Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-10-12

owing" me believed that | would pro-
coed by way Of Driftwood | chose the
White River canyon route, a rough,
new trail that for seventeen miles led
through a tumbled, rocky gorge or
canyon in the bottom of which rip
pied mcrrily the little streamlet that
is the beginning of the White river.
/ urged my pony forward at a good
pace until, after sunrise, | passed a
camp of freighters who were prepar-
ing their breakfast, and later met sew
eral wagons on the move, which re-
lieved the loneliness of my ride and
caused me 10 feel more secure. AS the
morning was hot and oppressive /
now proceeded more slowly.
About half an hour after meeting
the freighters | halted at one of the
numerous creek crossings, and dis
mounted to drink and eat II part Of the
lunch of crackers and dried beef
which | had brought from the com
missary tent. AS | had no cup /
stretched myself out upon the rocks
at the edge of the current, and buried
my nose in the cool water Of the
spring fed stream.
AS | lay drinking, with my head
Just above the water, n distant sound
of horses hoofs struck my ear. |
ceased to drink, listened intcntly, aud
soon heard distinctly the noise of
horsemen coming rapidly up the can
yon.
| sprang TO my feet in alarm. Ny
first impulse was to mount my pony
and apply the spurs, but as his gait, a
wcking Callup, was a very slow one.
| came ~ the sudden conclusion 10
dodge into the brush aud let the horse
men, whoever they were. ~ hv.
There were q few box alder tlgp, and
several clusters Of plum bush a.a.o Uu-
der the rocks OH the right. | gr> Il
the broucos rein, and led lin ina ie-
hind the thirkctS % tnorl and tied h'GI.
! had little time 10 lhiu6 or arl be-
fore tue horcmCn came up al gll
lop. | rgcrli through the leave, as
they ratified OH. and discovered that
there were six riders and tl2l the two
strikers were in the lead. They PASSED
my hiding place without an apparent
suspicion that / WAS concealed there,
and, though still much alarmed, Twas
congratula!iug myself liat had ont
wittcd them, when, just m they rode
into the water. my pony lifted his
head and uttered ash"iil, InquIrng
whiuny.
The party Instantly halted. Every
rider turned bis face eagerly in my III
rcciiou, and half "A dozen rifles and 10.
volvcrs were iericd into readiness for
action. Nv pony whinn.cd again bc.
fore could get a "wp Uauu his mug
zlc, and | fell that Eniues sour urpX-
pcctcliy fortunate ciycumaance iulrr-
vencd should lose the money end
probably my lie. The hursrmen
were determined, viilainous looking
men, aud as J glanced abupt | saw
they bud a great advantage over me.
The scattered patches Of pine scrub oil
the steep bare sides Of TIE gorge offer.
ed Inc but little shelter for a retreat.
and the bushes behind winch ] stood
were but slight projections against
heavy bullets. 1T the second wAinuy
OF my horse the men dislnouuted and
stood behind their animals.
Hes in there, sure | heard one Of
them say. Spread out, boys. am
lets surround them bushes"
Without waiting to hear any more
| thrust the Winchester through the
tops of a plum bush and fired at their
nearest horse, aiming ut It's body back
Of the shoulder. The animal went
down with a groan, and the man be-
hind IL Sprang back with n fierce oath.
Ny only hope O lay in swift az.
ton and certain aim. A quick motion
Of the lever reloaded and cooked my
Winchester, and almost before the
horse had fallen 70 the ground | had
aimed and fired at the fellow as he
turned 10 run Cor cover.
He fell, but got up and ran again.
Shifting my aim, ! opened a rapid fire
on the other horses and men. The
robbers returned "a few hasty and in.
cifectual shots and then scattered in
When | had fired the seven
teen shots, which cmptied my repeat
ing rifle, three horses lay on the Dor.
der Of the canyon at various distances
and one man with a broken leg
was dragging himself toward the
shelter of the creek bank. His com.
panions had fed down the canyon,
two on foot and the others on horse.
back. Three or four of their shots had
struck in the bush about me, but none
had hit me.
The sudden, fierce determination
which had seized upon me, and the
effective firing which followed,
were as much a surprise 10 myself as
they could have been to the road
agents." who no doubt believed there
was more than one shooter behind the
bushes which sheltered me | dared
not stop 10 look after the wounded
man, who undoubtedly would have
fired at me if had approached him.
my pony and keeping as
much as possible under cover of
bushes, | rode my animal at his best
speed up the canyon.
About five miles from the scene OF
the shooting ! came upon a graders
camp, and sent some Of the men 10
look after the wounded robber and 10
secure tile saddles Of the fallen horses.
| afterward learned that they got
the saddles, but could find nothing of
the man.-H. ii. Cummack in Youths
Companion.