Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-09-16


We had Il reserve of dry feed ON HAND
sufficient to sustain the beasts for sever
al days and a week S supply of water fol
ourselves, but in case of a prolonged
siege the horses could be kept alive-or a
least from great suffering only by visi
once in every 81 hours to the neares
| branch Of the Colorado, which Carson
said was over mile distant, and thi
daily trip in the face of watchful enc
mics would doubtless prove desperate
enterprise.
None of us, except the guide himself
knew anything of Indian warfare be
yond what we had read in books, ant
Kits manner was so nonchalant, hi
mind so apparently free from care, tina
all Of us save two were inclined to make
light of the situation. These two wert
the newly married Tom Secord and &
powerfully built young fellow named
Frank Austin. who during our long jour
ney had monopolized rather more Of
Helen Douglas society than was alto
gether agreeable to the other bachelor.
of the party.
Both men, however, managed to con.
ceal their anxiety from the women, and
the latter soon recovered from their first
fright.
1t was about o'clock in the afternoon
Of June day when we came to halt
and there were yet FIVE hours of day.
light left. Indeed on the open plain il
would not be dark even after nightfall
as the moon was quite full and the sky
cloudless.
This circumstance, Kit Carson said
would be greatly to our advantage, as
the hostiles could not well steal upon Us
unawares. and if they did attack we
could see to shoot. So sparingly using
some Of the fuel stored in the wagons
supper was prepared at the usual time
and partaken of as cheerfully as if there
werc not an enemy within 100 miles.
Meantime not Il sound-man's voice
nor pony's whinny-had been heard from
the canyon All within its gloomy
depths seemed devoid of life, and moth
ing less than implicit faith in our leader
tould have made us believe that it con-
realed a horde of ruthless savages pa
liently waiting to glut their helhsh thirst
for blood.
About 0 o'clock the sisters babe MS
good night and were moving off to their
own wagon when Carson carelessly said,
Maybe you'd best keep all your clothes
on tonight. girls, for We'll likely make a
start by a the morning."
"Oh, captain. laughingly replied Miss
Douglas, well not go regularly to bed
so long as the Indians are about. II
they call upon US. they'll find US ready
dressed
When the ladies had retired, Kits
whole manner changed. He sat for some
time in deep thought, then quietly sig
nailed US to follow him out Of the corral.
On gaining a safe distance he said;
Now, boys. it's all right to play up easy
ike before the women folks. but all the
same were in for big fight. These red
cusses outnumber US three to one, and
they're after scalps and plumber sure.
We'll lay low and keep dark. SOS to
make believe we're all asleep. and if we
4tt4 q fAoil Ofl tlle
wagons every man Of Us must shoot
straight and steady, SOS to thin them
out little.
They'll most likely attack on foot,
and if we can knock dozen Of 'em over
at the first fire. they'll turn and run.
Then You want to pour in the lead from
your revolvers and make running fight
of it to the canyon. But don't, any OF
you, follow them one inch into it. II
you do, you'll lose your hair certain, for
these Apaehes are cunning as coyotes,
and they'll try to draw Us on to where
there1l be lots more Of them skulking.
IF You fellows all keep cool and jus.
kind of think you're on wolf hunt. we
can lick hundred of the worst reds on
the plains. And, mind, we must lick
them so bad to begin with they'll moi
want to trouble rs again. We've got
women along. and whatever happens
every last man Of us must keel over be.
fore q hair Of their hsads Is touched