The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1893-09-21
TURNED ASIDE
Fleeing Foxes, Ga;.-jts. and Deer Give
Notice OF en- Ambush.


lowstone and Little Missouri rivers,
hoping to intercept the Indians and
turn them back. II had been q hard,
swift march, q ride Of ever 100 miles,
with no halt above four hours, and at
10 o'clock in the forenoon half the
troops were sleeping in their saddles,
rs 4 2ir lean and lame horses picked
their way over the rough ground.
We had planned to reach the spot
where the fleeing Indians would cross
the Little Missouri Il day or two
ahead of them. We believed We had
accomplished it. At 10 o'clock we
were within two mics OF the spot.
Then the head OF the column halted
for the men to close up. Our line
had strung out for a mile Or more.
Between US and the crossing, as the
halt was made, nature had made a
highway. 1t was a grassy road, about
twenty feet wide, twisting and turn
ing like a creek. Either side was
lined with dense thickets. Halt a
mile down the highway it was crossed
by a creek with steep banks. Half 4
mile farther on was q second creek.
1t was hardly more than a rivulet at
this season, but the width from bank
TO bank was forty feet and the banks
were ten feet high. Our guide had
never passed over the route.
No man in the column Of 200 men
knew what lay beyond the first turn.
The halt to close up was precau-
tionary measure, but no one dreamed
of danger. II the hostile Indians
had not turned back or changed their
route they should still be forty Or
nifty miles to the south. The strag-
gIers had come up, the sleepy troopers
had braced up under the eyes of their
officers and the bugler was about to
sound the forward when the half breed
guide and scout held up his hand in
warning. A deer came running up
the grassy lane at full speed and was
within ten feet Of the colonies horse
when it wheeled to the right and
vanished into the thickct. Next
came a fox, who ran under the feet
If a dozen horses before he found
shelter. Then second deer-then
!hree or four rabbits
"What Is it," asked the Colonel Of
The guide.
"Ambushw was the brief reply.
"Where?"
Tie guide waved his hand to sig
Nifty that it was down the lane some
where.
How do you know?"
"See that"
A big gray wolf rounded the turn q
hundred feet-a4aY full
speed, The hair on his back stood
up, his tail almost dragged, and it
was easy to see that he had been dis
turhed and was put out about it.
"Injuns down there" said the
guide. eve are too late. They have
got here first and we are in am
bush"
But what makes you think so?"
persisted the Colonel, who was i'm
patient to go ahead. and yet too pru-
dent to needlcssly expose his COM
mand.
"Deer-foX-rabbit5 - wolf" re-
piled the guide. "All were fright
encd. All running away from some
thing. lnjuns down there waiting
for Us We 90 some other Wav."
We turned to the left and hanked
the position. We had made a dis
lance Of seven miles when Indians
we're seen and skirmiShing began, but
they soon retreated southwards, aud
as we followed them up they crossed
the Little Missouri. 1t was the
band We had hoped to intercept, but
Why did they turn back without
light: Everybody was asking the
question when a few OF Us rode of to
inspect the ambush. The death zap
lad been set for us between the
'rcekS The lower end of the avenue
lad been blocked with fclled trees
and bushes, and trees partly cut down
you'd have blocked the upper end as
oon as the last hor5eman had passed.
rhc road here narrowed TO fifteen
ect Wherever there was an opening
Il the bushes which lined the sides
t had been closed with thorns.
From sunrise that morning the in.
lianS had been waiting for Us. Al
most two hundred warriors were in
hiding behind the bushes, ready to
hru,t cut their rifles and fire at tao
ignal. Pcrchcd in the trees a'ung
he way wee half a hundred b! S
rmeh with bows and arrows. Hid
en away under the banks OF the |
rceks were Il hundred more sQuaws,
rmcd with hatchcts, knives, or
iubs II WAS not to be 4 battle, but |
massacre. No mercy was 10 be
prisoner taken. Scouts
ad observe! Our approach and re-
orted. When the head Of our col
nh had fairly entered the lane the
a@cr sGUawS and impuISive boys
0uld hardly lie controlled. In their
inV.ng about they frightened liz
lid animals oIt Of their retreats anl
mt Is t!iH warning They did not
now why we hid halted heSi;atcd,
nj then took another way. For hHlI
Il h"Ur they waited with the scowl
; hate Oh their br0nLcd fa~es- with
he sdragcness of devils in thar
carts with eyes which glared and
tinted as they roamed about in
,arch Of the expected prey. Then
lcy whispered TO each other:
They have taken another way.
he Great Spirit sent them warn
y t. turn aside. We cannot fight
lc e men, let Us rlcr0Ss the river
nd return TO the agency Free
reSS.
a Little Chinese Aristocrat.
The City Of Washington will soon