Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1888-11-23

70 :swait the coming OF day was e7on
wo: e.
Its run for life anyway we take it,"
continued Charley. "Wc'd better get to
our horses, mount, and scatterlike quaiis,
and run our chances.
Done" answered the boys with one
voice.
Crawling like snake in the grass each
man reached the picket which secured his
horse, then to his feet, and in an instant
all were mounted and off, each man talk
ing his own direction. Charley and Curly
Bill, leading the horses of their dead com
rades, rode OFF together The savages.
however, We're not asleep, and as soon as
the whites showed themselves began Il
vigorous shooting. But the cowboys We're
oil like Il flash, leaving the Comanche chief
biting his lips in IL rage over the slip they
had given him. Three fourtls of his
horses We're Gead upon the plain, many
of his warriors killed and wounded, and
the whites gone and not u horse captured.
Long was the night to that scattered
bunch of cowboys upon the silent plains.
The Comanches were not idle. The chief
grew desperate. and taking six warriors
was soon upon the trail ofthe four horses
going in Il northeasterlv direction, trail
ing them by the sound of the shod hoofs
tramping the earth Just at the approach
OF day Curly Bill's sharp eye discovered
Indians Oh the track Being unable to
determine in what number, they quick
cned their gait, in what direction they
pursuers, and thinking perhaps they We're
rode leisurelv ,..ong till about 10 o'clock,
yvl,o CT of atnv hal fn
quench the almost killing thirst of them
selves and their horses.
Thinking they We're safe, they staied
out their horses and prepared to breakfast
on jerked beef and water, after which
they stretched themselves upon the grass
to rest while their horses were grazing.
1t was not long. however, before the
tramping of horses feet was heard, and
the chief and six warriors We're upon
them, shooting and yelling at terrible
rate. Instantly they went for their
horses, Curly Bill mounting first, turned
on them and began shooting his revolver
as only q cowboy can Arkansaw Charley,
by a mishap in attempting to catch the
picket rope while firing his pistol,
stumbled and fell. For only an instant
though was he down, but long enough for
al Indian to put ball into his body be-
fore he gained his saddle. The contest
now became fierce between the FIVE saw
ages-for two of them had already been
llilled-and the desperate cowboys. Never
We're comhatants more deadly i'll earnest.
The chief scowling upon the gallant Char
| ley fixed his bow, but from the American S
quick and steady hand went a sudden
ball, and the chief rolled dead upon the
plains. But two savages now remained,
and each singing out his man rushed
upon him. Again the Americans were
victors, and seven Ccnanches lay upon
the ground with their painted faces hideous
all in death The conflict ended, and
swooning. Arkansaw Charley fell from
his horse. Curly Bill Thompson instantly
caught him in his strong arms. Water
-water"- whispered the white lips, and
he swooned again.
The two friends remained for an hou,
at the water bathing the wound. which
proved to be only a bad flesh cut in the side
1t was carefully bandaged, and Charley
was ready to ride. Curly Bill collected
their own and the Indian borses. and after
scalping the dead Comanches, they noun.
ed and rode slowly away.-Overlant
| Mont hly