The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-02


hunt in case they contemplated an attack on one
OF the stations or on a stage coach. They were
sure there We're at least dozen Indians iii the
band and perhaps there were more.
1t was about midnight when they heard the
feet of the mule in the rocky gulch. White
Buffalo stripped the saddle from the steaming
ANIMAL turned the tired beast into the corral.
and came In. His supper had been kept hot
and he sat down to eat with a very serious face,
but without saying. word. English Tom was
highly excited, and finally burst out with Il
sayl You know, hold fellow, eaunt you tell hus
ha bit habout the blooming Hindians, you
know
mot much to tell. said White Buffalo.
''There's fifty of them, and twenty of them
didn't cross the range They're on foot, and
will probably try to get the stock here or at Van
water-wagon, but / don't reckon they'll attack
the stage"
The men took turns standing on guard that
night, and early next morning White Buffalo
and English Tom started for Van Horn with
the water-wagon. The latter drove the foursorry
and lazy mules and White Buffalo stood up in the
front end of the wagon with his rifle in his
hands He kept his eyes on every bush and
rock near the road, and several times left the
wagon to scout ahead through some little canyon
or gulch. They had travelled to point within
a few miles of the station, when he laid a hand
on Toms shoulder and pointed to range of low
hills about three miles ahead. In that clear at
mosphere objects are plainly visible at great
distance, and party of Indians could be readily
seen descending toward the station.
1.-THE boys at Van Horn don't know there are
off their guard" said the frontiersman. Pull
up the mules. They don't see us and maybe
they'll get behind that butte directly"
Then the men waited and watched the Indians
trail out of sight behind one of the hills. After
that they tried to get some speed out of the
mules, but the load was heavy and the mules
about to suggest that they mount two OF the
animals and try to reach the station ahead OF
the Indians, when bang! bang. dozen rifles
spoke from the high grass that lined a gully.
White Buffalo swayed a moment 40 he stood,
tried to bring his rife to his shoulder, but stag
gered, and then plunged head-hrst out of the
wagon, dragging his rife with him. Two or the
mules were shot. The others stood still. Eng
lish Tom sprang from the wagon and raised his
White Buffalo face. and strange look came
into his eyes. He sat up. He laid his Win
chester across one of the spokes of the wheel.
and as the Indians sprang out of their ambush
he fired-once twice, thrice-so rapidly that
one could hardly have counted the shots.
Three Indians fell, and the others. taken by
Tom sprang beside the wheel mule and began
stripping off its harness. Meanwhile White
Buffalo was firing rapidly. and the Indians
began to retreat. Tom tried to induce White
Buffalo to mount the mule, but the latter only
said ride you blamed idiot Ride for your
life and theirs" The old mule was getting ex-
cited, but English Tom held her. Then he bod
ily lifted his companion to her back sprang on
behind himself and jabbing his heels into the
animals ribs, started on a swinging eallop-.
1t was no easy task to hold wounded and
dying man the mule, but Tom did it. They
had approached within half a mile of the station.
and Tom could see several of the sitting
under the shadow of the cabin and playing cards.
He was about to yell at the top of his voice to
attract their attention. when once again the
rifles of ambushed Indians spoke from their
hiding place. He had been intercepted by the
Indians they had seen before the wagon was at
tackled.
Bang bangl went the rifles, and bang! bang!
replied English Toms six-shooter. Once the
mule stumbled. 1t had been hit, but did not
fall The wounded man hung on somehow, and
Tom emptied his pistol with rapidity and ac-
curacy no one supposed him capable of. The
fight was over in a few seconds. The mule had
not let up in its gallop, and in few more
bounds would have carried its riders in safety,
but a ball found its heart, and it plunged to the
White Buffalo lay where he fell, but English
Tom was up in an instant, and standing boldly
beside his fallen comrade he poured a steady fire
from White Buffalos Winchester" which the
latter had slung to strap. The men at the
station heard the firing and came to the rescue
on the run. The Indians reiterated on seeing their
approach, but fired parting volley and English
Tom fell.
They found him lying his back. ball
had struck him full in the forehead Tenderly
they carried him to the station. They buried
him near the house, and many an eye was wet
with tears as they heaped stones over his grave.
White Buffalo eventually recovered from his
wounds Nobody knew the poor English boys
true name, none knew his people, but on the
nile of stones White Buffalo erected neatly
painted sl&o bearing these words: