South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-07-05

nc turheu 10 Inc leit again, followeo
the base OF the ridge for a mile, and the
party entered dry ravinc with banks
from five to eight feet high. The bed
might have been wet in the spring. but
was dry then, and quite free from OBJ.
structions. As soon as shelter was OBJ
tanned Little Dan again disappeared.
He was gone some five minutes this
time, and when he returned he said:
There's millions OF 'cm! There's
been big camp in this neighborhood
for three or four days, and the
warriors are now moving for the fort,
leaving paps and squaws behind. Keep
quiet until we can get OUT
AT the end OF five minutes the In
dams were heard advancing, and pre-
sently their conversation 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 it lower down. Huddled
together in the darkness were the seven
white men, each one holding his breath
and each horse trembling with excite
ment.
Wen be discovered sooner or later
whispered Dan, and we'd better get in
the first blow. Draw your revolvers,
ride three abreast, and I'll leadv
He waited a minute for the men TO
get ready, aud then raised the widest
yell ever heard by Indian or white man.
Its tierceness fairly appalled, his com.
panions for an instant, but as his mus
tang sprang forward they spurred after
Charging straight down the ravinc, with
that wild scream cchoing from bank 10
bank, they had gone nearly half mile
before the surprised Indians compre.
hended the situation and made pursuit
Tue ravine bent ami turned for miles,
and while some of the Indians followed
down it, others rode along the banks,
firing ut random and screaming in their
rage.
a mile further down. called Little
Dan, as he turned in his saddle, u trail
crosses the ditch. Well turn to the
right and make for the Injun village.
If you shoot straight, we'll give these
devils chance TO attend dozen fun.
erals ut home
Not shot had thus far been fired by
the party. Two or three mounted In
dams had been encountered, sitting on
their saddles, and wondering over the
alarm, but they had been knocked down
and leaped over like 50 many toys.
The little band were quarter OF amilc
ahead Of pursuit as they whrlcd to the
right, dashed up the bank, and made
for the hundred camp fires mile away.
six abreast now-follow me ! shout
ed the dwarf. Il want TO charge right
through the center of tho village, and
I'll kill as mary as ali of you can
woundi Fire n everybody on legs, and
keep yelling like devils 2
Had they kept on down the ravine,
it would simply have been test Of speed
between horses, with odds in favor of
the white men. Little Dan had doub-
bled back on their track instead of run
ming away. and was headed off by n
big village alive with excitement.
The Indians kept along the ravinc, not
yet having caught sight of the pursued,
but still knowing that they were chasing
white men.
Now raise yell shouted Dan, as
the band neared the village-'raiso the
worst yell you can, and don't forget TO
keep shouting!
His peculiar scream was again sent
forth. aud tile other side riders hurrah-
cd at the top of their voices. Dan and
his mustang were wonderful ST glt.
The animal forced ahead ut a steady
gate, lis cars laid back and his mou th
wide open, and be swerved aside for
nothing. lie jumped blazing fire. ran
directly over n log. picked up boy in
his teeth and flung him aside, and every
instant altering a neigh which was al
most roar of rage.
a revolver in either hand little Dan
swung himself from side TO side, blow.
ing n warriors brains out on the right.
and then sending n bullet through the
head of an old man or squaw TO the left.
Pop ! pop pop! rang his revolver, and
above the awful din created in the sur
prised and frightened camp could be
heard his wild yells and The tigerish
neigh Of his mustang. The six fred as
they could, sweeping q trail OF death
forty feet wide through the village.
Hardly q shot was fred in return. but
one Of the few sent after them struck
and mortally wounded a bronze-Taced.
grizzly haired veteran who was three
times hit at Antictam. Ile fell forward.
clung to his horse, and when the band
halted on the prairie beyond the village
lie fell TO the ground.
In three minutes we shall have two
hundred bowling fieads after us said
Little Dan, as he di5mounted. This
man is totally wounded, and he'll be
dead in half an hour. We can't take
him along, and VIC can't stop here
While he was speaking he was busy
searChiug the pockets OF the unfortun.
ate rider. Watch, money, photographs
OF loved ones, revolvers and sabcrs were
taken and distributed among the party
in thirty seconds. and then the dwarf
bent down and asked:
.Conrade, can you speakY
Il understandable all right = was
tho whispered reply.
Here's your rifle said Dan. III the
Indians rush upon you shoot yourself
d 4 49,. u r.. Il r.