The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-04-14
Behind him and clinging to him was 8
woman. The horse looked jaded, and

Behind him and clinging to him was 8
woman. The horse looked jaded, and
both riders were nearly worn ont.
We asked them to sit down and rest.
but the man answered at once: Cap
tain there il no time to lose. Rather get
your shooting irons ready and look to
your animals. You see, we were camped
down the creek a distance of about five
miles. We could see the smoke of your
campfres all the evening. We were
right in thinking this a white mans
camp, as the Indians hardly ever use
green wood. There were only three of
us-my partner, his wife and myself.
About two hours ago we stopped to get
supper and get the camp ready for the
night. While we We're eating there
came the crash of rifles. My partner
fell over dead. A bullet struck my arm,
but the woman escaped.
We didn't stop long, but | put her
on a horse, jumped up myself and made
a dash for your camp. The pests were
on the other side Of the stream, which
gave us some advantage. But look out,
for it won't be long before they will be
upon us. They don't know yet that you
are here, and will try to capture MS.
Let's give them a warm reception when
they come. If you have an extra gun
let me have it, for / want to get even
with them for the killing of my part
ner."
Here was news indeed. Having come
so far unmolested we did not anticipate
any trouble from Indians so close to the
settlement.
However, we got ready for them. The
animals were brought in closer. Each
man looked to his guns and ammuni-
ton, and o double line was formed for
action.
1t was indeed not long before the red
devils appeared on the opposite side of
the stream. They were not a little sur
prised to see a considerable body of
armed men ready to fight, and naturally
hesitated to make an attack.
Darkness was now setting in fast, and
a r had to be exercised to prevent them
from crossing the stream and making a
night attack. But we counted on the
early rising of the moon, now in it's full,
and decided to fight it out by moonlight,
if any fighting was to be done that
night. A few wild shots were e
changed without doing any damage on
either side. We had extinguished our
campfires, thus taking away any ad-
vantage the Indians might gain by their
light. We noticed the redskins moving
a little further up stream, as IL trying
to find a more suitable place from which
to attack US or to cross the stream. Bill
Tucker laughed and said, Watch out
for some fun now, boys"
We failed to see any fun before us.
being unable to determine the number
of our opponents. They might be too
many for us, and possible determination
is decidedly anything but funny. But
suddenly the Indians gave n unearthly
yell, and by the light of the rising moon
we could see them dash away over the
rolling prairie to the east.
Bill laughed again.
81 reckon as what these pesky devils
won't trouble us any more jess now
was all that he said.
Curiosity prompted everybody to find
ont the cause of their hasty flight and oil
Bills positiveness. He babe MS come
with him and listen quietly and care.
fully. When near the stream a peculiar
sound could be heard from several direc.
tions resembling the ringing of a thou
'sand bells at once. At times the tones
would become weaker and gradually die
away with a peculiar noise resembling a
q deep drawn moan. Then they would
increase again in strength, becoming
more resonant and distinct.
Mystified, we looked about us for an
explanation of this strange phenomenon,
but failed to find me-. Bill finally ex-
planned that the sounds were produced
by the waters of the stream running
over the peculiar rocks in its bed. There
was an old Indian legend of . singing
river" that predicted death for all who
camped on its banks. There had been
quite a massacre among warning tribes
in that vicinity, so goes tradition, which
made the singing river dreaded by all
the red tribes thereafter. But it had
saved cur lives, and we lost no time in
reaching the settlement after the sur
had risen over the hilltops.-Louis De
Lestry in Romance.