Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-22

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 M nm gray-haired veteran
 < <: } : :;| < z .<S .4Eyf \ncrryE3 of innumerable In ElWM VlNM dian campaigns. EsYE k\Ni1 't1t was the same NlSYfINfAsa KY spring in which you GSW H5aSAXWSSss got into the scrape E|XXSW:E that you have just !rLS, told us about, colo nel, that I had a pretty close call as we'll, he began. Il was captain in those days, and was out on a scout with my troop of cavalry The Comanches and Kiowas had not as yet declared war. but it was expected daily that they would, so that it was not safe to trust any wandering band of Indians met on the plains. I had with me couple of Osage scouts, most skill full trainers, and brave enough fellows as Indians go, and when we went into camp one day about noon, took one of them-Sly Fox by name--and rode off to look for an antelope for supper.
 much the idea of leaving the camp, although, like all his race, he was pas sionately fond of hunting. Upon ques- tioning him, found that he was afraid that we might possibly run foul of some Comanches, with whom his tribe were constantly at war. He explained that ! whether the Comanohes had taken the path against the whites or not, his | scalp would not be safe If we should meet any of them, and that in all probability mine would suffer the same fate as his. II laughed at him and assured,him that | two of us could hold any number of Co., manches 0. bay until help could arrive from camp; and he seemed to get the ! better of his fears. We had ridden for ' {1&o xrvs& Ay,1S a1@ l when Sly Fox discerned, several miles l away, three specks, which he pronounced | buffalo. We at once rode toward them, ! and when they discovered us, we gave l chase. After half an hours hard riding, we overlook and killed fine, almost full l grown calf, and giving the others up, dis mounted to dress 1t.
 be 0 quarter of an hour, when Sly Fox suddenly stopped work, jumped to his feet, and shading his eyes with his hands, grunted out the single word:
 "'Comanche
 Looking in the direction that he indi- cated, I saw coming around the base of low, hill, two horsemen-or rather, ponies, 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, rais- ing the total number to twelve.
 "Our own horses we had turned loose to grase, and they had wandered few yards away; but 1t was the work of only @ moment to re-catch them and vault in- to the saddles.
 "As soon as the attacking party saw that they were recognised, they resumed upright positions, and came for us at 0 run, uttering yells that reached us distinct Fly. knew that there was little use of running, for our horses were already somewhat jaded from the buffalo chase; the worst possible for defending our selves. Back about three quarters of 8 Imile, remembered, was 6 butte, such as dot most of the prairie land of Indian Territory. At its top 1t was not more than half an acre in extent, but 1n three directions it's sides were almost as per lpendicular as walls, while on the fourth side, fortunately, the one turned toward us. the ascent was much more gradual.
 ''Sly Fox remembered the butte as we'll as I, 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 to Ilight, increased their yells of exultant lceedingly exciting one, but we reached the butte some minutes before the In dians came in range of us. We hobbled the horses in @ 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 servtca.
 "The Indians halted about a thousand yards away, and seemed to Do discussing the situation. They were evidently pretty mad, and 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. If party of Indians know that
 there is an almost certain probability oi one or more of their number losing life
 in a certain venture, 1t is seldom that
 they will undertake 1t, each believing g
 that he Is to be the unfortunate one.
 When, therefore, certain object can be
 obtained by either cunning or bravery,
 the former course Is almost always
 adopted. 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 to st rategy to get our scalps. Several times one ol two of the rascals would try to approach
 us by wriggling through the high grass
 but each time Sly Fox's sharp eyes de
 tected them, and bullet in their imme-
 diate vicinity caused sudden retreat : upon their part. We waited very anx lously tox darkness to set in, and ther
 breathed more easily. for we knew tha'
 we were safe until moonrise, at least
 "As soon as 1t grew dark enough fol
 us to feel comparatively safe, we lighted
 & fire of bushes and buffalo chips, and } tried to think a way out of 8 scrape After discussing every plan that seemed : at all feasible, we finally decided upoI
 what appeared to be the best. The } moon would rise ct about midnight, and until that tune we could consider our selves free from attack, but If the frs l moonbeams found us on the butte, there ) was strong probability of its last beams : falling on our scalpless bodies.
 ''The three sides of the butte no guarded by our enemies were entirel! . too steep to permit of descending them 2 and to attempt to escape on foot woult
 have been folly, for after moonrise tn I Indians would have run us down befor
 we were half way to camp. The onl..
 safe plan was to escape mounted, an' 3 we wero determined to do so if 1t wa U possible. So piling 8 fresh supply o xl 1rA 1na