The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-11-28


And so l. happened as they rode that
! night and watched the mOon-shadows
grow long and slender before them, that
It suddnely dawned upon Taylor that fer
! sometime his horse had been aiding them
| in following the trail, and he exultingly
I Shouted, "COffey, we shall catch them
sure; just fall behind a little and watch
Bess FOR few rods" dropping the reins
The noble animal, feeling her head at
liberty, sheered at once into the trail and
! followed its every turn as beagle fol-
/ -Ows the hare.
The discovery was most timely, for a
! snort distance beyond they found the
trail had been crossed and recrossed for
! several miles by a band Of mustangs,
which doubtless scented the horses of
the outlaws. and ohliterated the trail in
| manner that must otherwise have de-
layed the pursuers for hours.
| And now at last the moon went down,
| and the darkness that precedes the dawn
/ broCded like a pail over that great bill
! lowy prairie, where the pale hJrSe, un-
! checked and untiring, plunged along.
! No rein guided her footsteps, no word of
command reached her cas-.
The light of approaching day stole over
, the plain, and the dewdrops upon the
! rank grass sparkled in the rays Of the
morning sun. The little scissor-tails, with
/ their plaintive notes, fitted about in the
| meSquit trees that sparsely dotted the
! landscape, and far above in a sky Sc
4
| riOn birds, so graceful in distant flight
and so repulsive when at hand, hoated
! about in circles that seemed 10 realize the
| very poesry of motion.
But the eyes of Taylor and Coffey, as
| they reached the crest Of a divide that
| commanded quite an extensive view Of
/ the country, were fixed upon two OBJ
| jects moving along slowly a few miles in
| advance. But a single glance and
| word. The horses were suddenly stopped
4 rara1 Il
/ the men dismounted to prepare for the
encounter which both deemed inevitable.
You have done your duty well, old
/ gal, and now we will ours" said Taylor,
patting the neck Of his horse affection
] ately.
/ When they again assembled the ridge,
! the two objects had disappeared over a
/ distant swell, and putting spurs to their
i horses they fastened to close the distance
! between ere they were discovered.
The surprise of the outlaws when they
! first caught Siglt of their pursuers-who
/ had Unanswered so skilful,y that they
! were less than half a mile away-was
doubtless very great.
For a moment they drew together as if
/ for consultation, but. unprincipled ruff
/ fans as they were, they did not lack
courage, and as soon as they saw that
| their pursuers did not outnumber them
| they at once decided to give battle.
There were no preliminaries, no at
| tempt was made by either side to adjus.
the little difficulty, and the first shock
was short, sharp and decisive. Coffey
and Taylor closed In as rapidly as pos
slbe upon the outlaws, who had unstrung
their carbines, faced about, and sat upon
their horses coolly awaiting their APP
proach Both sides opened fire as soon
as they got fairly within range.
Wei mounted and equally we'll armed
as the outlaws were, II would seem at
first glance as if neither side had any adj
vantage upon that open pain; but the
onslaught soon demonstrated that the lat
ter were no match for those two cool, de-
! ternined marksmen, whose lives had been
spent among the big game and hostile
Indian tribes Of western Texas.
A forty-1ve-caliber bullet struck Car
ter in the shoulder. SCATTERING the bone.
The arm dropped helpless. and his car
blne fell As he stopped in the saddle to
regain it with the other hand, his horse
suddenly SHE'D, and he fell heavily to the
ground, his foot pushing through the
stirrup and out beneath the dew-soaked
tapadera. when the now thoroughly
frightened animal dashed madly off,
dragging his rider at his heels.
Smith took in the situation at a glance,
but he could offer no assistance, and
hurting a curse deep and vindictive at his
assailants, he put spurs to his horse, and
before they realized his intentions was
going at full speed toward a belt of tim
Der that skirted creek about a mile to
the north.
Then there ensued a race. with life or
death for the stakes. The outlaws horse
was the freshest and he had gained a
start of several rods. The magazines of
the caI'bines held only seven cartridges
each. near.y al of which had already
been used, and as the disadvantage of an
empty gun under present conditions was
not to be ignored the remaining shots
could not be riSked in uncertainties. If
me could reach the timber he could then
laugh at his pursuers on pick them off al
leisure if they did not speedily get out of
range.
But an obstacle unseen and unsupported
lay bet veen him and this city of refuge.
Just before reaching the trees his horse
stopped abruptly on the bank of a dry
arroyo, and refused to descend.
There was not a moment to lose. He
sprang from the saddle and dashed down
into the gu.ch. But a glance must have
satisfied him that it offered no protec-
ton, as its level, sandy bottom could be
raked by shots from either direction Up
the opposite bank and over the intervening
space toward the timber he ran, but the
delay had been fatal as the Texans had
now refined up their steeds on the opposite
bank.
Two more shots rang from their car
bines and the outlaw FELL struck by both
bullets. He struggled to his feet, but
finding he could not stand, shouted,
a sitting position, tried to fire. But the
cartridge failed to explode, and throwing
the gun aside, he drew a Colts revolver
from his belt-when a shot stretched him
dead upon the sward.
The Texans cautiously crossed over,
and approached the body to examine the
wounds. One leg was broken above the
knee and two other shots had passed
through the body either Of which would
have proved fatal.
Now that the battle was over and they
had escaped without a scratch the Fee
ngs of the victors toward their late an
tagonist underwent a change. But
didn't ne die game thought" said Coffey,
whose admiration for the mans courage
had, as was Characteristic with his Class,
for a moment overpowered every other
sentiment.
While this tragedy was being enacted a
the arroyo far out on the prairie to the
south distracted horse was running in
great circles, trying in vain to escape from
it's frightful burden. Coffey mounted and
rode out to intercept the runaway which
turned toward him as soon as he ap-
preached and came up at a canter, neigh
ing pitifully.
ceeded in allaying her fear and led her.
still dragging the gruesome object, back
TO his companion. Besides the shattered
had been broken either in railing or by the
horses hoofs, and his face was mangled
beyond recognition.
The Texans had not come prepared to
bury anybody, and they were well aware
Tlfh cd Nrirfr ~fTef