Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-09-18

satisfied that nothing more WIS to be
feared from this ravaging band. and
then returned toward the scene OF con
hicts. They drew together in the rcad
with flushed. excited faces, and eyes in
which still fingered fierce CLEANS of
passion.
If they were no longer confronted by
the enemy, they certainly were COM
PEELED to face grave, perplexing ques-
tons and duties. Two of their num-
Der had been slain outright, and four
or five were wounded. A score of their
foes were scattered about, either dis
abled or dead. There also were the
wagons with the plumber of two or
three plantations heaped upon them.
The DISTURBANCE among the horses had
m adequate cause, as can o o be ex-
planned. The first impulse of Angus,
after awakening, was to rush down
stairs. but before he carried it out
wise second thoughts occurred to him.
He listened long enough to learn the
character of the visitors, then slipped
on his coat, put a pistol and a long
hunting knife in his belt, and. with
his loaded shotgun stole to the roof of
the back porch, whence descent to the
ground'was easy.
The night was very dark. but famil-
iarity with the place enabled him to
steal noiselessly around in his stocking
feet. He was soon at one of the win
dows, saw the group within, and listen
ed a few minutes longer to what the
ruflians said.
Meanwhile he tried to think of some
plan of action. To shoot one would
only bring upon the family the worst
forms Of vengeance from the other two.
In some way he must seek to deal with
each one separately, and. for n few
moments, was at a loss what TO do.
Then the light from the window gave
him a glimpse of the horses tied to the
low branches of an~eighboring tree, and
he adopted the only cXpcdient of which
h ecould think. Securing II very heavy
club he went to the t~ce and leaned his
club against it. Then he pricked a
horse with his knife in the hope that
but one Of the men would come out to
investigate. The event, as we have
seen, justified his expectations, and,
standing a little back in the darkness.
he waited with his club.
The man called Bill came out. CROP
ing, stumbling and swearing toward
the horses. Angus, whose eyes were
accustomed to the darkness, waited for
a favorable moment, then delivered the
blow with all his force. There was II
heavy thud, the man fell like u log and
lay motionless.
The boy, however, had no idea of
and, with straps from q bride, bound
him hand and foot.
The plan had worked so well that
Angus determined to try it again, and
soon another horse was plunging and
%neighing from pain. Both the ~rufflans
nov sprang from the table with LOUD
| oaths, but the Tory said: You 90
) Lem, and help Bill. and I'll watch sc
this gal can't steal off and bring a lo'
O. Wings down on u.s."
What in thunder's the trouble
Bill?' shouted Lem flom the door.
Horse throwcd himself and kicked
the Others" replied Angus, trying tC
initiate the grutf voices of the enemies
< Come and help
''Satan must be to play to chang,
your voice so 'mazingly.'
'.It's full of bacon mumbled Angus
grasping his club.
The man approached warily, as i
' c,,S,inin,o anI Anr,c onu, tlo ~1o.o
! of a knife in his right hand as he CROPPED
his way with the left. Hang it all
I'm goin' ter get a light" he muttered
! As he turned, Angus stepped light,
forward and struck him. The mar
heard his step and the downward rust
of the bludgeon, but barely had time tc
!. put up his arm ~instinctively to ward of
the blow. Although his arm was bro
ken and his head struck with such
force as t o fell him to the earth, he had
time to utter Il loud groan before the
boy could strike him again.
The Tory heard the groan, rushed tc
the door and shouted, 'Bill, Lem,
what's upp"
He only heard the sound Of some
n moving swiftly. 1t was Angu
getting his gun. The boy was natur-
ally wary, and, under the teaching OF
hard experience and the training OF
George, had learned to take every pre-
caution. Fearing that the printing
might have been dampened by the
storm and that his gun would miss
fire, he continued his fleet steps around
to the back of the house and slipped
the collar from a large, savage dog.
saying, Back, Wolf, back. Follow
close
The Tory had called to his confed-
crates again and again; enraged and
perplexed at receiving no reply, he
jumped to the conclusion that the horses
had been turned loose, that his confed-
crates were following them, and that
Lem had groaned from striking some
thing in the dark. Men in their situa-
ton know that losing horses may east
ly cost them their lives. I'm his fear
and anger he turned on Mrs. McIntirc.
and with an oath exclaimed: There's
some cussed treachery going on
81 don't know what you meln," she
faltered.