The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-07-06

that there would be trouble If we tried
to do that, Finally the chief said If we
would give him an hour he would tell
where the boys were. advised the
agent to accept this, They cannot get
away on their half starved ponies In an
hour said, SO 1t was decided to wait.
"When we went back Lone Wing was
ready to receive us.
Where are the young thievesg de-
manded the agent,
THE Great Father drives his chill
dren from their hunting grounds to
starve them, and then calls them thieves
for not being willing to die like rabbits.
The young braves are not here. The
white chiefs will find them in the hills
waiting for Them
"'They have left the reservation ex-
claimed the agent, his blood hot. Put
spurs, captain, and overtake themi Bet.
! ter send some of the trailers ahead tc
find which way they have sneaked off.
81 had pretty good idea whore we
would find the boys, and ! said, 4 don'i
think trailers will be needed in this case
| They are not far off,
why said he, where do you think
they have gone?
~ pointed toward the hills where two
faint specks showed, and handed him
my glass. He looked. and put spurs to
| his horse.
No need to hurry said; they are
not running away
"And was right. When we got near
enough to make them out clearly, there
stood the two little fellows in warpaint
and feathers, their ponies by their sides
and their rifles In their hands.
What do the rascals mean? said the
agent.
"But understood it we'll enough.
"Their Indian blood wouldn't let them
suffer imprisonment or possibly whip
ping, and rather than thus be degraded
in their own eyes and those of the war.
riors of their tribe, they had resolved tc
court warriors death alone. outside
the reservation, and thus shield the rest
of the tribe from sharing in the punish
ment.
when we were within 300 yards oil
them they mounted their ponies and
brandished their rifles, and could hear
their shrill, boyish voices in defiant
tones shouting the war whoop of their
tribe. Before any of us could get our
breath they leaped to their ponies backs
and charged down toward us at furi-
Gus gallop.
81 think it was moment or two be-
fore any of us took in the audacity of
the thing--two Indian boys charging
right into the ranks of 100 armed whites
but when they got within rifle range
they opened our eyes by lying fat on
their ponies and shooting straight at us.
"sGive the young imps a volley, cap
taini' excitedly directed the agent.
II hated to do it, but there they came
riding us down and shouting like all
possessed. Aim high; fret command.
ed the men, for ! couldn't bear to
slaughter tho brave little chiefs. On
they rode, unhurt of course. right into
our teethl
"'Open ranksP
"They shot like wildfire through us
and were out of reach before we could
halt and reform.
81 supposed all we would have to do
now would be to chase the little rascals
back into the camp and deliver them
over as prisoners Of war. But bless my
stars If they didn't wheel as soon us
they could, bringing their ponies TO q
dead stop, and with another whoop Of
defiance came charging back up the hill
at us.
1T was the most desperate exhibition
Of courage had ever witnessed in hui
man being, red or white--a cool and
grim determination to keep up the fight
until they died fighting.
"Popl One of our horses was hit.
"Popi A cavalry man dropped his
Winchester, hit in the arm. I dared
not spare them longer.
"'Firer
"The smoke OF our second volley
cleared away 10 show us two PROSTATE
forms and a pony kicking its last on
the earth. | shut my eyes. l did not
want to see what knew / must see.
Leave them to the coyotesr growled
the agent. No, drag their bodies back
to the old VOLTS den. I'll teach them
o lessonp
Not by my command, Mr. Agent
said. 4 never faced any drawer enc
mics. They shall be buried with tho
honors of war;
ooh, I'm so glad you were in com
mand, Uncle Jack" little Ted cried, his
lips quivering with sympathy. "Where
did you bury them then, Uncle Jack2
Not where the wolves could".--
"Bless your life. youngster, didn't
bury them at all. The agent and his
Indian police had gone back by the time
the sergeant with his squad got the
graves dug, and when they went to pick
them up from beside their dead ponies
I'll be courtmartialed II they didn't
find two of the most lively corpses that
ever played postum. The men had fred
low.
Before long they disappeared from
that agency. Their education had not
been OF the sort to make them peaceable
and industrious. Very likely they have
been fighting Uncle Sam since But
couldn't hurt hair Of them. ~. F.
Cowan in Youths Companion.