The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-10-26
Select Story.
"LITTLE DAMP

1t is about two hundred miles form
Fort Territt. Texas, on the headwaters
of the Llano river, to Fort McKavette
On the headwaters of the San Saba,
and Fort Mason, in the big bend of the
Llama, is about the same distance to the
east, inclosing a triangular spot of
country half as large as the State Of
Rhode Island. A continuation of the
Apache Mountains, called by hunters
"Gray Horse Hills, incloses triangle,
on the west, and over the prairie thus
shut IN the red man is king.
Six men, none of them hunters or
Indian fighters, but all well armed, had
been escorted from Fort Mason to Ter
ritt, but on reaching that point the In
dians were found TO be SO numerous
aud troublesome tina n military escort
to Fort McKavette could not be spared.
There were fortyone soldiers at the
post, hardly enough for its defence,
and it was plain. without a word from
the colonel, that not a man could be
spared.
''There are redskins enough between
here and McKavette to destroy a 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 be-
fore he was out of sight of his post.
Take this glass and tell me what you
see"
1t was half ar hour before sundown.
The glass revealed Indians in every d.
rection. Some were riding at a swift
pace, others motto Mess on the knolls,
and the fort was completely encircled.
"There's thousand if there is one. y
continued 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 scout. at the post, but when
offered any sum to pilot the party
through, they shook their heads and
| said:
"The hull triangle is chin deep with
reds, and no living white man could
avoid them"
Yet the determination of the six men
to go on was not shaken.
You are lunatics." exclaimed the
colonel, when his arguments were
found TO be of no avail, land I'll close
the gates and prevent you from going.
Nevertheless, an hour after nigbrfall
he came down to where the six were
saddling their horses, and said:
sIt's nothing less than murder, but
if N will go, let our little Dan &c
along. He knows the route, is brave
and cool headed, and if you'd take or
ders from him there's one chance 10 6
thousand that he'll take you through. "
And "our little Dan" soon Joined the
party, He wasn't au Indian, nor yet
a Mexican nor a white man. He wal
neither boy nor man. He was hu
man being, less that five feet in height,
weighed about ninety pounds, had
long, brown hair, coal black eyes, 6
long jaw, sallow cheeks, and the big
gist hand of any man in Texas. As he
stood looking at the party, the colone
said:
Dan, these riders must be at For
McKavette at the earliest possible hour
They put themselves under your order:
and you will be ready in fifteen min
utes TO start"
The being disappeared in the dark
ness without a word, and in ten min
utes he was at the gate, ready to 60
He was mounted on the largest mus
tang ever seen around any of the West
ern forts. He had strapped on 6
blanket for a saddle, filed his canteer
with whisky, and his pockets with pro
visions, and he had Henry rife, two
revolvers and an Arkansas bowie knife
for weapons.
(Which way shall you start outf
an1iously inquired the colonel, as al
were ready.
| The dwarf pointed straight toward
McKavette for a reply:
"Well. good-by, each one."
A. the party passed through tht