Wichita eagle., 1886-11-02

Inc men were Sc drawing TIE rlcSecs OF
the horses, to harness them and take the road,
when, all at once, a whoopipg scream rang
from the gulch near by and showed throng
Of Indians, with the White Head before them,
racing nladly toward the train. That one
moment, Just before Harvesting. had been
closely watched. for the men, not having had
night attack, were off their guard at the
| fatal instant and the Cheyennes, screaming
| like demons. were In their midst, with an ar
row fight preceding them. Stung by the mis-
siIes and maddened by the shouts, horses and
mules broke away. and with trailing ropes
dashed over the prairie in a headlcng gallop
/ 4 few men pursued them. These were they
who. having been saddled and ready for the
| first rush. had control of their animals and
now swept off after the stampede, III hopes of
being able to check it.
The Indians were about 800 yards ahead
straining every nerve 10 distance their pur-
,uers. the stampeded stock in advance. racing
they knew not whittier. and at their heels the
White Head. more ike devil than horse. kick
ing the well known rafting hide behind him
which r'esOunded ike the war drum Of some
savage tribe. pashing from right TO left. as
the terrified animals swerved from the track.
he would whirl Oh his launches, rush with
terrific springs at some animal separated from
the rest and drive it back to the herd
The pursuing hunters had gained since the
start, and could see each movement of the
wild animal He had the entire drove under
control, and was driving them witt, unerring
instinct to Z particular part Of the broken
plain. from whence he expected help from his
red masters. Such was the plan, no doubt,
and the relay Of -savages had been already at
their post; but the approach OF q scouting
party Of whites forcedthem to abandon it.
50 it happened that the white men occupied
the Indians ground, and were waiting there.
The leading Indian raised a loud yell, and,
abandoning the drove, turned and fed in the
direction of his retreating brethren. Not so
the horse True to lis trust, he tried to turn
the drove upon the new trail Racing like
an arrow close 70 their fanks, striking and
biting rs lie came, lie wheeled, and then drove
them forward like frightened sheep, with his
screaming neigh ringing ii their ears. Lash
ing cut Ike Il fury Ut the trailing rawtiic,
he reared and plunged among them till the
whole herd, with one accord, turned and fed
il the new direction after the retreating
Indians. while 10th parties OF whites Joined
IN the pursuit. though the White Head, even
g
match for them all.
But one way remained 10 check their fight:
that was 10 disable the liend which drove
them. But how: Clearly not with a lasso-
all shr1lnk from using that The rifle was
left. The hunter Bill spyirred ahead to cut
of the drove where they had TO turn along
side rock wall that rose from the plain.
The wild horse seemed to feel the danger. for
he redoubled his efforts, and flew from point
to point like lightning. But tho hunter
gained the desired place, where the White
Head would have TO pass him, and, disnlount-
ing, waited with cooked rife the moment to
fire.
On came the herd, with the wild horse close
behind them. He seemed TO take IN the
danger at glance; for, as if disdaining to be
tamely shot at, or trying to escape, he turned
TO fight, lowering the white head. and extend
ing his 1.-THE body in headlong gaIlop: with
C. wild scream he rushed straight at the
hunter. The man had intended creasng only.
but the fearful danger left no alternative but
to ki1 him. His rifle must not fail him now,
or he is lost. Slowly it rose, steaded a mo-
ment, and with q fash the bullet sang true to
its aim. Straight on he rushed, and then, as
the hunter felt the very ground tremble
under him, reared upward, paved the air,
and shaking his beautiful head, sent his
heath neigh ringing among the rocks of the
,anyon.
lie did not writhe upon the ground in
,gony-no! he died in the air before he fell. |
rec and courageous 10 the last. The stock
vas easily retahen then: but those hunters
Is they looked at that grand creation mo-
nent before 50 full Of life and grace, could
Tot repreSs Il Sigh that the life had passed
away from White Head. the Wild horse Of
he plains.-Gutiug