St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-06-29

In less than half an hour after leav>
Ing the main trail our two adventurous
comrades came upon the spot where
the elk had fallen, when. by signs ut.
terly undiscernible by WCodville, Car
son at once read the whole story. de-
claring. much to Gerald's comfort,
that Moulton had been carried off un.
wounded.
Then. leading the way with unfalter.
irg certainty through tortuous defiles
and over stretches of bare rock. on the
latter of W hich his companion could
not see the ia intest mark. he soon
came to the spot where the band had
spent the previous night.
Feeling confident of overtaking the
marauders before night, Carson became
exceedingly circumspect toward even-
ing, neither ever riding over bridge
without first dismounting and taking .
careful survey of what lay beyond.
At last as they peered over the brow
of steep descent. they saw, light on
the trail and half a mile ahead, a
wreath of smoke rising above the tree
tops
"We've got them" said Carson.
They're camped down at the Blue
Spring know the place we'll. but
the ground on this side is quite open.
Though probably not fearing pursuit,
the reds will naturally he facing this
way. We must make a big sweep and
creep up on them from the other side,
for they must not have time to strike .
single blow after our attack"
The pursuers now led their horses
some distance from the trail and con-
cealed them In q bush-grown coulee,
lest the Indians, while retreating,
might gobble them up Then. guided
through the darksomc rocks and under.
brush only by Kits perfect knowledge
of the locality. they made a wide de.
tour, gliding along softly as panthers
and noiselessly as shadows-two men
fearlessly planning to attack. on their
own ground, an unknown number Of
well-armed savages.
After more than an hour of pains.
taking toll they gained the dense chap
paral fairly in the rear of and no more
than fifteen yards from the enemy's
resting place. Kneelinp side by side.
and peeping through the bushes. they
saw at once that the Indians consid-
cred themselves perfectly safe, for =
bright fire was burning, and in a strag.
Cling row near it iounged twenty war;
painted warriors.
A few yards away was tethered the
beautiful horse belonging to Moulton.
and he himself sat on the ground with
his wrists brought together behind his
back and tied around a sapling pine.
Carson had cautioned his impetuous
not to fire until he should give
the signal, but just as the hidden
avengers had. in ore swift glance,
noted all these particulars. brutal
looking savage, seeing that the prison
er was enjoying a moments respite
from suffering, snatched up a burning
brand, strobe over in front of him and
was about to thrust the flaming brand
against his face, when
no longer able to control
sent bullet through the mis-
brain. and he fell like log
across the captive's outstretched legs.
Instantly the startled Indians spran9
to their feet: one fell to Kits rifle,
and another to Gerald's revolver: and
now, as they stood for three half sec
onds bewildered, as many additional
shots rang out, each one stretching its
victim upon the earth.
Then the fourteen survivors turned
to fly, but before they got beyond the
fatal circle of freight three more |
pitched headlong down.
Another of the crew, quite forget
ting in his fright that the horse was
picketed. attempted, as he ran, to
spring upon its back. a position he
never reached. for as soon as his head |
'ose high enough to clear the animals
withers twas pierced by Carson's bull
ct.
Thus. in less than one minute, ten |
Members of the murderous band had |
,ecome. as a western man of these |
lines would say, good Indians" and