The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-01-24

came through the water, shot the for
most Indian dead. He then forced his
way through the osiers and ran again.
The other savage uttered feroclous
whoop, and gave chase. Edes now ran
for life. .svith the redskin not far behind.
The narrow bottom was full of willow
clumps, and from one to another of
these Edes ran, expecting every moment
that the Indian would wing him
with shot.
The bank of the creek became more
uneven. Bluffs came down nearer the
water, having wet runs between them,
in the beds of which the rain had cut
gulches, or ayroyds, which ware full of
high grass and briers. Coming to one of
these, Edes miscalculated its width, and
tumbled, six or seven feet, down among
mess of dank weeds and rubbish.
/ thought he had me then, sure,"
Edes says.
But the Indian did not see him fall,
and, crossing the gully few rods below,
he hurried on down the creek.
Edes was good deal shaken by the
fall, but he was able to put fresh cart
ridge in his carbine, and then he lay
still to get breath and listen.
Hearing nothing of his pursuer for
some minutes, he determined so creep
out, take the back track, and return
where they had left their horses. Jim,
he hardly expected to see again alive.
Getting his head up out of the gully,
he looked around, and about the first
thing he saw was the savage coming
cautiously back, apparently in search of
him but only Edes's head was above
the bank, the redskin did not see him.
Now was Edes's chance. Raising his
carbine, he took careful aim and fired,-
but missed. The Indian rushed forward
with an exultant shout.
Edes dropped back into the gully, and
crept under the overhanging bank on the
other side, hoping to get time to put an
other cartridge into his rife; but the
Indian came up the same instant,
jumped into the gulch, and struck and
poked with the butt of his gun, hoping
to drive out his foe.
Once he almost touched Edes, who
lay hidden by the reeds and grass which
OveIhung the bank. After thrusting
and poking for second or two, the
savage suddenly leaped out of the ditch
and ran to cover, fearing, no doubt,
that his adversary had had time to re-
load.
Edes now lay perfectly still for more
than an hour.
Clouds had arisen, and it had become
very dark. Presently it began to rain
heavily, accompanied by lightning and
thunder, and a fierce wind. Under
cover of the shower, Edes crept up the
gully for half mile or more.
Coming at length to where there wa,
timber on both sides, he left the gulch
and seeing nothing of his enemies, ht
made a wide detour back to the creek
and thence took the route to where the
horses had been left.> He reached tn,
Little Big Horn just after daybreak
But the tethers had been cut, and tn,
horses were gone.
Being without food, Edes was obliged t.
; keep on afoot, though it was not till lat
in the afternoon that he reached tn
camp.
: 1t was supposed that the scout hat
been killed, until three days later, whel
: Jim made his appearance, coming from
! the supply-camp on the Rosebud, whicl
! he had reached, after close chase, abou
five o'clock in the morning.
! There was little doubt that the Siou,
, had been following the men all night
and had seen them when they left thei
u horses