The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-08-22
FOUND IN A WAGON BOX.

"The bloody villains" mutuered
Sandy McGoyern to himself, as he
saton his horse surveying the scene
OF dcsolaIion aud death: the bloody,
murderin scoundrci!"
IN front OF the little knoll on which
Sandy had reinei his horse in was a
confused heap OF broken wagon.
Here aud there dead horse, already
partially stripped by the cayoies, and
scattered up and down the line OF
wagons the bodies of men who had
evidently died fighting II did not
need the hideous red patches on top
Of the skulls, where the scalps had
been torn oil, to tell the old frontiers
man that lie saw before him all that
was lett OF an emigraut train that had
been surprised by indians. The mr.
rows IN the mems bodies. tho wanton
destruction OF the wagons, told the
tale but too plainly. Sandy lifted his
horse rein, and the trained animal
picked his way down tho little de-
scent to where the fight had been.
Here the "signs" we're palmer than
eyer. and as Sandy rode slowly along
tho line where tho unavailimg battle
had been fought, his mind was filled
with bitter regret that he, in com.
pany with u score OF stout fighters
like himself, had not been there
Mingled with this was feeling OF a
desire Tor vengeance. To his mex
pcrienccd eycs, the sight sign which
would have escaped man new 10 the
plains. told him that the massacre
had taken place at the most, but two
days before. The most horrible, and
yet the surest prouf, was the fact that
the cay0tes had not yet had time 10
finish their work ofeating the dead !.
AS lo rode slowly along he suddenly
heard y faint sound, The silence ol
the desert is 10 intense that one be-
comes accustomed 10 il, and any
noise, however slight, attracts the at
tention Instantly, With his nerves
strung by the scenes which lay before
him, the frontierslnau, whose senses
were always alert, found his attention
at once, and stopping his horse, lie
listened inIently In about minute
he heard 1t again, and noticed that II
came from one of lhe wagons, Dis
mounting and walking 10 the place,
he listened once more. In another
minute he heard 1t again. 1t was
something like q faint cry, aud
seemed 10 be smothcred in some way.
Sandy stood close by the wagon, his
hand resting upon the foot board in
front. Again he heard 1t, and this
time more plainly than before. Fair
ly leaping to the foot. board, he open-
ed the long box in front, The top OF
which forms in a prairie schooner the
drivers seat, aud saw lying in il lit.
tie child.
Tho big frontiersman lifted the
baby-fori 1t was scarcely more-ou'
of lis strange restirg-placo as tender.
" as q mother. lie saw the child was
very weak from its long fast and
placing il gently on his blanket, be
began a search for something fit for II
TO eat. Finding a bag OF flour, hs
made, with o little sugar, kind o.
thin cruel, heating II over fire hs
had hastily kindled. Taking tht
.baby in his arms, he fed II slowly and
cautiously. With infinite patience
the big, bearded man went through
his strange task until, after some
time, he had the satisfaction oil seeing
the little one refuse to swallow any
moro. Then sitting on the tongue o.
the wagon, with tho dead lying al
around him, Sandy rocked the bab,
in his arms until il went to sleep.
/ Placing itin his blankets and GOV
ering itup carefully, he examined tbs
box in which he found it. In the
bottom was rough horse blanket
Thrown over the edge was piece o
Iropc, placed there to prevent the lie
shutting tight. Along side of th'
child he found halfa bracelet, evident
Nv cheap imitation one, whicl
| looked AS though ithad been torn Of
| from tho other half. At the lowe
end OF the box there was confused
heap of baby clothes, thrust in hasti
lly. All of these things Sandy took
EHe found even tho water in tn
spring beside which the train ha'
camped, to give his newly DISCOVERIES
treasure bath, which seemed to d.
the li,tle one a great deal of good.
4 For one week Sandy stayed there
cpandinU fho xuhoto f;.,.a lootin