The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-05-21

ne lOSt MS customary nerve ne was
surely excusable.
The animal he bestrode was a
wiry mustang, full of energy, with
a good deal of tAe devil in him.
His gyrations under fire required
all of Paul's skillful horsemanship
to prevent his being unseated, es-
pecially with a'dozen Indians firing
crosswise over and under the brute's
body. Apparently the redskins
were more desirous of capturing
Paul alive for the purposes of tor
turing than to kill him outright,
which may account for his almost
miraculous escape from the hum
dreds of bullets that zip! tipped /!
in the air all about him. AS for
Grizzly, he had encountered a
chance shot at the first onset, and,
stone dead, sat upright in the sad
die, with his arms outstretched, his
head bare and a streak of blood
trickling over his long, gray mus
tache that fell from round bullet
hole sunk square between his eyes.
Grizzly's mare, bearing her dead
rider, at first broke away from the
Indians and circled over the plateau,
but, returning, ran round and round
in still narrowing circle until a
well-aimed shot dropped her in her
tracks.
All this Paul saw before he man.
aged to break through the Gordon
of Indians that endeavored to snare
him. Several times the 1.-the sava-
ges were running neck and neck
with his mustang, and once vicious
tug nearly pulled him from his
horse, but he kicked loose, and, with
yell of defiance, galloped madly
down the butte in the direction of
the blockhouse, a hundred bullets
singing in his ears, sent in deadly
earnest by the Cheyennes, who
viewed their intended victims es-
cape with deep chagrin that found
vent in chorus of yells.
Straight to the blockhouse rode
Paul, chased for the first few miles
by about dozen braves, who fired
as they ran, but without inficting
any damage save to wound his horse.
So intent had he been on his escape
that not once had he returned the
fire of his foes, although in addition
to his rifle he carried two big navy
revolvers in his belt that held six
rounds of cartridges each. To a
friend, later on, he confessed that
it never occurred to him to use
either the rifle or the revolvers, al
though he might have done some
damage with the latter when he had
the Indians at close range.
The spectacle of their leader gall
Looping madly over the prairie had
a startling effect upon the little band
Of qC-si carpenters then putting the
finishing touches to the blockhouse.
1t was not necessary for nncnl to
shout Indians !" All knew we'll
enough what his appearance so
clearly denoted, while the signifi-
cant absence of Grizzly plainly in
dicated there had been more than a
passing scrimmage. Barely had
Paul leaped from the saddle when
the gallant animal that had carried
him in safety to his friends fell for
ward on the ground, and, bleeding
from several gaping wounds, gave
one or two gasps and expired.
For few moments Paul stood
mutely watching the fallen animal,
and the tear that crept to his eye
was not unworthy the brave fellow.
But he felt that it was no time for
sentiment, and dashing his hand
savagely across his face he turned
to his comrades and in a few graphic
words told them Of the ambuscade
to which he had so nearly fallen a
victim and which had proved a
death-trap to poor Grizzly. "But
we must go back at once, boys
he added, "and bring in Grizzly'f {
body for decent burial. We cant
afford to have it said that we lett q
comrade in the open prairie to be-
come food for coyotes and buzzards
Get move on you and saddle the
horses instantly. You, Sanders
and Brooks, remain here to guard
the stuff; the rest of us will skin
back to Big Butte" !"
In a very short time the small
body of determined men, led by the
intrepid Mccormick, were on theil
way to the scene Of the recent am
bush. Few words were uttered by
the party. All realized the errand
was a sad one, and in his heart eacf
vowed vengeance on the murderoul
Cheyennes. But not hostile was
in sight when they reached the
summit Of Big Butte, up which
they had cautiously stolen in 4
manner worthy of trained Indial
fighters. Already the coyotes ant
birds of prey had assembled TO
the feast, some of the latter tina
had perched on the carcass of Griz
lzly's horse boldly continuing thei
ravenous banquet in defiance Of tn
appearance Of the rescuers.
| Paul was the first to stumble Of
the body of his late comrade. Il
a dozen other wave besides that q