The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-01-26

Somers then carried him to clear
spot of ground and cut the thongs
from his wrists and ankles prepare
tory to further proceedings.
No sooner, however, were the gal
liant fellows limbs free than, uttering
a haunting shout, he struck out right
and left like lightning and sent two
of his captors headlong to the earth,
his evident design being to provoke
the crew into killing him at once. But
dozen of the miscreants threw them
selves upon him in body and bore
him down again.
Then, while some of the other de-
mons held his arms and legs, others
drove the sharpened stakes into the
ground, and soon the poor fellow,
never for a moment ceasing to revile
his enemies as ''white-livered squaws
and cowards," was stretched out, face
up, and securely bound by his extend
ed hands and feet to the stakes. The
monsters intended to build fire upon
his stomach and thus slowly burn him
to death-and all this within fifty
yards of where we crouched!
Every man of us, half crazy for ac-
ton, held his rifle ready for instant
use; but still there was no signal from
Abe, and nothing but our perfect con.
fidence in his judgment prevented an
attack. Our cruel wait was nearly
ended, however.
While the main body of savages,
yelling and prancing in hellish delight,
formed great ring around their VIC
Tins two braves approached. one of
whom bore an armfnl of dry twigs and
the other lighted brand.
The circle was just opening to let
them pass. when, like the trump of
doom, there rang out from the lips of
our leader the signal word "Now!"
Twas the last earthly sound heard
by nearly a score of blood-thirsty
Apaches, for rifle bullet flies faster
than its report, over so short space,
and those who fell dead on the firing
of our simultaneous volley heard only
the signal shout.
Never was surprise more complete
or victory more instantaneous. The
four conspicuously tall warriors, the
two executioners and twelve other
braves dropped dead in their tracks;
while the survivors, utterly panic
stricken, stood for one second in
amazed bewilderment; then turned to
fly, as above their affrighted cries
arose the triumphant cheer of the
saved prisoner.
.Revolvers, boys! Give it to themr
yelled Capt. Abe, and, firing as we
went, we all dashed forward in pur-
suit of the scurrying horde. Three
more fell at our first volley, and even
those few who happened to have their
bows in hand never stopped to draw
them, all rushing for cover at their
topmost speed.
As we charged along, Tom Granger
six feet three inches in height, strong
as bull buffalo and swift of foot as 9
deer-left the rest of us behind, anC
raging like a maddened tiger. over
took two of the savages ere they could
gain shelter. One fell with bullet
through his brain, but the other sud
denly turned and struck with venge
full knife at his pursuer. Swiftly
swerving, Tom avoided the deadly
thrust, caught the fellow up in hi!
arms and contemptuously shouting
''rll not waste lead on your carcass,
dashed him down with terrific force OF
a piece of rock. killing him as sudden
ly as might thunderbolt.
BY this time not live Indian wa.
to be seen; more than one-half the to
tai force lay dead upon the ground
and many others had limped ava,
more or less wounded. So, giving III
the useless pursuit, we turned to FREE
| Bill Somers.
THAT was mighty close call
boys" he coolly said as we lifted hin
up. (Which of you fellows laid on
this raid?"
ABE johnson did; the Lord bles
him; never could have planned it,
generously answered Granger.
..Well, Abe, I'm everlastingly be
holden to We. The oldest Indian-fghte
| in the whole west couldn't have don
it better. and all the boys backed yo
up like bricks. I'm real proud of tn
crowd. The sneakin' varmints cam
upon me just as'I'd found a good pass
Not thinking there was red here
abouts, I'd been careless like, and tn
first thing / knew, walked up RICH
here, tied fast hand and foot"
Exactly as l guessed" reioine
Abe. Here, Bill take pull of this,
handing over his flask.
On looking around, we found fifty
three ponies knee-haltered in grass
hollow few rods away, while all tn
lances. war-clubs and most of the bow
and arrows belonging to the route
savages had necessarily been left bt
hind.
about twenty-five of the varmint
have got away" said Somers, as h
was hungrily dcvouring some hare
tack and bacon, but as they've moth
ing but knives left. we needn't bottle
about them. All creation couidn