Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-21

duN OuGtJ hihJOl AY
mans Il fool who takes useless risks.
Our course is TO work far enough to
the right to make sure W. are beyond
those fellows after III horses and see
If there's any chance OF u catching
EN- agaiu- III there isn't, we must not
lose another minute in reaching yonder
hilltop, where the majors going TO set
IN ambash."
'George is right" said Angus. III
we are cut off from the main body
there won't be much chance for Us af-
ter daylight without Il horses. Tired
AS we already are the enemy would
soon run us down if they caught sight
of US"
In obedience ia this view they had
struck out stealthily and rapidly on the
right Of these that had followed them.
1t had been discovered that the horses
were rilerless, and the pursuers we've
spreading out fan-fashion and beating
the woods in the hope Of capturing the
dismuunted men.
.We'd have been nabbed if we had
! stayed in that thickct," George whis-
pered. '.llow I'd like 70 give the vii
lalns another shot! II would do Us
| more harm than it would them, SO lets
/ push on
This they did a few moments longer,
leaving, rs they supposed. their enc
mics behind them. Suddenly Burton.
who was now in advance, whispered,
FLUSH. Down behind this rock"
Three of the British soldiers had
been lurcd on by the tired horses, and
had eventually caught them. They
were now leading them almost directly
toward their actual masters.
Il take command whispered George
''YOutwo follow me- and ne crept n
little near the course of the approach
inc foes.
''Well," said the foremost man,
''this be better luck than capturin' the
blasted rebels. When we got hout OF
this 'angcd woods Wen be 'oss sogers
for the whiles."
"Surrender! Speak or move, ard
you re dead" threatened George, ard
the startled Enelishman found a rifle
muzzlc between his eyes.
Burton and Angus had followed
Georges example, and all three Of the
enemy stood speeches. and paralyzed.
George resumed in the same pcne-
trating whisper: If You want to save
your lives. all three do as | order.
First drop your muskcts.' They obey.
Nov hold up your hands and range
yourselves close, facing me. Angus,
You take the horses" The prisoners
complying, George continued: Bur
ton. YOU search them for concealed
weapons anC anything useful to Us. l.,
meanwhile, will cover them with my
rifle and shoot the first man that
moves" Burton was expeditions and
then George gave his final order:
Angus, mount and lead ss rapidly rs
20 'siblc. Che prisoners will follow at
yol II horses heels, and viii tread mp
on theirs, pistol in hand. Mark YOU,
fellows, if YOU try 10 get away or to at
tract your friends you get Il bullet in
stantly. Burton, You bring up the
rear with spoils. which YOU can drop if
YOU have to fight. Forward. march,
As rapidly as the broken. wooded
re ZION permitted they made their way
to the brow of the next hill, keeping a
wide interval between themselves and
the high road. As they approached
the hilltop there was a loud crash of
muskctry, which can readily be ex-
planned. Mai. Graham knew of the
natural facilities afforded by the place
for an ambuscade, also Of a wood road
near which led to a distant plantation.
tIe had resolved to make a sharp fight
ut this snot and then yallop away TO
the farm. which was owned by a friend
to the cause. aud there give his men
and horses food and a little rest. The
British. after their last punishment,
had followed slowly and YEARLY, fear
ing Il like experience again. When
they had marched almost a mile with
out being molested, they had about
concluded that their enemies had re-
tired, finally. in order to reach some
place Of concealment before daylight,
which now was near. Ii was argued
that the small squad which had fired
upon them last had been left to check
their advance and give the rest OF the
partisans time to get away; therefore,
the British officers began to lead Their
men more rapidly and carelessly, hop
ing before long that they could capture
u breakfast, if not their enemies. The
road near the brow Of the hill passed
through u narrow little ravine with
steep wooded banks which gave the
tiankers scarcely any footing. As the
place looked suspicious the English
officer in command ordered a few OF
the cavalry to go forward and recon
noitre. They rode through to the
very brow of the hill, returned and re-
ported the place deserted. SO it was,
with the exception of three or four
scouts lying prone on the ground
along the right of TIE ravine within
easy range Of the road. When the
British moved forward and were under
their guns the scouts gavelov whistles
A line of mon some distance in the
rear rose, moved forward .nd fired 8
Sollcy into the crowded road. Yells
groans, orders. futile shots were the
reply, bat the immediate and temper
ary result was that the British column
fell back in the confusion. Graham
and his followers in the meantime
darted off under the cover OF the smoke