Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-16

NeAt uoIuluS Wuen bDe wagon Drall
was ready to move, the Captain passe'
near Joseph's wagon on purpose, t.
say:
''If there are any towards in thi
train, they needn't travel with us an,
further"
1t was cruel thrust. Joseph wa
harnessing bis horse, and his brothe
was slowing away the cooking utensils
The strange mans face grew white
again, and his hand went down for 6
revolver, but just then voice called
out:
Don't mind it, Joseph, we'll 90 or
alone
The train moved off without them
some of the old hunters taunting and
Joking, and others fearful that the two
would be butchered by the Indians be-
tore the day was over. When the white
topped wagon got so far away that they
seemed no larger than his hand, Joseph
moved along the rail, his face stern
aud so busy with the thoughts that he
did not hear the consoling words:
Never mind, Joseph, We are trying to
do right"
That night when the train Of the gold
hunters went into camp, they could not
see the lone wagon, though many of the
men, ashamed of their conduct, looked
long and earnestly for it. They had seen
Indians atar off and knew that the red
devils would pounce down on single
team as they sighted it.
Darkness came, midnight came, and
the sentinels heard nothing but the
stamping of the horses and the howls of
coyotes. At 2 o'clock the reports of
rifles and the fierce yells of Indians
hoated up through the little valley, and
the camp was aroused in moment.
"The devils have jumped in on Joseph
and his brother whispered one of the
men, as he stood Oh a knoll and bent his
head to listen.
Good huff! towards have no bust
ness out here" growled the Texan.
The first speaker wheeled, struck the
ruftian a sledge hammer blow in the
face, and then running for the horses,
cried out:
Come on, come on 4 dozen of rs
can be spared for the rescue"
Sixteen men swept down the valley
like the wind. The firing and yelling
proving that the man who
lad been called coward was making a
heroic fight. In ten minutes they came
Town Upon the lone camp, made light as
lay by the burning wagon. Fifty feet
rom the bonfire and hemmsd in by
'lrcle of dancing. leaping, ho~iing say
'ges, was Joseph's dead body. The gold !
hunters heard the pop! pop, pop. of
he boys re:olver us they burst into
'iew, and the next moment they were
hargIng down upon the demons, using
lie and revolver with terrible effect.
n two minutes not living Indian was
n sight. Joseph's brother stood over
he dead body, turning HIM over with
is hand. The men cheered wildly as
hey looked around, but tie boy looked ,
p in their faces without exultation.
irprise or gladness. +,
There were three dead Indians beside
he wagon, killed where the fight began
nd the corpses i'll front of Joseph's
rother numbered more than Tho vic
ms of the sixteen men. h
us Joseph badly hurt ~ asked one of q
le men, as be halted his horse beside $
lie boy. +,
ale is deadH' whispered the white .
ICED defender. Ii
SIS he'' God forgive NE for the part Il
took last night. +
''You called him a coward,' cried Ct
'seph's brother, "and you are to blame Il
r this. Was he a coward! Look here. | W
ID there, and there We drove them e,
elk from the wagon-drove them ont II,
re! Joseph is dead. You are his Il
nrderers y q,
Every man was near enough to hear V,
voice and note his action as he pick &c
up the rifle Of an Indian and sent = o,
llet through his own head. With ex- ~
of grief and alarm trembling
their lips the men sprang from tAeir
ldles. The boy was dcad-dead as he
seph-and both corpses were bleeding IN
m a dozen wounds. m
Wen carry them to the train and an
We burial in the morning. said one ch
the nten and the bodies were taken IL
behind two OF the horsemen. They pa
have funeral, and the men looked to
o the graves with tears in their eyes. WI
thew had discovered tbot Io,o,L,o | tilj