Telegram-herald., 1889-11-08

-
klwxz 4 vlfAs dian can mps-l<us-
stkyN kX 1T sas tie same
sF.tf&a eprinz IL which yog
80 1.5#Esx1 got into tAs seFape
&z(TN thai you have Just
s~ tCld us about, colo
nel. thar h21
cresty elose eau ss vel. be began. Il
~ss a eaDtaln IN those days. ana ~As OUT
,n a scout WITH ~ troop Of cavalry.
The C0feanehes and klQwas hal not a.
yet declared war. bat u Was expected
esily that thay would. 81 that lt 4s not
safe y trust any wandering lanc ~
Indians met on the plains 1 Lao "ith
me a e0urls 0f Usage scouts, most skin
ful frainers. and brave enough fellows,
as Indians 20, and when We vent INTO
cAup ore das about noon, took one "
them-Slv Fox oy uaIno-and rode on 10
look for an antelope for supper.
sly FOX didn't seem u relish very
much the idea u leaving the camp,
although. Ike all his race. he vas pas
sionately fond Of hunting Upon cues
tlOuinz him 1 found that he was afraid
that ~e might possibly run foul of some
Com2nches. with whom his tribe were
constantly at war. lie explained that
whether the Comanches had taken 80
scalp would not &c safe II We should meet
any of them. and that IN al probability
mine would suffer the same fate as his.
4 laughed ar him and assured.him that
two of Us could hold any number OF Co
rnanches a. bay until help could arrive
from camp: and he seemed 20 Get the
better OF his fears. We had ridden Tor
some distance without finding antelope,
when Sly Fox disceTned. several miles
away. three specks. which he pronounced
buffalo. We az once rode toward them,
and when they discovered Us, We gave
chase. After half an hours hard riding,
We overlook and killed a fine. almost fuii-
grown calf. and giving the others up, dis
mounted 70 dress i.
I'VE had been engaged IN this for may
be quarter OF an hour when sly Fox
suddenly stopped work. jumped 70 his
feet. and shading his eyes with his hands,
grunted out the single word:
- COmancher
Looking il the direction that he indi-
Gated, saw coming around the base of
low hill, two horsemen-orr rather ponies,
for their riders were out Of sight, hanging
on the further side OF their steeds. The
one in advance halted, and was quickly
Joined by the second, behind whom fol-
lowed in quick succession. ten more, rails
ing the total number TO twelve.
sOur own horses we had turned loose
to erase, and they had wandered a few
yards away; but II was the work of only
4 moment TO re-catch them and vault in
10 the saddles.
"As soon as the attacking party saw
that they were recognised, they resumed
upright positions, and came for US at
run, uttering yells that reached US distinct
ly. | knew that there was little use OF
running, for our horses were already
somewhat iaded from the buffalo chase;
and yet, the spot where We were was
the worst possible for defending our
selves. Back about three quarters of
mile, l remembered, was a butte, such
"a dot most of the prairie land Of Indian
Territory. At its top il was not more
than half an acre in extent, but in three
directions its sides were almost as per-
peodicular as walls, while on the fourth
side, fortunately, the one turned toward
us, tho ascent was much more gradual.
"Sly Fox remembered the butte as well
rs l, and we had hardly reached our sad
dies, when, as by common impulse, we
turned our horses heads on the back
trail The Indians in our rear, thinking
that we were intrusting our safety 10
flight, increased their yells OF exultant
pleasure. The race was a short but ex-
eeedingly exciting one, but we reached
the butte some minutes before the In
dians came in range OF US. We hobbled
the horses in a little hollow, and loosen
Ing our cartridge belts, seated ourselves
on the very top OF the butte, our rifles in
our laps and ready for service.
The Indians halted about thousand
yards away, and seemed to be discussing
the situation They were evidently pretty
mad, and l began TO fear that they would
forget their usual prudence and charge
US. An Indian. as rule, is brave, but
he lacks the courage that comes Of diSci-
pline. II party OF Indians know that
there is an almost certain probability Of
one or more Of their number losing hfe
In a certain venture, it Is seldom that
they will undertake it, each believing
that be is 10 be the unfortunate one.
When. therefore, certain object can be
obtained by either cunning or bravery.
the former course is almost always
adopted.
Our pursuers recognised the fact that
we were not tenderfeet, and that, should
they charge, at least two OF their number
would have TO drop and so very wisely
decided TO besiege Us and trust 20 strategy
TO get our scalps. Several times one or
two OF the rascals would try TO approach
us By wriggIing through the high grass.
but each time Sly FOxs sharp eyes de-
tected them, and bullet IN their imme-
diate vicinity caused a sudden retreat
upon their part. We waited very anx-
iOusly for darkness 70 set IN. and then
0reathed more easily. for We knew that
we were safe until moonrise. al least.
"As soon as it grew dark enough for
Va 10 feel comparatively safe, we lighted
a fire OF bushes and buffalo chips. and
tried 70 think a way ont Of scrapc.
After discussing every plan that seemed
at all feasible. we finally decided upon
what appeared 10 be tho best. The
moon would rise at about midnight. and
until that time We c0sld consider our
selves free from attack. but n tho first
moonbeams found US on the butte. thera
was a strong probability ~ its last beams
falling on our seal pless bodies.
The three sides of the butte not
guarded by our enemies were entiro ~
TOO steep % permit 81 descending thcm.
and 70 attempt 10 escape on foot would
have been folly. for after moonrise tbs
Indians would have run US down before
We were half way 90 camp. The only
safe plan was 20 escape mounted. and
wa were determined 70 DO go II it was
possible So pIing fresh supply OF
fuel on the FIRE, we rolled a. silently "a
possible over the edge - tie butte. and
scrambled down to the plain beneath.
We then made a Ions detolr until va
we're in the rear ~ the Indians camp.
Ae-rrdirz 20 our calculations they would
about eleven o'clock begin a. creep up
on our supposed position In order - ia
e. 8 "a H.a~