The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-10-28

The train moved OF without
them, some of the gold hunters jok-
ing and tauntlng, and others fearful
that the two would be butchered by
the Indians before the day was over.
When the white topped wagons
were so far away that they seemed
no larger than his hand, Joseph
moved along on the trait, his face
stern and dark, and so busy with
his thoughts that he did not hear
| the consoling words:
"Never mind, Joseph; We are try
ing to do right"
That night, when the wagon 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 afar off, and they knew
that the red devils would pounce
down upon single team as soon as
they sighted it.
Darkness came, midnight came,
and the sentinels heard nothing but
the stamping of the horses and the
hOwls OF the coyotes. At two
O'Clock the reports of rifles and the
fierce yells of Indians foated up
through the little valley, and the
camp was aroused in a moment.
"The devils have jumped in on
Joseph and his brotherp whispered
one of the men, as he stood on a
knoll and bent his head to listen.
"Good 'nuff! Cowards have no
business out here" growled the
Texan.
The first speaker wheeled, struck
the ruffian sledge hammer blow,
and then, running for the horses,
cried out:
"Come on! come on! A dozen
OF US can be spared tor the rescue"
Sixteen men swept down the valley
like the wind. The firing and the
yelling continued, proving that the
man who had been called a coward
was making heroic fight, In ten
minutes they came upon the lone
camp made light as day by the
burning wagon. Fifty feet from
the bonfire. and hemmed in by a
circle of dancing, leaping, bowling
savages, was Joseph's brother
standing over Joseph's dead body.
The gold hunters heard the pop,
pop, pop, of the boys revolver, as
they burst into view, and the next
moment they were charging down
upon the demons. using rifle and
revolver with terrible effect. IN
two minutes not a living Indian
was in sight. Joseph's brother
stood over the body, an empty re-
volver in his hand. The men
cheered wildly as they looked
around, but the boy looked up into
their faces without sign of exulta-
ton, surprise or gladness.
There were three dead Indians
beside the wagon, killed where the
fight commenced, and the corpses
IN front of Joseph's brother num-
bered more than the victims of the
rs Joseph badly hurt?' asked
one of the men, as he halted his
horse beside the boy.
HE is deadp whispered the
white-faced defender
''He is! God forgive me for the
part took last nightr'
"You called me a coward !" cried
Joseph's brother, land you are to
blame for thisi Was he coward?
Look there! and there! and there!
We drove them back from the
wagon-drove them clear out here!
Joseph is dead. You are his muir
derersp
Every man was near enough to
hear his voice and to note his ac-
tion as he picked up the rifle of an
Indian and sent a bullet through
his own head. With ordinations
of grief and alarm trembling on
their lips, thu men sprang from
their saddles. The boy was dead
dead as Joseph-and both corpses
were bleeding from a dozen wounds.
"We'll carry 'em up to the train
and have a burial in the morning."
said one OF the men, ard the bodies
were taken up behind two of the
hOrsemen. They did have a burial,
and men looked into the grave with
tears in their eyes, for they had dis
covered that Joseph's brother was
a woman-yes, woman with the
Iwhitest throat and softest hands.
1t might have been Joseph's wife,
! or sister, or sweetheart. No one
could tell that; but they could tell
how they had wronged him, and
they said, as they stood around the
grave
ave hope the Lord won't lay .it
up agin us!"-New York Sun.