The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-02-05

mercy of the Indians, and would be sur
rounded, scalped, and our bones be left
TO whiten on the desert sands.
Such thoughts as these filled my
mind as l glanced back every few mo-
ments at the pursuing bard OF redskins,
each time to see them nearer, and COM
/ ing on with the rapidity and ease OF
prize runner at Gilmore's. What Bob
/ thought of the situation l knew not.
He was pulling on vigorously, and his
| face wore an expression | had learned
to interpret as one of great determine
ton.
Bob would die hard. Both of us
would die hard l knew; and more than
one savage would fail to be in at the
| &C lifting'' of our hair. Bob and l had, as
yet, not much experience in the strata
gems of the willy foe. In after years we
/ should have saved our wind, and coolly
kept the enemy at bay with our long
range rifles.
We had run some three miles, when a
whoop on our left caused us to glance in
that direction, where we beheld another
! horde of saVages, with yells and gesticU-
latiOns, bearing swiftly down upon US,
and not more than quarter of a mile
away.
Our worst fears seemed now about
] u
| ty well exhausted, but our speed SEN
sibly increased under this new incen-
! tive Yet we knew it could not last.
Something besides running had now
| 10 be done, and at once. Two of the
/ Indians were Outstripping the rest, and
rapidly nearing us. Bob and l were of
one mind, for, without speaking, we
slackened our pace. After getting our
breath a little, we agreed on plan Of
action.
The two foremost savages were now
within range, one leading the other by
two or three rods, and suddenly coming
TO halt, / faced them and delivered
my shot, with the best aim l 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 dropping
on one knee, he sighted at the Indian
who, seeing the motion, began dancing
about ut a great rate, at the same time
making off toward his companions.
After following his movements a mo-
ment, Bob fired, and the savage fell
backward never to rise again.
There, feel better,' said Bob, ris-
ing and showing home a cartridge
g Those two won't be likely to trouble
us again. Oh, if we only had some
rocks or trees to get behind now! Bu
there isn't as much as a twig for birC
to light upon on these accursed sane
heaps" he continued, emphasizing hi
remarks by a contemptuous thrust of
United States army No. brOgan intC
Rid soil.
While Bob was talking, my eyes haC
been on the Indians, but my thought;
were travelling over the route we haC
come that afternoon from camp. 1 re
membered that we had passed a small
rocky elevation, caused by the washing
! of the soft soil from a ledge once who'll,
, covered by earth, thus leaving exposed
! a ridge of broken, crumbling sandstone
Where was this ledge? Might we no
q yet gain the protection of these jagge'
: spurs?
+ "Bob!" shouted, at length, as W
: again moved briskly on, - did yo
e notice the rocky ridge we passed com
a ing oqt?"
7 Hal yes; l remember it. Just tn
!, place we want. But where was it?
= couldn't tell to save me from yondc
bowling imps. | wonder what's th
matter with them now?' replied Bot
i elancing over his shoulder at the Ind
. ans. They have joined their forces
n just what l thought; they'll be after L
o. fierce now," he added.
o Well, let them come! We are SUI
?. to reach the ledge. Follow me; 1 knO
e exactly where it ies,'' l cried, takin
d the lead.
d Our pursuers, now increased to th
number of twenty-five or thirty, wen
IS again coming on at a swift pace, bI
lt cheered by the anticipation of shelt'
le near at hand, we held our own in IL
: race for some time. Then another we
IS directed shot from Bob checked the
e. speed until, amid the most fearful whoc
e. from the baffied foe, we gained the ledg
y and took refuge among its crumblir
pinnacles.
oe The disappointed savages, after hal
e. ing a moment, evidently for consult
re ton, spread themselves out, complete
lv encircling our little fortress, and wit
wild yells made feints of rushing
O. upon US, discharging showers of arrow
ee that fell far short of their mark, hoy
re ever We thought they were going
he charge upon us at once, and dispose
bit ourselves to sell our lives as dearly
,e- possible. But they were only amusir
themselves, or tyring to, at our eXpens
w. and one, venturing within range, to e
n hibit peculiar antics, expressive of co
ID tempt for white men generally, receiv,
a compliment in return, from Boil
IS. slzillful hand, that rolled him upon t
nd sand, and caused the whole party
,r- withdraw to a more secure diStanC
A Then there ensued a scene characters
yiv of all the Southwestern Indians. A C
iG- Gle was formed around the body of {
0f fallen brave, and brawny savag
are probably the Chief, began harrangui
as- the cowardly crowd, eliciting yells
1lv rage and grief as he pointed alternate
in our direction, or at the dead waTr
7 at his feet.
mo- He was, doubtless, endeavoring'to
cite his timid audience to drawer dee
zen than they had yet exhibited, and
all watched, with considerable anxiety,
= result of his efforts. Suddenly, at t
a iuncture, our attention was called to
slv unnatural darkness which, in mOmeu
my time, as it seemed to Us, 50 absorbed
ef we been in observing the movements
eld the enemy, fell like great black I
he over the gloomy plain.
Id 4 vast cloud extended from west
we east across the heavens. The sun
ce. gone behind its western limit, ting
in the mountain-like heights with a rim
his. brightest gold, terminating with a d,
ON fringe of amber; while earthward
of wild, lurid appearance betckoned
9th fierce strife of winds.
ur- We are going TO have a tempe
MI Bob, | observed
ion Hope it will blow yonder red fiel
uld clear across the desert, then" Bob
inr piled, looking around. ''But look the