Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-06-30

an sure / don't know why didn't
Kill lots Of them. as ! was very cool and
collected, at least I thought 50. But
they didn't any Of them seem to drop,
and suddenly five OF them tore hole
through the fence and came after me.
My security was al an end, and putting
spurs 70 my horse l headed for home,
over a fence into another field
Here Twas confronted by deep gully
right across my path, and the two John
MES were close at my heels l turned
to the right, gave my horse full speed,
and came to the end of the gully as one
Johnny reached the same point by cut
ting off an angle.
was about ten feet ahead, and had
two shots left. l fired one, the other
missed. Ny belt was on under my
overcoat, so that l couldn't get at my
saber, and the enemy ordered me in
choice language to surrender. or he
would shoot.
Uneonsciously l had allowed my
speed to slaclzen. and | could see into
the empty barrels of his pistol.
said, What. with that pistol?"
He replied, Yes, hang you. it's
loaded.
laughed. and said, I've got two in
my holsters in the same condition"
Meanwhile he had ranged alongside
on my left and our horses were crowd
ing each other. He was leaning as far
as he could one way and the opposite.
Then we clutched at each other
got his head across my breast, with
my left arm under his chin, and with
my right fist pounded him for all / was
worth He with his pistol was striking
blindly for my head, cutting cash over
both eyes and knocking a finger nail
of
Our horses were Looping toward our
lines. Behind was another Johnny who
could not keepup. Now my horse never
liked to wet his feet; approaching a
large muddy place, while we were
locked in the above loving embrace,
both horses jumped, but not at the same
time. The consequence was both of us
were dismounted.
sat fiat in the mud with heels ele-
waited, while Johnny landed on the
back of his head and shoulders. His
| horse stood still, mine ran away, and
here | was sitting in the mud, in COM
pany with two of the enemy.
| lost my temper when | losS my
horse, l fear. Any way, getting on my
feet, my saber was where | could get at
it, and drawing it went for the two men
with a rush. In fact, there was too
much rush-my adversary had again
mounted-and neither horse would al
low me within ten feet of him.
After a few plunges, both of them
turned and ! was left alone in the mud.
l fear l called them names and used
language that was not polite as long as
they were in sight. Then | ran for
dear life, got over a fence and sat down
on rock to rest and collect my
thoughts.
But saw my man again the same af-
ternoon-a prisoner His eyes and face
were black and blue, and he looked as
if he had been through powder mill
| explosion. made him as comfortable
as could and left him
! He was a second lieutenant in the
/ Sixth Virginia cavalry, and we both
/ laughed when we compared our emo
tions and impulses. Neither of us had
ever professed great skill as boxer, and
neither was very proud of the result.
During the fight he dropped the pistol,
and we met on equal footing. | have
the pistol now, and as look at it l can
see the whole scene move before me
| like a panorama -YOuth'S Communion