Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-02-23

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is ours and DO arc tho broad seas and al
that sails thom. For, with the riches Of that
Creek dog, we can mako our ship fortress
imprcgnable
dwm you follow mo and live tho lifo
speak OFF,
1--WE whip came back tho deop.toncd
nnswcr
"Then viii read tho writing.'
Amidst tho most breathlcss silcnce
broken only by the roll Of the swell on tho
shore and the distant sound Of steam es.
Gaping from tho Vampa's safcty-valve,
Mutteo, translating the English into Italinn,
read in harsh, hard voice TINT penetrated
far and near into tho quiet night air
"1ca miles 70 ne southwcst Of TdRgicys stands
he ruiacd torer ~ Baba. 7rsniv steps due
norihndrd from rs eastern doorway Is a stone,
furJ covered. This stone cRciosss ne mouth Of
az old wc'l loaJ since drict Dorm Mfs serll,
ajJcr mn .faihcr's death, AZ ind I east All his
scdlth- jsiu5is of untold ralas 6rass-bound
clsks aud bores bursting wih gold aud siivc,.
cyia, didmoaisor maichicss splc,ldor, pearls far
oNtshiRiRJ those Of Ind, thousand Flashing
precious stones and ugmcltcd iAgots-riche,
enough for hs ma idid dreams Of dBdrics
a wild cheer brolto forth ut the conclusion
OF hii words. But IL was hushed into i'm
mediate silence by the sharply-uttcrod com
mand and threatening gesture of tho
Italian.
Snow, matcs, scanned the shord with
kccnest eve Tor signs OF life when wo ap-
preached, but saw none, save that stranger
craft which We left behind us, steaming far
cut TO sea. But | like not her looks, nor do
/ know what hidden dangers lurlS before us
Therefore, rest on your arms and be ready
at moments warning TO follow mo TO the
doath,n
"Ayl that will wcr' answered they all
with one accord, as they clashcd their
weapons together
Then, suddenly, tho leader drew himself
10 his full height, and, looming gigantically
up In the darkness, put his hand upon ono Of
the pistols in his belt, and in slow, measured
tones that implied but one answer to his
question, asked;
"Shall Mattco's share be one-third for
all his pains and risk rs lcadcr,n
An unbrokcn silence prevailed, which be
tolScncd the unwillingness Of the band TO
assent 20 any such unequal division.
Once again, sharp and clear, piercing the
calm air like the hard, cold ring Of steel,
rang out the rosistlcss question, whilo tho
sudden flash Of a pistol-barrel, drawn from
his belt, shot through the gloom. Cowcd to
obedience by the tremendous power which
that fearless man welded over them, they
promptly responded as one man;
at shall bcln
"Thcn, hold the lantcrn, Tito. Now, one,
two. three, fourn and nc counted Oft twenty
steps, with the compass in hand, and stood
erect and stil.
''Gvo me the iron bar, Tito.n
High in air he raised it and brought Il
down with such great force that II drove
down through the earth and rebounded from
the stone which lay beneath MattcOs set
face relaxed for an instant into n smile and
his evil eyes glittercd with avarice.
A tremendous shout burst forth from the
excited Italians and went echoing and re-
cchoing about the tower and far along the
shore. Even Mattco's mighty viii could not
restrain this outbreak.
In the midst Of the hubbub and confusion,
o calm, yet tclcarly-pcnctrating voice, speak
ing IN tho purcst Italian, fol through the
gloom like keen knife.
"You are directly in the range OF our can
non and rifles. In just ten seconds, II you
do not turn and fee, you will all be dead
menr
At the first words an awful fear came
upon the murdcrcrs, and they shook as il It
had been the voice OF the avenging angel
calling down from the clouds 10 them. But
Mattco, who never yet lost his presence Of
mind nor knew fear, dropped the iron bar,
picked up his fallen rife, and thundored out
q command 20 them In such terrible tones
that they were willed, perforce, 10 obcdi.
oncc. 4 sharp rattle Of musl1etry re-
sounded through the air and twenty-five
singing bullets new high over tho heads OF
the five men concealed in tho bushes, and
then the Italians did "turn and fly,n but not
TO the shore; for, quick as o fash, they all
within the tower, whence con-
slant bursts of flame and sharp reports be-
gan speedily to issue
Here was a turn in the tide Of affairs!
Twenty-Five armed men behind bullet-proof
walls ready to pick of at their convenience
Eve unprotected focsl
In an instant both Nebbitt and Fairfax
sprang 10 their feet, amid that whizzing
hail Of lead, agd. each sighting u cannon,
pulled tho strings.
Two broad, binding sheets Of flame shot
out far into the darkness, lighting II far and
wide, and, with roar IKE thunder, each iron
tube hurled out Of its huge throat mass Of
shot and grnpncl that went scrccching and
tearing and plunging through the dilap-
dated arches aud windows Of the crumbling
tower bringing down stone and mortar
rafting about the ears Of the inmates.
Matteo called to them 10 quit the place
As quickly as they had entered, so quickly
they issued forth twenty-five in number
Only three killed by that hail Of death or by
the falling debris
The power and discipline exercised over
his sailors by the man Matteo was almost
Totally unacquaintcd with tho number
and strength Of their adversarics, in the
face Of what might DO certain and instant
death TO the entire band, they Immediately
fell into line, and presenting an array two
ranks deep. on they came at full run, Matteo
leading aud encouraging them, the front
rank keeping up steady fro with re
volvers.
twenty-five splcndidlydiscipline and
maryclOusly-contrOlled mon. all desperate
villains, against fivel But those fve-there
was no time for loading the cannon again
lying fiat, kept up a CALLING, deadly fire,
while the bullets Of the Italians sped by
harmlcssly, whistling over their heads like
50 many evil demons.
Onc Dy one they iel-tWenty-Onc, twenty,
nineteen Only eighteen now lefti
"Fire low and don't lose your head ~
yelled Nebbit4, as no dropped" another
man.
Four more fell And now they were but
fourteen, but all men Of unusual physical
strength, led on by a man Of iron nerve aud
EL NC~H
GSR q A