The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-12-13

to make one more dash at them and see it we
could not save the steers, for this bunch was
about the finest aud latest on our range. So
on we went at full drive
''Well, sir, they came at us, more'n dozen
of 'em, the minute we rounded that bend We
had no sooner passed the high rocks there,
when more than dozen sprang out behind us.
80 as to cut of our retreat And such yell!
They had been still as ferrets, but now thew
Just let out, and it almost lifted our hair
swell, it would be = pretty hard matter for
mo to describe what followed; l haven't got
the language to do it. They didn't fire shot
at first; but each redskin, as he spurred out
from the black shadow of the overhanging
rocks, gave q screecEin' yell; and they all
ours:
''They thought they were sure of US; and
we saw in q moment what their game was.
They meant to capture us, ponies and all, and
then have au interesting time 'roastin' us,
triced up to pine stump-the same they bad
sons before in those same hills. You see, we
had no more doubts now about their being
Sioux.
''Well, as We couldn't turn back, We just
drew our six shooters and urged our ponies TO
q run slx-shooter's sight handler than a
scarcely seconds work to shove our carbinea
down into our saddle-hclsters. We supposed
that there were more Of the redskins ahead OF
US; and go it proved, for in less than minute
We ran into another squad.
1T was getting rather dark in the canyon by
this time; and I reckon we overlook them
sooner than they expected, for they were still
scattered out and punchin' the steers along.
Perhaps they thought, though, that we would
not try to ride through all that crowd OF cattle
up the gorge AHEAD
eve went in among them like pair OF SKY
;~,ok ~. Soro xuikh ~
six shooters right and left wherever, in the
duet aud dark, we could catch sight Of any OF
that tluttering calico. They dashed, struck
and shot at us from all directions at once; but
we plunged through the midst Of them, and
went 1T full drive among all those houndering,
believing steers ahead.
''Only the darkness could have saved as
rom the bullets and arrows that were shot at
rs a. we were carried on in the midst Of the
stampede; and only heaven preserved us from
being crushed to death in the jam of cattle
providing along between the almost vertical
walls Of rock on each side. Our ponies were
spry and nimble; they we're moro used to cat
tie than Indian ponies, and we could get ahead
iu the press faster than the redskins could fol-
low u.s.
>"At length we came out among the foremost
cattle; in . moment more we could have cleared
an arrow had touched MS; but now bullet
chance shot. suppose-brought down poor
Jim. horse aud all. He was half . stride in
advance Of my right Above the uproar,
heard him cry out and then saw pony and mar
60 headlong to the ground.
pull up and face about; but = heavy steer run.
ming plump against me. and the place being
frightful rocky, my pony WAS upset and tum.
bled head foremost into deep rift In the ledge
whore think he must have either broken his
legs or his neck, for We found him trsmpled
SO Il>a ~>sRk $1,o~ y
by good luck my own neck was not broken,
snd jumping to my feet, ran to Jim. He Lay
several yards id front OF his struggling pony:
"Don't wait for me, Ed, he groaned, -
took hold Of him. 7 can't 60; can't get up
Look out for yourself, old fellow"
ing the bone, and fatally wounded tho pony
beside him. Putting both hands under hi
arms, I raised him; and then, partly carrying
and partly dragging him, i ran backwards
stumbling over rocks In the dark, and Doon
came against the shelving craig on tho left sdds
ct the canYon-just Is the dense mass efstssrl
came believing and providing on.
ssHad IL not been for little Granny, Or olef
in the lodges. No should hsve been quick,
stamped and trodden to death. But right be
! yond projecting rock there CHANGED 70 be
little nook, just large enough 70 shelter %
which I succesdsd IN dragging Jim into Ihea
Of snoring steers and hovlin' redskins plunge.
and struggled by, Ike big avalanche smaah
ing every thing Into il
sBut those injuns wsre careful not TO 60
yery far in the press Of mad cattia They b.
Lost right Of 10 q the dusk and darkness q th
last idsa Whist became Of u Atanysrsts
mono Of them came back TO look TOR ~
/ ssWell, had s time of tthers with Jim ~
tin9 70 stop his blesdin& 81 toro up my 1hlE
ard stuffed tho wound Win Hnt raeA -