The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-08-01
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1t is about two hundred miles from
Fort Terrilt, 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
Llano, is about the same distance to the
east, inclOsing a triangular spot Of
country half IS large as the State of
Rhode Island. A continuation Of the
Apache Mountains. called by the hun
ters "Gray Horse Hills" incloses a
triangle, on the west, and over Ie
prairie thus shut il the red man is
king.
Six men, none of them hunters or In
dian fighters, but all we'll armed, had
been escorted from Fort Mason TO Ter
ritt, but ON reaching that point the In-
dams were found to be so numerous
and troublesome that a military escort
to Fort NcKayette could not be spared.
There were forty-one soldiers at the
post, hardly enough for its defense, and
it was plain. without a word from the
colonel, that not a man could be
spared.
There are redskins enough between
here and NIcKavette to destroy a regi-
ment Of veterans" " he remarked, as The
chances were being canvassed. ''Tha
best scout on.the plain 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 tins glass aud tell me what you
see."
1t was half an hour before sundOwn.
The glass revealed Indians in every di-
rectiOn. Some were riding at swift
pace. others were motiouless on the
knobs, and the fort was completely en-
circled.
"There's a thousand II there is One,"
continued the colonel, as he received
the glass, 'and I must get ready at once
for hot times"
Those six men had an eTrand and q
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:
1.-THE hull triangle is chin deep with
reds, and go 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 goingl'
Nevertheless, an hour after nightfall,
he came down to where the six were
saddling their horses, and said:
'It's nothing less than murder, but,
if you will go, let our little Dan go
along. He knows the route, is brave
and cool-headed, aud if you'd take or
ders from him there's one chance in a
thousand that he'll take you through"
And "our little Dan" soon Joined the
party. He wasn't an Indian, nor yet a
Mexican or 4 white man. lie was
neither boy nor man. He was a human
being, less than five feet in height,
weighed 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 look
ing 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 a word, and in ten minutes he
was at the gate, ready to go. lie was
mounted on the largest mustang ever
seen around any of the Western forts.
He had strapped on a blanket for a sad
die, filed his eanteen with whisky, and
his pockets with provisions, and he had
a Henry rifle, two revolvers and an Ar
kansas Bowie-knife for weapons.
(which way shall you start our
anxiOusly inquired the colonel, as all
were ready.
The dwarf pointed straight toward
for a reply.
''Wen, goOd-by, each one"
As the party passed through the gate,
Little Dan motioned for the men to ride
one behind the other, and then be
spurred forward and took the lead. His
mustang went of at an easy lope, and
the pace Of the other horses was regU- |
lated accordingly. He rode with his
rifle resting in front Of him, having no
stirrups and holding no rein, but guild
ing the horse entirely by the pressure
Of his knees. The feet Of Ae horse
made scarcely a sound as they cantered
over tbe thick grass, and the voice Of