The record-union., 1895-01-18

getting ready. Revolvers were drawn,
and every eye was on the road in front.
Ihey reminded me of our big gray cat
when about to spring upon an unsuspect-
ing bird.
a few minutes elapsed-it seemed hours
to me, as / clung to the fork of the black
gum and watched the scene, OPEN
mouthed and staring. If I had had any
sense 1t would have told me to get down
and hustle to place where no stray bull
lets could find me, but, being boy, had
no sense--oniy an apnOrmally developed
curiosity.
The main column had reached the front
OF the ambush. Il was evident that the
ride had been long and wearisome that
day. The men looked jaded, and the
horses were grimy with sweat and dust.
All at once there came a chorus of yells
from the brush, and the palmettos shook
ana swayed from the impact OF charging
horsemen. Then followed the crack !
crack crack Of scores Of revolveIs, and
IN the tWinkling Of an eye the Texans
were upon the foe. 1t was a case of mix
and handto-hand from the start. The
tederals were taken completely by sur
prise and thrown into confusion. There
was no room for them to 0eploy into line,
to advance or retreat Their tired horses
were toppled over as the mustangs
rushed against them, and through the
SAoduS VI uLSI COulu sec LDeDl OTOpplng
from their saddles as the deadly revolverS
played upon them. l had always had
an idea that the saber was the most terri
bic or oTWeapons, but l soon saw that 1t was
no match for the siX-Shooter in the hands
of marksman. The boys in blue did
not finch from their work. They
Whacked away with q hearty good will,
but found to their cost that bullets move
faster than steel, and when fired by
Texan rangers go straighter to tie mark.
They had 40 chance to unsling their car
blnes, and by the time that they found
out that the Saber was loser in the game
the issue OF the fray was decided against
them. Little by little they were pushed
back up the road, so that those in the rear
had to give way also, and the Texans
pushing them hard, they were soon in
rapid retreat.
Meanwhile the advance guard of the
federals bad turned back and was try
ing TO cut its way through to the main
body. The young officer led them on
like trump, and they fought as only
men can fight when they find themselves
III trap. But they were overmatched,
and their tired horses could make no
Roadway against the fresh and fiery mus
tags. They dropped by tWos and threeS
and halt-dOZens, until only a squad of
about twenty remained around their
commander. One last rush they made
with the energy OF desperation, but the
Texans met them on all sides and liter
ally rode them down.
Captain Merrill came galloping back
from the attack on the main body. al
tended by Ichuia, just in time to see the
young officer and a tall, brawny trooper
break through the hostile circle. Each
singled out his man, and at it they went.
The Federal officer made a sweeping
cut at the Captain with his saber, and as
1t flashed in the air l fully expected next
moment TO see the red-gold head roll in
the dust. But the owner of the head had
no such notion. His pistol failed to fire
as he met his enemy III full career, but
with twist of the wrist he threw the
weapon up and caught on it the descend
ing blade, and as the two horses stopped
from the shock Of the encounter the Cap
tain swung the pistol around and struck
his antagonist on the head. The Federal
officer dropped from the saddle like one
dead. l thought he had been killed and
felt sorry. though he was Yankee, be-
cause he looked like my cousin.
1t was well for Tchula that the Captain
was now at liberty, for the big trooper
had already given him a glancing cut
with the saber that daZed him. and was
about to finish the job when the warrior
of the red-gold locks rushed the black
mustang against the weary troop horse
and knocked the animal 10 his knees,
-AiS lLOOpS1 pIuuSSu forward on has
horses neck. Before he could recover
himself the Indian uttered an unearthly
screech-the Warcry OF the Comanches.
as 1 atterward learned-and throwing
himself 1rom his pony, drew a long knife
and struck twice at his toe. The TROOPER
rolled from the saddle into the dust and
lay still. The Indians blade had not
missed its mark.
The sight was enough for me. The rest
of 1t was all right, but this was too much
like murder. | slid down the tree in q
hurry, called to my dusky attendants,
who were stretched on the ground in a
state OF collapse, and ran home, doing the
mile and a half in better than Derby time,
That IS all l saw OF the fight, and there
Is little more to tell, except that the young
Federal officer was brought to our house.
where he was paroled and in due time re-
covered from his wounds. He had q bul-
let wound in the left arm, beside that
Whack on the head. His name was Gran
dali, and he hailed from Indiana, We all
became tond OF him, though he was an
enemy, and am sure his people at home
could not have wished him a safe deliver
ance from the perils of war more sim
cereIy than we did when the time came
for him TO leave us. He gave me d six
bladed pocketkniie, which L valued above
all my earthly possessions.
Captain Merrill was killed in a hand
to-hand fight with party of Apaches
under CoChlse year or TWO later Thev
say he eIacted price for his life which
put more than one lodge in mourning,
and can readily believe it.-MemphIs
AnDpaI