The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-07-26
A BRAVE BOY, INDEED, WAS He.
A Child of Four That Not Even Bear
Could FrIghten Into Crying.

About l o'clock in the morning the
settler whose cabin was on the Little
Colorado river under the shadow Of
the Mogollon mountains aroused me
from sleep and gave me the news that
the Apaches had crossed the stream
both above and below and were adj
vancing on the house. He and his
son, the latter boy of 16. had been
out scouting. Ny left arm was in a
sling from recent wound, but had
ridden thirty miles the day before to
warn him and others that the band of
redskins were making for Mexico by
that route, burning and killing when-
ever opportunity offered.
There were the settler and his wife,
the boy above mentioned. girl of 10,
another of 8, and boy of 5 or 6. In
addition there was little boy years
old, whose parents had been killed by
the Indians about month before. 1t
was decided that we should get into
the Ravine in rear of the house at once.
The man and wife and youngest child
went first. His boy and the two girls
followed, while l, having charge of
the little orphan, brought up the rear.
All the children were awakened from
sleep and only given time to half
dress, and there was fear that the two
little boys would betray US by crying
out. Before starting l whispered to
Tommy:
"The Indians are coming, but if you
keep still we shall get away all right.
You will ride on my back. We are
going among the brush and trees,
where it is very dark. If fall down
or the limbs switch your face, you
must not cry out"
"No: me no ky out!" he whispered
as l bent down for him to climb on my
back.
heard the clatter of the ponies on
the hard road as l left the back door,
and was only fairly concealed by the
cedars when the Indians began yelling
and battering at the door. The others
had such start that could not over
take them. And, too, they turned in
to the first ravine on the right, while ]
kept straight on. A dozen times al
most fell headlong, and dozen times
the boy was almost brushed of my
back. felt that he was crying, but
very quietly. Perhaps he feared
suspected him, for as / stopped to take
breath he drew himself up and whiS-
pered in my ear.
"Me no ky out and make Injunp
oome!"
The redskins did not fire the house,
as it would have been beacon light
to their pursuers, but they smashed
everything breakable, took what they
wanted, and after .about half an hour
continued on their way. reached q
point mile from the house and then
i - 4
to pass the rest of the night. took
Tommy in my lap and hugged him
closely, but no words were exchanged.
After awhile thought he dropped of
to sleep, and I was getting bit drowsy
myself, when l suddenly heard bear
coming down the ravine. The click OF
his claws on the stones was proof that
it was bear, and his heavy step sig
nified that he was big one. could
not see my hand six inches away, but
pretty soon l got the odor of the bear,
The ravine was about thirty feel
wide, and / was sitting close to the
west wall. Bruin came down shifting
and growing, and just opposite me he
stopped and doubtless had a square
look at the invaders. l had lost my
revolver in the fight and was perfect
ly helpless. 1 simply shut my eyer
and waited for the attack. 1t did NOT
come. The bear shifted and growled
for awhile and then took a suddeE
panic and started off down the ravine
was drawing long breaths of relie'
and feeling glad that the boy in my
arms had known nothing of the danger
when he suddenly reached up, drew
my head down, and whispered in my
ear:
"He went 'woof! woof! woofi' but
no ky out and bring lnjuns!"