Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-05

But the whistling of bullets and the
7ells Of the Sioux continued. In short
lime the canvas tops of the wagons look
I'd like gigantic sleeves. The circles of
The savages widened only to contract |
again. Whenever reckless brave APP
preached within fair range, the sharp
crack of the Winchester from the rear OF
the wagon sent ball into his painted
body. There was no random firing from
that rifle; every shot brought its man.
The repeated charges of the Sioux grew
less frequent from the fact of the loss of
two or three Of their number under the
aim Of those pale blue eyes. twas after
the fifth or sixth charge of this kind that
the man from Kentucky expressed the
unanimous sentiment. Of the party when
he said:
Hadn't ye better get farther under
cover, Davis? It's purity open thar"
But Davis shook his head without chang
ing position. u.s.. .,.- .at. ... -.
Tue evening wore slowly away. The
went by to an accompaniment
OF shot and yell. Some of the animals
were lying dead beside the wagons: The
spokes Of the wheels and the beds of the
vehlclss were riddled and splintered with
bullets. Charge after charge had been
repulscd. Three men were lying badly
wounded inside the triangle. The vic
Tins OF the deadly Winchester formed
struggling line almost from it's muzzle
to the circle of discomitad but not de-
feated Sioux beyond. Its owner had
hardly spoken word in all that time,
but stood there like a statue of Fate.
Night came on, and a low moon wrapped
the landscape in dusky crayons. The
savages retained their circular guard, pre-
pared to renew the attack on the NOR
row. Shadowy forms crept warily
through the tall grass and dragged away
the dead. The wounded began to plead
piteously for water, and there was none
to give.
1t was ats call of this kind from the
man who had kicked him from his place
at the camp fire few days previous that
Davis lett his post to come forward and
ask if no water was to be had. He was
told there was none; that the nearest wa
ter was a small pond at the foot of the
ridge, just within the surrounding circle
of the Sioux, Taking bucket from the
wagon, Davis said quietly, "I'!l get some.'
Not man OF the party spoke. Every
body realized that something heroic was
to be done. Good God! TO 90 to the
pond was to 60 to almost certain death.
And yet no one babe him stay. I think
every one was impressed with the fact
that it would be useless.
We crept back to our posts in silence.
Even the wounded ceased their means.
We watched the tall figure stridiny
straight through the meadows till it was
lost in the gloom. Then came an inter-
val OF silence-awful, appaling-broken
at last ny a shot and wild chorus of
yells. In moment all the demons of
the prairie seemed let loose. Shot fol-
lowed shot, the bowls had something
exultant in them.
Through the gloom there came shad-
ow-a tall figure running with buck
ct in his hand. Following close behind
a myriad of dus]zy forms, with cleaning
knives and dubbed guns. Then our
work began. y continuous sheet of fire
belched from the wagons and turned the
bowling Sioux back on their trail. In a
moment more, Davis staggered into the
triangle with a bucket half filed with
water in his hand. The man from Ken
lucky lett his post to grasp his hand in
a grip that would have crushed the bones
of u weaker man.
"Mr. Davis,' said he, eyer man as
this party is proud Of" The bronzed
men crouching behind the wagons turned
IN their places to smile assent. But the
hero who had run the gauntlet of fire
simply placed the bucket beside the man
who had kicked him, and quietly went
back to his post.
The Sioux, exasperated by their defeat.
keptup desultory fire in the grass. Just
before dawn they charged again, but the
Winchester alone killed three braves be-
tore the wagons were reached, and it was
converted into club welded by giant.
When morning came the Sioux were
found watching our movements from q
safe distance over the prairie. Evident
ly the fight was costing them too dear.
1t was determined by the party, in
view of the probability Of the Sioux be-
ing reinforced during the day, to beat a
retreat. The man from Kentucky har-
messed Mr.. Davis mules with his own
hand. But when he came to hand the
relns to their powder-grimed owner, it
was found that he was in no condition to
receive them. He had been wounded in
half dozen places, and the slow hemor-
rhage had robbed him of his strength.
We lifted him tenderly into the wagon
and began our march. The Sioux circled
about US, but kept we'll out of range. Ry
midday they had disappeared. 1t was at
about this time that the man from Ken
lucky, who had been intently watching
his patient Tor some time, brought his
wagon to sudden halt. Gathering about
him, we found Davis with his eyes turned
to the sky and a grayish hue stealing
over his face. A minute after he reached
his hand out to grasp the Kentuckian's,
and so journeyed into infinite solitude.
We rode on in silence. When the shad-
ows of the evening came we dug a rude
grave in the prairie and buried Davis out
of sight. The man from Kentucky
framed his epitaph when he said, ssHe
didn't seem OF much account at first, but
he doomed up powerful toward the last"
Very Unsafe.