The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1881-02-10


end of the second day.
Earle found the Indians at the agency in q state
of great excitement General Howard was ex-
pected to get on the track of the marauders in
very short time, as they had been heard of quite
near. Many Of the Umatilas had left the vicinity
Of the agency, and fears were entertained that
they would join the hostiles.
At PendletOn, Earle passed through on his
way to the agency, he had found many settlers
gathered for safety, and so he concluded that he
would return to his camp by some Of the numer-
Gus Indian trails through the mountains in pref
erence to going along the outskirts OF the settle
ments, where he imagined the Indians would be
skulking, if there really any on the west side
Of the mountains.
1t was bright, sunny day when Earle and
Johnny, leaving the horses they brought for the
use OF scouts or volunteers, as they might be
needed, started to go back to Bitter-sweet. Their
way lay for the most part along the ridges of
spurs or foothills OF the mountain range through
dense forests or bushy gens and occasionally de-
scended to where mountain torrent dashed down
ravine, and crossed the foaming waters by pre-
cipitous paths. The sure-footed Indian pony got
on over these paths with greater ease than the
fine-blooded American horse.
As night came on, Earle looked about fora good
camping-place, and finally chose one, near the
head of deep ravine, where tall pines had strewn
their needles over the ground for centuries, and
clear spring burst from the hillside near the trail
Hemlock boughs were gathered and blankets
spread down and small fire kindled, upon which
they roasted bird they had shot during the day.
While Johnny was prospecting around" as he
said, before lying down TO sleep he founl a large
trail, apparently crossing at right angles the one
on which they were travelling. Johnny looked at
it attentvely, and said there were signs OF quite
company Of people having passed over it recently.
"Ill bet it is lot Of those beastly savages,"
said he 'going uown 10 raid on the settlers. II it
il, We had better go further, for perhaps they
may come back this way
"Oh, no" said Earle; "G don't believe they
will. And perhaps it is not an Indian trail, any
way"
81 think it is" replied Johnny at is like
one"
~ do not think you could tell an Indian trail
from a white mans. The white men use the In
dian ponies about as much as the Indians do
themselves" said Earle
''Maybe," said Johnny; "but | think it is In
dians, and they are not far of, either"
Notwithstanding the probability that evil might
be near them, Earle and Johnny slept soundly
They rose early, ate heartily, and prepared to
start on toward home. Earle strapped his blan-
kets on behind his saddle, and was just preparing
to mount his horse. Johnny had his pony just
ready to mount, and was standing only few feet
from Earle in the path, when he heard a click, as
Of a gun-lock He looked in the direction Of the
sound, and saw a tall, hideous-looking Indian,
with feathers in his scalp-lOck and blood daubed
over his face and parts Of his body, just taking
aim at Earle whose back turned TO the In
dian.
Johnny uttered a cry, and, quick a flash
sprang between the Indian and his intended vic
tim, receiving in his own breast the ball that
was aimed at Earle, and fell dead.
The cowardly Indian slipped behind a tree to re-
load his gun, not however, before Earle had
caught sight Of him. and, as he glanced down the
trail, he quite company Of Indian warriors
riding hurriedly up, having heard the shot and
seen the occasion OF it. Earle took in the stua-
ton in a moment. lie had turned his head at
Johnny's warming cry, quick enough to see the
/ boy spring between himself and that well-aimed
shot, and now, should he leave him, even to effect
his own escape? Not, at least, till he ascertained
whether life was indeed extinct He stopped and
felt the pulse Of the dead boy carefully. 1t was
entirely still, and he saw the warm blood flowing
/ from the left side. The shot had struck the heart
There was no room to doubt that death had been
! instantaneous. He saw that the Indians were
just upon him, and then, at last, after what
seemed the lapse of many moments, he sprang
upon his frightened horse and started on q wild
race with death. Fortunately the trail in which
he wished to go was lined with tall tree trunks
and only few yards ahead turned suddenly
That was all that hindered the Indians second
shot from laying Earle to rest near the noble boy
who had given his life for his friend.
The horse of the murdered boy had bounded Oh
in the same direction i'm which Earle was now
flying along, pursued by the whole band of whoop-
ing, shouting savages. Bullets fell around him
like hail But the thick tree boles, and the wind
ing trail, and, better than all, the hand OF HIM
who has promised to shelter His own when they
COLL intervened between him and the flying shot,