Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-26
day. The men looked faded and the
horses were griruy with sweat ana DUST
A CHORUS or YELTIS.

day The men looked faded and .he
horses were grifry with sweat ana DUST
A CHORUS or YcLIS.
All at once there came chorus OF yeiis
from the brush and the pa'nettos SHOOK
and swayed from the impact OF charging
horsomen. Then followed the crack
crack, crack, OF scores Of revuivers, ana
In the twinkling Of an eye the TEXANS
were upor the foe. 1t was case OF NIX
and hand -to-hand from the start Inc
rederaIs were taken completely by sur
prise aud thrown into confusion fhere
waa no room for them 10 deploy into line,
60 advance or retreat Their tired horses
were topplcd over "a the mustangs rushed
against them. and through the cloud or
dust 7 could see them dropping from their
saddles as the deadly reyolvers played
upon them. had always had an idea
that the sabre was the most terrible or
weapons. but soon saw that II was no
match FOR the six-shooter in the hands
Of a marksman. The boys in blue 6id not
finch from their work. They whacked
away with n hearty good Will. but found
90 their cost that bullets move faster than
steel. and when fred by Texan rangers so
stra'Ghtcr to the mark. They had no
chance to unsllng their carbines. and by
the time they found out that the sabre
was loser in the game. the issue or the
fray was decided against them. Little by
little they were pushed hack up the road.
go that those IN the rear hsd 20 give way
also. and. the Texans pushing them hard,
they were soon in rapid retreat.
THEY DROPPED.
Meanwhile, the advance guard of the
Fedcrals had turned back. and was trying
20 cut It's way through TO the main body.
The young officer led them on like Il
trump, and they fought az only men can
fight when they find themselves IN a
trap. But they were overmatched and
their tired horses could make no Roadway
AGAINST the fresh and fiery mustangs.
They dropped by twos and threes and
half-dozcns. until only a squad Of about
twenty remained around their commander.
One last rush they made with the en-
orgy OF desperation. but the Texans met
them on all sides. and literally rode them
down.
Captain Merrill came galloplng back
from the attack on the main body. at
tended by Tchua. Just In time TO see the
young officer and tall. branwny trooper
break through the hostile circle Each
singled out his man, and Ut il they went.
a DUEL.
The Federal officer made a sweeping cut
at The Captain with his sabre. and rs II
, flashed In the air. fully expected next
moment to see the red-gold head roll ira
the dust But the owner OF the head
lad no such notion. Ills pistol failed 20
irc as he met his enemy IN full career.
fut with a twist Of the wrist h. threw
the weapon up, and caught on II the de-
frerdng blade. sud "a the two horses
stopped frog the shock Of the encounter
The Captain swung the pistol around and
3 fe ny1fauevfCf tho hprI THE
Federal officer dropped from the saddle
Ike one dead. l thought he had been
killed and fot sorry, though he was a
Yankee. because he looked like my
cousin.
II WAS well for Tchula that the Captain
WIS now at liberty. for the big trooper
lai already given him a CHANGING cut
with the sabre that dezed hin. and was
about 10 finish him. when the warrior Of
the rcd-gold locks rushed the black mus
tang AGAINST the weary troop horse ana
knocked the animal TO Its knees The
trooper plunged forward on his horse 9
neck Before he could recover himself
tla Indian uttered On unearthly screech-
the war-cry of the COmanches, as ] after
ward lcarned--and, throwing himself from
his pony. drew a long Knife, and struck
twice at his foe. The trooper rolled from
The saddle into tho dust and lay sull.
y nc liuilU > hittlt ii1< 49, N-''"'+~N 49,
mark.
The sight was enough for me. The rest
Of il was all right but this was too
much like murder. l slid down the tree
IN a hurry called to nv dusky attendants,
who were stretched on the ground in a
state Of collapse. and ran home, doing the
emile and a half in better than De,by time.
That Is all saw Of the night, and there
4 little more 10 tell. except that the
Young Federal officer was brought 10 our
house, whore he was parolsd, and In due
time recovered from his wounds. lie had
a bullet wound in his left arm, besides
that vhack on his head. His name was
CrandaN. and he hailed from Indiana We
all became fond Of him. though he was
an enemy, and I am sure his people
al home could not have wished him safe
dolivcrance from the perls Of war more
sincerely than We did when the time came
for him 10 leave us lie gave mo a
six-bladed pocket-knife. which 1 valued
above all my earthly possessions.
Captain Merrill was Killed. in a hand-to-
hand fight with party Of Apaches under
Cocnise a year or two later. They say
h. eIactel price for his lie which put
more than one lodge IN mourning, and
/ can readily believe ~.