Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-03-03

! tnroe hundred yuruS Vi IL, Vic uee-tOps
having prevented his seeing it before.
A party of Uncpapas, as was subse-
uuently learned from the Indians them
selves. was camping there for the pur-
pose of cutting off scouts from below OF
above.
Starbird might have turned back, and
probably would, if he had foreseen what
was to follow But on the spur of the
moment he determined to give them the
ego by" Striking off toward the
further bank, he shot down the river like
an antelope.
At this point the Missouri is from
three to four hundred yards in width.
| Starbird had veered off SO as to put
rather more than half the width of the
channel between himself and the right
shore. Before he had got down fairly
opposite the smoke loud whoop, fol
lowed by chorus of Sioux yells, told
! him he was seen.
| Seven or eight redskins dashed out of
! the bushes, down the bank, with their
guns. and crack came shots upon the air,
and bullets skipped past Starbird's legs,
and screamed along the ice.
| Every Indian shot at him one after the
!
swiftly it is no great wonder they failed
| to hit him. In half minute he was far
past them, and not a little elated with
his feat, he turned his face and twinkled
his fingers at them in lively fashion.
A prolonged whooping answered this
signal of defiance. There was long,
straight stretch ahead, down which STAR
bird flew at full speed, thinking himself
safe from that party at least.
But he did not know the ground as
well as the redskins knew it. CHANGING
back minute later, he saw that four or
five of them had crossed the ice aud
were hurriedly mounting the bluffs Of
the other bank. Yet he dld not at once
mistrust what they intended-which WAS
to cut him off at the next show"
For some three or four miles below,
the river turns north again, sweeping
round IN a majestic bend. By running
overland, not much more than two miles,
the Indians would reach the river, where
as Starbird had to skate more than seven
miles to reach the same point
Not knowing this, and seeing that the
savages were not in pursuit on the ice,
Starbird went on for a couple of miles,
utes, and took breath.
To his surprise, just as he was starting
out from the bank to go on, he saw two
Indians coming after him on skates, a
mile back up the river.
He watched their skating a moment or
two, and concluding from their move
ments that he could keep out of their
way, he struck off again at ordinary
speed They did not gain on him. On
the contrary he saw that he was leaving
them.
Four or five miles were soon gone
over, when, to his CONSERVATION, he saw
three Indians run out on the ice from a
thicket. not hundred rods ahead He
realized the situation at once. He had
been headed off; and there, too, were the
redskins behind.
For one instant he was on the point of
cutting his skate straps and taking to the
bank. But knowing the redskins would
have the advantage of him there he re-
solved to remain on the ice, and bore
down toward them.
"Matou, broder' (hold up, brother),
the wretches shouted to him, and then
returning his compliment twinkled their
uuSSsseIS dit ulLu Will WuOOp VI QorISlfe
laughter.
But Starbird had no thoughts of hold
ing up. AS he drew nearer the savages
presented their guns; but he. dashed
toward them, till he was within two hun
dred yards, when gliding round he darted
/ back up stream.
Thinking he now meant to try his
chance with the two Indians on skates,
all three fired their guns at him, as he
dashed away, and again the ice screamed
with the sound of bullets.
Instantly ON hearing them fire, Star
bird circled round, and drawing his re-
volver, skated toward them at full speed.
Two of the savages who stood together
dubbed their guns and ran to meet him;
then, catching sight of his revolver, they
turned and ran for the bushes, and be-
gan loading in haste. But the other,
who was further out on the ice, dropped
on his knee and took aim.
Starbird then saw that this one had
double-barreled gun, with a reserve
charge In it. lacking off from him on
the instant, he darted off toward the
further bank to get past him on that
side
The savage jumped up and ran to head
him off, holding his gun ready to shoot.
Starbird was now within hundred feet
of him, and feeling he should certainly
be winged if he tried to skate past, he
dashed directly at the Indian, at the
same time firing his pistol.
Either the shot upset the redskin or
he slipped. Down he went on the ice,
and bang went his gun. Starbird
cooked and fired another shot at him, as
he flew past, and was off before the other
two Indians could finish loading their
rifles.
But he had not gone far when he felt
the strap of his right skate give way, and
on stoppingto tighten it, found that it
was worn nearly off close to the wood.
It hung only by q shred. For moment
he was appalled,, then thinking of his
belt, he hastily pulled it off, and with his
knife, on the ice, cut strap from it.
|. But though he hurried as for life, this
occupied several minutes, and before he
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