him, having
no stlrrups and holding no rein. hni guiding
the horse entirely by the pressure OF his
knees The feet OF the horses made scarcely
sound as they cantered over the thick grass,
and the voice of the prairie cricket sounded
terribly loud and harsh to the anxious
riders.
Two miles from the post Little Dan sud
denly turned TO the left, rode for twenty rois
At a faster pace, and then came 70 a dead
halt.
"Listen., he whispered othe circlearound
him, and each ear was strained 10 eaten the
slightest sound. In the course of sixty Sc
conds each man plainly made out for HIM
self that detachment OF Indians were pass
ing them not over three hundred yards away.
Dan had been warned not a second too soon
But for the swerve TO the left there would
have been a collision and butchery. For
three or four minutes the little band sat like
statues, and II was happy relief when the
dwarf whispered:
"Follow each other at a walk"
Seven midnight shadows crept slowly over
the flower sprinkied grass for a long half
hour. The horses were becoming nervous
and Impatient, when all of a sudden a halt
was made. Little Dams mustang stood look
ing toward Fort McKavette, and he was
rfderiess. The others halted beside him, and
after a minute the6warf reapearet-
cover the ridge here in front OF as is an
lnjun CAMP he whispered, "or band of
lntuns are breaking CAMP IDjuns are NOV
ing all along our front, and a wolf couldn't
sneak through! We must hide till they
pass-follov me softly"
He turned TO the left again, followed the
base OF the ridge for a mile, and the party
entered q dry ravine with banks from i've to
eight feet high. The bed might have been
wet In the spring, but was dry then, aud
quite free from distractions. As soon as
shelter was obtained, Little Dan again dis
appeared. He was gone some I'VE minutes
This time, and when he returned he said:
"There's millions of 'em, There's been a
big camp in this neighborhoOd tor three or
four days, and the warriors are now moving
for the fort, leaving paps and squaws behind.
Keep quiet until we eau get oat!'
AT the end OF five minutes the Indians were
heard advancing, and presently their con
versation could plainly be made out. All
were mounted but seemed in no hurry. Some
rode around the head of the ravine, and
Others were heard crossing IL lower down.
Huddled together In the darkness were the
seven white men, each one holding his
breadth, and each horse trembling with ex-
element.
"We'n be discovered sooner or later
whispered Dan, "and we'd better get IN the
INST blow! Draw your TevOlvers, ride three
abreast, anu I'll leaa.'
He waited a minute for the men to make
ready, and then raised the widest yell ever
heard by Indian or white man. It's fierce
Dess fairly appalled, his companions for an
instant, but as his mustang sprang forward
they spurred after. Charging straight down
the raviBe, with that wild scream echoing
from bank to bank, they had gone nearly
hall q mile before the surprised Indians
-Oomprehended the situation and made pur-
suit. The ravine bent and turned for miles,
ond while some OF the Indians followed down
a, Others rode along the banks firing at ran
dom and screaming in their rage.
IA mile further down." called little Dan,
- he tufred In his saddle, "a trail crosses
Ihe ditch. Well turn 10 ,he right, aud make
Or the Injun village. II you shoot straight,
well give these devils a chance to attend q
dozen funerals at home
Not shot had thus far been fire. -, ..a
parry. Two or three mounted Indians had
been encountered, sitting On their saddles,
md wondering over the alarm, but they hal
oeen Knocked down ana leaped over like so
many toys. The little band were o uarter OF
mile ahead OF pursuit rs they whirled to the
right, dashing up the bank, and made for the
hundred camp fires a mile away.
"Six abreast, now, follow me-" shouted the
dwarf. 81 want TO charge right through the
center OF the village, and I'll Kill as many as
Ill Of you can woundi Fire At everyt6tng