Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-10-05
"LITTLE DAN"

1t is about two hundred miles from
Fort Territt, Texas, on the head waters
of the Llano River, to Fort McKavette
on the head waters of the San Saba, anc
Fort Mason, in the big bend of the
Llano, is about the same distance to the
east, inclosing triangular spot of coun
try half as large as the State of Rhode
Island. A continuation of the Apache
Mountains, called by hunters Gray
Horse Hills" incloses a triangle, on the
west, and over the prairie thus shut ir
the red man is king.
Six men, none of them hunters or In
dian fighters, but all well armed, hac
been escorted from Fort Mason to Ter
rctt, but on reaching that point the Indi
ans were found to be so numerous anC
troublesome that military escort tC
Fort McKavette could not be. spared
There were forty-one soldiers at the
post, hardly enough for it's defense, and
it was plain, without a word from the
Colonel, that not a single man could be
spared.
There are redskins enough between
here and McKavette to destroy regi
ment Of veterans" he remarked, as the
chances were being canvassed. The
best scout on the plains could not ride
over thirty miles per day, and he would
be almost certain to lose his scalp before
he was out of sight of his post. Take
this glass and then tell me what you car
see.'
1t was half an hour before sundown
The glass revealed Indians in every di-
rection. Some were riding at a swift
pace, others motionless on the knolls
and the Fort was completely encircled
with them.
There's thousand If there is one,
said the colonel, as he received the glass,
and ! must get ready at once for hot
times"
| Those six men had an errand and a
message Of the utmost importance. and
they could not delay There were two
veteran scouts at the post, but when Of
fered any sum to pilot the party through
they shook their heads, and said:
The whole triangle is chin-deep with
reds, and no living white man could
avoid them"
Yet the determination of the six men
to 90 on was not shaken
You are lunatics" exclaimed the
colonel, when his arguments were found
to be Of no avail, and III close the
gates and prevent you from going"
Nevertheless, an hour after nightfall,
he came down to where the six were
saddling their horses, and said:
cts nothing less than murder, but,
if you will go, let our little Dan 60
along He knows the route, is brave and
cool-headed, and if you'll take orders
from him, there one chance in thous-
and that he will take you through all
right"
And "Our Little Dan" soon joined
the party. He wasn't an Indian, nor yet
a Mexican, or white man. He was
neither boy nor man. He was human
being, less than five feet in height, would
weigh about ninety pounds, had long,
brown hair, coal black eyes, a long jaw,
sallow cheeks, and the biggest hand of
any man in Texas AS he stood looking
at the party, the'colonel said:
Dan, these riders must be at Fort
McKavette at the earliest possible 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 blanket for sad
die, filled his canteen with whisky, and
his pockets with provisions, and he had
Henry rifle, two revolvers and an Ar
kansas bowie-knife for weapons.
(Which way shall you start out?"
anxiously inquired the colonel, as all
were ready.
The dwarf pointed straight toward
Fort McKavette for reply.
Well, goodbye, each one
AS the party passed through the gate,
Little Dan motioned for the men to ride
one behind another, and then spurred
forward and took the lead. His mus
tang went off at an easy lope, and the
pace of the other horses was regulated
accordingly. He rode with his rife rest
ing in front of him, having no stirrups
and holding no rein, but 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
suddenly turned to the left, rode for
twenty rods at faster pace, and then
came to dead halt.
Listen!" he whispered to the circle
around him, and each ear was strained
to catch the slightest sound. In the
course of sixty seconds each man plainly
made out for himself that detachment
of Indians were passing them not over
three hundred yards away. Dan had not
been warned minute too soon. But
for the swerve to the left, there would
have been collision and butchery For
three or four minutes the little band sat
like statues, and it was happy relief
when the dwarf whispered:
Follow each other at a walk
Seven midni ght shadows crept slowly
over the fower-sprinkled grass for long
half hour. The horses were becoming
nervous and impatient, when all of a
sudden halt was made. Little Dams
mustang stood looking toward Fort Nc
Kavette's, and he was riderless. The
others halted beside him, and after
minute the dwarf reappeared.
Over the ridge here in front of us is
an Injun camp" he whispered, or a
band of Injuns are breaking camp! In
juns are moving all along our front, and
a wolf couldn't sneak through! We
must hide until they pass-follow me
softly
He turned to the left again, followed
the base of the ridge for mile, and the
party entered dry ravine with banks
from five to eight feet high. The bed
may have been wet in the spring, but was
dry then and free from Instructions. As
soon as shelter was obtained, Little Dan
again disappeared. He was gone some
five minutes this time, and when he re-
turned he said:
"There's millions of 'em! There has
been a big camp in this neighborhood for
three or four days, and the warriors are
now moving for the fort leaving paps
and s4uaws behind. Keep quiet until
we can get out!
At the end of five minutes the Indians
were advancing, and presently their con-
versation could be plainly made out,
All were mounted but seemed in no hur
ry. Some went around the head of the
ravine, and others were heard crossing it
1oyuor Joup Huld1od touat har in tho