The old Abe eagle., 1892-12-01

The carefully prepared trap Of the In
dians had failed 1t was only when the
white man had turned sharply aside,
punched the wagons, placed the spare
horses as safely as possible and began
rolling the powders together for a
breastworks that the red man realized
that he had been sold out
Then they swarried out Of the ravincs
the warriors of Iron Heart, of Red
Eagle, of Black Crow-three hundred
strong, and mounting their wiry ponies,
which had lain as close as rabbits, they
swarmed out and over the plains and
gave vent to their disgust and indigna.
ton.
Had they charged en- masse the little
band of white men must have been
swept away by the momentum, but they
delayed and every moment saw the
breastworks strengthened by another
bowldcr. The Indian must feint and
dodge before he strikes. In that char
acteristic he is below the serpent. He
must consult and powwow before he ad-
vances. This is to brace him up.
More than half an hour was consumed
in demonstrations of bluff before the In
dians were ready to act. Then it was
to advance Lis natural weapon first
treachery. a white man-some rene
gade and criminal who feared even the
mixed society of the west and had gone
over to the enemies of his race body and
sJul-advanced with white flag tied to
II stick as flag Of tiucc. He advanced
boldly and impudently, but when within
pistol shot Of the hreGstworks was halted
by the captain and asked what he wanted
"Sec hyar, feel sorry fur you folks"
he said in reply. And | hev cum to
help ye out Of a bad scrape. Thar's reds
'nuf yere to chaw ye up in five minits,
and twice as many more will be yere at
sundown. They know whar ye ar
bound fur, and they ar determined to
stop ye."
We'll, what else?" asked the captain
as the renegade paused.
"They wanted to wipe ye out TO the
last man, but I've prevailed upon 'em to
spare ye in case yen turn back. That's
/ what I've come to tell ye.
"If we turn back we won't be
harmed?"
Not hair Of yer heads. Jist take
the back track and thatll end the mat
ter at once.
And suppose we don'iT
"Then God help yc! Yell be chawed
to pieces in ten minits"
"iou go back and tell your friends to
begin chawing rs soon as they please!"
shouted the captain, and every man in
the inclosure cheered the words.
There WAS more delay as the renegade
went back 10 report, aud every man
worked to build the breastworks higher
and strengthen it, Wagons and horses
occupied a solid square Of less than half
an acre. Ii was the highest ground
within cannon suot. This was rs good
as another foot on, the height of the
breastworks. twenty-five men distrib-
uted around that inclosure would make
terribly thin line, but twenty-five
Winchester rifles would maintain ter.
ribly destructive fire.
But treachery had not yet exhausted
itself Your noble red man Of Cooper
eulogy depends upon that even when at.
lacking women and children Back
came the renegade TO say;
"Ye better take the chance hold oui
to ye. Tho Indians hev got mad. and
nothin but yer promise ard the quick
performance Of it will save yer scalps
IL gun is fired | cant hold ein Il
mint"
"lf we turn back we will not bo mo-
lestedT queried the captain.
Not n red shall cum nigh ye."
"Dut we have only your word for It.
(Which orter be good 'nufi, au
workin to gave yo scalps."
"And you think the way 10 do il Is e
turn us all over 70 thoinl Get back, yoi
lying ronegade-gtt out Of range u
we'll drop your
The renegade beat hasty retreat
and few minutes later the Indians dis
mounted. crept about tho plateau 4
form circle aud opened lrc on ~
breastworks from three hundred rifles
They had waited too long for rush
bat the little band was encirclgd.
Waierl Ne; drop,
Foragel Not au ounccl
Provisionsl Yes. but thoy must b
eaten IN raw state.
Tho Indians had but to preserve thei
circle of fire about ihe fort and nstm
would do the rest slen may escape th
bullet. but thirst Eill8.