The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-12-05

We had run some three miles, when q
whoop on our left caused us to glance in
that direction, where we beneld another
horde of savages with yells and gesticu.
latiOns, bearing swiftly down upon us
and not more than quarter of mile
away.
Our worst fears seemed now about tC
b9 realized. We were already pretty
well exhausted, but our speed sensiblI
increased under this new incentive
Yet we knew it could not last. Some.
thing besides running had now TO be done
and at once. Two of the Indians were
outstripping the rest, and rapidly near.
/ ing us. Bob and [ were of one mind.
for without speaking, we slackened ouI
pace. After getting our breath little,
We agreed on plan of action.
The two foremost saYages were now
! within range, one leading the other BY
two or three rods, and suddenly coming
to halt, l faced them and delivered
my shot, with the best aim / was capa-
/ BILE of, at the nearest. 1t missed him
but the second Indian, CHANGING to be
in the line of fire, fell bowling and kick
ing on the sand. the Indian in the
lead retreated to his fallen comrade, and
l instantly reloaded and turned toward
Bob, who, in continuation of our plan
of operations, was to fire in his turn
Bob was a cool. true shot, and, drop
ping on one knee, he sighted at the In
( dian who seeing the motion. began dane
ing about at a great rate, at the same
I making off toward his companions. At
/ ter following his movements a moment
/ Bob fired, and the savage fell backward
never to rise again.
/ "There. I feel better - said Bob. ris-
/ ing and showing home a cartridge.
"Those two won't be likely to trouble
us again. Oh. if we only had some
rocks o. trees to get behind now! But
/ there isn't as much as twig for bird
/ to light upon on these accursed sand
I heaps" he continued emphasizing his
remarks by a contemptuous thrust of a
! United States army No. 9 brogan into
/ said soil.
! While Bob was talking my eyes had
been on the Indians, but my thoughts
/ were travelling over the route We had
/ come that afternoon from camp, l re-
membered that we had passed a small
( rocky elevation, caused by the washing
of the soft soil from ledge once wholly
covered by earth, thus leaving exposed
a ridge of broken, crumbling sandstone.
Where was this ledge? Might.w not
yet gain the protection of these jagged
spurs
"Bob - 1 shouted at length as we
again moved briskly on. did you notice
the rocky ridge we passed coming out ?''
"Ha yes | remember it. Just the
place we want. But where was it ? 1
couldn't tell to save me from yonder
bowling imps. l wonder what's the
matter with them now ?'' replied Bob,
glancing over his shoulder at the In
dians. ''They have Joined their forces;
just what thought they'll be after us
fierce now, - lie added.
'Well, let them come We are sure
to reach the ledge. Follow me; l know
exactly where it lies,'' [ cried taking
the lead.
Our pursuers, now increased to the
number of twenty-five or thirty, were
again coming on at a swift pace. but
cheered by the anticipation of shelter
near at hand, we held our own in the
race for some time. Then another well
directed shot from Bob checked their
speed until, amid the most fearful
whoops from the baffled foe, We gained
the ledge and took refuge among its
crumbling pinnacles.
The disappointed savagts, after halt
ing a moment. evidently for cOnsuita-
tion, spread themselves ont, completely
encircling our little fortress, and with
upon Us, discharging showers of arrows
that fell far short of their mark, how
ever. We thought they were going to
charge upon Us at once, and disposed
ourselves to sell our lives as dearly as
possible, But they were only amusing
themselves, or trying TO at our expense,
and one, Yenturlng within range TO eX-
hibit peculiar antics, expressive of con-
tempt for white men generally, received
compliment, in return, from BOb's
skillful hand that rolled him upon the
sand, and caused the whole party to
withdraw to a more secure distance.
Then ensued a scene characteristic of
all Southwestern Indians. y circle was
formed around the body Of the fallen
brave, and a brawny savage, probably
the chief, began haranguing the cow
ardly crowd, eliciting yells of rage and
grief as he pointed alternately in our di-
rection, or at the dead warrior at his
feet.
He was. doubtless, endeavOring to in
cite his timid audience to Drawer deeds
/ than they had yet exhibited, and we
/ watched. with considerable anxiety, the
result of his efforts. Suddenly, at this
! iuncture, our attention was called to
the unnatural darkness which, in a
moments time. as it seemed to us, so
! absorbed had we been in observing the
movements of the enemy, fell like a
great black pail over the gloomy plain.
y vast cloud extended from west tC
east across the heavens. The sun had
gone behind its western limit, tingine
the mOuntain-like heights with a rim OF
brightest gold, terminating with deer
fringe of amber; while earthward a
I wild. lurid appearance betokencd the
fierce strife of winds.
1--WE are going to have 4 tempest
. Bob. = l observed.
''Hope it viii blow yonder red liend:
clear across the desert, then Bob re
piled, looking around. but look there
What Is that A sandspout, by heaven
a monster too; l never saw anything like
that before, = cried Bob starting UP il
excitement.
Nor had l ever seen the like. Ap
preaching. as it seemed. exactly in oul
direction was monster whiTlwind
reaching from the darkened earth t
the palI-like cloud above, wheeling anC
edGying in vast circles as it Tapped III
in its rapacious fold the light dust O
the arid plain.
The advance of the terrible visitan
was extremely grand and sublime. 1t
proportions were massive and awe-in
spiring; its march as steady and resist
less as the onward sweep of counties
bison, but far more swift. The uppel
portion was as clearly cut and defines
as the castled domes of the Colorado
and wore lurid, yellowish hue-th
whole heavens being now OF the sam
; unearthly color. Close TO the ground
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